Davidson Academy Reno Nevada (Relocation from NZ to USA)
Author: Considering Options
Date: 25-05-12 20:53
Does anyone have any experience or know of someone attending/moving to the Davidson Academy in Reno? Or relocating to the US in general. As assessed in NZ our son is able to attend (have to be on 99.9 percentile or greater eg. 99.99999) is the assessing different there than here?
I have looked into green cards, real estate, sibling schools, weather etc. So I guess I'm just after an idea of how long it takes to get a green card (months or years?) and residency (so school is free). Are there any pitfalls I may not have considered. Any advice from people having relocated to the US and the process involved. Should I get an immigration consultant and who would you recommend?
We thought of holidaying there to check things out in advance
* have him assessed there
* meet with real estate agents
* meeting with Davidson Academy school
Have I missed anything out?
We will be away from family and friends so I expect it will be very lonely. Thankfully I am happy with my own company most of the time. DH can move his business anywhere, so should be ok from that side of things. Anyone know the Reno area, low crime areas etc.
We have friends and family who live in the USA. It is hard to get a green card and I would certainly recommend finding a company that deals specifically with relocation to the US - if they exist! Having travelled and worked extensively all over the USA, just be very aware of how hot Nevada can be. Last time we were there - end of 2008, we were still walking around in t.shirts at night, although only a week later it snowed! In summer however it often gets up to about 40'C or even hotter! It is a very dry heat which is easier to bear than humidity. Personally I know if we ever moved to the US (which we have discussed in the past due to our business), we wouldn't move to Nevada simply because of the intense summer heat!!
Good luck to you!! I'll certainly be watching this thread with great interest!
Re: Davidson Academy Reno Nevada (Relocation from NZ to USA)
Author: Mel
Date: 30-05-12 09:11
Thanks for this post. I checked out the Davidson Academy and I can see why anyone would like their PG child to go there. It lets us know what is out there and how a great school would teach gifted kids if they understood them fully.
Re: Davidson Academy Reno Nevada (Relocation from NZ to USA)
Author: Rachelle
Date: 31-05-12 11:17
Alphaed caters to HG+ and PG, in NZ and does understand them - as well as others MG and GLD - and its NZ based! www.alphaed.co.nz
I think Davidson's http://www.davidsongifted.org/youngscholars/ is possibly the only place where they would have the population to do this on such a scale? I believe people do relocate across the USA.
You can get a lot of information about it from the USA lists like http://www.tagfam.org/ or http://gtworld.org/
There are some people from the U.S. that are on this group I set up you could perhaps ask there? http://www.facebook.com/groups/HighlyGifted/
Hi I just happened to see your topic that I've been interested in for the last 6 month as I am considering to relocate to America too. Mayinly for my son's education. To get Green card is one thing, but my original country is eligible for a diverstiy category, in other words, I can just go for a lottery of getting the Green card. I think NZ is also one of those countries.
I am also looking for a job there, maybe in the east, not Nevada. Davidson is very attractive, but I don't think I can find a job with work visa for myself in Nevada so easily and quickly. So, big cities suite for me. I will also have a short trip and find out more in eastern cities too.
By the way, assessing in America cost you a lot ! In my original country, we have a gifted school near my parent's house, and it is originated from America and I visited there and found any kind of assessments in Amrican cost more than $3000-$4000. My eyes almost popped out by hearing those numbers.
I had my son tested called SCAT the other day, and he 's got Award of high honors. This test is specifically tartgeted at someone who wants to join summer programms or online courses at the Center of Talent Yuouth of Johns Hopkins University in US, so the test itself is 2 years above grade level which your kids belong to currently at your school. This is very good example for my 9 y.o. son and myself.
I would like to know more about gifted schools in America too, although I have been to many times, I am still learning.
I have quite a few friends who have children who are members of the Davidson Young Scholars group. None of them have children who actually attend the school as they are all scattered across the US, but their children still reap many benefits from belonging to the group.
As such I don't know anything about the actual school, but I do know a lot about the acceptance process for DYS (complicated) and the activities they get up to. Every year I am swamped by pictures on my facebook page of all the kids meeting up at Harvard, Yale, MIT or some other high level university for DYS get togethers. The children (ages 5 up) attend lectures on a huge variety of topics and the parents all get together and create a huge support network for one another. Davidson's fund some of the travel costs etc for lower income families and they also subsidise a variety of educational costs for families throughout the year.
Upshot is - even if you can't get your child into the Academy itself there are enormous benefits for families of PG children if they can get their child into the DYS programme.
Re: Davidson Academy Reno Nevada (Relocation from NZ to USA)
Author: Considering Options
Date: 13-06-12 14:12
Wow, thanks for all the info everyone! I'm so delighted to have posted here and received such helpful replies.
RACHELLE - thank you for the web sites, a big help of where to spring-board my research from here.
TAK - I'll definitely look into the diversity category to see if we could get a green card by lottery (didn't even know about that). Shocking prices for assessment in US! I hope they accept NZ assessments or may have to do SAT's and hope that's cheaper. Any further info you find in your search to learn more, please post, because it seems quite a few of us are interested.
ELSA - I've been popping around the internet with DYS for a couple of years on and off, yet never knew there was a DYS programme! That's great as it gives another avenue, another hope of connecting with like-minds. And the parent group... awesome. Do you have the web address so I can read up on it?
Thanks again everyone. If anyone out there knows something extra or finds out additional information, please keep us all informed. I'm buzzing with excitement now and have a grin permanently spread across my face. Thanks.
I haven't lived in the US for many years, but I visited recently with my husband's family who also have gifted children.
One thing which surprised me is that there was no local social group (like NZAGC and branches) for gifted children. Even in a huge city like LA, connection happens through whatever classes your gifted children are attending.
yes from "hanging out" on some USA lists it sounds a bit like that. Most sound like they have local Mensa groups - parent led so it depends where you are and who is in it at the time I guess. Different states have different things, of course there is the Davidson Young Scholars for 99.9ers.
Anyway just came across this link for requirements for the Reno school, it looks like two of three things are required, an IQ test, an achievement test, and a portfolio.
So just in case anyone looking has not found it, I came across it on a list, might be of help.
I was just pondering this.... it sounds like you need an assessment that is 99.9 which as I understand it is Highly Gifted. The achievement test or portfolio needs to show you are working well above age level. So it is really a school/program for gifted high achievers? A child can be PG but not a high achiever and not be eligible, but you can if you are HG and do well academically? But it is called a school for the Profoundly Gifted?
