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Gifted Intellectual Program

VBCPS identifies students in the areas of:

  • General Intellectual Aptitude (advanced aptitudes demonstrated by skills and creative expression in general intellectual ability); and
  • Visual and Performing Arts Aptitude (specific aptitudes in selected visual or performing arts demonstrated by skills and creative expression and excelling consistently in the development of a product or performance in any of the visual and/or performing arts).

The application for students currently enrolled in grades 1-7 will be available in the fall. The application deadline for students in grades 2-7 is Jan. 8, 2024 at 4 p.m. The application deadline for students in grade 1 is Mar. 1, 2024 at 4 p.m.

Virginia Beach City Public Schools identifies students for General Intellectual Aptitude (GIA) which means advanced aptitudes demonstrated by skills and creative expression in general intellectual ability.

During the 2024-2025 school year, all K-1 students participate in talent development gifted services as provided by the elementary gifted resource teacher (GRT) in partnership with classroom teachers. Collaboration between the K-1 classroom teachers and the school’s GRT allows for the planning and delivery of differentiated instruction based on readiness, academic performance, interest, and/or learning profiles. This includes but is not limited to extension activities, whole group and small group lessons.

Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, K-2 students will participate in talent development lessons and students in grades 2-12 may apply for the following programs:

Oct. 11, 2024

Gifted Application Management Site begins accepting applications for all eligible grades;
Nov. 7, 2024 Fall Deadline: Resource-cluster program applications due by 4 p.m. for students currently in grades 9-12
December 2024 Fall Gifted Identification and Placement Committee meeting for applicants in grades 9-12
Jan. 7, 2025 Deadline: Resource-cluster program and Old Donation School applications due by 4 p.m. for students currently in grades 5-7

Deadline: Resource-cluster program applications due by 4 p.m. for students currently in grade 8
Feb. 7, 2025 Deadline: Resource-cluster program and Old Donation School applications due by 4 p.m. for students currently in grades 2-4
March 2025 Gifted Identification and Placement Committee meeting for applicants in grades 5-8

ODS Rating Committee meeting for applicants in grades 5-7
Mar. 7, 2025 Spring Deadline: Resource-cluster program applications due by 4 p.m. for students currently in grades 9-12
May 2025 Gifted Identification and Placement Committee meeting for applicants in grades 2-4

ODS Rating Committee meeting for applicants in grades 2-4

Spring Gifted Identification and Placement Committee meeting for applicants in grades 9-12

Identification and Placement Information

The Gifted Identification and Placement Committee carefully reviews each applicant’s profile to determine eligibility for gifted services. The components of the applicant profile are:

  • Teacher Checklist
  • Record Review of Achievements 
  • Test Scores
  • Anecdotal Records from teacher and/or GRT
  • Student Interview (students in grades 6-12 only)

Applicants who are found eligible for general intellectual aptitude (GIA) services by the Gifted Identification and Placement Committee are placed in the gifted resource-cluster program the following school year.

Applicants who have applied for consideration for enrollment at Old Donation School (ODS) are also reviewed by the ODS Rating Committee. The committee completes a holistic evaluation of the applicant’s profile and uses the following 5 to 1 rating scale, with 5 being the highest recommendation:

  1. 5 - exceptionally strong in all the application components
  2. 4 - strong in most of the application components
  3. 3 - shows strength in some application components, but not consistently strong
  4. 2 - few consistent areas of strength
  5. 1 - does not demonstrate strengths in most areas; may not be successful in the program

Selection for enrollment is based on open seats and the rating assigned by the ODS Rating Committee. No single criterion determines an applicant's rating, and there is no guarantee a specific rating will result in enrollment at ODS. Applicants not selected for enrollment at ODS remain in the gifted resource-cluster program.

The application process can take up to 90 instructional days. Parents/guardians receive notification of committee decisions via email. Once a student is identified for gifted program services in VBCPS, that identification remains in place until graduation.

Contact Us

For more information regarding the identification and placement process, you can review the Local Plan for the Education of the Gifted or contact the Gifted Testing Office at 757-263-6870 or giftedtesting@vbschools.com.