<p>Here's what I am looking for: I want to know if any junior/senior prep school(s) in the U.S. (the lists on the internet are no help) is/are interested enough in securing a math prodigy student that they would grant said student free tuition? I am even willing to teach Humanities full time at the school to secure this (again, the schools are too plentiful to contact them one by one). I am a college professor. My child is in fourth grade and doing ninth grade math. Knows the periodic element chart, reads at a seventh grade level or higher. Knows astronomy. Read at three, etc. Anyone know of any contacts? Head hunters? I would truly appreciate any help.</p>
<p>Only at CC would people take this post as serious…</p>
<p>But no, sir, I cannot help you with your endeavor. Perhaps call some prep schools and ask for the possibility? I’m not sure whether any schools would offer your son free tuition without him taking some form of a standardized test…</p>
<p>If you haven’t had him tested, that might be a good first step. Then you will have better idea of where he is. There are a handful of parents on here who have gifted children and they have chosen all kinds of paths for those children. Hopkins CTY might have some good links for you as well.</p>
<p>I agree with having him tested. That way you will know just how unusual his ablity is. Standardized tests at your school may also give some indication, along with his teacher’s opinion. I am a second grade teacher, and I currently have students at the 7th grade level in reading, likewise in math. I used to teach 3rd grade and one year had a cluster of high ablility kids in my class. Many of them tested at the 10th grade level or higher in reading and math. (At least according to standardized tests) So for a 4th grade student to be at a 9th grade level is excellent, but not extremely unusual.<br>
Also, what where would your son like to go to school? My daughter was reading at a 7th grade level in first grade, but never wanted any part of gifted classes. She was an even better math student, but she wanted to stay in class with her friends.</p>
<p>There is a lot of information on the Duke University TIP program site also.</p>
<p>The advice to contact Duke Tips is excellent. Here are two other things to consider. While your child is extremely smart, does he like to interact with kids his own age, or prefer to stick with older kids. Does he seem to be “too mature” for kids his own age. If so, it may be a sign that he needs a gifted program rather than an “advanced” one. As far as jobs go, I always check the “employment” tab on the prep school sites to get a feel for openings, turn over rates, etc…At most of the schools I have looked at, no one is hiring. The only openings I have seen recently are for language instructors. But continue to check as they may change. One option that may be great for you is a day prep school that is K-12. That way he could placed in various classes along the spectrum of ages/grades. There is one with a good reputation but I can’t remember the name. If I think of it I will PM you.</p>
<p>Also, Davidson institute. google Davidson Gifted and you will find links to qualification criteria. Lots and lots of kids like this apply to boarding schools.</p>
<p>When mine were in elementary, homeschool was the only option.</p>
<p>I agree one of the universities that has a gifted program should be your first contact. If you call Hopkins, they can tell you which university covers your state. (Northwestern for example has a gifted program for most of the midwest). Since he is in 4th grade, he should be eligible to take the explore test. The criteria I believe is a 3rd, 4th, or 5th grader with standardized test score at grade level in the high 90% range. The explore test is a test for 8th graders. Based on his scores on that test, the university your working with can give you some suggestions regarding enriching curriculum, skipping grades etc.</p>
<p>I am grateful that you folks are sending me such great info. My predicament is that I live in a rural area with no options beyond public school. My child is in school and also home schooled. He is gifted, and does have interest in being around children, but also wants the challenge of like-minded students around him. The algebra he is doing is 9th grade, and he is doing some geometry as well. A post earlier has someone saying these kids are plentiful–if that is true, then where do they end up in terms of schools? I believe that a child’s gift should be met, especially when that gift is not forced upon them but sought–as is the case here. I am new here, so I also don’t know what the poster meant when they said that only here would such a question be taken seriously. I am not a person of high means, which is why I ask about tuition. Again, thank you kindly for your input.</p>
<p>One more thing. I looked at the math on the junior/lower SSAT and that is just way too easy. Would it be better/allowed to have him take the regular SSAT? Or the SAT? Thanks.</p>
<p>“I am new here, so I also don’t know what the poster meant when they said that only here would such a question be taken seriously.”</p>
<p>They meant that most people would assume you were just ■■■■■■■■ and exaggerating how smart your kid is.</p>
<p>On topic: Gifted children like that are very plentiful (relatively speaking) but go a variety of places. Some continue in a public school and just stay at the top of the class, or skip multiple grades. Some enroll in an elite boarding school, it really does vary. At the age of 9 or 10, it might be hard to ask your child what kind of environment he wants, but that is your best option.</p>
<p>As others have said, have him take additional standardized tests geared towards gifted children and start looking at the Davidson, Duke, or Northwestern programs I suppose.</p>
<p>EDIT: The math on the SAT is geometry and basic Algebra 2. Just take what the junior/lower SSAT has to offer and have him aim for 99th percentile. </p>
<p>A side note: As soon as very mathematically gifted children begin getting into the theoretical concepts of Calculus and Linear Algebra, they tend to struggle. Up through Geomtery and Algebra they may be fine, but don’t be alarmed if your son is challenged by Calculus.</p>
<p>It’s important to have independent tests that confirm that he’s gifted. When S1 was 5 and started in a new school for K we went to the Principal to ask to have him tested (there were signs of “something” since very early). The first reaction was “everybody thinks their child is gifted and they all are in their own way, etc.” and we were sort of dismissed as another set of stage parents. At our insistence and the teacher’s recommendation he was tested at the end of the first semester and he tested “positive.” With that documentation we were able to go from asking to demanding (albeit very nicely) for him to be placed in the proper setting. We are lucky that we live in an area where the public school system provides many programs for the gifted and he was able to enroll and continue in that kind of programs until he finished high school. When S2 came along (3 years later) we didn’t even had to ask. By the way, once the child tests “gifted” they will always be considered gifted and they don’t have to test again.</p>
<p>I also suggest having independent psychometric testing done if you suspect that your child is highly or profoundly gifted. I would not go with the public school psychologist simply because 99% of their experience will be in identifying deficiencies. </p>
<p>It wasn’t until I had an individually admistered achievement test with a ceiling at the graduate level given to my son did his (rural public) middle school agree to modifications and acceleration. Luckily, it is a 7-12 building and doing high school math is simply a matter of going down the hall. These tests provide you with hard data that is difficult to dispute. The SAT, for instance, allowed him to replace any of the high school English classes with the online courses through CTY. It wasn’t until my daughter had these numbers that the school allowed her to skip (but only one grade and only reluctantly). They have since let her skip another grade in English only (again, it’s just a matter of walking down the hall). </p>
<p>Warning: all the grade and subject acceleration is not the answer to everything. Although there MAY be new material to cover in the higher level classes, the scope and pace of instruction will still be geared toward more normal children.</p>
<p>Your child is a bit young for Junior Boarding School, but you can check them out at [url=<a href=“UNOSLOT: Link Situs Slot Gacor Hari Ini Terpercaya Raja Slot Online”>http://www.jbsa.org/]JBSA-Home[/url</a>]. They usually take kids in the 6th grade.</p>
<p>Once your son is older, there are boarding (and day) schools that will be interested in him. But I can’t really recommend sending him to one more than perhaps a year young. Meanwhile, definitely look at JHU’s CTY program which provides summer camp and online classes. (None of it is free, but it is good stuff.) He will have to take whichever form of the SSAT or ISEE a school wants, but some schools will ALSO accept SAT scores.</p>
<p>Years ago, my daughter’s second grade teacher told me at the November conference that she asked the teacher questions the teacher (30 years of experience) couldn’t answer. When her standardized tests came back, I decided to explore options and found the Hopkins program. Since we live in Maryland, it was a good option. We were sent to a regular Sylvan center for her to take the SCAT. Before doing any of this, I asked her if she wanted to test. She has always had fun with testing. </p>
<p>Our public schools do not offer gifted education. They fit into the “gifted kids will be fine” mentality. So I decided to keep her in regular school and supplement her learning with things that would not put her way ahead of her peers. She was already on a different level and she struggled socially; I didn’t want her to know everything too. She went to CTY day camps after 3rd and 5th grade and picked what she wanted to study (ancient world and forensics). The camps are expensive, but there is financial aid. At one time, we subscribed to seven different magazines: things that interested her like Zoobooks, Dig, Muse, and Imagine–the Hopkins magazine. She attended public school through 9th grade and then switched to a private prep school–day school. The private prep school gave her a great education, but had not quite figured out the balance between higher level work and higher amount of work. The school did not offer gifted services. </p>
<p>You might also get a couple of books. Two that I have are A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children (authors Webb, Gore, Amend and DeVries), and Losing Our Minds, Gifted Children Left Behind by Deborah Ruf. There are many resources in these books. One of the problems with gifted children is that by the time you figure it out, it is hard to do anything. </p>
<p>The advice above is good about talking to your son and asking him what he wants to do. Many gifted children are very social and want to stay with friends. About 70 percent of gifted children are introverts. I wish you the very best. It is very difficult to find the right balance. If you have any specific questions, please ask.</p>
<p>I had practically the same stats when I was a fourth grader, ProfessorZ. Homeschooling turned out to be the right answer for me. I never thought of myself as a prodigy, but anyway… Homeschooling definitely offers a way to take subjects at whatever grade level is best for the student!</p>
<p>I know nothing about prep schools, but I haven’t found it necessary for my son like this. He’s a “math prodigy” and “only” well-above-average in reading. And, as others have said, children like this are surprisingly common; I doubt if too many prep schools would be THAT excited to see one. There is Davidson Academy in Reno, NV, that is a privately-subsidized (sort-of) public school, but I think it’s only a high school.</p>
<p>Before people read this and decide I’m an evil stage mom, MY SON is the one demanding more education, not us. He wants it and we provide it. </p>
<p>!!! Whatever you do, don’t let the schools convince you to do nothing or go with the flow!!!</p>
<p>Davidson (same Davidson another poster mentioned, same Davidson as I listed above) will also help you with children like this - check out “Davidson Young Scholars”. For more info, check out HoagiesGifted.org. It is very informative. A term to Google is “profoundly gifted”. </p>
<p>My son’s schooling path: A couple schools for gifted children (including a grade skip), pulled out for homeschooling at age 10, started community college as well as homeschooling at age 12, accepted to Caltech at age 16. </p>
<p>There’s no reason (other than a THREE HOUR TEST!) that a younger child can’t take the SAT. It also helps to get him into community college if you have SATs in hand that are 500/500/500 (or in your son’s case, 500/600/500).</p>
<p>Math resources we’ve loved: Clue Finders computer games and Logical Journey of the Zoombinis (when he was younger than your son). Aleks.com (very cheap “online workbook”). ArtOfProblemSolving.com. And my favorite, eIMACS.com. He did math summer camps as well.</p>
<p>PM me if you want more. I have LOTS more to say! :D</p>
<p>Although not common, your situation is not so uncommon as to be unique. Contact Duke University’s TIP program or the equivalent programs at Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, the Univ. of Denver or the one located closest to your home. Sometimes young, gifted students are permitted to take classes at a local community college or university. Boston University has a great prep school right on campus, but your son is too young .
Homeschooling, as you probably know, allows an individual student to proceed at a very accelerated pace, if warranted.
Being in a rural, public school may not, however, be the best indicator of a student’s abilities when compared to national standards. Many communities, such as New York City, Atlanta & other major cities, offer magnet schools which will challange your child. When I was in the fifth grade in a very good public school system, the school informed my parents that I would be promoted immediately to the seventh grade because they could no longer accommodate my needs academically. My parents were given a choice that I either had to move up two grades or enroll in the local private school. Private school was a different world with significantly better students & higher expectations. However, I was not challenged enough, so it is wise to find the schools equipped to handle students that need more rigorous academics.
In your case, you may want to consider relocating to an area with an established magnet school system or a strong community college or university.</p>
<p>Another step to consider is to have your child’s intelligence tested by a child psychologist experienced in testing gifted children. Most, if not all, major cities will have several who routinely test youngsters for admission to selective local private schools. If you are willing to reveal your geographic location, then other posters may be able to give your much more specific contact info. Northwestern Univ., Duke’s TIP (talent identification program), Johns Hopkin’s CTY (center for talented youth), Stanford’s Epigy program, Univ. of Denver & other universities have contacts & home study options.
In answer to your question as to whether or not private schools will offer free tuition to a gifted child, the answer is that it depends upon the school, but probably not. Without standardized test results, it is difficult to assess your child’s needs & abilities.
Many gifted children do find satisfaction in non-academic pursuits such as music. Best to start with the piano & the violin. Piano teaches music, while the violin trains the ear.</p>