Advanced Academics
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Gifted Education and Advanced Placement (AP)
Gifted EducationForsyth County Schools Gifted Education Program supports The Learner Profile in the social, emotional, and academic development of all identified gifted learners.
Referrals
The consideration for gifted education services may be reported or automatic as defined in the Georgia Resource Manual for Gifted Education.
- Reported Referral
A student may be referred for consideration for gifted education services by teachers, counselors, administrators, parents or guardians, peers, self, and other individuals with knowledge of the student’s abilities.
- Automatic Referral
A student may be referred for further assessment to determine eligibility for gifted services if he/she scored at specified levels on a norm-referenced test as defined in the GaDOE Resource Manual for Gifted Education Services.
*Transfer students from out-of-state must have official documentation of former gifted program eligibility before they will be automatically referred to the Gifted Evaluation Team. State of Georgia gifted eligibility rules do not allow for reciprocity of gifted eligibility from out-of-state or private school programs. Students transferring from out-of-state, private school, and home school programs will require updated testing in order to determine gifted program eligibility.
*Transfer students who meet the initial eligibility criteria for gifted education services in another Georgia school district shall be considered eligible to receive gifted education services in Forsyth County through reciprocity. There is no reciprocity between states unless the student is a dependent of military personnel as provided in O.C.G.A § 20-2-2140 et. seq.
Testing for gifted eligibility will occur within the windows below:
| What | Grades | Testing Window |
| Fall Administration | 1-8 | August 28-September 15, 2023 |
| Spring Administration | K-8 | March 1-March 22, 2024 |
FCS administers state approved tests for gifted eligibility. The tests administered adhere to the State of Georgia Board of Education Policy, 160-4-2-.38, having been reviewed for bias and are normed on a nationally representative sample with respect to race, religion, national origin, sex, disabilities, and economic background within a 10-year period prior to administration. In accordance with Professional Standards Commission Educator Code of Ethics assessment regulations, test security will be maintained among all levels of test administration. Test security measures include that other than the name of the evaluation instrument, further information will not be shared about gifted eligibility assessments with regard to form, section, or level.
Outside Test Data
Any assessments approved by the GaDOE may be considered for gifted eligibility if the following applies: less than 2 years old and administered by a certified school-based educator or a school-based psychologist. Assessments administered by a private-practice psychologist can be considered as part of the body of evidence but cannot be a reported score in any of the 4 criteria areas for determining gifted eligibility.
Likewise, assessments administered by a private-practice psychologist can be considered as part of the body of evidence for purposes of whole grade and/or content acceleration but cannot be a reported score used for final whole grade and/or content acceleration determination.
Test Preparation
Gifted eligibility assessments measure four different areas of a student’s abilities: mental ability, achievement, motivation, and creativity. Only one of these areas, achievement, is the actual result of content learned and measured in the school setting. The other three areas are typically innate abilities and traits that a student possesses at varying levels. If your child has been referred and you have been notified by the school that eligibility testing will take place, the best preparation available is to make sure your child gets a good night’s rest on the nights prior to testing and a good high-protein breakfast on the days of testing prior to coming to school. You should also encourage perseverance, but not to the point of inducing stress.
Score Validity Period
Gifted eligibility scores are valid and applicable for two full years after administration. Students with valid scores will not be re-tested prior to the end of the validity period.
Gifted Education Curriculum Overview
Curricula for gifted education learners must incorporate the SBOE approved curriculum. Local BOE curricula for gifted students shall focus on developing cognitive learning, research and reference, and metacognitive skills at each grade grouping using principles of differentiation.
Differentiated instruction is a teaching theory based on the premise that instructional approaches should vary and be adapted in relation to individual and diverse students in classrooms (Tomlinson, 2011). The model of differentiated instruction requires teachers to be flexible in their approach to teaching and adjust the curriculum and presentation of information to learners rather than expecting students to modify themselves for the curriculum (Hall, 2011).
A differentiated curriculum for gifted learners includes the following expectations:
Content: Complex and challenging subject matter that:
- Requires intellectual struggle
- Utilizes primary documents
- Integrates research skills and methods
- Incorporates relevant and real-life experiences
- Integrates interdisciplinary connections
Process: Instructional strategies are designed to:
- Emphasize higher-order thinking, problem-solving and communications skills
- Foster self-initiated and self-directed learning
- Promote creative application of ideas
- Model and encourage academic discussion
Product: Gifted student products should demonstrate a developmentally appropriate capacity for:
- Self-directed learning
- Meaningful collaboration Effective problem solving of challenging and complex issues
- Effective communication
- Social and emotional understanding of self relative to community, culture, and physical environment
Environmental: Physical setting and work conditions to:
- Change the actual place where students work
- Allow flexible time
- Provide opportunities for independent study and in-depth research
- Provide opportunities for mentorship
Assessment: Gifted learners need various methods and opportunities to document mastery of curriculum, such as:
- Pre/post tests
- Self assessment through rubrics
- Creation of goal-based checklists
- Conferencing, commentary, and qualitative feedback (Cobb, 2012)
Resources:
- Georgia DOE Gifted Website (including GA BOE Gifted Education Rule)
- Georgia Association for Gifted Children
- National Association for Gifted Children
- International Baccalaureate Program (SFHS)
- STEM Academy (FCHS)
Advanced Placement (AP)Forsyth County Schools offers high school students a wide variety of Advanced Placement (AP) course options in its high school curriculum. The primary purpose of Advanced Placement (AP) course offerings in Forsyth County Schools is to prepare students for college by providing a highly rigorous academic curriculum based on national expectations developed & authorized by the College Board.
Advanced Placement (AP) courses provide motivated and prepared students the opportunity to experience college-level academic courses while in high school. All Advanced Placement (AP) instructors in Forsyth County Schools have completed Advanced Placement training in the courses they teach. Full participation in Advanced Placement (AP) courses will provide students with the experience of taking college-level courses and exams, and may allow students the opportunity to earn college credit or placement based on exam results. The amount of credit awarded per 3-5 score on the Advanced Placement (AP) exam varies by postsecondary institution. You should contact the postsecondary institution of choice to inquire about their specific policies for accepting AP course credit for college credit.
FCS offers the majority of the Advanced Placement (AP) course offerings developed and authorized by the College Board. Depending on student interest, the specific Advanced Placement (AP) courses offered per school may vary.
AP Courses typically offered at most FCS high schools include:
Select the subject hyperlink to view FCS' High School Course Digest.
Select the course name for the course description from College Board.
| Subject | Course Name |
|
Technology |
AP Enrollment & Examination Data
Mirroring the growth of Forsyth County, our high school Advanced Placement (AP) Programs continue to expand. Over the past four years, the number of Advanced Placement (AP) courses offered, the number of students enrolled in AP courses, the number of AP exams taken, and the number of students earning 3, 4, or 5 on AP exams has increased. In addition, the percentage of high school students enrolled in AP courses in FCS, the percentage of students taking AP exams, and the percentage of students earning a 3, 4, or 5 on AP exams has risen during the past 4 years.
2025 AP Exam Dates
For information about the Advanced Placement (AP) program at a specific high school within FCS, please access the individual school website page for advanced academic programs.
- Alliance Academy for Innovation
- Denmark High School
- Forsyth Central High School
- Lambert High School
- North Forsyth High School
- South Forsyth High School
- West Forsyth High School
The homeschool testing site for the 2024-2025 school year is Forsyth Central High School. Please contact Tracey Winkler for more information.
For more information on Forsyth County Schools' Gifted Education Program or Advanced Placement (AP) contact Katye Carlson, Coordinator of Academic Services, 770-887-2461 ext. 202251.