GainesvilleMoms.com

My daughter and I will be moving from Iowa to the Gainsville area. I haven't had very good luck with making a firm decision as to the school I will send her to when we move. She is currently close to the 3rd grade in reading and comphrehension. She is too young I think to have her retested to find out her math scores. Does anyone have any advice as to what schools cater to gifted youth? She attends a catholic school here but if there aren't any that are worth sending her to I wouldn't be opposed to sending her to some other type of school. Thank you.

The two Catholic schools in town are very good; however, they offer no gifted classes but math (and only for 3rd thru 5th graders in the elementary schools). St. Patrick Interparish School is almost 50 years old; it's on the northeast side of town. Queen of Peace Catholic School is approx 6 years old and I've heard good things about it. Both schools offer one very good aspect; the behavior of the kids in the classrooms is excellent. Learning is allowed to take place there constantly, which is wonderful.

The public schools, with the exception of the full-time gifted magnet program at Williams Elem, have just one gifted teacher per school, I believe. And at Williams, the gifted program does not begin until grade 2. It's excellent with ALL super teachers and just 18 kids per class by mandate. However, there are few extracurricular activities (chess at $100 yearly, engineering club for 3rd graders and up, and perhaps chorus).

Zoning may also matter with regard to the elementary schools minus the Williams magnet program. There are many good elementary schools in the county (Glen Springs for one on this side of town), but you need to ask specifically about the number of gifted teachers per school AND the types and numbers of gifted classes offered at each school. Whatever school your child is zoned for will probably be where s/he has to attend (some exceptions are made, of course).

Additionally, your child may need to take a test in this county to see that she's gifted (they may not accept her out-of-area scores). They tightened the rules on what they accept w/ regard to tests; they did so in spring 2007 when our son was getting ready to enter 2nd grade that fall. They want not only the IQ-type test, but also the acheivement tests.

DO call the Alachua County School Board and ask to speak with the person in charge of the gifted programs. The website may have an e-mail address you can use as well. I've been very successful getting the right people to return my e-mails quickly; they've all been very good that way.

As for Iowa, I trained to be a teacher at Drake University in the early 80's. Iowa then (and perhaps now) had excellent schools and the highest literacy rate in the country. As Florida goes, you are moving to one of the best (if not the best) public educational systems this state has to offer; we are blessed with many excellent programs and teachers in Alachua county (and this is from a woman who thought she would keep both her kids at Catholic school forever....I ended up moving mine for grade 6 and grade 2).

If you are looking for private schools as well...Brentwood School and Oak Hall offer gifted classes. Well, Brentwood's are not labeled as gifted but my nephew went there for 2nd-5th and now he is way ahead of his public 6th grade gifted classes. They are pretty expensive though.

My son goes to Brentwood and we have been very pleased. I am hapy to discuss, if you would like additional info on Brentwood.

We moved to Gainesville July 2008. My son goes to Brentwood and I have been very happy so far. He has always been a high achiever and had high test scores in math and reading in the state we moved from. At Brentwood, he does his regular class work and also gets gifted type challenge math in a higher grade level. I like that the focus of his education is learning and not preparing for the FCAT. Good luck!

Archer Community School is a gifted program magnet school for elementary students. They have a very good elementary based fine arts program that most gifted students thrived on.

It is a public school through Alachua County School Board. You can check them out at Link

good luck!

My family has had great success at Brentwood and Oak Hall (went there for middle and high). I know Brentwood offers some tuition help if needed, I would contact the school about that. Not sure about Oak Hall.

I moved from Iowa years ago, and the system change was a a shock. We have a deplorable graduation rate, and at the same time a remarkable 39 national merit semi-finalists this year. A lot depends on the parent, and how pro-active you are with your kids.

My kids "fell out" of the public system: 1 Gifted/LD, and one taught herself to read at 3. We found Gainesville Country Day could work with each child individually, and they didn't have to label kids to get them what they needed.

In the public schools, JJ Finley is a hidden gem: The tests scores are low due to UF Foreign student's children and a "gifted/LD" magnet. The school is smaller, and you're less likely to become a statistic.

If you go with magnets, consider the length of the drive. Real Estate agents will tell you that you have to live West. Magnets are all East, and you're driving across UF traffic.

May you settle in well here in Gainesville!