Meeting the needs of gifted learners through innovative high school programs

In the past, the comprehensive high school model worked well for many G/T and other students, but times have changed. Today educators are redesigning high schools to be both equitable to diverse student populations and still achieve academic excellence. Instead of adding new structures to the traditional model of a comprehensive high school, recultured schools begin with fundamentally different assumptions about the role of the school in adolescent development and learning, and in the local community. In this article, we examine 5 high schools that successfully meet the needs of G/T students through innovative curricular programs, which feature small learning communities and supportive structures such as small advisory groups, real world connections, authentic assessment, and teachers who facilitate learning. The challenge is to conceptualize holistic education for G/T students that allows for meaningful choices while promoting intellectual growth and healthy personal development.