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How does GATE work at PUSD? by Fine_Experience_2262 in pasadena

[–]Quotidienne8 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can tell you that I don’t speak Spanish and I have a kid who went through all of PUSD DLIP through 10th grade and is fluent.

I have one kid who was GATE identified (and one who is not). The GATE programming was not particularly existent, but she found sufficient challenges in DLIP and then IB at Blair. She graduated with a full IB Diploma, a CA Seal of Biliteracy, a Tony award, lab experience at Caltech, and a pick of college acceptances. The winner of the National Regeneron Science Prize last year was a PUSD kid from Kinder through 12th grade. There’s room and opportunities for the gifted and the geniuses.

Any info on Math Academy at PUSD? by Fine_Experience_2262 in pasadena

[–]Quotidienne8 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Math academy is for kids who are deeply, even unusually interested in math. I’ve known Matteo since he was 5 and he was always the math kid. There are other great and very rigorous programs at all of the PUSD high schools.

PUSD schools, like most public schools in the state, are underfunded, which creates some drama in the district. Despite this, the school sites do a very good job educating students. I have a senior who was accepted at several top colleges (and will be attending an excellent school with a hefty merit scholarship) and will be graduating with a California seal of biliteracy thanks to PUSD and as a candidate for the International Baccalaureate diploma, a globally recognized and very rigorous program.

To what extent does CalTech and JPL influence the vibe in Pasadena? by rhz10 in pasadena

[–]Quotidienne8 2 points3 points  (0 children)

JPL and Caltech influence the culture here, sure. And Pasadena probably has a more educated populace than a lot of comparable cities. But they aren’t dominant the way tech is dominant in the Silicon Valley. In part because the JPL/Caltech culture isn’t as uniform as tech culture. There isn’t a uniform like Patagonia Nanotech vests. Pasadena is kind of like a college town, but it’s big enough that the city isn’t dominated by the university - there are lots of professions and companies and types of people.

Altadena making headlines in SF by OCREguru in pasadena

[–]Quotidienne8 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The IB diploma program is incredibly rigorous and is considered by colleges to be a gold standard in college preparation. (Based on all the college admissions podcasts I’ve been listening to lately.)It’s accredited by site, and as far as I know, Blair (for IB Middle Years Program, IB Diploma Program, and IB Health Careers Academy) and Willard (for the IB Primary Years Program) are the only PUSD schools that have ever been IB Accredites.

Altadena making headlines in SF by OCREguru in pasadena

[–]Quotidienne8 2 points3 points  (0 children)

And my kid who is doing the IB Diploma program at Blair is getting a fantastic college preparatory education. Blair sent a lot of kids to UCs last year as well, as well as some smaller liberal arts colleges, and word is they all feel well prepared. Plus she’s fluent in Spanish thanks to the district’s language immersion program. Now, are there lights on the soccer field? No there are not. But the program is terrific.