Services available to gifted/talented/high-achieving students
Grades 1-2
Students remain in the regular classroom and receive indirect services. Resources are available to the general education teacher for in-class enrichment and acceleration.
Grades 3-5
The GATE program allows identified students to spend one day a week at the enrichment cluster site. Students are transported by bus on their designated day to a cluster site. They usually arrive by 9:00 a.m. and return to their zoned school by 2:00 p.m. While at the cluster site, they work on advanced and enriched curriculum in all academic areas. The focus is on higher level thinking, leadership skills, and hands-on learning. There are three cluster sites in the Birmingham school system.
Western Schools –EPIC Elementary, Dr. Vicki Stokes, Principal
(Brown, Central Park, Councill, E.P.I.C., Gaston, Glen, Iris, Hemphill, Jackson, Jones Valley, Lee, Minor, Powderly, Princeton, Wenonah, Wylam)
North/Central Schools–Norwood Elementary, Mr. Errol Watts, Principal
(Hill, Hudson, Kingston, Lewis, North Birmingham, Norwood, Phillips Academy, South Hampton, Tuggle, Washington, Wilson)
Eastern Schools—Gibson Elementary, Dr. Mike Curry, Principal
(Arthur, Avondale, Barrett, Christian, Gate City, Gibson, Going, Inglenook, North Roebuck, Oliver, Robinson, Sun Valley, Whatley)
Grades 6-8
Students who attend their zoned middle schools are served by itinerant middle school resource teachers. These teachers pull identified students and provide them with extra enrichment that supplement their regular curriculum. Cluster grouping and honors classes are being adopted in each Birmingham middle school. In addition to the zoned middle school, there are magnet school options available for bright learners.
W. J. Christian Middle School
Parents of gifted and high achieving students from all over the district may apply for a spot at this accelerated middle school located in the South Roebuck area of Birmingham. Students who apply are ranked according to their 4th grade SAT scores and positions are offered to the top students. With an exclusive population of high-achieving students, the curriculum is accelerated in grades 6-8.
John Herbert Phillips Academy
Due to the demand and limited space at W. J. Christian, the system created another K-8 school located in the downtown area. Students must apply and take an entrance exam for grades K-5. Students for grades 6-8 must apply and submit SAT-10 and ARMT test scores; highest ranked students are accepted based on completion of the application process and available space.