Programs for the Highly Gifted - Know of Any?

[Lynette Breedlove]

We have formed a task force to investigate creating a program to meet the needs of highly gifted students. We want to serve their needs within in our public school district from age 5 and up. I'm looking for existing programs to visit and research - I don't want to reinvent the wheel!

I've asked for names of programs on the Davidson's Educator Guild list-serve and gotten a few referrals. I thought this group might have some additional names. There seem to be a number of early entrance university programs (earlyentrance.org has a great list), but I'm not finding many programs for elementary age students.

I'd love any feedback you can provide!

[Kevin_K]

Don't know of any programs for HG elementary students around here. We had some luck with a private school (Spring Hill Advanced Elementary http://www.springhillschool.org/ ) which is set up for moderately gifted students, but which was flexible enough to handle a few highly gifted.

[Angie]

I taught north of New Orleans in St. Tammany Parish. They had two types of gifted programs for the parents to choose from: enrichment (seemed to be geared for the highly gifted) and the accelerated (geared more for the moderately gifted). I taught in the Accelerated program for three years and crossed paths with the enrichment teacher (Susan Sharpe) several times. I do not know if she is still there. Let me know if you would like to pursue this route and I'll help you with it.
Angie

[Nancy Bosch]

All I can say is kudos to your district for making an effort!! I'm jealous.

[Christine West]

There is a self-contained public school program which serves highly and exceptionally gifted students in St. Louis, MO. It is called MOSAICS Academy. It is housed in the Parkway School District at Pierremont Elementary School. The first year served 7 second and third grade students ('08-'09). Next year the program will grow and serve students in grades 1-5. I would be happy to talk to you about serving your highly gifted program.

[Lynette Breedlove]

Christine,

I'd definitely like more information! I really want this to work, so I need to capitalize on the input of all the experts who've gone before me. Is there a web site to check out in our initial work?

[Christine West]

There is a wonderful public school program serving highly and exceptionally gifted students in the Parkway School District. It is located in St. Louis, MO. The MOSAICS Academy is housed in the Pierremont Elementary School. This was the first year with students in grades 2-3. Next year the program will grow to serve 1-5 grade students. I would be happy to talk to you about serving these students in your district.

[Brandi Schweitzer]

I teach in PEGS (Program for Exceptionally Gifted Students) in the Lindbergh School District. We are kind of our own school within a school. We are a well-established full-time program for profoundly gifted students that has been teaching the top 99.5% from around the St. Louis area for well over 15 years. Our teachers have been training in the IB curriculum since 2005. Our primary focus is accelerating academically without grade skipping our kiddos. Here they have the opportunity to socialize with children of the same intelligence level in an age-appropriate setting. I'd love to talk with you more...check out my blog for a little more info. You could go into my profile to e-mail me directly.
http://pegs-dayinthelife.blogspot.com/

[Nancy Bosch]

I love that your school district supports the appropriate education of the highly gifted. I've taught gifted kids in a special ed pullout program for 25 years BUT I don't know if I could do what you do. Those little guys can be pretty silly, but then again they aren't yet doing too many things you can't keep up with!!!

[Peggy Haufle]

I know of 2 programs, the PEGS program in St. Louis County. Check out their website: gifted.psdr3.org/pegs.html
I'm in Francis Howell in St. Charles County which is a neighbor of St. Louis. We have the SEGA program for our highly gifted students. Check out the website www.fhsd.k12.mo.us/visitor/ep/sega.asp There is lots of information if you check out the left navigator which discusses the testing procedures and such. I'd be happy to answer specifics. Our gifted program is called Spectra.

[Lori Ann Lewis]

There is a school in Indianapolis, Indiana called the Sycamore School (www.sycamoreschool.org) that has a good reputation. I am able to construct and evaluate a gifted program and have been writing a gifted program for primary level kids in my spare time. I'm in the Houston, Texas area. Let me know if I can be of help. [e-mail].

[Lynette Breedlove]

I am so excited to have input. We're in the very early stages and are visiting web sites to get our bearings. We're also reading High IQ Kids. Our task force has parents, teachers, administrators, and univerisity faculty represented. I'd love any dos and don'ts that you might have for us!

[Cindy Sheets]

There is also a PEGS program in the Kanas City Area - it used to be housed at Red Bridge Elementary in the Center School District. It is supported by 3-5 area suburban school districts who send their HG students. I assume it's still in operation.