Gifted Resources

A curated collection of schools, enrichment opportunities, advocacy resources, and educational guidance for gifted and twice-exceptional learners.

The resources below are intended to help families explore educational options and supports for gifted and twice-exceptional learners. Program offerings, eligibility, grade levels, and availability can change, so families should confirm current information directly with each organization.

Inclusion on this page does not necessarily indicate an endorsement or that a particular school or program will be appropriate for every learner.

Unfamiliar with a term? Visit the Gifted & 2e Glossary.

Schools Serving Gifted Learners

The Nueva School — PreK–12 — Independent school for gifted learners with campuses in Hillsborough and San Mateo.
Helios School — K–8 — Independent Bay Area school serving gifted learners.
GATE Academy — Early Kindergarten–8 — San Rafael school designed for gifted learners using an inquiry-based model.
Tessellations — Preschool/PreK–8 — Cupertino independent school focused on gifted learners and experiential education.

Twice-Exceptional and Neurodivergent Learners

Bridges 2e Center — Research, parent education, professional learning, and talent-development resources for twice-exceptional learners.

Peninsula Schools Families Often Explore

These schools are not specifically schools for gifted students. Families may wish to explore their instructional philosophy, flexibility, differentiation, class structure, and ability to provide appropriate challenge.

The Harker School — K–12 — Independent college-preparatory school offering advanced coursework and individualized academic placement. TK–2 applicants submit WPPSI-IV or WISC-V results; older applicants submit age-appropriate entrance-exam scores.
Woodland School — Early Childhood–8 — Independent school in Portola Valley.
Pinewood School — K–12 — Independent school with campuses in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills.
Bowman School — K–8 — Montessori-based independent school in Palo Alto.
Synapse School — K–8 — Independent school combining project-based academics with integrated social-emotional learning.
Ventana School — Preschool–5 — Independent school in Los Altos with a child-centered, inquiry-oriented approach.

Public and Charter School Options

North Star Academy — Grades 3–8 — Public school in the Redwood City School District serving academically advanced learners.
San Carlos Charter Learning Center — K–8 — Charter school families may explore for its approach to curriculum flexibility and individualized learning.

Enrichment and Summer Programs

Destination Imagination — Team-based creative problem solving and project development.
Feelosopher’s Path — Bay Area enrichment, outdoor, after-school, and summer programming.
Future Problem Solving Program International — Creative and analytical problem solving centered on future-oriented issues.
Institute for Educational Advancement — Programs and resources for gifted and advanced learners.
Nueva Summer — Summer programs offered by The Nueva School.
Odyssey of the Mind — Team-based creative problem-solving competition.
QuantumCamp — Hands-on science and mathematics programs in the Bay Area.
The Rabbit Hole Children’s Theater — Creative theater, storytelling, and imaginative programming for younger children.
Riekes Center — Programs integrating athletics, nature, creativity, leadership, and personal development.
Society of Young Inklings — Creative-writing programs, mentorship, and publishing opportunities for young writers.
Stanford Math Circle — Mathematical exploration and problem solving for students.
Summer Institute for the Gifted — Academic summer programming for gifted and advanced learners.
Yunasa Summer Camps — Whole-child summer experiences designed specifically for gifted children.

Mathematics and Advanced Learning

Art of Problem Solving — Advanced problem solving, online courses, and mathematics curriculum.
Beast Academy — Rigorous, engaging mathematics curriculum for elementary-age learners.
Russian School of Mathematics — Structured mathematics instruction emphasizing reasoning and problem solving.
Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival — Collaborative events that encourage mathematical exploration and creative thinking.
ALEKS — Adaptive online instruction that allows learners to progress according to demonstrated mastery.
Athena’s Advanced Academy — Online courses for advanced and gifted learners.
Outschool — Large online-course marketplace useful for specialized and advanced topics; course quality and level vary by instructor.

Acceleration and Educational Planning

Acceleration Institute — Research and guidance on grade acceleration, subject acceleration, early entrance, and other approaches for advanced learners.
NAGC — Finding the Right Educational Fit — Questions families can use to evaluate instructional pacing, differentiation, acceleration, student support, and school environment.

National Talent-Development Centers

Belin-Blank Center — University of Iowa — Student programs, research, professional learning, assessment, and gifted-education resources.
Center for Talent Development — Northwestern University — Advanced courses, summer programs, assessment, and family resources.
Center for Talented Youth — Johns Hopkins University — Online and in-person advanced academic programs for young learners.
Academic Talent Development Program — UC Berkeley — Challenging coursework for highly motivated students.

Gifted-Education Organizations and General Resources

National Association for Gifted Children — Research, educational standards, advocacy, professional resources, and family information.
California Association for the Gifted — California resources and advocacy for gifted learners, families, and educators.
Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted — Social-emotional resources for gifted children, adults, and families.
Davidson Institute — Programs, scholarships, community, and educational guidance for profoundly gifted young people and their families.
Davidson Young Scholars — A free program providing support, community, and educational guidance for qualifying profoundly gifted students and their families.
Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page — Longstanding collection of articles, organizations, programs, and other gifted-education resources.

Advocating for Gifted Students in California

California no longer operates GATE as a statewide categorical program. Funding and decisions about gifted programming are made locally, so services vary among districts and sometimes among schools within the same district.

California Department of Education — Gifted and Talented Education — Current state information about GATE programming and local decision-making.
California Department of Education — Local Control Funding Formula — Information about California’s school-funding and local-accountability framework.
LCAP Parent Advocacy Letter — A starting point for requesting that gifted learners be considered in district planning and resource allocation.