Our district is committed to nurturing the unique talents and abilities of all learners through a robust Continuum of Services for Gifted & Talented (G&T) students in Grades K–12. We believe giftedness can emerge in many forms and across all backgrounds, and our program is designed to provide equitable access, academic challenge, and enrichment opportunities that inspire creativity, critical thinking, and innovation. 

Tiered Service Model

• Tier 1: Classroom Differentiation/Enrichment – All students benefit from enriched learning experiences within the general education setting. 

• Tier 2: Targeted Enrichment – Students demonstrating strengths in one or more areas receive additional support through small-group instruction, projects, and challenges. 

• Tier 3: Comprehensive G&T Services – Students identified as gifted in all three areas will receive year-round services, including participation in academic competitions such as Future City, 24 Math Challenge, and other regional and national events. 

Tier 1 Enrichment Opportunities (Grades K–12) 

All students benefit from a rich array of school wide experiences that promote exploration and engagement, including:

• Makerspaces 

• Assemblies & Guest Speakers

• Art Shows & Music Concerts

• Math 24 Challenge

• FIRST LEGO League Challenge

• STEM Clubs (robotics, drones, coding, ESports) 

These experiences are designed to spark curiosity and provide all learners with opportunities to explore their interests and talents. 

Tier 2 Targeted G&T Services (Grades K–8)

 Students identified as eligible for G&T services receive small group instruction (40 minutes, once per week) with a certified G&T teacher. Instruction is personalized and aligned to the student’s area(s) of giftedness, with a rotating focus each marking period:

• Marking Periods 1 & 4: Non-Verbal Reasoning: Puzzles & strategies, game design, STEM tasks, inventions, design challenges 

• Marking Period 2: Quantitative Reasoning: Budget challenges, math strategy puzzles, Sudoku, financial literacy tasks 

• Marking Period 3: Verbal Reasoning: Podcast creation, debates, Book Creator publishing, Chat-n-Chew discussions

Tier 3 Comprehensive G&T Services (Grades 3-8) 

• Students identified as being gifted in Non-verbal, Verbal, and Quantitative receive Tier 3 services, the highest level of support in our G&T Continuum. These students meet once per week for 40 minutes in a dedicated pull-out session focused on advanced learning experiences, collaborative problem-solving, and real-world applications.

• Tier 3 students have the opportunity to represent our district in academic competitions such as Future City, 24 Math Challenge, and other regional and national events that promote innovation, teamwork, and critical thinking. 

This structure ensures that students are challenged in ways that align with their strengths while also developing new skills across multiple domains. 

Accelerated Coursework (Grades 8-12) 

• Grade 8 Mathematics Acceleration 
  At the end of Grade 7, all students take a placement test to determine eligibility for accelerated math courses in Grade 8. These courses provide advanced content and prepare students for high school-level coursework.

• Grades 9–12 Advanced Opportunities 
  High school students have access to a wide range of Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses across disciplines. Additionally, students may participate in our Early College Program, allowing them to earn college credits while still in high school. 

Gifted & Talented Exit Criteria 

No selection procedure is infallible, and it may happen that a student selected for Gifted and Talented services does not experience success or does not benefit constructively from his/her participation. Some indicators that discontinuing services may be the best option for a student may include, but are not limited to: 

• Inability to meet the requirements of the regular instructional classroom

• Inability to meet the requirements of the G&T program

• Reluctance to participate in specified G&T program activities

The gifted and talented teacher, the classroom teacher or the parent/guardian may initiate exit procedures. The gifted and talented teacher, the classroom teacher(s), the school counselor, supervisor, and the principal may meet to consider the recommendation and, if necessary, to seek and review additional information from other staff members and /or the child’s parents/guardians.  A decision will be made whether the child will continue with services; take a leave of absence with the option of re-entry; or permanently exit services. 

Gifted & Talented Re-evaluation

 All students will be re-evaluated during the spring of their 5th grade year for services during 6th , 7th, and 8th grades.  Students that received services in the previous year(s) are not guaranteed services following re-evaluation. This re-evaluation is based on extensive research which indicates the strong possibility of cognitive changes in students at the 2nd/3rd  grade level and at the 5th/6th grade level. 

Questions

 If a parent has any questions or concerns about the Gifted & Talented, please reach out to your child’s G&T teacher or the G&T Supervisor.