Gifted Education

My son went through the GATE program at Fremont Elementary in the Heights and we loved the school and all of the GATE teachers. It's a small school with a lot of extras (science and computer labs, and a garden) with very down to earth parents. When my daughter started school we had moved to the Los Altos area and are at Prisk. We have also been very happy there, it is a larger elementary but also has the same extra's Fremont has with a very active PTA. Kettering, Cubberly and Minnie Gant are all supposed to be a great schools too although I can't say from personal experience. Hope this helps!

Hello, I would think, unless you are going private, that you would have to seek out this school within your school district. We have great programs here in PYLUSD, but you have to live within our district whether you are willing to drive a long distance or not. I would suggest looking up your district on their website and then doing further research from there.

Our district has various programs. Some where the students in GATE are segregated into their own classes from 4th-6th grade and then another program for 7th-12th. However, I personally chose a program where my child is in class with students of a variety of levels, but is given additional/unique curriculum and also additional field trips/activities and programs. Now she is in 7th grade and I again chose a similar program however the more segregated program is located at another local jr. high.

Again, see what your district offers and ask their GATE coordinator about their programs. I think they usually start in 4th grade.

JK-V
www.AisForAutism.net

My 6-year-old son is in first grade and my 9-year-old godson is in third grade. Both are in the GATE program at Emerson Parkside Academy Charter School and I love it!!! All their GATE teachers are GATE certified and fabulous. I couldn't ask for a better partnership. However, as a PTA member and involved parent, I am very aware of budget cuts throughout the state. Things may change in all schools if the state approves the $4.2 billion cuts to education. In Long Beach, the proposed budget cuts have resulted in numerous teachers are being notified of displacement. But LB is fortunate as all the teachers will still have jobs! In OC, however, more than 1000 teachers are being "pink slipped". We won't know until May/June what will actually happen, but all public schools in CA will be affected if the cuts are approved. Regardless, I have been impressed with how the principal at Emerson is handling the financial situation and I have written letters to our Governor and Legistlators opposing the budget cuts. I urge you to do the same. In the meantime, check out Emerson for your daughter!!!

The school district in La Habra caters to the GATE program wonderfully! I was involved in the GATE program myself when I was in school. Ladera Palma is the name of the K-2 grades school. Hopefully this helps!

Hi,
I live in Long Beach as well. My daughter goes to Minnie Gant Elementary and they have a GATE program. My daughter was screened but did not pass, but I've heard it's a great program. Minnie GAnt School is GREAT in all areas. I would recommend checking them out. Naples Elementary is supposedly the best but I'm sure hard to get into. Then there's Lowell. I would check out Minnie GAnt.

Our children (4 of them) have attended a small private school in Cypress, not far from Long Beach (Holy Cross Lutheran at 4321 Cerritos) since 1996. The education has been suited to the needs and abilities of each of our children, which have ranged from gifted to borderline slow-learner. The academic curriculum is very solid. Kindergarten is a full day program (8:20-3:15), along with the other grades. They have a great arts (including drama), music and athletics program. The teachers care about each kid and work with each to the best of their abilities. For two of our children, curriculum/assignments have been practically tailor-made. Our oldest originally attended kindergarten in our local public school with a GATE program, but we were dissatisfied with the school/teacher tendency to categorize the children, thus limiting their opportunities. At Holy Cross, there have been no administrator/teacher-limiting situations. We are very happy there (two still in attendance, in 4th and 7th grades). The office number is ###-###-####.

My step-son attends Prisk Elementary in Long Beach (Los Altos neighborhood) and is doing well in their GATE program. But as someone else mentioned, even though Long Beach has open enrollment, kids in the neighborhood get first pick.

Hi, I am in the fullerton district and Acacia has a wonderful GATE program.
You might want to look in to it!

Hi I live in Long Beach as well. I don't know if you went to the education celebration but there were several schools there that start gate or accelerated classes in 1st or 2nd grades. My kids go to Carver Elementary and they group the kids that are "high achievers" or gifted starting in first. My son is almost done with the 1st grade math and it is an awesome school. I also loved Emerson. It is a Charter school and may be full but starts the accelerated program in First. Either would be a great choice. My son's teacher is Mrs. Farol in first grade and they really challenge the students even if they don't test until 2nd grade. Trust me I teach in Buena Park and the expectations of those two schools, Carver and Emerson and in the high achieving classes match any gifted program for 1st grade. Also the kindergarten teachers are amazing.

Tincher Preparatory School on Studebaker and Atherton on Petulmua. This has a good GATE program. If your child has been GATE tested and passed, the only problem I see is that if Tincher is not your home school you may have a little issue getting him into the class. Usually the home resident kids get first seats and there are a lot of GATE home resident students. You will need to see the counselor and watch the enrollment GATE and availability of the classes. Tincher also has a second program up to 4 grade. It is called TOPS. The is a secondary class to GATE. Almost all of the TOPS teachers use the same materials as the GATE teachers. If your child gets this program it is just a good as good at the GATE program. The only difference between the classes is the GATE class has more of the advanced kids. Sometimes the GATE class is a little competitive because not only is it getting straight A's there is inner competition on how many grade levels higher they are. Sometimes people prefer the TOPS class for this reason.

Good LUck

I know all schools are different, but at our school district and the school my kids go to, GATE begins in the 2nd/3rd grade. The criteria to belong in GATE depends on their state testing results and another is the child is put through a series of screen testing through the school. Even if a child is gifted, the other is the maturity level. My youngest was bright at 6 but her maturity level was not at the level that would be considered mature enough. She was given more challanging work and I was fine with that. It all depends on you as a parent if you would like your child to be in GATE at an early age. For me, I preferred my kids to wait, because of the extra required reports ,,, I did not want any more added stress. That is why I appreciated my children receiving the extra challange work. Basically, it is all a matter of preference. They were doing well, they received the challanging attention, they did not feel overly stressed with the reports and they continued to excel in their state testings while still being kids.