GIFTED PROGRAMS | Socrates Academy

ACADEMICALLY/INTELLECTUALLY GIFTED (AIG) & TALENT DEVELOPMENT (TD)

The purpose of our AIG and Talent Development, program is to nurture, identify, and address the needs of students with high ability and/or high aptitude for learning. Our program provides differentiated instruction and learning opportunities that enrich and extend our core curriculum so scholars grow to their full potential. We offer a robust Talent Development program for Kindergarten - 2nd grade in addition to AIG services for identified scholars in 3rd grade - High School. Our program places an emphasis on the development of higher-level critical and creative thinking skills bolstered by curricula grounded in depth and complexity, individual interest development, and community engagement.

Our program has a variety of service options, including self-contained cluster classes, subject and grade acceleration, advanced placement, flexible ability groups, and daily enrichment through our WIN (What I need) block.

Socrates Academy offers additional enrichment opportunities, including after school enrichment clubs, field trips, academic competitions, student interest clubs, and guest speakers.

At Socrates Academy, we believe in providing equitable opportunities for potentially gifted learners to access services. Our identification process is a holistic approach that includes multiple pathways to identification.

Identification & Criteria

Socrates Academy uses both a referral process and a screening process when searching for student nominations, evaluating student data, and starting the identification process. A student is considered screened for gifted services when he or she is evaluated using an instrument approved for gifted identification.

Universal Screening in Second Grade
Universal aptitude screening using the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) and the Gifted Rating Scale (GRS) will be completed for all 2nd graders at the end of the year. Scholars must beet the Socrates Academy Identification Criteria in order to be formally identified as gifted. Parents/guardians receive written notification at the end of the school year when a student is newly qualified for services. Parents/Guardians are invited to the school to discuss gifted services and to sign the student’s documentation agreeing to or declining services at the end of the current school year.

Identification for Grades 3rd - High School

When qualifying students for gifted services in grades 3-11, Socrates Academy uses aptitude (CogAT) and achievement (EOG) to identify areas of giftedness. A combination of both aptitude and achievement scores is used to determine gifted identification. Scholars must beet the Socrates Academy Identification Criteria in order to be formally identified as gifted.

Parents/guardians receive written notification at the end of the school year when a student is newly qualified for services. Parents/Guardians are invited to the school to discuss gifted services and to sign the student’s documentation agreeing to or declining services at the end of the current school year.