Definition
Rockingham County Schools defines academically and intellectually gifted (AIG) students as children or youth who perform, or show potential for performing, at remarkable high levels of accomplishment when compared with others of their age, experience, or environment. AIG students exhibit high performance capability in intellectual areas and/or specific academic fields. AIG students require differentiated educational services beyond those ordinarily provided by the regular educational program.
AIG Services
Rockingham County provides a program for AIG students in 4th through 12th grade. Enrichment is provided for students in grades K-3 through whole class instruction and flexible grouping. Individual schools have multiple options within a general framework to reach the goal of providing the additional challenge these students need.
The goal of the program at the primary level is to identify and nurture talents and abilities, to open up opportunities to develop new interests, and encourage the child's social and emotional growth as well. Classroom teachers work together with the instructional coach to provide challenging enrichment opportunities within the classroom. Students of similar abilities are often clustered together to maximize efforts to increase reading and math skills. Flexibility within and between these cluster groups allows children to receive grade level, enriched, or accelerated instruction, depending on their needs at the time for each skill .
Formal identification as an AIG student does not usually take place until the end of 3rd grade, when achievement and aptitude test scores can be utilized. However, AIG identification and placement can be found at any grade level, K-12. The criteria for student placement in the AIG program can be located here. Student data is reviewed annually to ensure that students are in the most appropriate placement, and students are cluster-grouped in classes based on best practices in gifted education.
At every grade level K-12, multiple options are in place to provide appropriately enriched curriculum to help those students who are willing to accept the challenge and reach their maximum potential.