Goals and Purposes

1. Provide an environment which nurtures the intellectual and emotional well-being of bright children. 

•  By bringing students with high potential together in one classroom, the learning environment will nurture their academic growth. TOP focus on teaching collaborative and leadership skills along with the core curriculum. 

2. Recognize children with outstanding potential who may otherwise be overlooked.

•  Students from Bologna, Frye, Galveston, Hartford, San Marcos, and Shumway are selected to participate in this program. Students are selected based on their Cognitive Abilities Test Scores, Teacher Rating Scores, ATI Galileo Test Scores and and Un-biased Observer Report. Students with high academic potential who are challenged beyond what the regular class environment provides will achieve at higher levels. 

3. Engage families in meaningful ways that support their child's academic success.

•  Parent and family seminars will offer parents support with academics, organizational skills, and communication skills to help ensure student success. 

4. Build higher level science, math, and leadership skills in students as a strong platform for long-term success.

•  Instruction will present advanced concepts in math and science. A hands-on and project-based approach to instruction will allow students to discover and learn in a very interactive way. 

5. Respond to the strengths of students by providing appropriately challenging and advanced learning experiences.

•  Pre-assessments will help determine which concepts students have mastered so that increasingly difficult concepts can be presented. Small group instruction will allow instruction to be individualized for students. 

6. Prepare students for the academic rigors of advanced and honors courses in secondary school. 

• Working at advanced levels will help to ensure students are ready for advanced and honors classes in junior high.