GATE: Gifted & Talented Education

GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION

WPUSD is committed to providing rigorous programs for our gifted students! Our District has focused on providing professional development to district teachers and providing differentiated instructional programs for GATE and High Achieving (HA) students. Our GATE/HA programs in the Western Placer Unified School District are designed to offer a variety of curriculum and program choices to GATE-identified elementary, middle and high school students and their families. Program offerings can be found both during the school day and after school.

The process of GATE/HA student identification begins in October as all students in grade 2, and select students in grades 3-5 are given the GATE assessments. Parents may opt their child out of testing in second grade should they choose.

Students in grades 3-5 may take the GATE assessment based on teacher or parent recommendation. The district will also look at state and district assessment scores as well as information from the child’s teacher. This criteria will determine if a student qualifies for GATE/HA.

Parents of students who qualify for GATE/HA designation are invited to a parent information evening meeting to learn more about the district GATE/HA programs. This meeting is usually held sometime in February.

ELEMENTARY GATE PROGRAM

At the elementary level, a choice of a magnet program exclusively for GATE and HA students or cluster GATE groups within traditional elementary school class programs are available to GATE-identified students and their families.

The Elementary Academy is a self-contained program located at First Street School. It includes students in grades 3-5 that exclusively servs GATE and qualifying High Achieving students and families from around the district. Students in any elementary school throughout the district can apply. There is a form parents will be sent and there will be a lottery to determine which students are accepted into the program.

The program offers enrichments, acceleration and advancements through the standard grade-level curriculum. Teachers in the Elementary Academy have been trained in GATE strategies and are GATE certified. Children in the Elementary Academy participate with other students at First Street School in Music and Science classes and in grade-level field trips and other special programs.

Also available at the elementary level are more traditional cluster programs - concentrating GATE students in small groups in a regular heterogeneous classroom at a student’s home school, but differentiating the curriculum to meet their needs. Through the cluster programs, students may work on advanced levels of mathematics or reading, while staying involved in the regular classroom program. Most GATE cluster classroom teachers are also GATE certified.

For more information on the Elementary Academy at First Street School you may contact the principal at First Street School (916) 645-6330 or Reno Penders, Director of Ed. Services (916) 645-6350.

MIDDLE SCHOOL HONORS PROGRAM

At the middle school level, the GATE program is divided between the traditional differentiated curriculum approach in the classroom and the Honors Academy, a magnet GATE program located at Glen Edwards Middle School.

The traditional approach offers unique opportunities for group and project work through GATE-trained teachers at both Twelve Bridges Middle School and Glen Edwards Middle School.

The Honors Academy at Glen Edwards Middle School is a multi-age academy in which a cohort group of 6th, 7th and 8th grade GATE and High Achiever students are scheduled by grade. These academy students "loop" together for three years creating a school within a school experience for the students and their families. Mathematics classes are advanced, language arts classes are accelerated, and band is the required elective for Sixth grade. Students have the option of continuing in the Honors Academy for three years. As there is limited space in the program, students must fill out an application and be accepted into the program.

For more information on the Honors Academy at Glen Edwards Middle School please contact the school office at (916) 645-6370.

HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Lincoln High School features a number of programs and classes that are tailored to the needs of GATE and High Achieving students. GATE and HA students have the opportunity to enroll in one of our Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways, Honors classes, and Advanced Placement (AP) classes. Many of these courses offer students the opportunity to gain college credit for work done while still in high school. In some cases, the coursework may be offered at a local community college or in an online format. Click here for information on our high school CTE pathways.

Engineering and Design Program classes utilize the Project Lead the Way curriculum and include:

Introduction to Engineering and Design (IED)
Principles of Engineering (POE)
Digital Electronics (DE)
Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM)
Engineering Design & Development (EDD - Robotics)
Principles of Medical Biology

Advanced Honors classes include:

Honors English
Honors Biology

Advanced Placement (AP) classes include:

AP English Literature
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Physics
AP U.S. History
AP U.S. Government
AP World History
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
AP Spanish
AP French
AP Computer Science
AP Music Theory
AP Studio Art
AP Environmental Science
AP Psychology

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