What Do Gifted Services Look Like?

  • The mission of the Gifted program at Decatur High School is to work directly with the students and faculty to design instruction and create a supportive school environment to meet the intellectual, academic, social, emotional, and motivational needs of gifted and high-ability learners. 

  • Cluster Model

    A group of identified gifted students are placed into an otherwise heterogeneous classroom led by a teacher who holds the gifted endorsement.  The teacher develops and documents challenging assignments designed to advance students' learning. 

  • Advanced Content

    DHS offers many different Advanced Content courses that challenge students to delve deeper into more complex lessons in a given subject. Student may select from a variety of Honors, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate coursework.

  • Gifted Directed Independent Study

    Students are offered an optional elective to study independently.  Students can study subjects of interest that are not offered at DHS.  They collaborate with the gifted specialist to write a contract, complete 4 mini-projects and a summary portfolio.