Gwinnett County, Georgia

FOCUS / PROBE / QUEST Gifted Education

Gwinnett County Public Schools extends its academic standards through a named gifted continuum: FOCUS in elementary school, PROBE in middle school, and gifted education or QUEST in high school.

How services work: Grades K–5 use resource, cluster, and advanced-content classes; middle and high schools use advanced-content classes. Learning emphasizes standards extensions, research, communication, metacognition, complex concepts, judgment, and problem solving.

How students are identified: Placement follows Georgia eligibility rules and combines nationally normed assessment results with student performance. Verified Georgia transfers retain eligibility, while out-of-state records are reviewed against Georgia requirements.

Gifted and Talented Education

Buford City Schools provides enriching experiences for intellectually advanced and exceptionally creative students in every district school from kindergarten through grade 12.

How services work: Services include resource pull-out classes, cluster grouping with gifted-endorsed teachers, advanced-content classes, honors and AP coursework, and dual enrollment.

How students are identified: Teachers, families, peers, and norm-referenced testing may initiate referral. A school team reviews referrals, obtains family consent, and evaluates mental ability, achievement, creativity, and motivation under Georgia rules.

Focus Gifted Services

Walton County provides a grade-spanning gifted continuum taught by certified gifted educators, with defined minimum service time in elementary and secondary school.

How services work: K–3 students receive at least 225 minutes weekly and grades 4–5 at least 250 minutes. Middle and high-school students receive at least one content-based period daily; high school adds AP, advanced, and dual-enrollment classes.

How students are identified: The district publishes a dedicated eligibility section and follows Georgia criteria across mental ability, achievement, creativity, and motivation. Families should use the district's current process for referral and evaluation.

Gifted Education

DeKalb County School District provides challenging gifted experiences focused on cognitive learning, research, reference, metacognition, and differentiated advanced content.

How services work: Schools use K–12 resource classes for at least 225 minutes weekly, cluster groups of up to 12 identified students, and advanced-content classes; AP and some IB courses may count when staffing and course requirements are met.

How students are identified: Districtwide automatic referral begins with MAP achievement evidence, and families, educators, peers, or students may also refer. Eligibility requires Georgia's qualifying psychometric route or evidence in three of four areas: achievement, ability, creativity, and motivation.

SEARCH Gifted Program

Hall County Schools' SEARCH program develops advanced research, creative and logical problem solving, communication, and self-understanding within a broader continuum of rigorous learning.

How services work: Schools use a range of state-approved models selected for local needs. The broader continuum includes modified content and pacing, interest-driven deep learning, honors and advanced courses, AP, IB, dual enrollment, and programs of choice.

How students are identified: Automatic referrals use Georgia Milestones and/or MAP results, and nominations are accepted throughout the year. Teams review mental ability, achievement, creativity, and motivation under either the state psychometric or multiple-criteria pathway.

Gifted Services / Academic Rigor

Rockdale County provides differentiated gifted services that build advanced research, communication, analytical and creative thinking, self-understanding, leadership, goal setting, and independent learning.

How services work: Curriculum is differentiated through content, teaching strategies, and mastery expectations matched to identified strengths. The district publishes separate elementary, middle, and high-school service information.

How students are identified: Annual screening and system assessments support automatic referral; families, teachers, and students may also refer during fall or spring windows. Teams obtain consent and evaluate Georgia's four evidence areas.

S.C.O.P.E. Gifted Program

Barrow County's S.C.O.P.E. program gives identified students in every school advanced learning at an appropriate level and pace, emphasizing synthesis, collaboration, originality, production, and evaluation.

How services work: The curriculum extends, enriches, compacts, and accelerates Georgia standards while developing critical and creative thinking, research, communication, problem solving, and advanced products.

How students are identified: Teachers, families, students, and systemwide testing may initiate referral. A team reviews evidence, then evaluation measures mental ability, achievement, creativity, and motivation under Georgia's two eligibility routes.

Talented and Gifted (TAG)

Specialized experiences emphasizing advanced research, communication, critical thinking, and creative thinking.