Gifted Education Services

PV Schools offers a full range of gifted education services to students residing both inside and outside the district boundaries. The following programs are provide at every PV school:

Elementary schools
Schoolwide Cluster Grouping
Gifted students are grouped into designated gifted cluster classrooms at each grade level at every school and receive differentiated instruction in all content areas by gifted cluster teachers.

Honors classes for Grades 4 - 6 Content replacement and content enrichment in mathematics and / or language arts daily with a gifted specialist

Middle schools
Honors classes, grades 7 & 8
All four content areas: mathematics, English, science, and social studies

High schools
Honors and Advanced Placement
For grades 9 - 12, plus honors online coursework

Special Programs:

The Middle School Digital Learning Center

Middle School program: Located at Sunrise Middle School, the Middle School Digital Learning Center is now accepting applications for students who will be in 7th- or 8th-grade in the 2011-12 school year.

The High School Digital Learning Center

New for 2012-13: High School program
The High School Digital Learning Center is open to gifted and talented students entering 9th grade in the 2012-13 school year. This program is a rigorous, yet flexible, three or four-year plan that integrates technology and Advanced Placement coursework.

The Digital Learning Experience

The Digital Learning Experience (DLE) is a supplemental school program for gifted and talented digital natives in grades 4 - 6 in the Phoenix area. Located at Sunrise Middle School, the DLE is open to students currently enrolled in area charter schools, private schools, other school districts, and PVUSD. We are now accepting applications for the spring semester, beginning Tuesday, Jan. 10. Students meet face-to-face after school, some Saturday mornings, and mornings in June.
Read more Download DLE flier (PDF)

Honors Academy of Pre-Engineering
Honors Academy of World Languages

Serving middle school gifted students, the two Honors Academies at Desert Shadows Middle School provide honors core classes (English, math, science, social studies) with an emphasis in world languages and pre-engineering.

International Baccalaureate

IB Primary Years Program at Quail Run Elementary School (grades K - 6) Read more

IB Middle Years Program at Vista Verde Middle School (grades 7 - 8, continuing in grades 9-10 at North Canyon ) Read more

IB at North Canyon High School
(grades 11 and 12) Read more

Non-verbal Honors Core

This program, located at Greenway Middle School, is tailored to meet the needs of gifted students from many diverse cultural backgrounds.

Self-contained Gifted program

Serving highly and profoundly gifted students in grades 1 – 6. Now offered at two locations: Desert Cove Elementary School, north of Shea Blvd., near State Route 51 and I-17; and Sonoran Sky Elementary School.

Qualified applicants are accepted on a first come, first served basis. For the 2011-12 school year, some grade levels at Sonoran Sky are full. Applications are being accepted for the waiting list in those grades at the Sonoran Sky location. Limited space is still available at the Desert Cove location.
Read more

Uniquely Gifted program

Serving twice-exceptional gifted students
• Grades K-6, located at North Ranch
Elementary School
• Grade 7-8, located at Vista Verde
Middle School

Preschool for Gifted 4-year olds

This unique, tuition-based program is open to gifted preschool students throughout the Valley. Two locations: full day program at Desert Cove Elementary; half-day program at the new Fireside Elementary School, opening fall 2012.

Gifted Education philosophy / definition
Program fliers

The National Geographic Channel will air the final round of the 2012 National Geographic Bee from Washington, D.C., on Thursday, May 24, moderated by “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek. Horizon High student Luke Hellum will be the national youth correspondent for the event. The 14-year-old, who finished seventh at the 2011 National Geographic Bee, will help viewers experience the Bee through the eyes of the student competitors, granting access to what’s happening in their worlds during this thrilling and pressure-packed time in their lives. Read more

Paradise Valley's after-school program aims to help gifted students (AZ Central)

Desert Cove and Echo Mountain Intermediate students compete in Rubiks' Cube competition. > Read more

Autumn Lotus Dharma Towne, a student in Karen Mensing's self-contained Gifted class at Sonoran Sky, placed among the top five in the national Mrs' P's Be-a-Famous-Writer contest.

Watch the Channel 5 Interview of Karen Mensing, Google Certified Teacher, self-contained gifted teacher, talking about using YouTube in the classroom.
Congratulations to Megan Bird, Gifted Specialist at Sonoran Sky Elementary School, who was recently named Educator of the Year by the Arizona PTA. The district is fortunate to have such a skilled professional representing the many dedicated and respected staff members at PV Schools.

Classroom visits and observations:

Please do not call schools regarding classroom visits and observations. Requests should be directed to the Gifted Education Services Department. Contact Gifted Services