Advice Re: Gifted Child Entering Kindergarten in Manatee County

J.,

My daughter attends Rowlett, and my mother just retired last year from there as their speech pathologist. My daughter loves it there so so much and so do I. We have now moved to another city and I drive the half hour to get her there each day and will never consider another school. They have many different programs there, we've been to different recitals is it's very diversified, but it's all art. Drama, dance, singing,art, and media. If you do choose a public school, choose this one for sure. I'm not sure about a "gifted program" but I know the principal arranges some classes according skills. When we switched my daughter there, she went to Bayshore, which was so terrible, she had failed 1st grade. Now she a top exceller in her 2nd grade class. If we could not have switched at the time I would have enrolled her in private school. As I understand it, St Stephens is supposed to be very good.

I am not quite sure about schools int he area , i know that Pine VIew (not sure what grade it starts second i think ?) is a public school for the gifted. I have known many people that went there and did very well...

But i would suggest calling up Forty Carrots which is a great organization that is geared towards children and families. THey may be able to steer you in the right direction !

www.fortycarrots.org/

I'm not sure of any specific schools that would be helpful with such a gifted child. However, I am becoming a teacher and with my work in the school I'm not sure if I would risk sending her to a public school. I went to Bradenton Christian my entire life and it is a wonderful school, but again there is not necessarily a "gifted" program. With a private school, the teachers and administration have more time to focus on your daughter rather than "herd" her along with the others. Good luck!

I have heard from friends that have children that attend Rowlett that it is a wonderful school. I know they do have a fine arts program however I do not know about their gifted program. They are a choice school - so call the school and ask them if you can go in and speak with them about the different classes offered. My daughter who is in kindergarten now went on a tour at Rowlett last year and they had fun games and such set up for them - she wanted to go their so bad - she does have an older sibling at another school and it wasnt possible.
Good Luck

You may want to look into Montessori Education - the Center for Education school is on the Sarasota/Manatee line and they create individual educational plans for each child...my oldest is now in the 8th grade and attends Pine View School (grades 2-12) for the Gifted in Sarasota County - she loves it and so do we.