Programs and Opportunities for High-Ability Students

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Programs for high ability students may be offered during the day, before or after school, or during the summer depending on the school and/or the district.  If no program is offered in a district, parents can establish a positive relationship with the teacher to advocate for their child’s educational needs.  Advocacy may be done at the classroom, school and district levels (see advocacy).

Definitions of programs:

Acceleration: Allowing high ability students to move ahead of their regular grade curriculum.  This may be done by subject (moving to the next level of math, for example) or by complete grade level (moving a student to the next grade level or beyond.)

Advanced Placement (AP):  Classes offered in secondary schools that are tailored to an AP exam. Students passing the exam can receive college credit. Classes have advanced curriculum that encourages discussion, problem solving, collaboration and writing.  Tests are administered by the College Board http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html) and credit is accepted by more than 90% of four year colleges   in the United State and colleges in more than 60 countries.  Check the high school(s) in your district to see what AP classes are offered

Cluster Grouping: A method many schools use to meet the academic needs of high ability children. High ability children in one grade level are grouped together in one classroom with a teacher trained in meeting their needs.  So in a third grade there may be 5 students that have been identified as high ability learners and are placed together in one classroom.

Differentiation in the regular classroom: A teacher trained in curriculum and strategies for high ability students will group those students identified in her/his classroom and adjust the curriculum to meet their needs.  Curriculum may be adjusted by changing the complexity and depth of the curriculum as well as the pacing that the student learns the curriculum.

Enrichment program: Learning activities that go beyond the regular curricular activities. These activities may be done with special classes that pull students out of their regular classroom for a specific amount of time (pullout program) or be classes held before or after school.

Honors Classes: Honors courses are classes that offer more rigorous and in-depth coursework to especially talented and driven students. Honors classes may begin in seventh grade (depending on the district and school) and are offered in most high school.  Check with your high school(s) in your district to see what subjects have honor classes.

International Baccalaureate: A program based on an international curriculum with specially trained teachers in that curriculum.  A Middle School program provides a framework of academic challenge for junior high students while the High School Diploma Program is a demanding two-year curriculum leading to a final examination and diploma  that is welcomed by  leading Universities around the world.   Check with your district to see if they have an International Baccalaureate program.

Magnet program: A full-time classroom of identified high ability students taught by a teacher trained in gifted and talented strategies and curriculum.

Competitions that gifted and talented students enjoy include:

Programs offered through universities and organizations:

Many other programs are offered across the nation. Guidelines for choosing a summer program plus a list of programs are on NAGC’s website - http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1103