Departments & Programs

Quest Program

Quest, Charlottesville’s gifted education program, seeks to provide identified students in grades kindergarten through twelve appropriate educational experiences. For grades K-12, Quest serves students identified as having unusually high general intellectual ability. In addition, in grades 7-12 the program serves gifted students with unusually high aptitudes in specific academic areas. ArtQuest, beginning in grade 5, serves students gifted in the visual arts. Eligibility for each area is based upon multiple criteria as specified in the Regulations Governing Educational Services for Gifted Students. These can be found on the Gifted Education and Governor's Schools page for the Virginia Department of Education at www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/Gifted/gifted.htm

In all components of the program, students with similar abilities meet together to ensure an opportunity for interaction and growth. They are encouraged to think critically; to consider complex problems using the higher thought processes of analysis, synthesis and evaluation; to create new and original ideas; to produce divergent responses; and to develop the confidence necessary for risk-taking. These goals are consistent with the best Thinking Skills in the 21st Century.

See also: Quest FAQs

Program Goals

  • To provide a continuum of services in grades K—12 that assures appropriately differentiated instructional programs for gifted students and enhances the quality of instruction for all students.
  • To provide learning opportunities for gifted students that consist of differentiated curricular options, varied instructional approaches, and the use of a variety of resource materials.
  • To encourage students to embrace new and challenging situations and to understand that learning is not always comfortable.
  • To encourage students to take pride in being an individual.
  • To ensure interaction with peers having similar intellectual and creative abilities
  • To encourage students to accept the responsibility to develop their aptitudes.

Identification Process

Quest uses a well-defined identification procedure. It begins with screening, an inclusive process whereby a student, nominated by a professional staff member or by a parent/community member, is placed in a "pool" for further consideration. Referrals are made by contacting the principal, gifted education specialist, and/or counselor in the appropriate school. In addition all first grade students are screened for the academic component of the program; all fourth grade students are screened for ArtQuest; and all sixth grade students are screened for the aptitude program.

Throughout the screening process, data to support a student's nomination is collected. For academic programs this includes teacher and parent assessments, classroom performance, and standardized test scores. For ArtQuest a drawing activity and a portfolio of artwork are reviewed. Information is placed on a matrix to represent a total profile of the student and to show a pattern of performance over time. Identification committees schedule meetings throughout the academic year and the profile of each student in the screening "pool" is reviewed to decide if the information meets the predetermined selection criteria. Decisions regarding eligibility rest with these committees.

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Areas of Giftedness Served

Charlottesville City Schools provides gifted services for students identified in the categories of giftedness as defined by Regulations Governing Educational Services for Gifted Students:

  • General Intellectual Aptitude: Students with advanced aptitudes as demonstrated by advanced skills and creative expression in general intellectual ability;
  • Specific Academic Aptitude: Students with specific aptitudes in an academic area: math; the sciences; and/or the humanities as demonstrated by advanced skills and creative expression in those areas;
  • Visual and Performing Arts Aptitude: Students with specific aptitudes in selected visual or performing arts as demonstrated by advanced skills and creative expression and who excel consistently in the development of a product or performance in any of the visual and/or performing arts.

Gifted Programs Services

Talent Development, Grades K-1

The Talent Development (TD) for Kindergarten and first grader students in each elementary school twice a week. TD teachers design and implement lessons that elicit high-level thinking responses, address state Standards of Learning, and incorporate varied learning styles. The program has three components: whole-group lessons, small-group sessions, and one-on-one mentoring. Whole-class lessons are literature based and focus on developing students’ critical and creative thinking skills. Small-group sessions allow TD teachers to build background knowledge and address the specific academic needs of targeted students. Mentoring sessions allow students to work independently on research projects and learning packets.

At all times, TD teachers work collaboratively with classroom teachers to support them in the early recognition and nurturing of strong academic potential in young learners. They meet weekly to discuss individual students, plan enrichment activities, and help prepare children for the demands of challenging subject matter and rigorous courses.

See: Talent Development

The Collaboration Model

Intellectually gifted students in grades K—8 receive services through a collaboration model, which allows for specialized services for high ability learners that integrate with the general education program. Classroom teachers and gifted education specialists together plan and provide a variety of learning experiences geared to the particular needs of different groups of students. Students receive differentiated experiences in and outside the regular classroom throughout the week. They participate in activities that promote superior mental development and stimulate academic and creative achievement.

Quest at the secondary level (grades 7—12) is incorporated into the regular academic program with opportunities available for students having unusually high general intellectual abilities or high aptitudes in one or more of the content areas -- humanities, mathematics, and science.

Secondary Quest

Quest at the secondary level (grades 7-12) is also incorporated into the regular academic program with opportunities available for students having unusually high general intellectual abilities or high aptitudes in one or more of the content areas -- humanities, mathematics, and science. Through a range of instructional and management strategies, teachers differentiate classroom content, thinking processes, and student products according to learners’ readiness, interest, and preferred learning style.

Middle School Level

At the middle school level academically gifted students receive differentiated instruction in advanced level classes. They participate in activities that promote superior mental development and stimulate academic and creative achievement. The mathematics program is designed to enable exceptional math students to accelerate the pace of their learning in the traditional math sequence of courses. In the other disciplines, major concepts, generalizations, and theories are introduced and related to various issues, themes, and problems. Emphasis is placed on the acquisition of thinking skills that enable students to deal effectively with abstract and complex concepts.

High School Level

High school students with unusual aptitudes are offered opportunities, which foster the development of their interests and abilities. Quest and the guidance department work cooperatively to design appropriate educational experiences, to inform parents and students of courses and opportunities that are particularly suitable, and to identify elective courses and extracurricular activities which may be of special benefit. Advanced level classes are offered in numerous academic areas for students who are prepared for advanced work and are motivated to achieve. This includes more than a dozen Advanced Placement (AP) courses where college credit may be earned. Students who exhaust course offerings at the high school may capitalize on resources at a nearby university. Arrangements for such study are made on an individual basis.

An array of extra-curricular activities allows students to explore interests and refine abilities. Included are debate, forensics, student government, journalism, academic competitions, band, orchestra, chorus, dance, drama, foreign language clubs, athletics, etc.

ArtQuest

ArtQuest offers differentiated curriculum and instruction for students gifted in the visual arts. Students meet once a week after school with peers having similar talents. They work with artists to create and learn about art, discuss art history and the art of various cultures, and learn new vocabulary. They are encouraged to explore various forms of art, develop new ideas, and produce original products. Specialized materials and equipment are available for their use. The development of products by students provides an opportunity for them to apply and demonstrate an understanding of abstract and complex concepts. Each year they prepare a special exhibit of their work.

See: ArtQuest Program

Reflections

Reflections is a Summer Regional Governor's School Program for sixth, seventh and eight grade students gifted in the visual arts. It provides conceptual and visual art experiences for artistically gifted students in association with their gifted peers.

See: Reflections Program

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Parent/Community Involvement

Parent awareness and involvement in gifted education is encouraged through the following:

Quest Advisory Committee

Each year a Quest Advisory Committee is established to advise in the development and implementation of Charlottesville's services for gifted students. Among its responsibilities are overseeing the implementation of the local plan, participating in the review and revision of the plan, and reporting to the School Board through the Superintendent about the needs of gifted learners.

This year the committee meets October 5, December 7, March 1, and May 4 from 7:30-9:00 p.m. at Central Office 2. A portion of each meeting is reserved to discuss ideas and concerns from parents or community members. Please share your thoughts by contacting a committee member, a gifted education specialist, or Beverly L. Catlin, Coordinator of Instruction.

Contact Info

Program Director: Beverly Catlin, Coordinator of Instruction
(434) 245-2421
Beverly.Catlin@ccs.k12.va.us

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