Too Early to Start Looking for School?

Hi A.,

I have had my son in Tempe Montessori School since he was 18 months. We love how they focus on respect for self, respect for others and respect for environment. In addition to academics, he is taught basic life skills. He is 4 now and has moved onto the Primary Class. The last time I did an observation, the teacher was teaching him geography, countries in South America. You might just want to check it out: www.tempemontessori.org. If you do end up at a Montessori School, I recommend you make sure it is AMI certified. www.montessori-ami.org.

Best of luck.

Eduprize is good... so is Benjamin Franklin Charter School (where my oldest is currently in Kindergarten)

With Benjamin Franklin, they don't allow you to put your child on the Kindergarten waiting list until the January before the school year starts. (My DD started Kinder in Aug 2008, so I went in Jan 2008 to get her on the waiting list.)

Check out schools on greatschools.net... you can see the schools "on paper" and then talk with the staff and schedule a tour of the school.

Editted to add- my niece who is now in jr. high went to Noah Webster Charter... she was on a waiting list for 2 years before she got in. Call the schools and find out what their procedure is for getting your child into Kindergarten.

HTH

Hi A.,

I have my son at Polytechnic Elementary School and he loves it. They are the first school of University Public Schools that ASU has started and will be located on the ASU Polytechnic Campus when their permanent buildings are completed next year (thats at Williamsfield and Power). They have a lottery/waiting list system right now, but I believe it will turn in to just a waiting list after the next school year. You should check them out. My son is five and in 1st grade (he started Kindergarten early at 4 because he passed the readiness test when he was 3, not bragging, just in the same boat as you) and he is doing 2nd grade reading and math work. They cluster the grades together so they can work at whatever level the kid is at (so if above grade level in one are but not the other)with out being removed from class. There are no "gifted" classes, which I love, because each child is being given work that suites the level they are at with out labeling the child. My kid is smart, but I do not want him in classes called gifted because thats too much pressure to put on a kid (what if when they get older the gifted work becomes to difficult and they need to move down, then they will feel like they are no longer good enough to be gifted and that could hurt their self-esteem). Personally I think "gifted" classes are more for parental bragging rights than what is best for the child. Also, this school will be a K-12 school (right now its K-6 but as the 6th graders go up in grade so will the school until 12th grade) which I also really like. They get Spanish and PE classes everyday. You can check it out at asu.edu by searching for University Public Schools.

Good luck searching for schools!

If you want your child to go to a charter school I would reccomend putting them on the list now. Some schools have a 3 yr waiting list others have the lottery system that can take even longer. It is always better to be safe then sorry.

My children go to Edu-Prize and my understanding is that people put their babies on the waiting list. At 2 1/2, I don't think you'll have any problem getting him in now. I've been pleased with Edu-Prize. However, if your child would end up qualifying for "gifted" services, public schools offer more than charter schools in that regard. At Edu-Prize, they can work above grade level in reading and math, but it isn't a gifted & talented program. (the only downside that I've come across since being there) Good luck & do your homework....although it looks like you are.

I just completed my graduate thesis on the charter school impact on AZ public schools and I think you should definitely look into charters! There are some really great charter schools in AZ - but... Gilbert has one of the best school districts in AZ as well. Start doing your research on greatschools.net and the AZ department of education website & call some of the schools you might be interested in. I don't think they would have 2.5 year waiting lists, but if you don't already have him enrolled in pre-school it sounds like you think he is ready and may also want to look into a Montessori program if you think he is advanced - then he can learn at his own pace.

Good luck & let us know what you find out about waiting lists. My son is only 14 months but I have done my research, and have a 96 page paper to prove it! LOL

Eduprize, Eduprize, Eduprize. My kids are in Eduprize in the Queen Creek area and I love it. They are doing so much better than they did in public school. The original Eduprize Campus is in Gilbert. You can get all the info at www.edu-prize.com and you should get your application in sooner than later.

It does all depend on what school you are thinking about putting him in. Yes most of your charter schools do have waiting list soif that is the route you are thinking then yes start looking now. As far as regular classrooms if you are in gilbert school district then they have gifted programs designed for the child that is ahead of there regular classmates. My daughter is the same way she is in 5th grade this year but reads 7/8th grade & her math is 7th grade. Gilbert schools are awesome schools so keep that in mind when checking into schools.