Arlington Public Schools Division is dedicated to maximizing the strengths and potential of all students so they may become self-confident, well-rounded, responsible and productive citizens. Believing that each and every individual has merit, we recognize that certain learners within the school population have unique abilities, interests, needs and potential for accomplishment. These characteristics necessitate systematic, continuous services to present unique and appropriately differentiated curricula responsive to individual learning rates, styles, and complexities. Gifted students need opportunities to think abstractly, work at various rates and levels of complexity, and pursue tasks independently. In addition, gifted students need opportunities to learn with others of like abilities, as well as opportunities to develop social relationships with others of all abilities. The Office of Gifted Services reflects this philosophy and complies with Virginia Regulations Governing Educational Services for Gifted Students based on the following concepts.

• Giftedness is developmental; it is potential which must be nourished;
• Giftedness is a collection of behaviors which are interactive and dynamic;
• Gifted students share some characteristics with all other children; and
• There is variability among the gifted.

The Gifted Identification Process identifies students in the following areas.

• Specific Academic Aptitude: students with specific aptitudes in the selected academic areas of mathematics, science, English, social studies 
  
• Visual/Performing Arts Aptitude: students with specific aptitudes in selected visual art and/or music areas

The goals of Gifted Services include the following: