Program Description

The Gifted Program in the Harrisonburg City Schools is integrated into the total school curriculum. The program serves students in grades K-12 who exhibit unusually high intellectual aptitude and provides identified students with appropriate educational experiences.

Personnel for the gifted program includes a division-wide supervisor, a secondary differentiation specialist, an elementary differentiation specialist and a part time resource teacher in each elementary school. Each school also has a designated gifted coordinator. The coordinators are full-time school employees who have assigned duties related to gifted services.

Services for students in grades K-2 include cluster grouping with differentiated instruction by a trained classroom teacher, a differentiation specialist and, when appropriate, a resource teacher. Services for students in grades 3-5 include cluster grouping with a trained teacher, a differentiation specialist and a resource teacher. Middle school services (grades 6-8) include acceleration, advanced content classes, and high school credit courses. High school services (grades 9-12) include a differentiation specialist, honors courses, Advanced Placement courses, AP Virtual Virginia, dual enrollment, and independent study, Virtual High School and academic year Governor’s School. Students have an opportunity to apply to Summer Governor’s Schools and Summer Residential Governor’s Schools.

Classroom teachers are provided with inservice and resource assistance in helping to meet the unique needs of gifted students. All approved inservice is offered at no expense to teachers in the Harrisonburg City School system.

Criteria for identification of gifted students may include ability test scores, achievement test scores, and checklists of behavioral characteristics completed by teachers and parents.

In addition to services provided during the regular school day our school division provides enrichment programs during the summer and after school to help meet the intellectual and academic needs of gifted students.

The Harrisonburg City Schools local advisory committee for gifted education meets four times per year and has members representing each school, and the community at large.