Gifted Education Program
We help gifted students reach their full potential.
At American Leadership Academy, we want to help each and every student reach his or her full potential. Our Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) program allows students with gifted or accelerated capacities to thrive in an environment that is both challenging and appropriate for their unique needs and learning styles. This furthers our mission to provide the best educational experience to as many students as possible in a moral and wholesome environment.
Schedule a campus tour and learn more about what makes American Leadership Academy the best choice for your gifted child.
AIG Program Overview
Grade 2: AIG support is provided using a pull-out model. This model allows AIG students to be in a regular classroom with their grade level peers, and possibly other AIG peers. The AIG Campus Coordinator meets with second-grade AIG students twice a week in accordance with the AIG student's differentiated education plan (DEP).
Grades 3-6: AIG support is provided using a Cluster Grouping Model. This model allows AIG students to be in a classroom with more of their AIG peers while offering access to their own curriculum map, resources, opportunities, etc. Based on the AIG student's identification, math and/or reading, gifted support is given and implemented by an AIG Cluster Teacher using the student's differentiated education plan (DEP). The AIG Campus Coordinator meets with AIG Cluster Teachers regularly to ensure AIG students are supported while offering checks-in with AIG students bi-monthly.
Grades 7 and above: AIG students in grades 7 and above are provided the opportunity to participate in advanced learning classes, known as honors courses.
What are the characteristics of a gifted student?
We see our gifted students as talented individuals with exceptional abilities.
Although “gifted” can manifest itself differently in different students, there are some characteristics that are generally accepted to be shared by many gifted students. Our teachers and staff at American Leadership Academy are aware of these characteristics and utilize these skills in our gifted learning program.
| Able to learn quickly They may pick up on new concepts and material more quickly than their peers. |
Curious They have an intense “need to know.” They show interest in the way things work. |
Abstract thinkers They are able to draw connections easily. They may have a talent for debate. |
| Strong communicators They often have a large vocabulary and are able to express themselves well. |
Independent They may challenge authority or the status quo. They may work well alone. |
Inquisitive They ask questions and search for answers. |
| Tuned in to their surroundings They have a strong sense of right, wrong, and fairness. They may show interest in current events. |
Intense They may be opinionated or strong-willed. Their personalities seem magnified. |
Talented Often have a wide variety of interests and abilities, inside and outside the classroom. |
While these characteristics are common among gifted students, it’s important to remember that no two gifted students are the same. They have different strengths, different interests, and different learning styles. Gifted students can be:
- Introverted or extroverted
- Highly focused students or daydreamers
- Outspoken or quiet
- Rule-followers or rule-challengers
- Socially confident or socially insecure
For this reason, we rely on the CogAT assessment, along with teacher recommendation, when it comes to identifying and placing gifted students.
Our gifted programs are designed to ensure that each student is stimulated and empowered according to his or her own needs.
Testing for Gifted Program at ALA
American Leadership Academy uses the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), a widely-used, state-approved assessment to assess specific reasoning skills in areas that strongly correlate to academic success. The CogAT consists of three areas:
Verbal - used to assess a student's vocabulary, efficiency and verbal memory, ability to determine word relationships, and the ability to comprehend ideas.
Quantitative - used to assess a student's quantitative reasoning, problem solving abilities, and abstract reasoning.
Non-Verbal - used to assess a student's reasoning abilities through the use of spatial and figural content.
This test may be taken by any student who is referred by parents, teachers, or qualified ALA staff members. Qualification for gifted services is based on performance on this assessment. Check your schools gifted page to see eligibility requirements. Placement testing for the gifted program occurs in the Fall and placement status is reviewed each Spring.
Webb's Depth of Knowledge
In this program, gifted students are able to work among their peers on cross-curricular units that extend beyond the general lessons. Gifted teachers utilize Webb's "Depth of Knowledge" scale to encourage students to reach their full potential.
| DOK-1 | DOK-2 | DOK-3 | DOK-4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| RECALL & REPRODUCE | APPLY KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS/ BASIC REASONING | STRATEGIC THINKING | EXTENSIVE THINKING |
| Who? | How did it take place? | How can I make use of it to solve a problem? | What do you think, feel, or believe? |
| What? | Why did it take place? | Why does it solve the problem? | What will or could happen? |
| Where? | How does it operate? | What is the cause, effect, or reason? | What is the relationship? |
| When? | Why does it operate? | What are the intended and unexpected outcomes? | How did it influence? What if? |
Gifted students have unique strengths and exceptional opportunities.
American Leadership Academy believes in providing the best possible education for each and every one of our students. For gifted students, that means tuning in to their learning styles, recognizing and encouraging their interests, and moving at their speed to create an environment that matches and challenges their abilities.
Supporting gifted students from K-12th grade
Why gifted education?
In North Carolina, academically or intellectually gifted (AIG) students are defined as learners who demonstrate or have the potential to demonstrate remarkably high performance compared to their peers. These students often require differentiated educational services beyond what traditional classrooms typically provide. Simply put, gifted students thrive when instruction is tailored to their advanced learning needs and paced appropriately to challenge their abilities.
We recognize this need and offer specialized curriculum and instruction designed to stimulate gifted students, allowing them to excel academically and develop their talents fully.
Gifted education in North Carolina
Approximately 13% of North Carolina’s public school students are identified as academically or intellectually gifted. State law mandates that all public school districts identify and serve these learners through structured AIG programs, although districts have flexibility in how they implement these services. As a result, programs can vary significantly across the state.
At our school, we follow North Carolina’s 2024 AIG Program Standards, ensuring consistency, equity, and quality in gifted education. We provide structured, continuous services such as differentiated instruction, enrichment opportunities, acceleration, and social-emotional support. Our goal is to expand students’ knowledge, challenge them intellectually, and help them discover and achieve their full potential in a nurturing environment.
Gifted 2nd-6th Grade Students
Gifted programs for grades 2nd-6th are offered at all of our elementary school campuses:
Gifted 7th-12th Grade Students
At higher grade levels, honors, AP, and dual enrollment classes are available at American Leadership Academy to students with gifted abilities. These classes offer challenging curriculums and more opportunities for advanced and extended learning. They also prepare students for continued education and college attendance.
Honors, AP, and dual enrollment classes are offered at all of our middle school and high school campuses.
Parent involvement with American Leadership Academy
“At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents.”
- Jane D. Hull, former Governor of Arizona
Research has shown that parental involvement in education has a positive impact on:
- Grades
- Test scores
- School attendance
- Social skills
- Classroom behavior2
Supported by this research and by our own experience, American Leadership Academy strongly encourages parents and guardians of our students to participate at the individual, classroom, and school-wide level.
- We know that, as a parent or guardian, your child’s education is very important to you. You can play an active role in your gifted child’s education by:
- Communicating with your child’s teacher(s) regularly
- Scheduling meetings as needed to discuss your child’s progress
- Reviewing lessons with your child at home
- Modeling a love of continued learning
- Praising your child’s effort and growth
In our gifted program, we want to work with parents to make sure their child’s needs are being met and that they’re receiving the attention they deserve.
Contact Us
Please contact your school's Gifted Teacher for any additional questions you have about gifted program testing, teachers, methods, or curriculums.
Schedule a campus tour and learn more about what makes American Leadership Academy the best choice for your gifted child.
- North Carolina Department of Public Instruction – NC AIG Program Standards (2024): This document outlines the state's framework and guidelines for Academically or Intellectually Gifted programs.
- North Carolina Department of Public Instruction – Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Web Page: Provides an overview of North Carolina's AIG program and recent updates to standards.
- North Carolina Department of Public Instruction – AIG Student Data: Offers statistics on identified AIG students statewide.