Gifted education serves students who perform or show potential for high levels of accomplishment compared to peers of similar age or background. Under Ohio law, students may be identified in one or more of these areas:

• Superior Cognitive Ability

• Specific Academic Ability: mathematics, reading, science, social studies

• Creative Thinking Ability

• Visual or Performing Arts Ability

• All students are tested for reading and math identification in grades 2 through 8 using the i-Ready Diagnostic Assessment multiple times a year.

• Students scoring in the 95th percentile or higher on the reading and/or math tests qualify for subject-specific gifted identification in that particular area. 

• All students in 2nd and 4th grade are tested for superior cognitive ability by taking the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT).

• Students scoring two standard deviations above the mean on the CogAT Form 7 or Form 8 will receive an identification as gifted in Superior Cognitive Thinking.

• Students scoring one standard deviation above the mean will be evaluated with the Gifted Rating Scales (GRS-2) assessment to determine if they qualify for a Creative Thinking identification.

• All students will have the option to take the ACT in 11th grade, which can be used as an identifying test for reading, math, and science if they score in the 95th percentile on national norms. 

• Referrals for gifted testing can be submitted by teachers, parents, or students for reading, math, science, social studies, creative thinking, superior cognitive, visual arts, and/or performing arts.

• If referred, the district Gifted Coordinator will administer the TerraNova, Iowa, Form 7 or 8 Cognitive Abilities Test and/or Gifted Rating Scales (GRS-2) screener to determine gifted identification.

• Visual and performing arts are screened upon referral by the Gifted Rating Scales (GRS-2) screener. If the screener shows the student is within the identification range, they will work with their art and/or music teacher to create a portfolio for a performance evaluation.

The following are services offered for the identified gifted students in the district.

Elementary:

• Cluster grouping of identified students with a classroom teacher who has taken High-Quality Professional Development (HQPD) to teach gifted students

• Differentiated curriculum

• Grade acceleration in specific subjects or whole grade

• Early entrance to kindergarten 

Middle and High School:

• Cluster grouping of identified students with a classroom teacher who has taken High-Quality Professional Development (HQPD) to teach gifted students

• Grade acceleration in specific subjects

• Differentiated curriculum

• Advanced classes

• Advanced Placement courses (AP)

• College Credit Plus (CCP)

• Mentorships

• Internships

*** The services above are offered through regular classroom teachers who have completed the minimum required hours of professional development in gifted education, and they collaborate with the Gifted Coordinator/Coach in the district.

Students in the Margaretta School District are identified as gifted by the Ohio Department of Education Operating Standards.

Per Ohio Law, incoming test scores must be less than 24 months old at the time of application for new identification. Previous valid gifted identification records from other Ohio districts will be accepted.

[email protected]

Margaretta Elementary School

Phone: (419) 684-5357

Margaretta Middle/ High School

Phone: (419) 684-5351