The Wisconsin Center for Gifted Learners, Magellan Day School, EPL

This institution is top notch. I am thankful everyday that we have a place such as this to send our children to learn and grow in a safe environment. Those of us who are raising such spirited children have a greater understanding, appreciation and respect for the immeasurable value that the Magellan Day School and WCGL provide. I am constantly learning more about myself through my experiences at the school as a parent and through my children's experiences that help me with my parenting skills. Nothing is perfect. But this IS the place for my children and my family. I don't know where we'd be without this school. Parents of students know that this place is life changing for our children and for our families. Those of you who are reading and wondering will quickly determine whether this is the environment for your child upon discussions and visits with the school as well as attending a parent support council meeting. I wish you luck on your journey...
—Submitted by a parent

Families bring their children to The Wisconsin Center for Gifted Learners because they find there a compassion and a true love of learning that is nurtured in a way it cannot be anywhere else. My children have benefited tremendously from this way of approaching education. The teachers and the Director want to assist each child to be an educated person who understands himself and others.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great school because it is so efficient at eliminating unfavorable comments. Some posts claim there is a smear campaign directed at this school, but you won't see evidence of that here. A really great job! This post will soon disappear as well. Parents who want to know what is really happening should read carefully the posts of the people who say they like this school. They tell you all you need to know. Until next time.

Helicopter parents are indeed not favored at the Center, but it appears that there is a special place for hot air balloon parents. I suppose we have to figure out what exactly we mean by these terms, which to the untrained eye do not appear to be very constructive.

At Magellan, teachers take the students seriously & enjoy working with them. It makes all the difference! Our older son (who attended 2 years) had the opportunity to study subjects like economics & philosophy in the middle grades. Students set the pace at which they progress through the curriculum, moving as quickly as they are able or slowing to explore a topic in greater depth in a way that a traditional classroom could never allow. Our son left Magellan with a solid sense of himself that proved unshakable over four years of HS. He is now a sophomore at Tufts University. Our younger son took years of summer & Saturday sessions & also gained an appreciation of himself and his capabilities that he would not have developed anywhere else. He will matriculate at Northwestern this fall. Magellan will not cater to helicopter parents or parents who are determined to know where their children stand in relation to classmates. There are no honor rolls, no early SAT talent search testing or any of the other badges of achievement that schools commonly use to identify and rank gifted students. The only competition that takes place at WCGL is with oneself. Our sons loved it.
—Submitted by a parent

The strength of Magellan Day School is the cohesion between the WCGL mission and the schooling delivered to a rare population. A cursory glance of these reviews cannot convey the experience of a student in the school. Contact the school for information and you will find out why this is an outstanding fit for a gifted learner.

I graduated WCGL just last year, after attending for 12 years. Suffice it to say, I know the school well. I don't know why, but there is a smear campaign going on about the Center that not only has no basis in fact, it is, frankly, immature. The Center is a haven for those of us classified as "gifted." There, we are free from the bullying of those who can't stand the fact that we're smart and talented. We are challenged by the curriculum and able to move at our own pace. It really isn't more secretive than other schools, either: At the end of a quarter, there is a conference, and once or twice a year there are "room tours" that have the students showing their parents around the place, telling them what's going on. The Center is not perfect. Middle school academia could be better, esp. history. Overall though, if you have a gifted child, give this place a fair shake.
—Submitted by a student

I don t recognize the school some reviewers are describing. The way the Center keeps parents away and makes sure the education belongs to the child is unusual, sure, and sometimes it s carried too far, but I never had trouble talking to the appropriate people when I had a problem or a question. The comment about college admissions doesn t even make sense: Magellan only goes through 8th grade. Both my children were admitted to fine private high schools with scholarships, and my experience is that private HS admissions people know of the Center and are happy to see its graduates apply. No other school in this area could have handled my kids. They got the education they needed, with as much challenge as they were ready for. Social skills are often a problem for highly gifted kids, but the Center works on that as well, and its graduates are remarkably socially well-adjusted. I do agree that middle school academics needs strengthening. That said, both my children were well prepared for high school. If your child is (as we joke) "severely gifted," you owe it to both of you to visit the Center, meet with the staff, and find out if it is the right place for your learner.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is very different from any school in the area. The environment is welcoming and calm. Teachers and students work in small groups around tables, on the floor, or outdoors. The office is a wide open room with work areas used by administrators who are always available when they are not with students or teachers. It is a great place for children and adults who love to learn.
—Submitted by a teacher

My child went to Magellan School for years. IT'S A GREAT SCHOOL. I first thought the secrecy was extreme, but finally got used to the fact that teachers aren't allowed to talk to parents in the hallway (a sure sign of a prying parent). And no words can describe the administration (very rarely did someone in the administration scream at both parents during a conference). I would have forgotten it completely if my child had not been present at the time. And I'm no longer disappointed that this school refused to help my child apply for the SAT and ACT. Other schools seem too proud to help their students take these tests to get advanced placement and scholarships. This, I now know, is just pernicious interference. Finally, this school's devotion to openness and honesty is such that they would never force webmasters to remove bad reviews. Everybody loves this school!

I have been a Center parent for several years and I am pleased to have a place that is for my child - not for me. Gifted learners cannot use this place if their parents are hovering over them. There are parent meetings if parents need support. If you aren't comfortable giving your child an environment where he can develop healthy and appropriate independence, then by all means avoid this school! If you want a place where your child can grow academically and emotionally, where common courtesy and mutual respect are required, and you are not afraid to let your child experience these, then this is the school for you. Commenters who purport to know about "Center values" are misinformed. Staff and teachers always seem willing to communicate if the appropriate channels are used. They really want to work with our students. Call the school and ask for yourself.
—Submitted by a parent

Besides lack of transparency there is no accountability of the administration. Some parents will tell you they are involved, but these are the handful who tend to volunteer most of their time at school, some as staff/teachers/administrators. Ask exactly what plan and materials they have for your child. Don't back down when it is intimated that you should "trust the school" or otherwise you won't be welcomed. This kept us and many other parents from finding out they really don't have your child's interest first and foremost until we have been there for many years. Ask what qualifications the directors have to do "assessments" of your child's academic and "emotional" (their favourite excuse of saying a child is not ready for advancement) needs while totally refusing parental input. At least for one of them, it is only by being an ex parent and having volunteered around the school for many years.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm not trying to start an argument here, but when a previous post insinuates that the center's policy of "secrecy" merely denies some students the opportunity to perform in front of their parents, I think it mischaracterizes the situation. When parents and teachers are actively discouraged from discussing the progress of their child before or after school, or at any other time except with the prior consent of the administration, that seems to be a different kind of secrecy. Maybe this is just my own experience. Ask for yourself if parents are allowed to talk about their children with a teacher of their choice when they so choose. Limiting parent discussions about their children may or may not be a good policy, but it surely is a kind of secrecy I have never before seen in a school.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been a student at the Center for more than five years, and I have recently seen some questionable behavior. The Center supposedly has the interest of the child in mind and also supposedly promotes flexibility and academic excellence. This is not true. There is an extreme level of secrecy in this school which is completely inflexible (in direct contrast with supposed Center values). For example, parents are not allowed to sit in on classes, attend performances, or even graduation ceremonies, even if it is the wish of the child that they do so (just ask). This is also in direct contrast with supposed Center values; the interest of the child is not a primary concern. With these points in mind, it is not true that the Center is a safe place for gifted learners; it is a dangerous place where students will be confronted with vicious behaviors.
—Submitted by a student

This school is very good for younger students, but once you get into middle school it's really boring, they just put teachers in to classes even if they can't teach at all for the older age groups, I hope this helps everyone
—Submitted by a student

This school is a wonderful opportunity for gifted children. The atmosphere is very welcoming and teachers encourage students to succeed in every experience they encounter. The teachers know how to cater to different learning styles and use a variety of methods to teach the subject at hand. I was very pleased with the small student/teacher ratio, which ranges from 6/1 to 11/1 in most cases. Teachers and student are very close and comfortable with one another. The school also offers delvelopmental programs and summer sessions. An interview with the student is necessary before admission. In most cases, a student will be referred to the school. I found WCGL or 'The Center' as most call it, to be a great learning experience. Also, on Friday afternoons, as I remember, there is a program called 'Free Choice' in which students are given a variety of options hosted by teachers. Overall, WCGL is wonderful.
—Submitted by a former student