Characteristics and educational support needs of underrepresented gifted adolescents

The purpose of this article is to present the characteristics and needs of adolescent students who are underrepresented in gifted programs. The specific populations of underrepresented gifted youth who will be addressed in this article include young women, students with learning disabilities, and students living in poverty. The academic and social‐emotional needs of students from underrepresented populations will be presented, followed by strategies professionals can use to support these students. The importance of developing more sensitive identification and outreach programs for these youth is clearly illuminated by their social‐emotional characteristics and academic underachievement. It is important to create support strategies for students at the secondary level, as this may be their last point of entry in the educational system.