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 intellectual areas, creative problem solving, and/or excels in specific academic fields.  These students require educational experiences beyond those normally provided by the regular school program.  Students shall be identified through the use of multiple criteria as specified by the Denton Independent School District.  The district recognizes that students identified as gifted and talented can come from all races, socioeconomic groups, geographical locales, and environments. 

EXPO Referral Form

The criteria for placement for students in kindergarten are an ability score and at least two other scores at or above the District Line:

                                                                                   District Line

1.     Parent Checklist                                     18

2.    Teacher Checklist                                   18

3.     Portfolio                                                      9

4.     Intelligence/Abilities Test                 125

The criteria for placement for students in grades one through twelve are at least one score at or above the District Line on the qualitative assessments (#1-2 below) and at least two scores at or above the District Line on the quantitative assessments (#3-5 below). 

                                                                                    District Line

1.  Parent Checklist (grades 1-5)                         18   

2. Teacher Checklist                                               18

3. Creativity Test                                                     95%ile

4. Intelligence/Abilities Test                               125

5. Achievement Test (reading/math)             95%ile

The EXPO Placement Committee will have the option of reviewing any student’s profile for special consideration for program placement.  Parents will then be informed.

Transfer Students

Students transferring to the Denton Independent School District from a gifted and talented program in another district will be assessed to determine if placement into the EXPO Program will be the best way to meet educational needs. The campus EXPO Specialist will assess all transfer students after written notification of participation in another district's gifted and talented program. Information requested from other schools includes qualitative data showing placement into their gifted program and the years served in the program. Transfer students must meet the criteria set by the Denton Independent School District's Gifted and Talented Program. If the district criteria are not met, the student will not be placed into the EXPO program.

Student Numbers - There is no enrollment cap for the amount of students that can enter the EXPO program. If a child meets the district's criteria for placement, they may enter the program regardless of how many students are already in the program. Therefore, if a student does not place into the program, they can test again 12 months after their last assessment.

Once a student has placed into the program, they do not need to be tested again. They remain in the program until high school graduation.

Test Results - EVERY PARENT IS WELCOME TO REVIEW THEIR CHILD'S SPECIFIC SCORES AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RESULTS BY SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE EXPO TEACHER!

Testing is not the same as EXPO Class - Many of the younger students mistakenly believe that coming to the EXPO classroom for an assessment means that they are already participating in the EXPO program. This is not the case. Actual placement and services will begin only after the scores have been approved by the committee and parent permission has been granted for the student to begin classes.

Denton ISD Gifted and Talented/EXPO Page