PV Schools is expanding its popular self-contained gifted program in the Desert Ridge area
By Marty A. Macurak
PV School District
Desert Trails Elementary School, near 40th Street and Pinnacle Peak Road, will feature self-contained classes beginning in August 2014. The self-contained gifted program is designed for high-achieving, highly and profoundly gifted students who are working well beyond their current grade. Students who are significantly accelerated in academics and highly motivated to learn thrive in these classes.
The program provides both challenging curriculum and instruction that is infused with technology using a problem-based, interdisciplinary instructional approach. Curriculum is balanced between classical liberal arts, accelerated mathematics and exploratory science. As in all PV Schools gifted programs, instructors are highly qualified, experienced, and hold special endorsements in gifted education.
Students in the self-contained gifted program participate in daily special areas such as art, music and physical education, and spend lunch and recess with other grade-level classes. Enrichment activities and field trips are part of the experience, and students will also benefit from the addition Desert Trails’ curricular enhancements in science, technology, engineering and math that begin in the 2014-15 school year.
To apply for the self-contained gifted program students must:: qualify as gifted by scoring 97 percent or higher in two of the three areas tested for gifted identification with the third score being 90 or higher, or have an IQ of 140 or greater; and must demonstrate accelerated learning needs that are two years beyond grade level, and have an AIMS test results that meets or exceeds grade level standards.
For more information on the program, and to download the application visit pvschools.net/gifted. Prospective parents are always welcome to visit the school and talk with Principal Sheri Duggan.
Desert Trails Elementary School is located at 4315 E. Cashman Dr., Phoenix, 85050. Call 602-449-4100 to make an appointment with Ms. Duggan.
