Program Overview

The Berkeley County School District (BCSD) abides by the State Board of Education Regulation 43-220 Gifted and Talented and seeks to provide equitable opportunities for all students, including those with academic and/or artistic gifts and talents.

Berkeley County School District has strongly demonstrated its commitment to gifted education. Berkeley County is proud to employ GT teachers who have received special training to meet the needs of our gifted students. Teachers take two courses, Nature and Needs of Gifted and Talented Children and Intro to Curriculum for Gifted and Talented Students, in order to receive the GT Endorsement. Serving students in grades three through eight, Gifted/Talented classes are designed to challenge and stimulate gifted students, maximizing their potential by providing programs and services within the context of a rigorous curriculum. All students placed in GT classes will have met the criteria to be identified for the state-funded gifted and talented program or will have met specific qualifications according to a rubric.

Serving students in grades three through eight, Gifted/Talented classes are designed to challenge and stimulate gifted students, maximizing their potential by providing programs and services within the context of a rigorous curriculum. All students placed in GT classes will have met the criteria to be identified for the state-funded gifted and talented program or will have met specific qualifications according to a rubric.

Students in grades nine through twelve have access to advanced or honors courses and have access to Advanced Placement courses.

South Carolina Gifted and Talented Identification: Academic

To meet the state identification for GT Academic Services, in most cases, a student must meet the criteria in two out of the three dimensions. The only exception to this is if the student scores above 96% National Age Percentile on the Total Score-Category from a Dimension A Assessment. The dimensions, the common data we use in the Berkeley County School District, and the required performance levels are:

• Dimension A: Reasoning Abilities (Cognitive Abilities Test: CogAT;) 93rd national age percentile in any of these categories: verbal, nonverbal, quantitative, or composite score.

• Dimension B: High Achievement in Reading and/or Mathematical Areas (SCReady ELA and Math: iReady ELA and Math; Iowa) 94th national percentile in reading and/or mathematics; or a qualifying score on the SCReady

• Dimension C: Intellectual/Academic Performance (Performance Task Assessment – grades 2-5; Final non-weighted GPA in grades 5-11) There are set scores in verbal and nonverbal depending on the grade level for the PTA*; The GPA Calculation is based on the final grades in ELA, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies with 3 As and 1B or higher required to meet the criteria.

Program Referral

Administrators, parents, teachers, and students may refer students in grades 3-9 for screening for the gifted and talented program. Students may be referred for screening from June 1 through September 15. To nominate a student for gifted and talented screening, please complete this Google form. You will need your student’s Power School number, birthdate, and basic school information to complete the form.

Naturally Occurring Screening of Students

All students will be screened with the i-Ready Reading and Mathematics assessments three times a year. The SCReady ELA and Mathematics assessment scores are also evaluated for every student in grades 3-8. For students in grades 6-8, we also evaluate based on final GPA in the four core areas.

Students who meet one of the three dimensions will be automatically administered assessments in the other dimensions.

Gifted and talented students may be found within any racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic group; within genders; and within populations with disabilities. Gifted and talented identification uses three dimensions: A. Reasoning Abilities, B. High Achievement in Reading and/or mathematical area(s), and C. Intellectual/Academic Performance. To meet the state criteria for gifted and talented identification, students must meet the criteria in two of three dimensions (typically). No private testing is accepted for GT eligibility, but the results may be considered for referral purposes.

This chart may be helpful in explaining the requirements for SC State GT Academic Qualification: SC Gifted and Talented Identification Chart

Students Transferring into Berkeley County

From South Carolina Districts:
Students who meet the SC GT Identification criteria and who are eligible for gifted services in any district in South Carolina remain eligible in Berkeley County Schools. Proof of eligibility must be submitted by email at blanchardr@bcsdschools.net.

From Out-of-State:
Students who are transferring from other states may submit recent nationally normed aptitude and achievement test scores and an official record of grades to the local school. The records should be current to assist in evaluation for GT identification and for GT services.

A helpful graphic describing the various processes may be found here: 
Gifted and Talented Identification in South Carolina: Student moving to South Carolina (SC)