magnet schools, feeder schools, gifted schools, oh my! (Jupiter, Wellington: zoned, bus)

[Razz2525]

I've been told to get my almost-5-year-old tested for the gifted program so I planned to get him tested and submit it to whatever elementary school we were zoned for, but I found out from a friend that her son got into a magnet high school and the bus picks him up at 6am to take him from Wellington all the way to North Palm Beach! He apparently was accepted to an International Baccalaurate Program. Is this how magnet schools work? Can you apply to any magnet school in Palm Beach County and if you get in, your child will be bussed there? Are magnet schools considered gifted programs automatically?

I'm just confused about the difference between a magnet public school, feeder schools, and elementary schools with part-time gifted programs. Since we're currently in Wellington, Equestrian Trails would be our zoned school but if we move to Jupiter, it might be Lighthouse Elementary or Limestone Creek. But since my son has expressed an interest in math and science, perhaps I should be considering a science and technology based elementary school, even though it may be as far as Boca??

If anyone has experience with this, please fill me in! Trying to understand it with the Palm Beach County School District forms online is somewhat difficult (or maybe I'm just not getting it).