MA GIFTED EDUCATION

State-Level Information

• Academically Advanced Education | Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education "Promoting High Achievement: Policies and Programs for Academically Advanced Students in Massachusetts in Massachusetts" 2002

• Academically Advanced Teacher License | Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, ended in 2017

• Profile of Massachusetts | Davidson Institute for Talent Development

• Profile of Massachusetts | National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)

• State of the States in Gifted Education | NAGC

• "The Wicked Smaht Kids: Seeking an Adequate Public Education for Gifted Elementary and Secondary Students" by Brenna Ferrick in Massachusetts UMass Law Review, Vol. 10, January 2015

• A Washington Post analysis in 2015 found MA is the smartest state in the union based on estimated IQ, SAT scores, ACT scores, and percent of the populace who are college graduates.

• The NCES, National Center for Educational Statistics gives percentages of students identified as gifted in 2004 & 2006. MA is at the bottom with less than 1% identified.  At this time, Vermont was the same as MA. Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, South Carolina, & Virginia have the most students identified ranging from 12 to 14%. 

• Is there a Gifted Gap? research from the Fordham Institute says in Massachusetts only 5.3% of schools have gifted programs. The national average is 68.3%

• Students Enrolled in Gifted Programs by State 2015-2016 Office of Civil Rights Data Collection CRDC

• Equal Talents, Unequal Opportunities by Jonathan Plucker et al, published by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

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Private Schools Emphasizing Education for Gifted Students​

• Acera School (Winchester, MA)

• Barrington Christian Academy (Barrington, RI)

• Birches School (Lincoln, MA)

• Boston University Academy (Boston, MA)

• Massachusetts Academy of Math & Science (Worcester, MA)

• The Brighton School (Framingham, MA)

• The Phoenix School (Salem, MA)

• The Sage School (Foxboro, MA)

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Homeschool and Enrichment Resources

• IDEAL4Gifted

• MAGE Services Network

• GiftedAndTalented.com 
  (online education, formerly Stanford EPGY)

Massachusetts Districts Reporting 

Gifted Programs

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• Arlington Public Schools | Academic Challenge and Enrichment at Ottoson Middle School
   

• Barnstable Public Schools | Gateway Program
   

• Bedford Public Schools | Gifted and Talented/Schoolwide Enrichment Program
   

• Brockton Public Schools (TAG)
   

• Brookline Public Schools | Enrichment and Challenge Support (ECS) Program
   

• East Longmeadow Public Schools |Enrichment Program
   

• Fitchburg Public Schools | Advanced Academic Learning Initiative
   

• Framingham Public Schools | Office of Gifted and Talented
   

• Hatfield Elementary School/ "Falcon's Nest" Enrichment and Gifted & Talented Program (They also have school choice)
   

• Leominster Public Schools | LEAP
   

• Natick Public Schools | Academically Talented & Gifted
   

• Quincy Public Schools | Advanced Placement Center for Middle School Students
   

• Tri-Town School Union | Topsfield Advanced Academics Program and Extended Studies Program (Middlefield, MA)
   

• Waltham Public Schools | Challenge Program
   

• Worcester Public Schools

  • Goddard Scholars Academy -Middle School

  • Goddard Scholars Academy@South - High School

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If you know of a school or program for gifted students not featured on our list, please email . 
 

Updated 11-19-2020