Program Overview

The Berkeley County School District (BCSD) abides by the State Board of Education Regulation 43-220 Gifted and Talented and seeks to provide equitable opportunities for all students, including those with academic and/or artistic gifts and talents.

Berkeley County School District has strongly demonstrated its commitment to gifted education. Berkeley County is proud to employ GT teachers who have received special training to meet the needs of our gifted students. Teachers take two courses, Nature and Needs of Gifted and Talented Children and Intro to Curriculum for Gifted and Talented Students in order to receive the GT Endorsement. Serving students in grades three through eight, Gifted/Talented classes are designed to challenge and stimulate gifted students, maximizing their potential by providing programs and services within the context of a rigorous curriculum. All students placed in GT classes will have met the criteria to be identified for the state-funded gifted and talented program or will have met specific qualifications according to a rubric.

Serving students in grades three through eight, Gifted/Talented classes are designed to challenge and stimulate gifted students, maximizing their potential by providing programs and services within the context of a rigorous curriculum. All students placed in GT classes will have met the criteria to be identified for the state-funded gifted and talented program or will have met specific qualifications according to a rubric.

Students in grades nine through twelve have access to advanced or honors courses and have access to Advanced Placement courses.

Program Referral

Administrators, parents, teachers, and students may refer students in grades 3-9 for screening for the gifted and talented program. Students may be referred for screening from June 1 through September 15. To nominate a student for gifted and talented screening, please complete this Google form. You will need your student’s Power School number, birthdate, and basic school information to complete the form.

All students will be screened with the i-Ready Reading and Mathematics assessments in the first few weeks of school and in May of each year. The SCReady ELA and Mathematics assessment scores are also evaluated for every student. Additional testing may be required in November and beyond.

Gifted and talented students may be found within any racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic group; within genders; and within populations with disabilities. Gifted and talented identification uses three dimensions: A. Reasoning Abilities, B. High Achievement in Reading and/or mathematical area(s), and C. Intellectual/Academic Performance. To meet the state criteria for gifted and talented identification, students must meet the criteria in two of three dimensions (typically). No private testing is accepted for GT eligibility, but the results may be considered for referral purposes.

This chart may be helpful in explaining the requirements for SC State GT Academic Qualification: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a4es_dieYiEbdPMBni2xbpd2F19PeEfN/view?usp=sharing

Students Transferring into Berkeley County

From South Carolina Districts:
Students determined to be eligible for gifted in any district in South Carolina remain eligible in Berkeley County Schools. Proof of eligibility must be submitted by email at blanchardr@bcsdschools.net.

From Out-of-State:
Students who are transferring from other states may submit recent nationally normed aptitude and achievement test scores and an official record of grades to the local school. The records should be current to assist in evaluation for GT identification and for GT services.

A helpful graphic describing the various processes may be found here: 
Gifted and Talented Identification in South Carolina: Student moving to South Carolina (SC)