About Gifted Education

In Virginia, Gifted students are defined as “those students in public elementary, middle, and secondary schools beginning in Kindergarten through twelfth grade who demonstrate high levels of accomplishment or who show the potential for higher levels of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment. Their aptitudes and potential for accomplishment are so outstanding that they require special programs to meet their educational needs.”

Gifted Education services include differentiated instruction, extension of the regular curriculum, acceleration, and enrichment activities for those students who have been identified as gifted in one of the following categories: General Intellectual Ability (K-12), Specific Academic Aptitude-Language Arts (K-12), Specific Academic Ability-Mathematics (K-12), Visual Arts (6-12), Vocal Performance (6-12), Instrumental Performance (6-12) and Career and Technical Aptitude (10-12). Gifted Education Plans (GEPs) are also used in grades Kindergarten through eight.