The Valley Park School District believes that gifted children have unique needs and abilities. They can process new ideas quickly and often need fewer repetitions for mastery of content. They can demonstrate high intellectual ability, show strengths in creativity and critical thinking, and possess the ability to see “the big picture”. Gifted children can experience asynchronous development, which can be a challenge. They exhibit strengths and weaknesses and may not be academically gifted in all areas. As a result, these students often require differentiated educational opportunities outside of those provided in the general education setting.

State Law in Missouri, Section 162.675, RSMo, defines gifted children as "those children who exhibit precocious development of mental capacity and learning potential as determined by competent professional evaluation to the extent that continued educational growth and stimulation could best be served by an academic environment beyond that offered through a standard grade level curriculum."

Section 162.720, RSMo, states that school districts may establish programs for gifted children "where a sufficient number of children are determined to be gifted and their development requires programs or services beyond the level of those ordinarily provided in regular public school programs . . ." and states that the State Board of Education "shall determine standards for such programs. Approval of such programs shall be made by the State Department of Education based upon project applications submitted each year."