Elementary Discovery Program

Gifted and Talented Programming

Elementary Discovery Program

Discovery Program Application Process

The Discovery Program is designed for highly advanced gifted learners in grades 2 - 6 whose needs will be best met in a center based program. Please reach out to Heather Stinnett hlstinnett@dcsdk12.org with any questions.

Discovery Program Application and Process

The DCSD Discovery Program Magnet for Gifted Learners

The Discovery Program is designed to meet the needs of gifted learners whose abilities are so intensive they require special provisions to meet their educational needs. There are three magnet schools located regionally throughout Douglas County School District: Pine Ridge Elementary, Northridge Elementary and Renaissance Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound School.

Gifted services are also in place at the neighborhood and charter schools for those students who require differentiated programming to address areas of identified strength. Copper Mesa uses a cluster grouping model to meet the needs of our gifted learners.

The Discovery Program is a self-contained, center based, magnet program for highly gifted learners located regionally at four elementary school sites in Douglas County. The program is intended for those students who require intensity of instruction and acceleration beyond what can reasonably be expected from the regular school gifted programming.

Due to the intensive nature of the Discovery Program, a body of evidence is needed to determine the best match between student and programming. Information considered includes documented cognitive ability, standardized achievement data, classroom performance data, student, parent, and teacher input. Three major criteria for placement are:

1) Exceptional intellectual/cognitive​ ​ability

2) Documented above grade level performance in multiple content areas, and

3) no below grade level performance in any content area.

Multiple criteria will be considered in the placement process to provide evidence of the best match between student academic need and the rigorous environment of the program.

Please visit the DSCSD Gifted Education Webpage linked HERE for more information and application materials.