Our Mission

The mission of Southside Independent School District is to provide engaging, dynamic, and relevant experiences that develop and empower all students to become exceptional and productive members of society.

 Our Philosophy

The Gifted and Talented services at Southside ISD emphasizes general intellectual ability and specific academic aptitude. Southside ISD applies Joseph Renzulli's concept of "giftedness," which addresses a set of three interlocking clusters of traits: intellectual ability, creativity, and task commitment.

Southside ISD's goal is to refer children in whom these areas interact to such a high degree that future accomplishment is likely to rank in the remarkably high range. Upon qualifying, gifted students are often offered special services to help maximize their potential.

Southside ISD recognizes the right of all children to have access to services which provide opportunities for development to the full limit of their capacities; and also recognizes that some children possess extraordinary talents and abilities which need to be fostered, guided, and developed.  To nurture within the individual student a desire for excellence and a sense of responsibility to self and to society, Gifted and Talented (G/T) services are offered to qualifying Southside ISD students.

Gifted & Talented Defined

Southside ISD defines, "gifted and talented," as any child or youth in grades K-12 who performs at, or shows the potential for performing, at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment who:

1. exhibits high performance capability in general intellectual ability; or 

2. excels in one or more specific academic fields: math, science, language arts, and/or social studies