The Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program supports unique opportunities for high-achieving and underachieving pupils who are identified as gifted and talented. By state definition, gifted students are pupils who possess a capacity for excellence far beyond that of their chronological peers. This capacity includes many and varied characteristics that require modifications of curriculum and instruction. These modifications form the basis of gifted and talented educational services.
The Rio School District serves the gifted students within the district through honors classes in the middle school program for the high-achieving students. Differentiated instruction and flexible groupings for gifted and high-ability students are provided at the elementary level.
Additionally, the Rio School District GATE program offers after school enrichment activities at each school. GATE exploratories are facilitated by a GATE liaison who is a credentialed teacher. Students eligible for GATE may choose from a menu of options, and each session runs about eight weeks. The end of the year GATE Showcase allows parents and students to participate in the various exploratories conducted by students throughout the year.
The GATE program is open to eligible students in 3rd through 8th grades. Referral forms are available online and at each school. Parents, teachers, and students may make referrals to GATE, which starts the eligibility process.
