Advice sought on schooling for DCs (8, 6, 4 & 2) in San Francisco

[MoshiMoshi]

That's it really. What is on offer and is there a difference between the private and public schools etc. We may be relocating as DH has a possible job offer there so I am researching the system, but also wondered if anyone here had experience and could help guide me through the system over there. I worry in particular about DS (8) who is gifted and in an exceptional school here in London and what the substitute would be in San Francisco. I don't worry as much about the other DCs (girls) who, while still very young, are not showing themselves to be hugely ahead of their peers although they all seem to be following the trend. It is my DS who is 4-5 years ahead that is my main concern.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

hi maybe post in the the living oversea section

No specific SF advice, but in general you would be better off sticking with public schools as they are obliged to cater for the educational needs of all students, from one end of the ability spectrum to the other. Private schools otoh often do not take SN children or the very gifted (well they take the gifted but they do not challenge them).

Good idea to post this question in Overseas Living.

sorry i have to disagree with mathanxiety. The public schools in california are really poorly equipped to deal with gifted children. Most of their resources are used on sn children, but unfortunately not those who are gifted. I have been told repeatedly that there is no extra help for my dc's (who are both gifted, but with some sn) because they do well on the standardized tests. I have moved my ds (just started 6th grade) to private school and will probably do the same for dd. You should look at the charter schools (these are public schools in the sense that they are funded by the state and free but without the same set of restrictive rules as the regular neighborhood public schools). They tend to have admission guided by lottery, so may not be so easy to get into. Also check into magnet schools (not sure what they have in SF...they are big here in la) Look at the website www.greatschools.org for reviews of all the schools (take it with a grain of salt, but definitely a good start). My experience has been that the schooling system is not that different in the us and uk at the elementary level. One big difference is that you are automatically entitled to a place at your local (closest) school regardless of how many kids want to attend. They have to add an extra teacher/classroom if there is not enough space. If you are renting and have some choice over where you can live, look for a school with good ratings, rent there and then enroll your child (you will need lease and utility bill to prove residence). The other mandatory requirement will be vaccinations. Bring your redbook and make sure you get all the missing jabs before you start school (ie chicken pox and others not standard in the uk). You can object on religious grounds to having these jabs, but it is a pain and generally easier to just get them). You will want to check the api score of the school which is a way of comparing public schools (over 900 is best). You can get this from the greatschools website.
Also bear in mind that with all the money you save by sending your child to public school you can do a lot of extra curricular activities to supplement the education of your gifted child(ren). If you are just going for a limited period of time, it may just be worth using the spare time (not spent learning useful things) on exploring California which is an amazing State (ok so I'm a little partial...but I have lived and been to a lot of places in the world). Bring lots of sweaters. SF is cold!!!!!!

Hmm....
School districts in a big state like CA vary a lot, OP, I think you need to find a local board. Maybe try here. Are you actually in San Francisco or could it be anywhere in the Bay Area?

If you're moving, the way to find a place to live is to research the schools and the school district boundaries first, then find somewhere to live within the boundaries of your favourite school. Having a child with special educational needs may mean you don't have to be as fixated on districts but you will need some confirmation from whatever district you are seeking the gifted designation that your DS fits the category. Though provision for gifted children is pretty spotty..

my cousin moved to Brisbane CA as she could not afford to move to Santa Cruz ....

Berkeley Parents Network looks useful (lots of very clever people around there).

A belated thank you for all this superb advice. MN rocks .