[cvmom]

Captcha, your daughter sounds very special. Seems like you and your wife are doing a great job of keeping her challenged. Keep it up as she goes through the school system. As she gets older, it gets more and more important for her to find peers who are also excited about math. One great resource (starts in fifth grade) is the San Diego Math Circle. It runs on Saturday mornings at UCSD, and was founded by another Poway parent. http://www.sdmathcircle.org/ Actually though, I think they do have some things for younger kids at the Math Circle now as well.

It’s especially hard for girls as they get older–that’s why the peer group of other girls who love math is also very important, I think.

[cvmom]

Captcha, your daughter sounds very special. Seems like you and your wife are doing a great job of keeping her challenged. Keep it up as she goes through the school system. As she gets older, it gets more and more important for her to find peers who are also excited about math. One great resource (starts in fifth grade) is the San Diego Math Circle. It runs on Saturday mornings at UCSD, and was founded by another Poway parent. http://www.sdmathcircle.org/ Actually though, I think they do have some things for younger kids at the Math Circle now as well.

It’s especially hard for girls as they get older–that’s why the peer group of other girls who love math is also very important, I think.

[cvmom]

Captcha, your daughter sounds very special. Seems like you and your wife are doing a great job of keeping her challenged. Keep it up as she goes through the school system. As she gets older, it gets more and more important for her to find peers who are also excited about math. One great resource (starts in fifth grade) is the San Diego Math Circle. It runs on Saturday mornings at UCSD, and was founded by another Poway parent. http://www.sdmathcircle.org/ Actually though, I think they do have some things for younger kids at the Math Circle now as well.

It’s especially hard for girls as they get older–that’s why the peer group of other girls who love math is also very important, I think.

[cvmom]

Captcha, your daughter sounds very special. Seems like you and your wife are doing a great job of keeping her challenged. Keep it up as she goes through the school system. As she gets older, it gets more and more important for her to find peers who are also excited about math. One great resource (starts in fifth grade) is the San Diego Math Circle. It runs on Saturday mornings at UCSD, and was founded by another Poway parent. http://www.sdmathcircle.org/ Actually though, I think they do have some things for younger kids at the Math Circle now as well.

It’s especially hard for girls as they get older–that’s why the peer group of other girls who love math is also very important, I think.

[cvmom]

Thanks for the original post, enjoyed the video a lot. Well, maybe enjoyed is not the right word…it is just sad.

[cvmom]

Thanks for the original post, enjoyed the video a lot. Well, maybe enjoyed is not the right word…it is just sad.

[cvmom]

Thanks for the original post, enjoyed the video a lot. Well, maybe enjoyed is not the right word…it is just sad.

[cvmom]

Thanks for the original post, enjoyed the video a lot. Well, maybe enjoyed is not the right word…it is just sad.

[cvmom]

Thanks for the original post, enjoyed the video a lot. Well, maybe enjoyed is not the right word…it is just sad.

[cvmom]

[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!

[cvmom]

[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!

[cvmom]

[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!

[cvmom]

[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!

[cvmom]

[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!

[cvmom]

We live in Carmel Valley and have quite a bit of experience (from the parental point of view) on the topic of gifted kids’ education in San Diego. I’ll share my opinions/experience, please take or leave as you choose.

We bought in CV mostly because of the schools. However, when our oldest went to enter kindergarten, we were dismayed to find that there were no “gifted” or “gate” classes. We were told “all of our classes are advanced”. Therefore, we put our kid in private elementary school where he could get a more individualized curriculum. We have been very happy with that decision.

When he was in 2nd grade, he tested in to the “seminar” program in the SD Unified school district (top 1% using a standard pattern-recognition intelligence test). We visited 3 of the seminar classrooms. They have max 20 kids per class (at least they did at that time) and the curriculum did seem more challenging than the standard in the classes we observed in CV, although similar to what he was getting in the private school. However, we ultimately decided that the middle/high school options in SD Unified were not as good as those in CV, so we stayed where we were.

Our son is now in 7th grade, and after K-6th in private school, is attending CV Middle School. This has been an AWESOME experience for him. There is an “honors” curriculum, and the district allows them to test into classes at higher than the usual grade level if the honors level is not enough. But the biggest plus is the extracurricular math and science. There are lots of very motivated parents who run the Math League and the Science Olympiad, and they have a bunch of very smart kids. This peer group (and the mentorship of the parent leaders) has been just wonderful for my kid–I have never seem him so excited and motivated. I can’t imagine that any other school could have this much support for these kids who need that extra mental stimulation. And of course the fact that CVMS consistently places very highly (higher than any other SD middle school) in the math/science middle school competitions statewide is very motivating as well. I am just thrilled–no more need to pay private school tuition, but the best possible situation for my kid.

Couple more comments: Torrey Pines and Canyon Crest are some of the best high schools in the state/nation, and they are both in CV. Also, I have a couple of friends with gifted kids in the Poway school system, and they have been very unhappy with the lack of catering to this demographic.

Anyway, my vote for gifted kids is Carmel Valley by far over 4S ranch.

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