by Niña Abonal, Program Manager
IEA’s online Gifted Resource Center (GRC) contains an ever-growing and robust listing of over 800 resources appropriate for gifted learners from preschool through high school. We carefully research and vet resources that span six categories, including Advocacy, Gifted Programs and Services, Schools, Scholarships and Competitions, Articles and Media, Twice-Exceptional. Based on these listings, we’ve also put together downloadable guides that organize these resources by category. So far, we’ve published two guides on Scholarships & Competitions Guide and Youth Programs and Services and aim to release a guide highlighting schools for gifted and advanced students throughout the United States.
Below is a list featuring 10 gifted schools in California that will be shared in our upcoming guide:
Eagle Rock Jr./Sr. High School (Grades 6-12)
Eagle Rock Junior/Senior High School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, located in Eagle Rock, California. ERHS serves students in grades 7 – 12 through a comprehensive junior and senior high school, as well as a Magnet program serving gifted, high ability, and highly gifted students in grades 7 – 12.
Gaspar De Portola Middle (Grades 6-8)
Portola Highly Gifted Magnet, established in 1979, shares the campus of Portola Middle School. It is the only middle school program in LAUSD designed specifically to meet the needs of highly gifted students.
GATE Academy (Grades K-8)
GATE Academy is a year-round day school dedicated to educating academically-gifted students in grades K–8 with an inquiry-based curriculum. They cluster motivated and cognitively gifted students in small groups with their intellectual peers and provide them with an inquiry-based, accelerated, self-paced curriculum in a school environment that celebrates them for who they are.
Helios School (Grades K-8)
Learning at Helios School takes place through meaningful authentic projects which may include field work, inquiry, discovery, direct instruction, and interaction with the environment. This project-based learning environment offers the rigor, depth, and complexity gifted learners need. Equally important, Helios students thrive socially.
Knox School (Grades 6-8)
The Knox School of Santa Barbara is private school serving K through 8th grade and specifically designed for the gifted learner. They seek to provide a stimulating and nurturing environment where, alongside an engaging and challenging curriculum, the social and emotional needs of gifted and talented students are respected and compassionately supported.
Mirman School (Grades K-8)
Mirman School is an independent, co-educational day school for highly gifted children in grades K-8 located in Los Angeles. They cultivate the boundless potential of highly gifted children, nurture their passions and talents, and develop a diverse community of creative and constructive lifelong learners.
North Hollywood Highly Gifted Magnet (Grades 9-12)
The Highly Gifted Magnet (HGM) was established in 1989 as part of the voluntary integration program of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Its goals are twofold: integration and a college preparatory curriculum that serves students who have an LAUSD intellectual assessment exam scoring in the 99.5%-99.9%. HGM students receive the benefits of a small academic program – a core of teachers and a small student body who know each other well, mixed with the advantages of attending a public, urban high school.
The Nueva School (Grades PreK-12)
Since 1967, Nueva has offered an innovative and award-winning learning experience specifically designed to meet the needs of gifted learners. By creating an inspiration community-based environment, Nueva seeks to unlock the passions, purpose, and potential in each student while inspiring a lifelong love of learning.
Walter Reed Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Walter Reed Middle School is a traditional school in North Hollywood, CA that implements a gifted curriculum model designed to offer a full program for many needs, including an IHP (Individual Honors Program) and a comprehensive program for students with challenging needs.
Whitney High School (Grades 9-12)
Whitney High School is a public magnet school in Cerritos, California serving students 7th through 12th grade, offering alternative education for high achieving students selected throughout the district. WHS strives to develop intrinsically motivated, collaborative learners who approach their education purposefully and creatively, preparing academically proficient students for entrance to and success at their best-match university.
Interested in exploring more schools and resources? Head over to our Gifted Resource Center today!
If you’d like to help support IEA’s mission and increase your brand’s visibility nationwide, consider advertising with us in our upcoming resource guide!
The schools listed above are not sponsored or endorsed by the Institute for Educational Advancement.