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Gifted Education

Gifted students are those students who demonstrate high levels of academic accomplishment or show exceptional academic potential beyond their age peers of similar experience or environment. These students need advanced and complex content that is paced and sequenced to respond to their intellectual curiosity, exceptional problem-solving abilities, and rapid acquisition and understanding of information.

The PWCS Gifted Education and Talent Development Program offers resource services in kindergarten through 12th grade for students whose learning needs cannot be entirely met in the general education classroom setting. Service minutes and service models vary by grade level.

A student may be referred for an evaluation by a parent, educational professional, community member, universal screening results, or self-referral.

If you would like to refer a student for gifted evaluation or have questions about gifted services, please contact your school's Gifted Education Resource Teacher.

Additional information about the gifted identification process and gifted services is available on the PWCS Gifted Education and Talent Development website.

High School Gifted Services

High school gifted services provide identified gifted learners with opportunities to explore cross-curricular connections and abstract ideas through discussion seminars. Students attend seminars by receiving a pass to join the session or through a clustered class that includes the session. Identified gifted learners receive a Canvas course invitation each year with information about gifted services, and families are mailed an annual evaluation of their child's gifted program progress.

Grade-Level Seminar Services

High School Gifted Seminar Services by Grade Level
Grade Level Service Time Theme
9 18 hours/year Accomplishments and limitations of knowledge
10 18 hours/year Relativity in the humanities and science
11 12 hours/year Power and progress in self, society, and science
12 6 hours/year Philosophic lenses of reality, knowledge, ethics, and aesthetics

Differentiated Service Plan

Every identified gifted student has a Differentiated Service Plan (DSP), a personalized plan that outlines how the school supports their gifted learning needs.

Each year, high school gifted students meet with the Gifted Resource Teacher individually or in small groups (fewer than four students) to develop short-term academic goals aligned with their future college or career plans through the Differentiated Service Plan (DSP). Families receive a copy of the completed DSP each year.

Advanced Learning Opportunities

Gifted students are encouraged to enroll in advanced coursework to further challenge themselves throughout high school. The gifted program is designed to supplement a rigorous course schedule, not replace advanced classes.

Students seeking additional academic challenges should consider applying to an academic year governor's school such as The Governor's School @ Innovation Park or Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, or to a Summer Residential Governor's Schools.