Gifted Education

The Big Creek Gifted Education Program follows the eligibility criteria established by the Georgia Department of Education.

Testing and programs are only available to students who are currently attending Big Creek Elementary.

How can a student who is currently attending a Forsyth County Elementary School be referred?

Referrals may come from individuals with knowledge of the student's abilities. This may include teachers, parents, peers, or self.

Generally, teachers make referrals; however, parents may refer their own child by completing a referral packet.

The Referral Process:

Once a child is referred, a GET team will meet to determine if testing is appropriate, or if the student's needs are being met in the regular classroom. If testing is recommended by the team, students must then qualify in three of four areas: Mental Ability, Achievement, Creativity, Motivation.

Eligibility Guidelines

• Forsyth County Gifted and Advanced Education Policies
• Guidelines detailing eligibility are available by visiting the GA Department of Education website.

Option A (Gifted)

• State Placement Standards: Option A (Gifted)

Grades K-2:

• 99% rank on a nationally normed mental abilities test, and
• 90% or higher on a nationally normed referenced achievement test

Grades 3-5:

• 96% rank on the nationally normed mental abilities test, and
• 90% or higher on a nationally normed achievement test like ITBS

Option B

Georgia eligibility under Option B states a student must have qualifying scores in three of the four areas

Grades K-5

• 96% on the mental abilities test
• 90% or higher on a standardized achievement test
• 90% or higher on the motivation test
• 90% or higher on the creativity test

If a student is found ineligible, they are not eligible for retesting for two years.

For additional information about the Gifted Education program, visit the Forsyth County Schools website at forsyth.k12.ga.us or the Georgia Department of Education website at http:public.doe.k12.ga.us/ci_iap_gifted.aspx.

Forsyth County Schools administers state approved tests for gifted eligibility.  The tests administered adhere to the State of Georgia Board of Education Policy,160-4-2-.38, having been reviewed for bias and are normed on a nationally representative sample with respect to race, religion, national origin, sex, disabilities, and economic background within a 10-year period prior to administration. In accordance with Professional Standards Commission Educator Code of Ethics assessment regulations, test security will be maintained among all levels of test administration.  Test security measures include that other than the name of the evaluation instrument, further information will not be shared about gifted eligibility assessments with regard to form, section, or level.