Parents · Giftedness

GATE: the right fit?

Gifted education is specialized education. Here's what we mean by "gifted," and how to tell whether GATE is the right environment for your child.

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 — music, athletics, visual or performing arts — and many gifted children are gifted in several of these at once.

Much publicly-funded research from major universities — including Johns Hopkins, the University of Iowa, the University of Georgia, UNC, and the 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.

Two GATE students playing on the lawn at golden hour — Education is fun stuff, not dull — here's a celebration marking the successful completion of an upper-school inquiry project.

GATE 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 to explore ideas at their own pace

Asks questions that show knowledge far beyond their age

Is hiding their ability and needs encouragement from true peers

May be struggling in a conventional school environment

Is highly motivated to learn 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) — they have significant learning or behavioral challenges that are not addressed by GATE's inquiry-based techniques or by grouping with cognitive peers, and that cannot be remediated by tutoring or specialists outside the school day.

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