Gifted Students

The Northwest Local School District is dedicated to affording all students the knowledge and skills necessary to realize their full potential.  The district encourages and supports educational efforts for our gifted and talented population and has targeted programs for serving students in the following subject areas in grades 3-12:

Grades 3-5: Language Arts and Mathematics 

Grades 6-8: Language Arts and Mathematics 

Grades 9-12: Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies (Honors, CCP, and AP courses) 

Note: Students who are identified as having Superior Cognitive Ability and/or who have a gifted identification in the area of Creative Thinking are serviced through our ACCESS or designated cluster classes and have Written Education Plans (WEPs) with goals that target development of these areas of giftedness.

For more information about gifted identification and services in the Northwest Local School District, please contact the Gifted Services Office at 923-1000 ext. 3921.

The state of Ohio defines a gifted student as one who "performs or shows potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of their age, experience, or environment."

Northwest Local School District has a Board policy that outlines the process for either whole-grade or single subject acceleration. Early entrance to kindergarten is considered whole-grade acceleration. NWLSD uses the Iowa Acceleration Scales to guide decisions related to acceleration. Written Acceleration Plans are developed for all students who are found to be eligible for acceleration. 

Students who take high school algebra in middle school may be considered accelerated in mathematics if they meet either of the following criteria: 

1) score at the 70th percentile or higher on a nationally-normed math assessment (e.g., NWEA MAP)

2) score Accelerated or Advanced on the prior grade Ohio State Test for Mathematics

Students who take high school geometry in the 9th grade and who have not previously been identified for single-subject acceleration in mathematics may be considered accelerated in mathematics  if they meet either of the following criteria:

1) score at the 70th percentile or higher on a nationally-normed math assessment (e.g., NWEA MAP)

2) score Accelerated or Advanced on the Algebra 1 End of Course Test in the 8th grade 

Students who take high school honors biology in the 9th grade may be considered accelerated in science if they meet either of the following criteria:

Note: Students do not have to be identified as gifted to be eligible for a Written Acceleration Plan and students who are identified as gifted but do not meet either of the identified criteria will receive a Written Education Plan but not a Written Acceleration Plan.