Edwin I sincerely wish you and your family the best for next year.

But this, I mean, come on! Most gifted kids don't have this. Of course Mirman is like this. And saying " I don't mean to brag?" I do realize I am in the minority here thinking this kind of "not bragging" is repugnant.

calizephyr, a school like Mirman is only a fantasy for my family. There is a private school for the gifted here in the Bay Area (Nueva School) which is a beautiful place in Hillsborough, CA. We couldn't even afford to rent a house close enough to Hillsborough that our kids could attend. We live on the other side of the bay. I went to Nueva School for a conference on gifted education. They had all the big names there including Dr. Ruf, Dr. Silverman and the Drs. Eide. The students there have a steel drum band. It's all very posh.

It makes me sad that I can't offer these kinds of opportunities to my kids, but I really don't begrudge others their happiness. I wasn't upset by bianc850a's post. I just took it as her sharing her happiness and satisfaction with the school. Also, a good review by her may help someone else on this board who could have access to that school.

Question: Most schools like this, around here, have plenty of financial aid, since fundraising has been strong over the last several years. If your kids are testing HG, don't they offer tuition relief?

These schools sound like St. Ann's in Brooklyn, which is 30K per year, but if they want your child, they will offer scholarship. Is that not an option?

Ren

I can't speak for gifted schools, but the private Jewish school we send our children to does offer finacial aid.

I take the process in stride, but many parents find it very upsetting. The forms are very intrusive and many feel that the expectation is that you will live in poverty to send your child to the school. Parents complain that those who own their own businesses can artificially claim a small income. Others have told me that they were told to cash their retirement savings or to approach their parents for money (parents who are not always supportive of the decision to attend the school).

I accept all of this as part of the process, but it can be difficult to sit in a room and justify your expenses to a total stranger.

*sigh*

Okay, calizephyr. We get it. You've been heard and your point is clear.

But I think it's also pretty clear from the responses that the majority of us are not as insulted by the mere existence of the school as you are, nor are we likely to be. Schools like this exist, and the consensus seems to be that Bianca has a right to say nice things about the school, just as you have enjoyed the right to say how much you don't like it. You're now moving into personal attack territory, and I'm personally uncomfortable with that.

Think we could move on now? Please?

Ren, it may be worth a try but I think it very unlikely that Nueva would offer our family sufficient financial aid. Why would they when they have a waiting list full of people who will pay full price?

Ok, Kriston. Fair enough.

Cathy, your points are interesting.
As far as wren's question, here in LA private school tuitions are going up to insane levels. Around or will be over 30 grand (also consider all the donations they want as well). The fin aid packages offered to some middle class folks I know were not that great, I mean even at half off, 15 grand is a lot. There's waiting lists and lines out the door for these schools. The failure that is LAUSD causes a sad scramble here.

Hi Cathy,

I have heard great things about Nueva. I would apply and see what happens. The schools do have financial aid available and a lot of times the admissions office is not involved in awarding financial aid.

Ultimately the decision to accept or not accept a child is not always based on whether their parents can pay full tuition or not. Also, I am not sure if your child is a DYS, but they do offer financial aid for gifted school tuition.

One more clarification. Mirman is a non-for profit independent school. This means that all the money that comes in in the form of tuition, fundraising, gifts, etc, must be spent back on the students. They obviously have to be financially responsible and since they do not receive state or federal funding they have to have parents that can afford that tuition. A lot of those parents are also very generous and give in addition to the tuition they pay. I am grateful for these parents as my dd benefits from such gifts. Mirman has an IQ requirement, so any child that goes there is HG.

I am sad that not all HG children can attend the school, but as I mentioned earlier, they only have 30 spots for room one. That is an unfortunate reality but it does not take away from all the good things they are doing for the kids they do accept.

Right. Especially for people who haven't even been able to afford a house. And remember, that's 15 G/year. For 10 years. I just don't see it happening for us.

Yes, I have to admit that when I hear about 30K tuitions for K and 1st grade, I think "Egad! Those people have more money than sense!"

It must be a REALLY great school for that kind of cash! I mean, I can't even imagine having the kind of income that would make an annual tuition like that seem like a good deal!

Clearly I'm very firmly entrenched in the middle class...