GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS

Gifted and Talented students are those who perform at or show the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who exhibit high performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area, possess an usual capacity for leadership, and/or excel in a specific academic field. Gifted and Talented students are also defined as those who excel in their ability to think, reason, judge, invent, or create to the degree that they need special facilities and/or educational services in order that they may have the opportunity to achieve their potential while making increased meaningful contributions to society.

Students are selected for the gifted program through a comprehensive identification process conducted by Clifton ISD, which recognizes academic giftedness in areas such as Math, Science, English Language Arts and Reading, or Social Studies, either independently or in combination. The District recognizes that students identified as gifted and talented can come from all races, socio-economic groups, geographical locales, and environments.

In Kindergarten, all students are automatically considered for gifted education services, and parents are not required to submit an application for program participation.

For grades beyond kindergarten, district staff analyze testing data gathered from our beginning-of-year, mid-year, and end-of-year assessments to identify and recruit students who meet specific academic criteria.

Additionally, students may be nominated for evaluation by parents, peers, or through self-nomination.

If you are interested in having your child evaluated for the Gifted and Talented program, please contact Karen Schasteen at 254-675-1889.

FAQ

I am new to Clifton and my child was identified as being gifted in another state or in another district in Texas. Is he/she automatically placed in your gifted program?

Our current CISD Gifted and Talented Department guidelines do not allow us to automatically place previously identified gifted and talented students into the GT program until they are assessed and determined to be eligible. Each district in Texas is able to set its own criteria for admission into its gifted and talented program based on the services it provides. For previously identified students, Clifton ISD strives to complete all required assessments within the first six weeks of enrollment.

I am new to the district and I would like my child tested for the program. What is the process? Who do I contact?

Parents, teachers, administrators, counselors, or community members may refer a child for testing during designated referral windows. District testing for the gifted and talented program is done annually. Please contact the campus administrator or campus counselor at your child's campus for further information if you would like to refer your child for testing. Because all teachers are teaching classes during the day, your phone calls and emails will be returned as soon as time is available.

Does my child have to re-qualify as he or she moves from elementary school to middle school?

No. Students do not have to re-qualify for GT services when they move from elementary school to middle school or from middle school to high school. Once a student is identified as needing GT services, then he or she will continue receiving support through the GT program. We have found that as gifted students get older, they select advanced courses that best suit their academic needs, talents, interests, and future academic plans.

Campus Contacts

Clifton High School

Melinda Bell

254.675.1847

Clifton Middle School

Amy Brown

254.675.1857

Clifton Elementary School

Laura Cosper

254.675.1887