Private schools for 3rd grader in Raleigh, Durham area
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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Location: Chapel Hill, NC, formerly NoVA and Phila
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TarHeelNick
I've heard DA only accepts students coming in at particular grade levels (1st, 6th, and 9th grade i think)....that could be completely false though.
Those are probably the big entry points but not the only entry points. My friend's child started Durham Academy in a different grade than those listed above.
It looks like your son is quite far ahead for 2nd grade. If I were looking for a school for him I'd ask each school for a specific math curriculum and then compare.
You might like to check out the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools. They have a special program for very highly gifted kids called LEAP. It begins in 4th grade and kids from all over the school system who test into the program are grouped together in a special self-contained group at Seawell Elementary and Smith Middle School.
CHCCS also has regular gifted programming where kids are kept with their peers, but pulled out for more challenging work.
Thank you all. This is very helpful. I will ask the schools for more specific math curricula. At least that way I'll be able to fully know what he will be learning.
To clarify, DA is on our list. We just might not be able to make this years application deadline, because of on campus required testing.
I don't think any of the private schools in the area offer more challenging academics than the best public schools in the area. They do offer smaller class sizes in many cases and may offer a more nurturing environment as well as less diversity and they cost a lot of money. We have done all the kinds of school there are to do in our area, private, public, charter, and a small dab of homeschooling (have many friends who are committed to that lifestyle).
If you start private now, I have found that it can be hard to get out if that's on your radar. We got out when the school our kids were at closed (and it only went up to 5th grade anyway), but friends who thought they might let their kids go to middle school at another private school are finding themselves there for the long haul, which is totally fine, but I hear a lot of talk from them about the lack of diversity and the lack of funds on their end.
You can take a look at middle school and high school course offerings in CHCCS schools at https://sites.google.com/a/chccs.k12...-city-schools/ . I would imagine WCPSS, DPS, etc have something similar online and DA and many of the other private schools may also.
poppydog-
I couldn't agree with you more regarding outstanding public schools. Thank you for pointing out the other factors in making a decision as to whether to choose private or public. I have weighed those as well. I am certainly open to a public school provided it is best for my son (and family) overall. Thank you for the website link. I have heard that the Chapel Hill/Carborro school system is excellent.
I think in some areas private schools really are more academically challenging than the best public schools in those areas, but it's my opinion that that is not the case in the Triangle. Obviously it depends on the individual student and the teachers too. For my kids, we're in a charter right now. It's pretty good, but not nearly as academically challenging as CHCCS middle and high schools, nor does it offer the breadth of courses that they do nor does it have the funding that they do, but the small size and nurturing atmosphere makes it a better fit for my kid with social anxiety.
There are lots of super smart kids in CHCCS schools, so if your guy is one of those he would have a lot of peers, especially if you can get him into LEAP in 4th grade.
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