AN- even if your kids are going to private school you can have them GATE tested in the 2nd grade by SDUSD if you live w/in SDUSD. Seminar doesn’t happen till 3rd grade. So kids who test seminar (99.9 or higher on the raven) in 2nd can start in 3rd. So that is the earliest you could send your kids into the seminar program. You do not have to send them to your home cluster seminar program… it’s common to look at several schools then work with the GATE person at that school to get the choice forms in.
Also… if your child is close… like a 99.8… you should still pursue seminar if your interested… they don’t advertise this but if there are extra seats they look at high tested gate kids. But you have to ask. They won’t come looking for you.
fwiw, I know one of the seminar teachers at Erickson. They have a pretty solid program.