[quote=cvrentguy]do you still think that private elementary is the better option for elementary compared to Sage or Ocean Air ? This can mean a lot to the OP in the sense that he/she can wait to buy a home. Have you heard anything of late about Rhoades ? Care to share any insights on any other good names ?[/quote]
CVrentguy, I didn’t personally visit Sage or Ocean Air, so can’t comment directly. I do know that Torrey Hills just placed 8th at the regional Science Olympiad, which is amazing considering that there were only 6th graders (and below?) on the team. So there must be a pretty active extracurricular science program there.
The reason we went the private school route is because they have the resources/lower ratios to challenge gifted kids rather than bore them to death with the standard curriculum. I was only comparing the private schools to our neighborhood school, Carmel Creek. The experience gifted kids have in the early years does set the tone for their school careers, at least to some extent. If they learn that school is a boring place where you just have to do the minimum, then they don’t learn to strive to do their best (because there is no need to). So they tune out and focus all that mental energy on other things.
Coincidentally, I just had a friend with a gifted kid visit Rhoades (because he is so unhappy with the kindergarten program at Ashley Falls). He said that they appeared to be strong in science and many non-core subjects, but he was less impressed with their offerings for math and language arts for above-grade-level kids.
I have heard great things about Pacific Ridge (middle/high) and of course Francis Parker (elementary to high school) and Bishop’s (middle/high) are chosen by many. But again, I am so happy with the extracurricular math/science at CVMS. In my own school career, I just coasted (and partied) until I finally hit some challenging material and smart peers in grad school. My kid is having that experience already in middle school. Lucky kid!
