Gifted & Talented
We help gifted students reach their full potential
At American Leadership Academy, we want to help each and every student reach her or his 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 for as many students as possible in a moral and wholesome environment.
Schedule a tour today to learn more about your school's Gifted Education Program!
Gifted & Talented Overview
Grade 2: Students begin taking the CogAT test in the fall to determine Gifted eligibility for 3rd grade.
Grades 3-6: Gifted support is provided using a Cluster Grouping Model. This model allows gifted students to be in a classroom with more of their gifted peers while offering access to their own curriculum map, resources, opportunities, etc. Based on the gifted student's identification, math and/or reading, gifted support is given and implemented by a Gifted Cluster Teacher using the student's differentiated education plan (DEP). The Gifted Campus Coordinator meets with Gifted Cluster Teachers regularly to ensure Gifted students are supported while offering checks-in with gifted students bi-monthly.
Grades 7 and above: Gifted students in grades 7 and above are provided the opportunity to participate in advanced learning classes, known as honors courses.
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? |
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. Students who score at or above the 94th percentile expectation for their grade will be considered eligible for the ALA gifted program. Placement testing for the gifted program occurs in the fall and placement status is reviewed each spring.
Meet the ALA Lexington Gifted Teacher
Allison Mitchell
Allison Mitchell is the Gifted & Talented Coordinator at ALA Lexington. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master's of Education from Columbia College. She has about 28 years in teaching experience where she has taught 1st, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. She also earned her gifted and talented endorsement with the state of South Carolina. As a South Carolina native, she believes in the importance of making learning enjoyable and building strong relationships with students.
allison.mitchell@alalexington.org
Gifted Curriculum (Topics of Study)
Monthly Newsletters
Stay up to date with ALA Lexington's Gifted Program! Our monthly newsletters highlight the exciting achievements, upcoming events, and inspiring projects our gifted students are working on.
Student Spotlight
FAQ - Questions About Gifted
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.