Elementary Gifted Services

  • Two Gifted Programs are offered at the Elementary level in the Anchorage School District.

  • Including Gifted Needs in Today’s Education (IGNITE) Overview:

    IGNITE is an enrichment-based pull-out program designed for gifted students in grades 2–5 who meet eligibility criteria under the Anchorage School District’s Plan of Service for Gifted Students.

    The program supports students' academic and social development through:

    • In-depth exploration of complex and engaging topics

    • Project-based learning, supplemental instruction, and Socratic discussions

    • A focus on creative and critical thinking, with students encouraged to use reasoning to support their ideas

    To address social and emotional needs, IGNITE incorporates direct and integrated instruction based on the 16 Habits of Mind (Costa and Kallick).

    Students remain in their regular classrooms for core subjects and attend IGNITE sessions for 2–3 hours per week at their home school.

  • Highly Gifted Program (HG):

    The Highly Gifted (HG) Program is designed for exceptionally advanced students whose academic needs exceed those that can be met in a standard classroom setting. This program provides accelerated instruction and enrichment opportunities in a self-contained environment, allowing students to learn alongside peers with similar cognitive and academic abilities.

     

    The Language Arts curriculum, Wit & Wisdom, is designed to develop students' skills in reading, writing and communication through the study of rich, content-based texts. It encourages thoughtful classroom discourse - such as Socratic Seminars- to promote deep understanding and critical thinking.

     

    Students in the Highly Gifted Program have access to math instruction at or above grade level, based on their individual skills and readiness. When appropriate, students may “walk to math,” joining another class to receive instruction that best matches their current level of mathematical ability up through middle school Math 8 (formerly pre-algebra).

     

    Currently housed at Rogers Park Elementary, the program serves approximately 170 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. It is structured to support both the academic development and the social-emotional well-being of highly gifted learners.

     

    Eligibility Requirements

    To qualify for the Highly Gifted Program, students must:

    • Be at least five years old

    • Score at or above the 96th percentile on a reading achievement assessment.

    • Score at or above the 98th percentile on a verbal or verbal composite ability assessment.

    • Score at or above the 50th percentile on a math achievement or math ability assessment.

    The program is part of the Anchorage School District's commitment to providing a rigorous and supportive educational experience for its most advanced-ability learners.