RandomG said:What is so special about St. Margaret's Episcopal School, that is worth not only the drive, but also the money? It is on average $29k/year. And religious on top of it. I'm not being critical, people do whatever they want with their cash, just wondering if they offer anything that is outstanding, and no way you could get in our public schools, or supplement at home for free.
I'll take the schools in Irvine, and save the money for Caltech!!
RandomG said:Yes, but how many of those kids at St. Margaret's are super-advanced and in need of acceleration? 10% maybe? The rest just go with the flow, which is something they could easily do in public school.
That is the problem I see in Irvine. With so many capable students, why isn't there more focus on the high achievers? Get rid of the GATE cluster thing, and create truly gifted, separate GATE classes. For each grade level. It's probably a matter of budget.
RandomG said:Yes, but how many of those kids at St. Maragret's are super-advanced and in need of acceleration? 10% maybe? The rest just go with the flow, which is something they could easily do in public school.
That is the problem I see in Irvine. With so many capable students, why isn't there more focus on the high achievers? Get rid of the GATE cluster thing, and create truly gifted, separate GATE classes. For each grade level. It's probably a matter of budget.
I for one, do have the time after school to dedicate to my kids, so I guess I am lucky. It costs me about $40 at Barnes and Noble for a few Singapore math books, and they're good for a couple of months!!
Also with three kids, at $90k a year tuition at St. Margaret, I'd have to bring home at least double that to make up for the lost time with the kids. And still not worth it!
nyc to oc said:Its the no child left behind approach, and a budget issue probably for the public school districts.
RandomG said:APAAS was suggested to me. Indeed, with the hassle of driving around, it wouldn't work.
In FL, there are separate gifted classes at every grade level, and while maybe in K-5 only one out of 3 students should be in that gifted class, once they hit 6th grade (middle school), the difference is remarkable (well, at least in our former district). There are actually 3 levels: regular, advanced and gifted. Some schools even have the Cambridge or the IB program. Many kids (and their parents) who were in gifted in elem. know they won't handle the rigorous curriculum in middle, and go back to regular.
Too bad that the priorities are different in California. A state with so much potential.
Sorry to the OP for hijacking the thread.
European style tracking wouldn't work here because:nyc to oc said:I think in Europe, at least in certain countries (not sure which one you're from) there is more acceptance of tracking and giving good practical vocational education to those who are not really cut out for and may not be interested in abstract "book learning" and university education.