School choice season is now
Metro Atlanta’s school systems include a decent choice of magnet, theme and charter schools. If you want your child to attend one next year, it’s time to gather information and submit applications.
Here’s a quick round-up of some of the school choices and their admissions procedures. Note: Please don’t consider this to be a complete list. I’ve tracked down what information I could, but there are other schools not on this list that deserve consideration. If you’re seriously considering school choice, I recommend that you visit your school system’s page under the “Gifted Ed in Local Schools” tab on this site. From there, you can explore the web sites for the specific school(s) that interest you and contact them for more information.
DeKalb County Schools will hold its School Choice Expo this Saturday, Jan. 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia. Registration for a few DeKalb schools opens later this month, but for most schools, lottery registration will begin in March.
I had a hard time finding information on the Clayton County Schools web site, but in poking around I found that Fine Arts Magnet High School is taking applications now. Rex Mill Middle School also is accepting applications from current 5th graders — their deadline is Feb. 24.
In Fulton County, you have until Jan. 23 to apply to Riverwood International Charter School. Once again this year, Riverwood is accepting applications only from Fulton County residents — the non-resident, tuition paying option won’t be available for 2012-13. The deadline for North Springs Charter High School is Jan. 30. A staff member at North Springs said residents of Fulton, DeKalb and Cobb can apply, although there may not be spaces available for students from outside Fulton. Applications for the lottery are being taken now for Ridgeview Charter School, Fulton’s IB middle school. Their deadline is Feb. 16, 2012. Applications to the math and science magnet at Westlake High School are due Feb. 9. The visual and performing arts magnet at Tri-Cities High School is holding auditions this Saturday, and also on Feb. 25.
Magnet schools in Cobb County are no longer taking applications, which were due in early December.
(I was starting to feel guilty about not being timely with information on Cobb and Fulton schools, until I realized I published this post back in October 2011. Whew.)
Gwinnett County students can apply to the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology (GSMST) through Feb. 3, 2012.
The City of Atlanta Public Schools system doesn’t offer school choice via a magnet or charter structure, but it does allow student transfers. Applications for transfers are generally allowed in the spring, toward the end of the school year.
Google invites inquisitive teens to enter second annual online science fair
If your teenager enjoys scientific investigation, Google Science Fair 2012 offers an opportunity to explore a question, come up with an answer, and possibly win a $50,000 scholarship (or other prizes).
The global, online science fair is open to students ages 13-18. They may work alone, or in groups of up to three members. Registration is open now. The contest closes April 1, 2012.
Winship Cancer Institute summer program offers hands-on experience in biomedical research
Current high-school juniors with an interest in biomedical research can apply now for the Winship Summer Scholars Research Program, to be held at Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute.
Students who are accepted into the program will first learn about the science of cancer in a classroom setting. Then, each student will be paired with a research scientist or clinical oncologist who is actively engaged in research at the Emory University School of Medicine. These mentors will guide the students as they work in biomedical research labs on the Emory campus.
Program dates are June 4 – July 16, 2012. The application requires a transcript and letters of recommendation. Application deadline is Feb. 10, 2012.
Note: This program is open only to students attending high schools in the greater Atlanta area.
UGA Debate Camp now accepting applications
High-school students of all experience levels are invited to attend the Georgia Debate Institute, a residential camp which will be held from June 17-30, 2012 at the University of Georgia.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. The application deadline is May 1, 2012. If you get your application and deposit in before April 1, you’ll receive a $200 discount off the $1,600 price tag, which includes housing and meals.
Junior Astronomy Workshop at Tellus Museum
Kids ages 5-12 are invited to an astronomy workshop on Friday, Jan. 27, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Tellus Museum in Cartersville.
The junior astronomers will learn to use a star chart and will practice watching the night sky in the planetarium and the observatory.
These events typically sell out well in advance. Call 770-606-5700, ext. 417 to reserve tickets.
Kennesaw State’s 2012 Summer University registration is now open
Kennesaw State University is now taking applications for the 2012 session of its Summer University. This summer program, held on the KSU campus, is open to students currently in kindergarten through 11th grade (rising 1st – 12th graders when summer arrives). Classes run the gamut from the artsy to the academic, with several weeks of LEGO robotics courses among the mix.
The summer is broken into seven, one-week sessions, running from early June until the end of July. Each week costs $229 to $299.
Summer registration open now for debate and pre-college programs at Emory University
The mad scram
ble to figure out summer schedules has begun. While a number of the camps listed on the Summer Programs page of this site aren’t registering for 2012 yet, two that have begun accepting applications are Emory University’s Pre-College Program and the Emory National Debate Institute.
Pre-College is for rising high-school juniors and seniors. The program offers two-week, non-credit sessions, as well as six-week sessions that can earn college credit in such courses as writing, math, economics, foreign language and more. Students can commute to the campus or can live in a residence hall. (All of the two-week sessions have a residential option; only one of the two six-week sessions allows students to live on campus.) Admission to the program is on a rolling basis, so applying early is encouraged. The final application deadline is May 15. Need-based financial aid is available; the deadline to apply for aid is April 1.
The Emory National Debate Institute has two-week, four-week and six-week programs for high-school students, available on a residential or commuter basis. The application deadline is April 1, but as with Pre-College, spaces are filled as applications are received, so some programs could close earlier. ENDI also offers a program for middle-school students through Pace Academy’s summer camps. (However, Pace’s summer information isn’t up yet.)
Brenau University in Gainesville now offers early college for young women
Exciting news for parents of high-school girls who are ready to tackle college academics:
Brenau University will open its Early College Academy in fall 2012 to rising 11th and 12th graders. Young women admitted to the academy will take college-level courses which will count toward both their high-school graduation requirements and a college degree.
Students who complete the two-year program, beginning in what would be their junior year of high school, can earn their high-school diploma and an associate of arts degree. (Those who start in their senior year of high school will earn their diploma and one year of college credits.) The credits can serve as the start of a full bachelor’s degree program at Brenau, or can be transferred toward a degree at most colleges or universities.
Early College Academy is part of the Women’s College, and that’s part of what I love about this opportunity. First, research has shown that bright young women feel more comfortable using their full range of talents in all-female environments. And second, I like the idea of giving a high-school-aged girl access to college without throwing her into a world of — pardon me for saying it bluntly, but — college boys.
I also like that Brenau will let Early College students take honors sections of classes, which is ideal for gifted students.
The young women in the program can live in a residence hall that’s just for Early College students, or can commute to the campus, located in Gainesville.
If you’d like to learn more, visit the Early College web site or contact the director of the academy, Lenna Applebee, either by e-mail or by calling (770) 534-6286.
Registration open for GSU Saturday School Spring 2012 session
Georgia State University’s
Saturday School for Scholars and Leaders has released its class list for the first spring session of 2012. Classes are offered to students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Choices include a variety of topics in math, science, writing and more.
Classes will meet on five consecutive Saturdays, beginning January 21. Sessions are held in the mornings and afternoons, although the morning has two advantages: 1) more choices of classes; and 2) free parent seminars, which are held while the children are in class.
To qualify for admission to Saturday School, a student must meet scoring requirements on an achievement test or IQ test and have a recommendation from the testing psychologist or the school the student attends. New students can be granted provisional admission for one year without submitting the required documentation.
Registration is open now through Jan. 10.
Kids in grades 5-8 invited to enter Young Scientist Challenge
Discovery Education and 3M are looking for kids in grades 5-8 with innovative ideas about how science can improve our world. The Young Scientist Challenge asks kids to create a short video about how science could help solve challenges in the areas of transportation, health or community. Entries are judged on creative thinking and knowledge of science, not on production value of the video.
The top 10 students will receive $1,000 and will travel to the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minn., to compete for the grand prize of $25,000. Other entrants will win travel vouchers, and one student from each U.S. state will be awarded the 3M Innovation Prize.
Entry deadline is April 19, 2012.
Gifted Atlanta 