Pre-K - 12 Gifted Programs

DVUSD's Gifted Pre-K Academy is available at Las Brisas Elementary. This hands-on program is designed to build upon students' natural sense of wonder and play.  Prekindergarten learners engage in student-centered inquiries. Students must complete cognitive abilities testing in order to be placed in this program.  Students who are placed into the Gifted Pre-K Academy are automatically eligible to continue their learning trajectory throughout the Bright Beginnings program. 

Deer Valley Unified School District follows the Schoolwide Gifted Cluster Model to support accurate student placement in grades K-6. Gifted students benefit from being grouped with their intellectual peers within a differentiated and enriching classroom. They participate in critical thinking, inquiry, and problem-solving. Students are empowered to become organized, self-directed, lifelong learners. Gifted Specialists at each campus assist Gifted Cluster Teachers with facilitating, planning and implementing differentiated curriculum. In this model, gifted students receive differentiated curriculum and instruction daily and in all content areas. 

Bright Beginnings is a full-day, self-contained program for gifted and advanced learners. This primary program provides acceleration and enrichment within a developmentally appropriate environment. This program is taught by a fully endorsed gifted teacher. Bright Beginnings is an enrichment-based program.  Bright Beginnings is offered at Canyon Springs (K-2), Highland Lakes (Kindergarten), and Las Brisas (K-2). 

Supporting Potential and Achievement in Remarkable Kids (SPARK) is the name of DVUSD's content enrichment program. This program is primarily for gifted students, but also applies to high achieving and high potential students. SPARK is available at each school in grades K-6. This program provides students with engaging experiences in mathematics, language and communication, writing, social studies, science, technology, and/or the arts through enrichment opportunities. 

SAGE is a content replacement program in language arts and math for identified gifted students in grades 3-6. All identified students meet daily in the SAGE classroom, in lieu of general education classrooms to receive their instruction in English language arts and/or math from an endorsed gifted teacher. Curriculum, materials, and content are accelerated and enriched at the appropriate challenge level for students (up to one year above grade level). The pace of instruction is quick with discussions probing for breadth and depth as well as precision and clarity.

In Deer Valley’s Walk-Up to Math model, 3-6 students "walk-up" to the next grade level's gifted cluster math class. The Walk-Up to Math classroom emphasizes hands-on learning with opportunities for authentic application. Students receive enriched, enhanced, and accelerated math instruction taught by a gifted endorsed teacher.

In schools where in-person instruction is not available, students may participate in an online learning course.  ASPIRE – Deer Valley’s Online Learning Program also provides middle level and high school courses to elementary and middle school students. 

The Renaissance Highly Gifted Academy provides an all-day differentiated learning experience addressing the individual needs of highly gifted students in grades 1-8.  Deer Valley's Renaissance Academies are located at Canyon Springs (1-8), Highland Lakes (1-8), Las Brisas (3-6), and Hillcrest Middle School (7-8). 

Renaissance is an acceleration-based program that allows students to acquire a solid foundation in the content areas of mathematics, language/ communication arts, social studies, science, and technology literacy.  Students earn high school credit in ELA, Math, and Spanish at the close of their 8th grade year.  Learning opportunities include engagement in higher order and critical thinking skills; personal development and responsibility; and community and peer involvement. Qualified students are those who have met the published placement qualifications, and who have applied and been accepted to attend the Renaissance Academy.

For more information about the qualifications to apply, please visit our Renaissance Website.  

At the middle school level, advanced-level courses are designed to provide a more rigorous curriculum and higher expectations for student performance. Advanced courses follow the Parallel Curriculum Model. They provide an enriching, rigorous curriculum that engages high ability and high achieving students. Students must have the potential to accelerate through content standards and commit to more in-depth study. Curriculum in advanced courses is more sophisticated and complex. Instruction incorporates creative and productive thinking, problem solving, critical thinking skills, research, personal development and communication. Advanced courses prepare students for high-school level honors, advanced placement, and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. Students qualify for placement in an advanced level course by meeting the district requirements for placement in the gifted program or meeting school standards for honors placement.

All schools offer advanced English language arts for 7th and 8th grades. Advanced science and social studies courses are available at select middle schools (Highland Lakes, Deer Valley  Middle School, Desert Sky Middle School, and Hillcrest Middle School). Gifted and advanced students take a placement exam that allows them to participate in accelerated math. Placement options include Honors Algebra  1-2, Honors Algebra 3-4 and Honors Geometry.

Deer Valley Unified School District is proud to offer two engaging gifted electives for middle school students.  These dynamic, flexible, and engaging courses are designed for gifted and talented learners.  Gifted Humanities allows students to explore history, literature, philosophy and culture of varying historical time periods.  The Gifted Humanities course is designed to immerse middle school students in an interdisciplinary exploration of significant themes that shape the human experience.  Gifted Investigations is a project-based course that utilizes a PBL/ Genius Hour format to engage students in meaningful research and exploration of a topic based upon individual student interests.  Both courses culminate in a Gifted Showcase as an authentic demonstration of learning. 

The Middle Years Programme (MYP) is a five-year International Baccalaureate Programme, split between two Deer Valley Schools (Norterra Canyon School and Barry Goldwater High School). The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme is a highly acclaimed and internationally recognized educational framework which encourages students to become globally aware problem solvers who are critical and creative thinkers. 

Norterra Canyon is an International Baccalaureate World School.  IB World Schools share a common philosophy -- a commitment to improve the teaching and learning of a diverse and inclusive community of students by delivering challenging, high quality programs of international education that share a powerful vision. 

The Renaissance Highly Gifted Academy provides an all-day differentiated learning experience addressing the individual needs of highly gifted students in grades 1-8.  Deer Valley's Renaissance Academies are located at Canyon Springs (2-8), Highland Lakes (1-8), Las Brisas (2-6), and Hillcrest Middle School (7-8). 

In Renaissance, students acquire a solid foundation in the content areas of mathematics, language/ communication arts, social studies, science, and technology literacy and work at advanced levels within these content areas at an accelerated pace. Qualified students are those who have met the published placement qualifications, and who have applied and been accepted to attend the Renaissance Academy.

For more information about the qualifications to apply, please visit our Renaissance Website.  

Honors, Advanced Placement, Career and Technical Education, and Dual Enrollment courses are available at ALL DVUSD high schools. These programs provide a more rigorous curriculum and higher expectations for ALL students. 

In addition, each of our Deer Valley high schools offer gifted programs that are specifically designed to meet the unique needs of secondary gifted learners. These programs are modified and adapted each year based on student and community needs.

The Middle Years Programme (MYP) is a five-year International Baccalaureate Programme, split between two Deer Valley Schools (Norterra Canyon School and Barry Goldwater High School). The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme is a highly acclaimed and internationally recognized educational framework which encourages students to become globally aware problem solvers who are critical and creative thinkers. 

The IB Honors and Gifted Cohort is a school within a school model.  Students in grades 9 and 10 are grouped together in Honors ELA, History, and Science courses.  The school Gifted Specialist and IB MYP Coordinator meet one-on-one with students to ensure unique academic needs are met.  Several additional electives are offered to support student  interests, including: Honors Gifted Seminar and Theory of Knowledge courses. 

The Gifted and Talented Program fosters an educational environment designed to cater to students who have advanced cognitive abilities, or unique talents. Classes emphasize critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving, with opportunities for independent study and self-directed learning. Instructional strategies are tailored to meet the unique academic needs and essential academic and social behaviors of gifted students, fostering their potential and helping them navigate their learning journey.  Student choice and agency are highly encouraged for students to recognize their learning preferences and take ownership of their education.

The Gifted Academy at Mountain Ridge High School offers students academically rich coursework, partnered with affective supports.  Students choose which classes they would like to take, which include a wide variety of Gifted Honors course offerings and Advanced Placement.  In addition, several elective courses are offered for gifted learners, including their NEW Change the World Senior Capstone. The Gifted Academy at Mountain Ridge consists of highly qualified, gifted endorsed teachers. 

Sandra Day O’ Connor High School’s Gifted Academy begins in grade 9.  Freshman students are placed in Honors Gifted Biology and Honors Gifted ELA 1-2 or Honors Gifted ELA 3-4.  These courses consist only of gifted students and utilize gifted strategies such as project and problem-based learning to enhance critical thinking.  Students are able to choose their remaining courses, allowing students to pursue areas of interest. The Gifted Academy at Sandra Day consists of highly qualified, gifted endorsed teachers. 

Deer Valley High School’s Skyhawk Gifted Program combines a robust Gifted Cluster Model with designated courses for gifted learners.  Deer Valley’s Gifted Counselor works with students to provide an individualized pathway based on students’ needs and interests. Students are grouped together in Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and elective courses (*as appropriate).  These courses may include Deer Valley High School’s new AP Capstone Diploma and AP Seminar and Research Certificate. 

Additional information regarding Deer Valley’s High School Gifted Services and program offerings may be located directly on our website at: www.dvusd.org/gifted