Gifted Education in Orange County Schools

Abstract

Underachievement is defined as a discrepancy between a student’s ability and performance. Underachievement in gifted children, namely those one to two years above grade level, is especially concerning. Gifted children of high potential require additional nurturing and motivation to fulfill this potential, a task for parents, teachers, and school administrators alike. In Orange County Schools, a public school district in Orange County, North Carolina, these stakeholders care about the achievement of students in the Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) program. This study explores test score growth among Orange County Schools’ AIG students in the fifth through eighth grade in order to assess underachievement for this group. By examining the quantitative and qualitative factors contributing to gifted student learning, it finds that test score growth does not accurately reflect gifted student achievement, and instead suggests that other measurements be used to assess Orange County Schools’ gifted program.