Finding the Right School | ADHD Information

You want to look for a school that has both a gifted program(important, gifted kids learn differently) and structure structure structure. This has been the best thing for my gifted 9 year old son. He is learning more and better than ever and he is not on meds.This combo with hands on learning would be the best option but I can't seem to find a scool that offers that here in my area.Hi everyone!  I am new to the forum, my name is Kym. 

I would love to hear from some of you who have been through the process of finding an elementary school for a child who is very bright and who may have ADHD.  My son will start kindergarten next year and we are really struggling with what kind of environment to put him in. His father was gifted and has ADHD and school was a nightmare from him for most of his life.

My son has not been diagnosed with ADHD because of his young age.  I would say that he is very active compared to his peers, has issues managing his temper, and has a tendency to hyper-focus on things.  My son is reading at a second grade level, is doing a lot of math and seems to grasp concepts that are well beyond his age.

We are basically looking at two different models of elementary schools for next year.  One is a parent participation school that has a high ratio of adults to children and tends to embrace curriculum that allows for hands on and project based learning, but we are concerned that the programs don't offer enough academic challenge and that they may not provide enough structure for an ADHD child. Our other option is a "back to basics" school that has exceptionally high test scores and is known for its academic rigor and discipline.  We are worried that this school won't be hands on enough, teach enough art, music and sports, or be flexible about active children.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on how much to weigh academic challenge
vs. active learning when looking for a school for a gifted child with ADHD issues. I'd also love to hear about what things to look for in a school and what challenges we might face down the road.

Sorry for the long message. Thanks in advance!
Kym
I dont have experience per se, but I would think you'd want a school that does offer a gifted program (at some level). Gifted children can struggle greatly, especially with co exisitng ADHD. There is nothing worse for an ADHD child than boredom . As you say, too much structure/discipline can also be detrimental. This may take some trial and error on your part. Especially wehre he has not been diagnosed with either yet. IMO, I'd go for the less structured, more adult supervised school at least for Kindergarten. Worry about challenging him later.......................