Gifted Programs

KCPS aims to create and provide challenging opportunities for all our gifted students. We promote a multidisciplinary environment that challenges gifted students to attain their maximum potential no matter what area for which they are gifted. We encourage individual growth and expression. We honor all students' gifts and talents.

We believe gifted students need:

Opportunities to interact with their intellectual peers.
An emotionally nurturing environment that encourages risk taking, creative and flexible thinking.
Authentic learning experiences and opportunities to develop Twenty-first Century skills.
Support and guidance to recognize, accept, enhance, and apply their gifts and talents.

KCPS has several special programs designed to challenge students who are academically gifted and help them develop their talents outside of their regular classroom activities. Gifted programs teach students about critical thinking, logic, creativity, problem-solving, and developing their own unique talents.

Elementary Gifted Program

Students are identified in a district wide test by the 3rd grade. The district currently uses the NNAT3 for this screening process. Other students may be referred for testing by peers, teachers, parents or community members.
Identified gifted students are pulled by a gifted certified teacher for 150 minutes per week.
Gifted students participate in classes in which they receive instructional services different from those normally provided in the regular classroom. Students have the opportunity to work at the level of their abilities and in their area of interest.

Teachers:

Elementary Phone Number 816-418-2673

-Carmen Hubbard

chubbard@kcpublicschools.org

-Helen North

hnorth@kcpublicschools.org

-Stacy Sharp-Adamson

ssharpadamson@kcpublicschools.org

Middle School Gifted Program

Gifted students participate in weekly pull-out sessions led by certified gifted education teachers during designated times that vary based on individual schedules. Students also complete self-paced enrichment activities designed to extend their learning.

The program supports gifted students' unique social-emotional needs by fostering perseverance and resilience, helping them navigate academic challenges and prepare for future success in high school, college, and career pathways.

Grade-Level Focus Areas:

6th Grade: Strategies for adapting to middle school expectations and routines.
7th Grade: Techniques for handling more rigorous coursework while maintaining a balance between academics, extracurricular activities, and social life.
8th Grade: Preparation for high school, including ACT/SAT practice, self-advocacy development, and long-term academic planning.

Secondary Phone Number 816-418-2697

Teachers:
-Keari Kemp
kkemp@kcpublicschools.org

-Gail Bush
gbush@kcpublicschools.org

High School Gifted Program

Unlike the lower grades, high school students are not pulled from their regular classes. Instead, KCPS offers a variety of options to enrich their academic experience, such as Advanced Placement courses, International Baccalaureate programs, and opportunities to earn college credit. A dedicated gifted resource teacher is available for students and families to provide any necessary support. Some of the services offered include:

Individualized acceleration and enrichment
AP / IB / dual credit guidance
Test prep
Enrollment into alternative programs or CTC courses
Grade transition support
Scholarship opportunities
College planning & financial aid problem-solving
FAFSA assistance
KC Scholars & college matching assistance Summer program enrollment and financial support for opportunities like Missouri Scholars Academy

The high school gifted resource teacher also provides social and emotional support through:

Individual and grade-level check-ins as needed
Individual and group counseling for issues of perfectionism, underachievement, executive functioning, fitting in, friends/peers, and an array of other experiences
Attending meetings with parents, teachers, and administrators
Support for historically underrepresented students

Finally, the high school gifted resource teacher provides professional development and works closely with teachers and school staff to ensure that individual needs are met in the classroom.

Teacher:

Secondary Phone Number 816-418-2697

-Charles Palmer

cpalmer@kcpublicschools.org

Elementary

Secondary

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Special/Optional

In This Section

Gifted Programs

Elementary Gifted Program

Middle School Gifted Program

High School Gifted Program