A kid may be very talented in one academic area, but not so much in others. Schools that simply have a gifted track and a regular track may not serve kids like that very well.
My kids are bright with learning challenges.
Oldest tested ( as part of a ongoing study for health conditions surrounding her birth) in the 160+ IQ range using individually administered tests.
Why I mention it, is because I wanted her to be both supported and challenged in school, and she applied for the district " gifted" program.
She didn't qualify using their group administered achievement tests.
To qualify for the program, you must be two grades above average in all areas- although in some areas she was
ten years above average, in others she was <gasp> average, or even more
below average.
( which is also why she didn't qualify for any support programs in district, she was not two years
below average in all areas)
Must be some program huh?
It serves the bright children, of well educated and employed parents quite well,because they will be supported in areas where they work harder, and they will be challenged in areas they have mastered, Ive seen it. They travel to Indonesia for xmas break, to Europe for spring break and they are quizzed at mealtimes and tutored after school.
But for the kids of immigrant, blue collar, low income parents, who struggle, they are barely represented at all in the district gifted programs. They don't quiz their kids at dinner, they don't even get to sit down or they have no idea what to ask anyway. They can't afford tutors or a vacation and their peer group/relatives don't have more than a high school education oftentimes and don't have that as a focus.