3rd Grade Explorers

The purpose of the Wake County Public School System Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Program is to provide an appropriately challenging educational program for students who perform, or show potential for performing, at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of their age, experience, or environment.

The Wake County AIG Program supports a unique nurturing component, 3rd Grade Explorers.  The AIG teacher works in partnership with third grade teachers to plan a variety of experiences designed to elicit high academic performance.  Several times during the year, the AIG teacher works in the classroom with students.  The AIG and the classroom teachers assess student performance during these experiences.  Students who demonstrate high performance participate in small group enrichment activities.  Some students may participate in one or more small group experiences, while other students may not demonstrate a need for this enrichment.

Participation in a small group experience does not mean that the student has been, or will be, identified for future AIG services.  Evidence from 3rd Grade Explorers may be considered with the informal indicators including student learning behaviors, student performance, student interest, and student motivation.  Formal indicators, such as aptitude and achievement scores from norm-referenced tests, may also be considered for possible AIG nomination.