Gifted

Listed below are some helpful resources for families to utilize: 

• “Family Enrichment Extras”
• Enrichment Opportunities- Contests, Volunteering, Internships, etc.
• VDOE Summer Residential Governor’s School (High School)
• VDOE World Language Academies (High School)
• College and Post Secondary Planning- Ms. Blake (Pathways College Advisor at CHS) 
  • Ms. Blake’s bkn2future webpage
  • Contact Info: pavamblake@charlottesvilleschools.org

Annually in the spring, Charlottesville City Schools considers all students in grades 3 and beyond as part of the screening process for eligibility in gifted education services in the aptitude areas of English and math. Multiple criteria are considered through a holistic approach with a focus on talent development.

On April 1, students in grades 3–11 who are enrolled in the division by March 1 of that year, have taken a nationally normed assessment, and have not chosen to opt out, are automatically referred for gifted identification. For students who have been referred and not identified for three consecutive cycles, those students will then only be referred if there has been a marked change in achievement. This referral can be initiated by a staff member, family member, community member, or the students themselves.

Parents/guardians may choose to not have their child participate in the identification process by submitting a completed opt-out form to the school by April 15. The Gifted Identification Opt-Out Form is available here and at schools.

School-based identification committees are convened in late spring. Eligibility decisions are communicated to the candidate’s parents/guardians in writing at the end of the academic year.

Timeline of the Identification Process

• March 1 – Deadline for student to be enrolled in CCS school to be considered for upcoming gifted identification
• April 1 – CCS refers every student* enrolled in grades 3–11 (*see above)
• April 15 – Deadline for parents wishing for students to not be referred to submit the opt-out form (see above for link to form)
• May/June – School based identification meetings are held
• Summer –  Eligibility decisions are communicated to the candidate’s parents/guardians in writing

Each year an advisory committee is established to advise in the development and implementation of Charlottesville’s services for gifted students. It is composed of two parent representatives from each school and a School Board member. Among its responsibilities are overseeing the implementation of the local plan, participating in the review and revision of the plan, and reporting to the School Board about the needs of gifted learners. Dates of all meetings are posted on the division calendar and a portion of each meeting is reserved to discuss ideas and concerns from parents or community members.

Please share your thoughts by contacting a committee member, a gifted resource teacher, or Ashley Riley at  rileya1@charlottesvilleschools.org.

More about the Gifted Advisory Committee

• Members of the Gifted Advisory Committee
• Gifted Advisory Meeting Agendas
• Meeting Dates for 2026-27: All meetings are 5:30-6:30pm at the Division Annex at CHS: 
  • October 5
  • December 7
  • March 8
  • May 3

Parent awareness and involvement in gifted education is encouraged through the following:

• Periodic communications distributed by gifted resource teachers
• Parent/Teacher conference days that are scheduled throughout the school year
• Open house activities that highlight gifted education services
• The Gifted Advisory Committee

• CCS Local Plan for the Gifted 2024-2029
• Virginia Department of Education- Gifted Education
• Virginia Association for the Gifted 
• National Association for Gifted Children