How do students qualify for gifted and talented programs?
Gifted and talented students may be found within any racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic group; within any nationality; within both genders; and within populations with disabilities.  Identification is a multi-step process consisting of referral, screening, and assessment of eligibility by a district evaluation and placement team.  The state of South Carolina has established three dimensions as criteria for placement in the academically gifted program.  In order to qualify for placement in gifted and talented programs, students must meet the eligibility criteria in two of three dimensions.

Identification Dimensions

Dimension A-Reasoning Abilities

Students must score in the 93rd age percentile or higher on a nationally normed aptitude test.  The CogAt and OLSAT are commonly used for this dimension.

Dimension B-Achievement

Students must score at or above the 94th percentile in reading or math on a nationally normed achievement test or score at the Advanced level in Reading or Math on the South Carolina Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test (PACT).

Dimension C-Academic Performance

Students in second grade must score 80% or higher on the Verbal or Nonverbal Section of the Performance Tasks Test.  Third graders must score 90% or higher on the Performance Tasks Test.  This test is only given at specified times during the year as determined by the South Carolina Department of Education.

*Students are eligible for placement on the basis of aptitude scores alone if they score at or above the 96th national age percentile on the composite score of a nationally normed aptitude test.

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