The program's philosophy is to cultivate the student's creativity, critical thinking skills, and academic performance. Gifted Program Courses Students may be placed in up to three gifted classes per year. Science through the Gifted Program offers a problem-based approach to scientific concepts and skills. Students pursue scientific inquiry of the natural world through class and laboratory activities. They participate in independent and collaborative scientific investigations.
Students also study social issues in seminar discussions, debates, mock trials and guided research.
The student, a parent, one gifted education teacher, one regular education teacher meet once a year to review the student's progress and to decide which program of instruction best meets the individual educational needs of each student. In order to smooth the transition from elementary to middle school, a meeting is held at the child's elementary school towards the end of fifth grade. One of the gifted teachers and the head special education teacher from Wilson meet with the student, a parent and the gifted and regular education teachers at the child's elementary school. Decisions about placement in specific classes at Wilson are based on an evaluation of student needs and present levels of performance during the annual review of a student's Individual Education Plan. The IEP committee considers teacher recommendations, parent and students input, and test scores.