Berkeley Parents Network: Schools for Gifted Children

Berkeley Parents Network

Schools for Gifted Children

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > K-12 Schools > Schools for Gifted Children

7th grader who loves math and science

Dec 2007

Is there any school for my 7th grade son who loves math and science? I find many schools and programs that address children with learning differences, learning disabilities, ADD, ADHD, ASD, NLD, and special education. We don't need (or want) these programs. My son is atttentive, studies hard, loves academics, and wants an academically challenging environment. We live in Oakland, and haven't much money. Suggestions? Parent of a nerd

I haven't found that the Oakland School District makes it a priority to address the needs of academically precocious children. They aren't legally required to, and it's up to each school to decide if they want to have any sort of (usually very limited) GATE program. Some private schools are also philosophically very opposed to accelerating students. Other private schools are more open to meeting the needs of more academically advanced students. We've been very happy so far with Black Pine Circle in Berkeley, which has a fabulous math/science program and a lot of very talented teachers and students. They offer financial aid and are less expensive than many other private schools. You may also want to consider a school like Head Royce, which is quite expensive, but has a generous endowment and offers financial aid to many families who wouldn't qualify for aid at other schools. They struck me as a bit more competitive and intense than Black Pine Circle, but for a motivated smart kid I think it could be a good match. A sympathetic parent

Check out courses for gifted and talented students through Stanford University http://epgy.stanford.edu/. On line course catalog includes Mathematics, Computer Science, etc. Also look at Berkeley Math Circle http://mathcircle.berkeley.edu/. Good luck. Happy Parent of EPGY OHS student!

You should check out Aurora School. They have mixed grade classrooms (i.e. 2nd graders are in with 3rd graders). There is already an assumption students are at various learning levels with strengths and challenges in different subject matters.

School for highly gifted 7-year-old

November 2003

I am desperately looking for a school for my highly gifted 7-yr old son. Right now he is utterly miserable and frustrated in ''conventional'' school. He needs a place where there are other kids like him and teachers have experience in dealing with highly gifted children. Any schools you can recommend? We are willing to look at public or private schools anywhere in the Bay Area. Thank you.

Recommendations received:

The Academy

Black Pine Circle

Other advice

In response to the parent looking for a school for a highly gifted child - you don't say in what way your child is gifted but here are some schools to consider. At The Academy in Berkeley there are a few children with unusual talents in math, chess, and so on. Their needs are met in a supportive and understated way. The Crowden School would be a good place for a musician. The Chronicle recently had a piece on a gifted young composer at Black Pine Circle. I'm assuming that by ''highly gifted'' you mean a genuine prodigy. With a more relaxed definition probably half the kids at schools like The Academy could be considered highly gifted. Academy parent

Look into Montessori education. It allows kids to work at their own level and deeply explore their innnate interests. Interestingly, it is a method and philosophy of education that works just as well for those with learning challenges and average learners as well as gifted students. My child learned to read by himself (and Sesame Street) at age 2 1/2, and is also very advanced mthematically. Montessori has allowed him to speed along at his own pace. He is in fifth grade now and reads adult level science fiction for literature in school. We are at Berkeley Montessori and have found both the social and acedemic sides to be great. A place that can offer your child truly fertile soil in which to grow. parant of gifted kid

In response to the parent looking for a private school for their highly gifted 7 year old: We are currently looking for Kindergarden for our highly gifted child. We are most hopeful about Aurora and Park Day. It seems like they have a real range of kids, but aim to tailor lessons to meet individual kids needs. I am curious what has not worked for your child in a ''conventional'' school. Which school was he in? What do you think would meet his needs? If you are able, please respond to me at email below. Thanks. s

To the person who was seeking a school for her/his ''highly gifted'' child: you may get the best feedback if you explain how you define highly gifted. For instance, some parents mean their child is emotionally gifted (highly socially evolved, talkative, etc.). Other parents are referring to their child's cognitive aptitude. Still others are referring to statistically measurable IQ. These are important distinquishing characteristics and no one school is right for everyone's child. You noted that your child was ''miserable'' in his current situation. Does that mean he's bored with the curriculum or that he is perhaps book-smart, but not really socially adept? Do children tease him because he doesn't have the emotional capacity to deal with certain social situations? Does he have a form of Asberger's, even though he tests off the charts? Or perhaps he is socially evolved and his classmates don't stimulate him. To really service your child, you may want to give some thought to what highly gifted means in your eyes. I'm sure there are parents out there that can steer you in the right direction with a little more information. All the best.
-- current professor

The opinions and statements expressed on this website are those of parents who subscribe to the Berkeley Parents Network. Please see Disclaimer & Usage for information about using content on this website.