Gifted Services at Mapleton
At Mapleton Local Schools, the purpose of gifted services is to create a dynamic and enriching educational environment designed to meet the unique needs of exceptionally talented students. Our goal is to challenge the intellectual, creative, and academic abilities of gifted learners in order to maximize their potential.
Currently, gifted services are provided for students in reading, math, science, and social studies in grades K-8 through cluster groupings. This means that students identified in these areas are grouped together for their daily instruction within the regular classrooms. Teachers in these classrooms have received training in working with gifted students. Grade level standards are the primary focus, however students may move at a faster pace, receive more complex instruction, or receive support to go beyond grade-level work when appropriate. Participation in enrichment clusters is automatic unless a parent submits written notice declining these services.
Students at Mapleton High School who are identified as gifted receive services either through cluster grouping or by taking College Credit Plus courses or similar courses as identified by the school. Students who are identified as gifted in visual arts take at least one semester of art each school year and receive individualized instruction to develop their skills beyond the regular curriculum. Students who choose not to participate in College Credit Plus or art classes are considered to be declining gifted services unless they are serviced using gifted clusters.
Grade acceleration, early graduation, and early entrance to kindergarten are available for limited and specific situations. Please contact your child’s school for more information on these opportunities if you believe they apply to your child.
Gifted Screening and Identification
Ohio defines a student who is gifted as one who “performs or shows potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of their age, experience, or environment” (Ohio Revised Code 3324.01). The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce requires public school districts to identify students as gifted in the following areas: superior cognitive ability; specific academic ability; creative thinking ability; and visual or performing arts ability.
Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, students in kindergarten through 8th grade will participate in I-Ready assessments throughout the school year to monitor students’ learning. These results may be used to identify a student as gifted in specific academic ability in math and reading. Students in grades 2 and 6 are assessed for superior cognitive ability and creative thinking giftedness using the Cognitive Abilities Assessment (CoGat). Juniors at Mapleton High School who take the ACT may be identified as gifted based on their scores. Finally, a student may be referred for gifted testing in visual arts ability. This screening will take place in the spring of each year for students who have been referred.
Additional settings for Safari Browser.
