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The Smyth County School System's basic educational philosophy states that "The purpose of the school is to provide opportunities and experiences which develop the full potential of each child enrolled." Gifted students are those whose abilities and potential for accomplishment are so outstanding that they are among those who require special services. Programs for gifted students should provide appropriate learning experiences and environments which meet the academic, creative, and social-emotional needs of these students and which develop their potential.
The Gifted Program in the Smyth County Schools is closely aligned with this general philosophical statement, since it is designed to provide an additional method of ensuring quality education appropriate to the uniquely different abilities, talents, and aptitudes that are innate within each child.
The regular classroom teacher is the key person in educating the gifted student. The classroom teacher is in the best position to guide the learning of gifted students directly. The Gifted Program builds upon and enhances regular classroom instruction.
Recognizing that within any group of superior learners there are differences in interests, backgrounds, abilities, and motivations. The Smyth County Gifted Program is designed to provide as much individualization as possible with diversified approaches that are appropriate to the student, the school, and the community.
The basic goal of the Gifted Program is to provide opportunities for appropriate intellectual, academic, and creative stimulation as well as social involvement so that Smyth County's gifted children will have an opportunity to develop their potential to the fullest extent possible.
Differentiation is provided through the modification of content, processes, strategies, evaluation, and learning environment that are appropriate in nurturing the characteristics of gifted students.
Smyth County provides a continuum of services in kindergarten through grade twelve for students gifted in intellectual aptitude. Students in grades three through twelve are also identified in one or more specific academic area/s: math, language arts, science, and social studies. The program is sequential and integrated into the basic curriculum.