Gifted Education is Specialized Education

In the educational context, “gifted” refers to being able to master concepts easily and learn facts with minimal repetition, as well as being innovative and creative with information and concepts. GATE educates academically-gifted children, who are temperamentally motivated to explore and inquire.

Of course, children can and do have exceptional abilities in other areas, such as music, athletics, visual or performing arts, and thus may be “gifted” in those areas.  And many  "gifted" children are both academically and musically, athletically, socially, or theatrically gifted.

Much publicly-funded research from major universities, including Johns Hopkins, University of Iowa, University of Georgia, UNC, and University of Connecticut demonstrates that many academically gifted children need specialized education to meet their potential. 

Children with high potential thrive with inquiry-based exploration.

Education is fun stuff, not dull. Here's a pigtail party celebrating the successful completion of an upper school inquiry project!

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Is GATE Academy right for my child?

Our school may be the right choice for a child who:

• Has intense interests and passions
• Is keenly observant and sensitive, noticing what others may not
• Thinks deeply, and possesses an advanced vocabulary
• Learns very quickly and needs exposure to ideas at his/her own pace
• Asks questions that show a depth of knowledge far beyond his or her age
• Is hiding his or her ability and needs encouragement from true peers
• May be struggling in a conventional school environment
• Is highly motivated to learn for him/herself independently
• Has good persistence in staying with challenging tasks
• Is eager to learn new things

Read what other GATE parents have said here and here.

When GATE isn't the right choice
Sometimes an academically-gifted child is  called "twice exceptional" (2E) in that he or she has significant learning or behavioral challenges that are not addressed by GATE Academy's inquiry-based educational techniques or by grouping with cognitive peers, and that cannot be remediated by tutoring or specialists outside the GATE school day.  

We may be unable to serve the learning or behavioral challenges of 2E children within the bounds of our inquiry-based program. We can help refer families to appropriate professionals or alternative educational environments. The United States Council for Exceptional Children is an excellent resource for families with twice-exceptional children.