FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you have questions about Seabury's program or about education for highly capable children in general, you are encouraged to contact the Seabury office for more information

Q.  My child exhibits some of the characteristics of a highly capable child, but not all of them.  Could he still be considered for Seabury?

A.  Yes.  Each child is unique and may or may not completely fit the profile of a highly capable child.  Seabury's staff would be happy to speak with you about your child and whether or not Seabury might be a good learning environment for him.

Q.  My daughter is bright, but I'm not sure she's highly capable.  She seems happy at her school and has plenty of friends, but I wonder if she is really being challenged.

A.   Educational research indicates that many gifted girls go "underground" with their talents at an early age.  They are often very socially aware and seek to fit in with other children their age rather than letting their true abilities shine through.  Because they often don't exhibit the behaviors typically associated with boys who are not being adequately challenged, such as acting out or underachieving, parents and teachers may believe they don't require additional challenges or are simply hard workers and high achievers.  Unfortunately, for these reasons, many highly capable girls are not given the opportunity to recognize their own potential and work at the level they are capable of.  Seabury provides academically talented girls a place where it is safe to be smart and where their gifts are celebrated and nurtured.

Q.  My child is gifted, but also has another exceptionality such as ADHD or a learning disability.  Is it possible for a child to be gifted AND have another learning difference?

A.  Highly capable children, by nature, learn differently than typically developing children their age.  But it is also possible for children to be twice-exceptional: to have another learning difference in addition to their giftedness.  ADHD, learning disabilities, physical disabilities such as hearing loss, and other exceptionalities can be found in highly capable children as well as in the general population.  Seabury faculty and staff work closely with parents and providers of outside support services for our twice-exceptional students to ensure a learning environment that will allow students to build on their strengths and experience success at school.     

Q.  I'm concerned about my child's self-esteem.  Won't placing him with other highly capable children damage his self-confidence?

A.  Educational research shows that highly capable children who have the opportunity to learn with other academically talented children get a much clearer sense of their own strengths and weaknesses than they do when placed with their age peers in a regular classroom setting.  Highly capable children thrive on the stimulating discussions and complex thinking they find in the classroom and on the playground at Seabury.  Children who get the opportunity to experience working hard to learn something new feel the joy of accomplishment and develop a healthier sense of self than those for whom learning always comes easily.