LEAP, an acronym for Leading Exceptional Academic Producers, is a self-contained program for the exceptionally gifted child. The focus of the elementary program is to provide an environment which strives to meet the academic and social/emotional needs of the students. LEAP is a sequential program that seeks to integrate the intellectual and affective aspects of the highly gifted child. The curriculum emphasizes academic rigor, creativity, self-motivation, and high productivity. Student success depends on the commitment of the child, the parent, and the teacher.
Success for each child in the LEAP program is determined by individual responses to the challenges offered. While the program is designed to reflect the individual needs of each student, it emphasizes growth in all academic areas, thereby promoting the development of a well-rounded individual.
Because LEAP students may be functioning significantly above their chronological age, their instruction is unique, providing both vertical and horizontal depth and acceleration, individualization, cooperative learning, and continually challenging opportunities for application and transfer of learning.
The opportunities for challenge and growth may occasionally produce feelings of discomfort, frustration, and inadequacy. Anticipate these moments, recognize them as natural steps to learning and meaningful progress.
The LEAP program is a unique educational option. Questions may arise pertaining to program and curriculum expectations, as well as student performance. Teachers recognize the need to address these questions and schedule an individual conference with each student’s parents or guardian after the first six weeks of school. Other conferences may also be scheduled when necessary. Parents wishing to schedule a conference need to contact the teacher directly. The involvement and support of the parents are essential to student success. The intention of the LEAP program is to enhance the highly gifted student by maximizing productivity and fostering self-directed learning.
Elementary
LEAP students in grades one through five are served in a self-contained setting at the McCoy Elementary campus with classroom teachers who have received advanced and ongoing training to better serve the emotional and cognitive needs of the gifted child.
LEAP students are clustered in a special program offering unique opportunities for both vertical acceleration and horizontal enrichment. The students are exposed to a full spectrum of experiences including individualization, cross-grade grouping, interest opportunities for application and transfer of learning. The LEAP program is designed to serve approximately .5% of the district population. Transportation from the student’s home campus is provided by the school district.
Middle School
LEAP students are offered gifted instruction through the interdisciplinary seminar class and through advanced classes in language arts, social studies, mathematics and science. In middle school, LEAP is a school-with-in-a-school concept and is housed at Dewitt Perry Middle school. Transportation is provided by the district.
At the high school level LEAP students are offered a variety of identified gifted classes in grades 9-12. Such opportunities include Pre-Advanced Placement classes, Global and World Experience, and Advanced Placement classes. Students may also choose to apply to attend one of the three academies offered in the fields of Biomedical Professions, Media Arts and Technology, International Business, or Law and Criminal Justice.
LEAP Eligibility
A central A.R.E. committee evaluates students for the LEAP program. The following are used to determine student eligibility for LEAP:
a Two intelligence test (IQ) scores of 140 or above on district-approved measure within the past two years in the areas of verbal, nonverbal and/or quantitative
a Achievement test stanines of three 9’s, or a combination of two 9’s and one 8 in the core content areas of reading, language and math
a Other available test approved by the district
a Classroom performance indicating highly gifted level
a Personal characteristics indicating highly gifted level
a Parent inventory indicating highly gifted level
a Interview
a References