How Independent Schools Teach Gifted Children

Welcome to Vanguard Gifted Academy’s educational blog. This is entry five of our series Selecting the Best School for Your Gifted Child. I’m Shannon Holub, Intermediate Level Master Teacher at Vanguard, and I’d like to talk to you about what an independent school experience might offer your child.

It is widely thought that people build and attend independent schools or private schools to set themselves apart, but, in the world of gifted education, it is exactly the opposite. Independent schools that focus on gifted education are largely there to bring people together. With only five to 10 percent of the population identified as gifted, it can sometimes be tricky to find intellectual and social peers for your gifted child, as well as other parents who face the same challenges you do. I’ve taught in one public school gifted program and four different independent schools specifically for gifted children in Illinois and Colorado. Of course, each school has its own personality, but in general, here’s what you can expect in an independent school setting.

Tailored to Each Gifted Child

When an independent school forms to serve gifted children, you can count on its investment in serving your particular type of child; your child will receive “gifted services” all day, every day. His asynchrony, the contrast between his intellectual age and his chronological age, will not stand out in this context, and he will be able to find peers that suit both his academic and social needs. These schools serve children from either preschool or kindergarten through fifth grade, middle school or even high school. That means your gifted youngster does not have to wait until third or fourth grade — the typical age for gifted programming to begin in public schools — to receive an appropriate education.

Independent schools recognize that gifted children are gifted 24/7, right from birth.

The Independent School Application Process

Furthermore, in independent schools, students can apply at any age. It is not necessary to have been in the program from kindergarten in order to succeed. Anyone fully immersed in gifted education realizes that no two gifted students are alike, and independent schools tend to offer a low teacher-to-student ratio in order to address these diverse needs. It was typical in the schools that I taught at to set the maximum students per class at 15. In terms of entrance criteria, it is typical for independent schools to publish a minimum IQ score of around 125 as the starting point for their programs. In addition, prospective students generally spend at least one day visiting the class they would join. In this way, teachers can assess not only their academic skills, but also how the student’s learning profile and social aspects fit the current makeup of the class.

Low Student-to-Teacher Ratios

These classes often serve a range from 125 IQ to upwards of 160. That range represents some very different learners. Again, this is the reason for the low teacher-to-student ratio. With fewer students, teachers are better able to differentiate for the various needs found within their classrooms and can offer focused experiences in meaningful collaboration, something these students don’t typically find in mainstream classes. Independent schools often have a mission to serve all types of gifted children. That includes those who underachieve in other settings for one reason or another. Often, the reason to found an independent school is that public offerings tend to serve only the highest achievers — those who fit a certain profile for succeeding within a school setting. But there are many, many gifted children who simply don’t interface well with traditional programs. In independent schools, they are likely to find teachers who can dig deeper to make connections with them and to understand their perspectives on learning.

Above-Grade Curriculum

Next, let’s talk about curriculum. It is standard to offer math curriculum at one grade level higher than the students’ age level. Many independent schools also offer flexible scheduling.  For example, a lower-grade student who is ready for a higher level of math can attend a higher-level class every day and return to her homeroom class for her other subjects in a developmentally appropriate context. Students also receive above-level language arts instruction, but it is rare to find any published program that has a year-long scope and sequence that is truly suitable for gifted students. For that reason, teachers often develop in-house reading and writing curricula and integrate this work with other subject areas through relevant projects. Again, this is possible to do when gifted services are on offer all day. Most independent schools offer hands-on experience and long-term, interest-based projects for students as well. The best schools integrate subject areas and utilize problem-based learning activities to stretch their students beyond typical curricular goals. 

Faculty Expertise in Gifted Instruction

In addition, independent schools tend to attract teachers who invest in understanding and serving the whole gifted child. These teachers receive training that focuses on giftedness, not just the nuts and bolts of teaching. The collective expertise of such a faculty permeates the program across many years. In contrast, public school teachers often have to juggle their professional training between district-wide initiatives and more specialized topics surrounding giftedness. Furthermore, the strength of public school gifted programs can vary based on the administrator put in charge of them.

Tackling the Complexities of Giftedness

Lastly, independent schools spend time nurturing habits of mind that ease issues related to intellectual and emotional intensity.

Life’s complexities, so obvious to the gifted child, become more manageable when addressed regularly during each school day by a faculty well-versed in the whole gifted child.

I hope this entry helped you envision the opportunities provided in independent schools for gifted children. School selection is a difficult process, and we hope our series helped illuminate what each type of educational setting has to offer your gifted child. As always, thank you for reading. In our next post, Head of School Elizabeth Blaetz will detail what gifted education looks like at Vanguard. Before you learn about how we teach our students, read why we love gifted education in the first place.