Gifted Enrichment
At Central Christian School, we believe every student deserves an education that both nurtures their unique strengths and challenges them to grow. The Horizons program, which serves students in 3rd-6th Grade, is designed for advanced learners and offers experiences beyond the traditional classroom. Rather than simply accelerating through grade-level content, Horizons emphasizes skill development—helping students deepen their critical and creative thinking, problem-solving abilities, and interpersonal intelligence. Students are empowered to ask big questions, connect what they learn to real-world challenges, and become independent thinkers and collaborative problem-solvers. Using both Passion Projects and Advanced Learning Plans (further described below), our gifted learners pursue growth in individualized ways.
To ensure that students are well-matched to the program, all 2nd Grade students take part in a universal screening process that assesses multiple areas of giftedness. A review committee evaluates assessment data and, if needed, invites further evaluation before final placement decisions are made. Horizons uses a multi-measure approach including the NWEA MAP, NNAT, Torrance Test of Creative Thinking, and SIGS. Students who qualify for the program participate in a two-hour weekly pull-out class with the Horizons Learning Specialist, while students who demonstrate advanced potential but do not meet program thresholds continue to receive in-class differentiated support or teacher-guided enrichment as appropriate.
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Passion Projects
A distinctive of the Horizons experience is the Passion Project—a student-driven, individualized exploration that invites learners to dive deeply into a topic they care about. Guided by the Horizons Learning Specialist, students brainstorm meaningful questions, conduct research, solve problems, and create products or presentations that impact others. These projects integrate critical thinking, creativity, and communication, while fostering ownership and perseverance. Whether designing prototypes, writing original works, or presenting to authentic audiences, students learn that their curiosity and innovation can serve real purposes in God’s world. -
Advanced Learning Plans (ALP's)
Each identified student receives an Advanced Learning Plan that is built collaboratively by the Horizons specialist, the homeroom teacher, and parents. The ALP provides a clear picture of the student’s strengths, interests, creative abilities, and social-emotional needs. To build this plan, we gather insight from teacher, student, and parent surveys, along with assessment data and observations. This helps us create goals that reflect the whole child—not just academic readiness but also areas like self-management, perseverance, empathy, and executive functioning.The ALP includes annual goals, documentation of progress checkpoints, and any classroom accommodations that support enrichment or challenge. It serves as a shared roadmap for the year, ensuring home and school partner together to provide appropriate challenge, meaningful extension, and ongoing support for your child’s growth.
Central Christian School
700 South Hanley Road
Saint Louis, MO 63105
ph (314) 727-4535 | f (314) 727-8006
info@centralschoolstl.org
Saint Louis, MO 63105
ph (314) 727-4535 | f (314) 727-8006
info@centralschoolstl.org
