About Challenge 

In the state of South Carolina, state funding for gifted and talented programs currently covers grades 3 through 12. While students may be identified earlier, formal funded services begin in 3rd grade for students who meet the state qualification criteria. In Greenville County Schools, this elementary program is called "Challenge."

At the elementary level, Challenge operates primarily as a resource room/pull-out program, providing targeted instruction for a minimum number of minutes each week in accordance with state guidelines:

• 3rd Grade: 125 minutes per week

• 4th Grade: 200 minutes per week

• 5th Grade: 200 minutes per week

Grade 3: Expressions "Express Yourself!"

Third graders focus on creative expression, digital citizenship, and collaboration through self-portraits, theater research, and script design. Math instruction centers on problem-solving, introduction to multiplication concepts, and basic Hands-On Equations ( x, evaluating expressions, and solving for x)

Grade 4: Explorations "Explore Your World!"

Fourth graders explore architecture, digital citizenship, and engineering through hands-on collaborative projects, including bridge design/construction and building a Rube Goldberg machine. Math focuses on advancing through Hands-On Equations (balanced equations, solving without manipulatives) and starting Hands-On Equations Fractions.

Grade 5: Extensions "Extend Your Thinking!"

Fifth graders analyze "Viewpoints" across iconic American history, art, and modern architecture, culminating in an invention design project. Math covers advanced algebraic concepts, including positive and negative whole numbers, parenthetical expressions, and multi-step equations, along with Hands-On Equations Fractions.