The philosophy of the McDowell County Schools’ Gifted Education Program is to provide a challenging and positive learning environment where all students have the opportunity to reach their highest academic and intellectual potential as citizens and who can meet the changing needs of society.

Academically or Intellectually Gifted students learn more rapidly and have the ability to think with more complexity and abstraction than their peers.  Services for Academically/Intellectually Gifted students must be part of an overall educational program which supports excellence for all students.  We believe in providing a continuum of services in grades kindergarten through twelve which includes a rigorous and differentiated curriculum designed to meet students’ individual learning needs that cross all cultural and economic strata.

Definition of Gifted:

• Academically/Intellectually gifted students perform or show potential at a substantially high level of accomplishment compared with others of their age.
• Academically/Intellectually gifted students exhibit high performance capability in intellectual areas and/or specific academic areas.
• Academically/Intellectually gifted students require differentiated educational services beyond the regular educational program.
• Outstanding abilities are present in students from all cultural groups, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor.

Article 9      (Special Education) in 1996 amended to create
Article 9B    Academically or Intellectually Gifted Students    G.S. 115 C-150.5

Identification
McDowell County Schools use a multi-step process for identification of potential candidates for academically and/or intellectually gifted services in grades 4-12.  This process includes screening, assessment, identification, and appropriate service options match.  Multiple Indicators or Giftedness are used to determine the appropriate service delivery options match.

Multiple Criteria
Students may qualify as Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted in Language Arts and/or Math by meeting three of the four criteria.  In order to be served, the student must score at the 90%ile+ on a standardized achievement test in reading and/or math or 90%ile on a standardized aptitude test.

CRITERIA

•     Teacher Observation/Recommendation
•     Aptitude/IQ 90%ile
•     B+ or better in Class Performance
•     Student Achievement 90%ile

*EOG/EOC Test scores may be used

Teachers and parents can request that a student be considered for the program.

The Gifted Education Office and AIG Elementary teachers administer alternative aptitude and achievement tests at the request of the AIG Review Team.  Parents must sign a consent form for all alternative testing.

In the case that the parent(s)/guardian does not agree with McDowell County Schools’ decision that a student not be identified as academically and/or intellectually gifted or if the AIG service(s) offered are not considered by the parent(s)/guardian to be appropriate, you can click here for procedures to resolve this disagreement.