How many students are Gifted?
Nationally, it is estimated that 3 million, or 6 percent of K–12 students are academically gifted. In Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester 2 and Dorchester 4 School Districts, there are 4,063 state-identified gifted students in grades 6, 7 and 8.
How is “Gifted” Defined?
Gifted students are those who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services and activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities.
A Few Common Misconceptions about Gifted Students
- Gifted students don’t need help; they’ll do fine on their own
- That student can’t be gifted; she’s receiving poor grades
- Gifted students excel equally in all academic subjects
- Gifted students are happy, popular, and well adjusted in school
- Gifted students make everyone else in the class smarter by providing a role model or a challenge
- This child can’t be gifted; he has a disability
- Our district has a gifted and talented program; we have AP courses
- Acceleration placement options are socially harmful for gifted students
- Gifted education programs are elitist
PSA was formed by a group of parents and educators seeking a unique educational experience for high ability students. They wanted a school setting that provided academic challenge in all subjects (not just math and English language arts) and met the social and emotional needs of Gifted students.