Gifted and Talented

Gifted and Talented Services

About Gifted & Talented Services

Allen ISD Gifted & Talented Services offers exceptional educational opportunities for K-12 students. Allen ISD Gifted and Talented Services provide academic enrichment to meet the unique social, emotional, and intellectual needs of gifted and talented students. Through the collaboration of students, educators, parents, and community members, we strive to ensure opportunities for students to maximize their potential and develop skills for life-long success. 

GATE Academy Informational Meeting

Save the date for March 26, 2024, from 5-6pm for an online informational meeting where Allen ISD GT services will provide an overview of the GATE Academy at Vaughan Elementary, as well as information regarding the lottery process for the 2024-2025 school year. If families cannot attend this online meeting, it will be recorded and posted on the GATE Academy portion of the AISD website. Registration is not required to attend. See information to join below:

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 257 051 763 000
Passcode: 74NBJA

The GATE Academy lottery application will be open March 26-April 12, 2024. This lottery is available only to students in kindergarten through 5th grade, currently identified for GT services in Allen ISD.

Gifted & Talented Services Informational Webinars

AISD hosted informational webinars regarding GT services in August and October. If you were not able to attend, you can watch a recording of the webinar (below), as well as access slides containing the information presented.

District Gifted/Talented Testing Statement

Allen ISD will provide students an opportunity to participate in assessment for GT services once per academic year. Per the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students, Allen ISD's gifted/talented identification and assessment procedures and qualification criteria consist of a minimum of three quantitative and qualitative measures. These include ability and achievement assessments, creative and critical thinking tasks, and parent and teacher input.

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Contact Gifted & Talented Services

612 E. Bethany Drive • Allen, TX 75002
972-727-0511 phone

Kari Lockhart
Coordinator of Advanced Academics & Gifted and Talented Services

Amy James
Instructional Specialist, Gifted & Talented

Vanessa Norman
Gifted & Talented Services

Email: gifted@allenisd.org

Elementary School Gifted and Talented (AIM)

AIM Services (Campus-based)

AIM services provide a homogeneous grouping of elementary (K-6) students identified for gifted/talented services. AIM curriculum is designed to maximize students’ academic potential through in-depth and complex explorations of interdisciplinary studies not included in the general education classroom. Learning extends and enriches learning across all content areas. In AIM, students are challenged to develop and grow their skills through a variety of integrated, multidisciplinary learning activities and projects.

AIM services take place in a pull-out setting (i.e., the student leaves his/her general education classroom to go to the AIM classroom) where students are grouped with a gifted and talented specialist teacher. Kindergarten AIM services begin in March.

Secondary Gifted and Talented (GEMS and Phoenix)

GEMS (Gifted Education Middle School) is Allen ISD's middle school program designed to meet the unique social, emotional, and intellectual needs of gifted/talented learners.

Through the collaboration of students, educators, parents, and community members, GEMS ensures opportunities for maximum growth and development for life-long success. GEMS provides courses in leadership, reading/language arts, social studies, and science.

Phoenix services G/T students in 9-12th grade at the Lowery Freshman Center and Allen High School. The Phoenix program is based on Advanced Placement (AP) English standards. Phoenix courses are as follows: 

  • 9th and 10th graders take advanced Phoenix English 

  • 11th and 12th graders take Phoenix Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) English.

The Phoenix program is a four-year course of study designed to challenge gifted/talented students as they engage in an integrated study of literature, history, and fine arts.

GEMS Programs, Grades 7 & 8

Phoenix Gifted And Talented Services, Grades 9-12

Resources for Families