Online high schools for gifted students

Is it possible to be too intelligent for traditional schools. While many schools offer Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) programs for exceptional students, these are often of either poor quality or are pull-out programs that barely meet the needs of your students.

Something to understand about gifted children is that there are two types of students at this level: Gifted Students and High Achieving Students. High achievers often do better in class even when they are not gifted. Gifted students usually benefit from alternative kinds of instruction. And, importantly, even if your child does really well in school, giftedness is testable. You will want to have that done by the school district or an outside assessment center.

There are two options for gifted students. The first is to attend one of the two top online high schools for gifted students. They are:

• Laureate School for the Gifted and Talented is an off-shoot of the popular Laurel Springs School. While new, it is already attracting the same sorts of students that Laurel Springs has had: talented, world-class athletes, actors, singers, and more.

• The Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY) at Stanford University each year admits a very small number of students. As part of the admission process, students and their families must prove giftedness through testing or other needs. This program is truly for the exceptional student and many more are denied admittance than who actually make the cut.

The second option is to attend one of the university-based programs like the University of Missouri High School or University of Nebraska-Lincoln Independent Study High School. These schools and their counterparts listed below offer online high school students the opportunity to take many classes that are at the college level.

What you absolutely should not do is leave a gifted child in a regular education program if it is not a good fit for them. Some gifted students do just fine in that environment. For others, it is toxic and is doomed to fail. Sometimes the best choice is earning a high school diploma online. You need to know the difference.