Young Scholars

One alternative path to recognizing talent in students is the Arlington Public Schools Young Scholars Model. The Young Scholars Model falls under gifted services, but emphasizes advocacy, access, and affirmation for students who most likely will not receive these things at home due to socioeconomic status, immigration status, English proficiency of parents, or education level of parents. Young Scholars might be referred for gifted services, but due to low ability or achievement scores, may not qualify for gifted identification. They may still show talent in certain domains, they may be highly creative, or they may be leaders in class. The Young Scholars Model expands beliefs about the nature of intelligence and focuses on the students’ ability to think, reason, and problem solve (Horn, 2015).

Young Scholars are part of the gifted identification talent pool. Sometimes they are identified as gifted AND a Young Scholar, however it is possible to be identified as only a Young Scholar. Students identified as Young Scholars are clustered in intensified courses to ensure that they feel a strong sense of belonging in advanced classes. The AACs work deliberately with the counseling team to ensure that they are placed with teachers who have the most potential to develop their talents and that these students have intellectual and identity peers.