Gifted & Talented

Ken Caryl Middle School (KCMS) is focused on actualizing learners’ potential for gifted and high-ability learners in Jeffco public schools. KCMS takes pride in designing curriculum and implementing teacher strategies that meet the needs of its diverse community. All students deserve an education that will provide meaningful growth academically, socially and emotionally.

Students in Ken Caryl’s Gifted and Talented (GT) program complete coursework in language arts, science and social studies. Math coursework can range from sixth-grade math to geometry and is determined by the individual student's skills and previous coursework. The program allows students to experience learning with like-minded peers. The GT core teachers work together to ensure student success through deeper learning, self-directed learning and cross-curricular activities.

Gifted children are so much more than grades and test scores. Ken Caryl’s GT teachers are experts in gifted education and work together as a team to support all students academically and emotionally. Students participate in a GT advisement class where important social emotional and executive functioning skills are taught. Additionally, students in the program have access to the GT and social emotional learning counselor for ongoing support during their middle school years. Navigating adolescence with the support of a specialized gifted counselor who is available to work with parents, students and outside providers is a best practice and one of the benefits of being in a GT program. Ken Caryl takes pride in incorporating social emotional learning into each day so that every student can become the best version of themselves.

The Jeffco Public Schools Gifted and Talented (GT) Department’s vision is to Actualize Learners’ Potential for gifted and high-ability learners through a focus on access, equity, inclusion and diversity. All students deserve an education that provides meaningful growth academically, socially and emotionally.

Each year, every second grader in Jeffco takes The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) which measures reasoning skills with different types of verbal, quantitative and nonverbal questions. The results of this test inform teachers which students may be identified as gifted and talented. 

What Is A Gifted Student?

GT students are learners between the ages of four and 21 whose abilities, talents or potential for accomplishment are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special educational programming. Children under five who are gifted may also receive early childhood special educational services. 

Gifted students include students from all backgrounds who have exceptional abilities or potential. Gifted students are capable of exceptional performance,  production or learning behavior and have one or more of these areas of giftedness:

Areas of giftedness

• Intellectual abilities
• Specific academic skills
• Creative or productive thinking
• Leadership abilities
• Visual arts, performing arts or musical abilities
• Physical skills

The 2024 Fall GT Center application is now closed.  Please contact your GT Resource Teacher with questions regarding GT Center.