Secondary Schools

Secondary schools can be defined as broadly as Grades 6 through 12, or as narrowly as Grades 10 through 12, depending on the placement of students during early adolescence in middle schools, junior high schools, or K–8 schools. In this entry, secondary schools mainly refer to 3- or 4-year high schools because middle schools generally have different approaches to nurturing academic giftedness. Secondary-school programs include honors courses, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and the International Baccalaureate (IB), all of which are geared toward college-bound students. In addition, some high schools provide special seminars for gifted students that focus on further enrichment with such things as special topics, social and emotional issues, and career development. Such programs in secondary schools can play a key role in preparing ...