Gifted students are those students who demonstrate high levels of academic accomplishment or show exceptional academic potential beyond their age peers of similar experience or environment. These students need advanced and complex content that is paced and sequenced to respond to their intellectual curiosity, exceptional problem-solving abilities, and rapid acquisition and understanding of information.
The Prince William County Public Schools Gifted Education Program offers pull-out resource services in kindergarten through 12th grade for students whose learning needs cannot be entirely met in the general education classroom setting.
At PSMS, students in 6th and 7th grade are scheduled for gifted service classes for two quarters per year. 8th grade students are pulled out of an encore class (usually PE) for services.
Gifted students typically have one of more of the following characteristics:
- Curious, questioning attitude
- Keen observer
- Vivid imagination
- Learns quickly
- Sophisticated sense of humor
- Exceptional memory
- Sensitive to human issues, fairness, justice
- Effective communication skills
- Motivated to learn or develop a skill
- Quickly learning a second language
- Intense interests
- Enjoys problem solving
The gifted education identification process is ongoing throughout the school year. A student may be referred at any time by a parent, professional, divisionwide screening tool, or self-referral. The process begins with the completion of a referral form. These forms are available below.
Gifted referral form - English (PDF)
Gifted referral form – Spanish (PDF)
Please return your referral form to Mrs. Anna Schaller ([email protected]) or Mrs. Catherine Williams ([email protected]), the gifted education resource teachers at Potomac Shores Middle School. If you would like a printed copy of the referral form or if you would like more information, please contact either Mrs. Anna Schaller or Mrs. Catherine Williams.
More information about the gifted identification process and gifted services can also be found on the PWCS Gifted Education website.