Looking for advice on USA schools, gifted or magnet schools

[vicarc]

Hi!

My child is at a Grammar School in the UK. We are considering a move to the US. I'd like to know more about either gifted programmes or magnet schools in the US. Are they the equivalent of Grammar schools? Is it possible to move across from Grammar to a similar academically challenging programme in a US school? How do I apply and are there set testing periods? Sorry but I really do not know anything about these types of programmes.

My child went to an American community school but overseas, from Kindergarden to Grade 4. That is the limit of our experience of the US system. We enjoyed the experience, my child was certainly happy and confident in this environment but we did extra work at home to keep up with spellings and timetables as they didn't do rote learning at this school at all not even for spelling tests. We also really benefited from the small class sizes but maybe this was just this particular school. What are typical class sizes in the US?

US schools vary wildly by state and even city. They are locally controlled. So really, you need to have an idea of where in the USA you are thinking of moving to know how to compare schools.

It's really impossible to say without knowing specifics, yes. Not all areas have choice programs or magnets. The programs can be incredibly competitive (think Stuyvesant High School in NYC) or not so much. Some schools provide gifted and talented programs within the general school environment. There's also private schools.

You need to be more specific. Magnet schools are equivalent to grammar schools but just as grammar schools vary wildly in terms of how academically selective they are, the same is true for magnet programmes.

Start by knowing the city you are keen to move to or at least what part of the US as others have said and then people can help a bit more.

Hi, yes I appreciate there's huge variation between states so I'll need to be more specific in future.

What is the fundamental difference between a Magnet School and a gifted programme? For someone moving internationally from a Grammar school in the UK would it make more sense to apply for a Magnet School?

Depends on the magnet programme but many magnet programmes are selective based on academic ability and so are similar to grammar schools.