Hometown parents of young children as well as newcomers to the region are often eager to assure the best possible environment for their child, despite the personal sacrifices it may entail. Here are some ways to find a school which is a good match for your child. Call for information about the gifted programs at various school districts and ask follow-up questions of the districts' gifted coordinators. Evaluate the range of services provided by various districts. For instance, Rockwood busses gifted elementary students to the Center for Creative Learning for a full day of intensive enrichment each week and provides pullout support in their home schools.
Most districts provide something in the middle, like pullout classes and homework compacting.
Network with other parents to verify that a school's climate and educational philosophy are what you believe them to be. Consider independent schools. Although they may not have programs specifically tailored for gifted children, many provide an environment in which gifted children thrive. Because of the much lower student-teacher ratio, independent schools can provide more individual attention. Independent schools also select children to match the special mission of each school, and this makes for a more committed student and parent community.