re: Raising kids: Public vs Private

If your daughter is in a public school earning all 100s, the school is obligated by federal law to provide supplemental education: high achieving gifted students are lumped into the same special education moniker as students who have diagnosed deficiencies. So demand that the district test her abilities, or pay the couple of hundred bucks to have her tested on your own dime. If she qualifies, the district will have to create an individualized educational plan addressing her abilities; this can take the form of pull-out-of-class enrichment for several hours a week, accelerated coursework in particular subjects (skipping ahead a grade in math or reading, etc) or even inclusion into gifted-focused classrooms with other high achieving students. This will be way cheaper than private school.

For every private, college prep school that is academically rigorous, I can point to half a dozen engaging in grade inflation to keep type A, overachieving parents happy. US K-12 education is as much about socialization as it is about content...is she making friends, learning to work in groups, learning compassion & tolerance for people of all abilities and backgrounds? That's what public schools can build (and that private schools don't necessarily promote).

You can find enrichment for her through music lessons, camps, online classes, scouts, volunteer kiddie docent programs at museums, drama, voice, etc. Don't expect the school to see to all of her developmental needs....teach her to read ahead quietly, to bring her own supplemental reading material to class & discreetly read it when she's finished her work. Teach her to develop & engage her own curiosity about the world.