How a School District Proved Gifted Programs Can Be Racially Diverse
Copy Link Albuquerque studentsâ artwork and a poem about volcanoes, displayed at the 2019 National Association for Gifted Children conference.
(Danielle Dreilinger for The Hechinger Report)
April Wells grew up west of Chicago, a bright and avid bookworm in a low-income family. Her district, U-46, had gifted classes, but most of the students in them were white, and no one suggested that Wells, who is Black, might benefit from them.
Until middle school, when a U-46 administrator Wells’ friend’s mother, also Black noticed that April’s grasp exceeded her classes’ reach. She coached Wells on how to talk with her middle school counselor. Wells spoke up for herself and got into honors classes, where she remained through high school.
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Students at Gaston County Schools have yet another choice in educational programs and pathways.
Denise McLean, Gaston County Schools’ executive director of student support services, recently announced the launch of the Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences – a healthcare-driven high school with four- and five-year pathways – ahead of the 2021-22 school year.
It’s the school districts 21st student choice program ever to be offered.
Students can earn their high school diploma, as well as an associate degree from Gaston College, while sticking to one of a number of concentrations, which include nursing, human services, human services technology, pre-medicine, biotechnology and medical office administration.