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Elementary & Middle School Guide for Parents

What is Gifted?

The State of Ohio defines students identified as “gifted” as those “who perform or show potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of their age, experience, or environment.” 

Superior Cognitive Identification 

A child shall be identified as exhibiting “superior cognitive ability” by scoring at least two standard deviations above the mean, minus the standard error of measurement, on an intelligence test that is listed on the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s list of approved assessments given in the last 24 months. 

Specific Academic Identification 

A child shall be identified as exhibiting “specific academic ability” if the child performs at or above the 95th percentile on a nationally normed achievement test given within the last 24 months.

Assessment

  • All 2nd grade students are given cognitive and achievement tests in the spring to determine their qualifications for gifted services. 
  • All 5th graders are given cognitive and achievement tests in the spring to determine their qualifications for gifted services in middle school.
  • Students in grades 2-8 take the Math i-Ready benchmark three times a year to determine academic readiness and gifted identification.
  • Students in grades 3-8 take the Reading i-Ready benchmark three times a year to determine academic readiness and gifted identification 
  • Students coming from other districts or with additional testing are encouraged to share test scores with the District’s Teaching and Learning Department. 

Lakewood City Schools Gifted Services

Self-Contained Classrooms (Grant Elementary School)  

  • Students spend their day in a classroom with peers identified as gifted. 

  • A Gifted Intervention Specialist (GIS) uses District-approved programs to challenge students through differentiated instruction, critical and creative thinking lessons, and/or project-based learning. 
  • Students are formally accelerated one grade level in math and are assessed at that higher grade level on spring AIR tests.
  • Students have a Written Education Plan (WEP) written by the Gifted Intervention Specialist.

Qualifications:

  • Superior Cognitive identification AND academic scores of 90th percentile or above in reading AND math. 

Cluster Grouping Grades 3, 4, and 5

  • Students remain in their home schools while receiving gifted instruction from the general education teacher. 
    • Note: this is NOT a separate class; services are implemented through the enrichment of grade-level learning standards, where applicable. 
  • Students identified as gifted are purposefully placed together in cluster groups with other gifted students in traditional classrooms. 
  • General education teachers receive gifted training and are provided with ongoing support from the Coordinator of Gifted Services. 
  • Teachers provide differentiated instruction in the subjects that match the student’s area of identification. 
  • Students have a Written Education Plan (WEP) that is collaboratively written by the classroom teacher and the Coordinator of Gifted Services.

Qualifications:

  • Superior Cognitive identification

OR

  • Academic score of 95th percentile or above in reading OR math

Middle School Grades 6, 7, and 8

  • Advanced cluster grouped classrooms are composed of gifted and high-ability students who are challenged through differentiated instruction, critical and creative thinking lessons, and/or project-based learning. 
  • Advanced courses are offered for English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. 
  • Classes are led by certified gifted teachers and/or teachers provided with ongoing professional development on working with gifted students. 
  • Students may be eligible to follow an advanced path for math. If eligible, the student may participate in and earn credit for high school-level math class(es). 
  • Students have a Written Education Plan (WEP) when their area(s) of identification align with the advanced course they are taking. WEPs are collaboratively written by the classroom teacher and the Coordinator of Gifted Services.

Qualifications:

  • Gifted Superior Cognitive identification

OR

  • Gifted academic score of 95th percentile or above aligned with specific subject courses

OR

  • High-ability Superior Cognitive score of at least 115 AND an academic score of 90th percentile or above aligned with specific subject courses.

Questions?

Contact Carissa Spitzer, Coordinator of Teaching and Learning; Gifted Services and Related Art at carissa.spitzer@lakewoodcityschools.org or 216-529-4087