CCISD Approves Duplicating Successful Gifted and Talented Program

The Clear Creek Independent School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved a plan to open a second location for the Webster Academy-Visions in Education (WAVE) program.

Beginning the 2012-2013 school year, the Gifted and Talented program will be offered at Westbrook Intermediate and its new location, League City Intermediate. An expansion team of educators, parents, and students from both locations will be formed to implement the second program.

WAVE is currently offered at Westbrook Intermediate. The program for the Gifted and Talented has grown from 320 students in 2000 to more than 745 students in 2011, pushing Westbrook Intermediate beyond its instructional capacity.

WAVE was created in 1996 for 6th-8th grade Gifted and Talented students. The services and courses offered at WAVE focus on the nature and needs of adolescent gifted learners. By replicating WAVE at League City Intermediate, the District can continue to offer the same courses and services to all students who qualify as Gifted and Talented. League City Intermediate is under capacity, current enrollment is 445 students. League City Intermediate's instructional capacity is 1,100 students. Such a move would also prevent the District from having to cap the number of students who can participate in WAVE. The District currently caps enrollment in the Science Magnet at Seabrook Intermediate.

As approved by the school board, the student population will be split between the two campuses using high school feeder patterns. Gifted and Talented students who feed into Clear Creek High School, Clear Springs High School, and Clear Falls High School will attend the South Campus and Gifted and Talented students who feed into Clear Brook and Clear Lake High School will attend the North Campus. The cost of duplicating the program will be $236,000 to ensure equity between the two sites.