Starting Early - Edmond, OK School District?

I don't have an answer to all that you said, but I did have a few thoughts. As far as her being one of the oldest, it is so common now for parents to hold back their kids if they are a young 5 for kindergarten that she will probably be right in the average age in her class. We are in the Edmond district also but I'm not sure how often they will skip advanced students ahead. My nephew (in another metro district) skipped over 1st.
Have you looked into Clegern or Russell-Dougherty?
Edmondschools.net is their web site and it never hurts to call to get more information.
God bless!

Hi J.,
YES. Put her somewhere else and get her started. We had this same problem with both my kids as their birthdays were a few days after the cutoff in September. My daughter (the oldest) was born on Sept. 16, and was the same way as your daughter. But since she was our first, and unfortunately we listened to the advice of our local school system, (Putnam City, who is also VERY unflexible as well!) we didn't start her early. She was bored silly, and then in elementary school there were teachers who would use her to "help" them teach other slower students. NO. My daughter needed stimulation. I went up there and talked to them about it. Not that I didn't want her to help others, I just felt that her needs were not being met. As she got into middle school and high school all of her friends were a grade ahead. She took some accelerated classes (another mistake, but for another time,) and by her senior year, she was ready to drop out completely. It was a huge mess, and one that could have been avoided (in hindsight) if we'd only done what you are thinking of. Putnam City Schools told me at the time that by the time they are in 2nd grade, the age doesn't matter to them, because other people move in from other school systems with different cut off dates, etc. My son also has a September birthday. He was not as mature for his age as my daughter (being a guy) and also the baby, so it was fine for him. But for your daughter, I would certainly go ahead and start her early. My daughter was also small at the time for her age (she was a preemie) but caught up quickly with everyone else. I wouldn't worry about that.
GOOD LUCK!!!
C.

I had the same problem, no they are not flexible in Edmond at all. You described my situation exactly. I couldn't afford the private schools though so waited. I talked to her Pre-K teacher about how I felt and she was wonderful, while the other children were just learning thier ABC's my daughter was learning the sounds of her ABC's. The teacher just challeged my daughter more than the other children and it worked wonderfully. She's now in Kindergarten with the same problem but i feel the teachers are very aware of the students who need challenged more and the students that need more help and pushed a little like my youngest son who is now in pre-k.

I don't know how they are now, but (many, many) years ago, yeah, they were pretty unbending. UNLESS! The child was transferring in from a school considered to be "academically equal." Which means a school from another state or one of the "better" private schools. Like I said, it's been a LOOOOOOOOOONG time since I was there :)

Give them a call. There'll be someone at the elementary office, or the school board's office number or some such place that can give you some more definite answers. I'd try the school first, since school receptionists are usually extremely helpful.

Good luck!

Oklahoma Christian Academy offers a special Pre-K class for kids that are older and just missed the kindergarten cut off. It is called "advanced pre-K" or something like that. It is an all day program. Your child can also go to k there (also an all day program). Be prepared for tuition and uniform costs.

My son is also ahead of his age group. He knew his letters at the age of 3 with very little help from us and doing mazes at 4 yrs. I was worried he'd be bored in Pre-K and now in Kindergarten. I think sometimes he is and he will daydream and the work seems to easy for him. I have asked him about school and he says he likes it and seems to like knowing the answers. He is reading very well. His teacher has grouped the kids that already read together which helps. I have not worried too much about this yet as I know that 1st grade will be the real test of his academics. At home I have workbooks and those funpads with kids word puzzles in them that he loves to do and it challenges him enough to keep him happy. I want him to love learning and going to school. He is also a winter b-day so he is one of the older ones in his class. I think that always add a bit of maturity to the situation. My youngest son is in pre-k but is one of the youngest in the class and seems about in line with everyone else. So many kids come into school already with some knowledge because of daycare these days so that is factor, too. We have at home focused on the things my boys need to work on like handwriting (boys rarely like that part,lol), sounding out words to "learn" to spell when working on the easy homework assignments. It may be too early to tell if she would end up in the situations of previous posters or eventually fall into place with everyone else as she ages. I wish you the best in your decision.