A case study of the social needs of Danisha:An underachieving gifted African‐American female∗

Historically, African‐American students have experienced significant levels of underachievement. Similarly, many gifted females fail to reach their potential. Despite numerous studies on underachievement among African‐American students and among gifted females, few studies have addressed underachievement among gifted African‐American females. In the present case study, the authors address this shortcoming. They explore the topic of underachievement among gifted African‐American females by exploring their perceptions of social variables and understanding their needs. Specifically, through the lens of social variables (e.g., peer, teachers, curricular issues) the authors explore the perceptions of a 15 year‐old gifted, underachieving African‐American female 9th grader, and make recommendations to improve her educational experiences and those of other gifted African‐American females.