Twice exceptional student - best public school district in MA? (Boston: real estate, house) - Massachusetts - City-Data Forum

Redfish07 · 09-28-2023, 06:00 AM

Hello, I have a student who is both gifted and has ADHD as well as level one autism and I am wondering whether there any school districts in MA that you would recommend for this population. 135 IQ and needs to be challenged academically or gets bored and gets into trouble but also needs a lot of social and emotional supports. Small student teacher ratio is a big class. We can live anywhere and would be specifically moving to MA for public school services.

scorpio516 · 09-28-2023, 06:16 AM

Mass Academy of Math & Science (at WPI in Worcester). Best school in the state, but it's only 100 11th and 12th graders and by application only. Half high school and half WPI classes.

Advanced Math and Science Academy in Marlborough. 6-12 grades, only entry by lottery in 6, 7, 8, or 9th grade.

yesmaybe · 09-28-2023, 06:51 AM

Lexington

Redfish07 · 09-29-2023, 05:59 AM

Thank you both. I also heard that Newton serves these kids well but the real estate options are slim for us as we are looking to have a standalone house in the 700s to 800s range. I am hesitant to do anything that’s lottery based or requires an application. Just looking for a strong public school that can serve twice exceptional kids well with low student teacher ratios

gf2020 · 09-29-2023, 07:00 AM

Massachusetts public schools are really geared towards inclusion for all students. Other than in high school, where honors or advanced placement courses may be offered, the lower grades no longer offer any type of "gifted" programs.

If your child is truly at the upper reaches of academics, they may be better served by a private school and that could be in any state.

msRB311 · 09-29-2023, 07:33 AM

Yes, when i went to public elementary school I remember there were different levels, the top group, the middle group and the low group - for math and for english/reading. Today they don't seem to do that. My kids are still in elementary so i'm not sure when they start grouping kids?

But yeah if you have a kid that is truly gifted I think you'd have to use a private school if you wanted any kind of special treatment of challenge.

BostonMike7 · 09-29-2023, 07:57 AM

30 years ago when i was in elementary school they segregated the class based on testing. top 20 or so students had their own class that stayed together up through HS. They were deemed the "gifted" class and had a different curriculum and extracurricular activities.

Apparently at some point that was deemed not fair and ended.

msRB311 · 09-29-2023, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

30 years ago when i was in elementary school they segregated the class based on testing. top 20 or so students had their own class that stayed together up through HS. They were deemed the "gifted" class and had a different curriculum and extracurricular activities.

Apparently at some point that was deemed not fair and ended.

Yes I remember those also...my school had a group called LATCH i believe even in elementary for gifted kids. I'm not sure how it was unfair...they really go out of their way to help the kids with learning disabilities and IEP. I'm guessing it was a funding thing where it was more important to help challenged kids than gifted kids. I'm not sure it's public schools job to help gifted or challenged kids at the end of the day. That's a whole other debate though.

BostonMike7 · 09-29-2023, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msRB311

I'm not sure how it was unfair.

Well, I was in such a program. Looking back at it, if i was a parent of a kid who wasn't in such a program, but thought they should be, i might be a little upset about it, especially if i didn't have the resources to do such a thing on my own or finance it.

We had extra activities that the other students couldn't partake in. I remember staying late 2 days a week because outside teachers would come in and give us extra lessons pertaining to STEM. Chemistry, engineering, math, etc. Was definitely a lot more in-depth with hands-on work. It was definitely different than the normal class routine. Also, class in general was much more easier without the distractions of trouble-makers and having to slow down to allow struggling students to catch-up.

And this was Revere public school system...

I remember building an RC airplane in 6th grade after class through the program. Prob my best memory of it due to the lasting impact. Flew it a couple times and then it hung in the lobby for a few years. That sorta jump-started it as a hobby for me which led me down a path of where I am today in terms of career choice (engineering). My parents didn't really push these sorts of things on my as my dad was busy working all day long to make ends meet and my mom was raising 3 kids on her own pretty much. So it's a shame more programs like that aren't offered today.

msRB311 · 09-29-2023, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

Well, I was in such a program. Looking back at it, if i was a parent of a kid who wasn't in such a program, but thought they should be, i might be a little upset about it, especially if i didn't have the resources to do such a thing on my own or finance it.

We had extra activities that the other students couldn't partake in. I remember staying late 2 days a week because outside teachers would come in and give us extra lessons pertaining to STEM. Chemistry, engineering, math, etc. Was definitely a lot more in-depth with hands-on work. It was definitely different than the normal class routine. Also, class in general was much more easier without the distractions of trouble-makers and having to slow down to allow struggling students to catch-up.

And this was Revere public school system...

I remember building an RC airplane in 6th grade after class through the program. Prob my best memory of it due to the lasting impact. Flew it a couple times and then it hung in the lobby for a few years. That sorta jump-started it as a hobby for me which led me down a path of where I am today in terms of career choice (engineering). My parents didn't really push these sorts of things on my as my dad was busy working all day long to make ends meet and my mom was raising 3 kids on her own pretty much. So it's a shame more programs like that aren't offered today.

There will always be parents upset their kid wasn't in some top program. It happens in sports too. Parents are often delusional and 90% of the time think their kids are better than they are. Not always...but it happens.

I can see where there might be some questions of a group of already smart kids being taken away for extra time to make them even better...while everyone else struggles or gets nothing.