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Newport News Public Schools
In Newport News, we employ collaborative group work and performance assessments to
enhance the learning experience. The school division provides a range of choices for
students, including specialized magnet programs at the elementary, middle, and high
school levels, focusing on engineering, performing arts, math, science, technology,
international studies, and communications. At the high school level, students have access
to various advanced learning options, such as distance learning (Virtual Virginia), dual
enrollment courses, Advanced Placement courses, Honors courses, Early College, and the
opportunity to apply for the Governor’s School for Science and Technology or the
International Baccalaureate Program.
Within our Gifted Services Resource Program (Explore and Expedition), TAG Talent
Pool program, and gifted cluster program, teachers employ a variety of research-based
best practices tailored for gifted students. Our focus includes cultivating higher-level
critical and creative thinking skills, promoting inquiry-based learning, developing
problem-solving abilities, acquiring advanced vocabulary, fostering scientific analysis,
and encouraging original research. Teaching strategies are rooted in best practices for
gifted learners, incorporating flexible pacing and grouping, inquiry processes, curriculum
compacting, tiered instruction for challenge and complexity, content differentiation,
Socratic seminars, research, service learning, problem-solving, and connections to Career
Pathways.
F. Procedures for Assessing Academic Growth in Gifted Students
This section includes a description of the procedures used by the division to assess the
academic growth for gifted learners.
General Intellectual Aptitude
● In addition to the student growth model employed by the Virginia Department of
Education, our division utilizes a diverse range of formative and summative
assessments. These assessments encompass various methods, including:
o Teacher-made formative and summative assessments
o Pre and post assessments
o Informal assessments such as class discussions, daily performance, or
performance assessment activities
o Rubrics for independent projects and problem-based learning activities
o Self-reflection
o Documentation of enrichment opportunities
o Benchmark Testing
o SOL testing
o SAT and PSAT scores
o International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement scores
● The data available for analysis comprises several key metrics, such as the number of
students scoring at the advanced level on SOL tests, the count of students
participating in advanced classes, the figures for students applying for and enrolling
in the Governor’s School for Science and Technology or the International
Local Plan for the Education of the Gifted
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