Gifted and Talented

The New Prague Area School District is proud to provide Gifted and High Performing students opportunities for appropriate academic challenges. We elected to participate in the Total School Cluster Group study through through Purdue University in conjunction with a district-wide differentiation initiative to better meet the needs of all of our students. The clustering program services highly gifted students by placing them in a heterogeneous (mixed ability) class with a teacher trained in differentiation. This program allows the high achieving student to be with both age and ability peers throughout the school day and is intended to meet their needs. All students receive differentiated instruction in all areas. High performing middle and high school students have the opportunity to enroll in upper level classes designed to meet their needs.

A variety of assessments are used to determine a child’s class placement for the school year. Our district uses the MCA, NWEA, common formative assessments, Fountas and Pinnell, and teacher observation when placing students in their appropriate cluster. All second and fourth graders take the CogAT 7 Screener Form. Students who show high potential are referred on the CogAT 7 Full Battery as an additional tool for assessment.