Through testing and other methods, Christian County Public Schools officials identified and served 1,034 students — or 13.1% of the district — through various gifted & talented programs during the 2023-24 academic year.
That’s according to Elementary Instructional Supervisor Michelle Walden, who during last Thursday’s CCPS special-called board meeting brought considerable perspective to some of Hopkinsville’s best and brightest.
Walden noted that of those 1,034 students:
— 76 were in kindergarten, 136 were in 1st grade, 122 were in 2nd grade, 112 were in 3rd grade, 34 were in 4th grade, 38 were in 5th grade, 45 were in 6th grade, 43 were in 7th grade, 76 were in 8th grade, 86 were freshmen, 79 were sophomores, 101 were juniors, and 86 were seniors.
— Their academic targets: 44 were for general intelligence, 84 were for leadership, 227 were for language arts, 111 were for math, 26 were for social studies, 141 were for science, two were for creative and divergent thinking, 53 were for visual performing arts, 126 were for music, 11 were for dance and four were for drama.
Drama, she added, was a brand-new target.
During the 2022-23 school year, she said 65% of CCPS GT students were Caucasian, 19% were African American, 8% were Hispanic, 7% were two or more races, and 1% were Asian.
A year later, those numbers were greatly changed: 47% were Caucasian, 33% were African American, 11% were Hispanic, 9% were two or more races, and 1% were American Indian/Alaskan Native.
During the 2023-24 school year, Walden said these students turned their attention to options like Odyssey of the Mind, the Louisville Regional Science Fair, National History Day, the Young Writers Competition, 4-H Leadership Service and Partnership, the KY Youth Assembly Program, the Kentucky Martin Luther King Jr. State Commission, the National Science Bowl, the bell hooks Writing Contest and the Latin America Solar Eclipse Project.
They also had access to differentiated instruction in their identified areas, embraced cluster grouping, took on enrichment opportunities through the GT Bus with Lea Brumfield, went through other enriched learning experiences with Shannon Slate, took part in leadership sessions and dual-credit options, logged AP and honors courses, and challenged their skills in extracurricular activities, academic competitions and counseling services.
As for the enriched learning plan for 2024-25, she said this will include additional staff being hired to support the primary talent pool, increasing after-school opportunities and out-of-school experiences for GT students, a strategic focus on GT leadership, an increase of opportunities for AP and pre-AP programming, and the continued strengthening of relationships with Western Kentucky, Hopkinsville Community College and Murray State University for dual-credit options.
— The CCPS GT Summer Camp is planned for 8:30 AM until 2:30 PM June 24-27 at the Gateway Technology Building, behind the CCPS Board of Education. The deadline to register is May 10. Students grades fourth through eighth, identifying as gifted and talented, and with interests in art, music, STEM, history, reader’s theater, math escapes and leadership should apply. Breakfast and lunch will be provided each of the days.