Coal Ridge Middle offers a robust Gifted Services program that supports the identification and programming for gifted students, grades K-12. In partnership with St. Vrain’s department of Gifted and Talented, we collaborate with staff, parents, and the community in support of advanced learners. The mission of Gifted Services is to ensure learning and growth through implementation of educational provisions and advocacy.
Gifted education includes a range and variety of services to address student needs, and may be delivered within the student’s regular classroom, in advanced programs, and in special classes. Programming is linked to identified student strengths, with options and strategies matched to a student’s identified academic and affective needs.
The actual delivery of services for Gifted/Talented students varies depending on student needs and building resources. Ideally, each school strives to provide a continuum of services, including enrichment that is accessible and appropriate for all interested students, advanced courses that are ideally suited for identified students, and grade level acceleration, mentoring and counseling for students with a very high level of need.
Each year, schools in the St. Vrain Valley School district complete a process to identify students who demonstrate exceptional ability or performance in one or more academic areas and may, therefore, qualify for Gifted/Talented educational services. These students usually perform at least two years above grade level in their strength area(s) and require additional academic challenges in order to support their continued educational growth and progress. In addition, they usually demonstrate characteristics of unique creativity and high motivation in their strength areas.
The search of Gifted/Talented students begins with an opportunity for parents and/or teachers to refer students for review. Once referrals are received, a team of educators evaluate student state testing data, standardized test scores, rating scales and other school data to determine which assessments are needed in order to build the body of evidence and meet Board of Education approved criteria for identification.
