The purpose of formally identifying gifted students is to plan for and monitor services to ensure the appropriate academic growth for each child. Typically, gifted students fall within the top 5-7% of the general student population.

The Huntsville City Schools District defines gifted and talented students as children and youth with outstanding talent who perform or show the potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared with others of their age, experience, and/or environment.

HCS has established guidelines for identifying students eligible for gifted programming. These guidelines consider a variety of information on a student, both quantitative and qualitative, to determine if a student needs targeted or intensive programming beyond the regular classroom.