Services

Programming and Services

Academic Emphasis

The goal of the gifted education program in the Thompson School District is to provide support for gifted and talented learners who need and desire learning which is academically rigorous and rich. The curriculum is differentiated to meet the students' need for faster pacing and increased depth of instruction. Gifted education specialists at each building provide direct support to each identified gifted learner as well as instructional support and resources to general education teachers. Elementary teachers focus their time on a pull-out model, offering instruction in the academic-based enhancement of classroom instruction, taking our gifted and high-ability students deeper into content, and offering them a more challenging curriculum. At the secondary level, this includes more advanced classes and acceleration offerings.  

Staff Support

Each building in Thompson School District has a gifted education specialist or gifted education counselor assigned to the building for the express purpose of providing gifted education support, direct instruction, and personal counseling to identified gifted students. Staffing at elementary schools varies from 33% to 67%. Middle schools receive from 50% to 100% FTE from the district for a Gifted and Talented teacher. High schools are staffed with gifted education counselors who work with high-ability learners/gifted learners on course selection, college and career choices, and personal counseling issues.

Advanced Learning Plans

All students who are identified as gifted must have Advanced Learning Plans (ALPs) according to the Colorado state mandate. These plans are developed around students' identified strength areas. ALPs outline a plan for the student to continue to grow and to learn in his or her area of exceptional ability, creating the opportunity for the gifted learner to experience commensurate academic growth. Advanced Learning Plans are written in conjunction with the student, the parents, the general education teacher(s), and the gifted specialist or gifted counselor. Goals and plans are reviewed annually.

Enrichment

Gifted Education is also supported through Enrichment activities that occur outside of the school day. Enrichment activities may include Destination Imagination, Robotics, Spelling Bee, Shadows in the Arts, MathCounts, and Chess Club. Each program is designed to enrich the students' educational experience; it does not supplant classroom instruction. Michelle Stout is the district coordinator for these enrichment opportunities.

College Credit

The Thompson School District offers many options for students to earn college credit while still in high school. All high schools offer Advanced Placement classes, after which students take the Advanced Placement Exam to earn college credit. Loveland High School offers the International Baccaulaurate Programme which can also earn students college credit after taking the exams. All his schools also offer concurrent enrollment options for a variety of classes. Visit this page for more information on Concurrent Enrollment.