Advanced Learning/Gifted • Page - Harrisonburg City Public Schools

Every child brings unique strengths and potential to school, and gifted education at Harrisonburg City Public Schools is built on the belief that those strengths deserve to be stretched. We provide differentiated, challenging instruction for all learners, both within the classroom and through enrichment opportunities that extend beyond it. Staff who work with identified gifted students are equipped to understand their distinctive characteristics and learning needs. Across our elementary and middle schools, Advanced Learning Specialists collaborate with classroom teachers to ensure that advanced learning opportunities are accessible to every child.

Although there are many ways to be gifted, we currently identify and serve giftedness in two specific academic areas: English Language Arts and Math. You can read more about our program in the documents below.
Local Plan for the Education of the Gifted, 2022-2027

Gifted Eligibility process

Gifted Education Advisory Committee (GEAC)

Families of gifted students, educators, and other interested parties are welcome to attend our advisory committee meetings to review and advise on our progress towards meeting the needs of all gifted students. The running agenda and minutes of GEAC's meetings are available online.

In the 2025-26 school year, meetings are scheduled online from 7-8pm on the following dates:

Oct. 6, 2025

Dec. 8, 2025

Feb. 23, 2026

April 20, 2026

For a link to an upcoming online meeting, please reach out to Dr. Aldrich.

Gifted Education Opportunities

Elementary Schools (K-5)

Harrisonburg City Public Schools has a formal process to identify and serve students with exceptional aptitude and achievement in the areas of English and math. All students are screened in grades 2 through 5, and students in any grade may be referred for gifted eligibility testing by any person including teachers, families, themselves, or community members. An Advanced Learning Specialist at each elementary and middle school monitors the academic progress of identified gifted students and works with classroom teachers to provide appropriately differentiated instruction. Additionally, the Advanced Learning Specialist works to identify and develop the skills of students from historically underrepresented populations through the Talent Development program. For more information regarding the gifted identification process or our gifted program, please contact the assistant principal or the Advanced Learning Specialist.

Bluestone Elementary - currently vacant

Keister Elementary - Jackie Funkhouser

Smithland Elementary - Sarah Rimer

Spotswood Elementary - Tonia Compillo

Stone Spring Elementary - Brianna Burton

Waterman Elementary - Diana Ferguson

Middle Schools (6-8)

Harrisonburg City Public Schools provides advance learning opportunities in our two middle schools through course offerings (Advanced English and accelerated math courses), STEM, high school credit courses (including Algebra and Spanish) and enrichment opportunities beyond the school day.

Harrisonburg City Public Schools use a Collaboration Model in both of our middle schools to serve identified gifted students and students demonstrating potential for advanced learning. The purpose of this model is to help teachers meet the needs of advanced learners through collaborative planning with the Advanced Learning Specialist.

Skyline Middle School - Tina Showalter

Thomas Harrison Middle School - Leah Barker

High Schools (9-12)

Harrisonburg City Schools provides all students at our high schools with opportunities to realize their full potential. Some key resources:

A semester-by-semester checklist of milestones to achieve
High school enrichment opportunities
Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment courses are open to any student. Current AP and DE offerings are listed in the Program of Studies.

Rising juniors may apply to the Massanutten Regional Governor’s School, a half-day full year academic Governor’s School. MRGS is located in Mt. Jackson and students attend during their junior and senior year. A short video describing the MRGS program is available on YouTube.

Additionally, Summer Residential Governor's Schools are offered in a variety of areas throughout the state for rising juniors and seniors. Videos describing each of the available SRGS programs are available on YouTube.

The application period for MRGS and SRGS programs is in the fall. Here are some tips for completing your application packet:

Talk to the teachers who will be recommending you and be sure that they can give you the maximum points in each area. If they are not able to recommend you without concerns, consider asking a different teacher for a recommendation.
In the section on Activities, Research, and Honors, try to include three items for each area and highlight the things you've done that show leadership, personal initiative, and persistence.
Carefully review the rubric for the essays and be sure that your answers meet all areas of the rubric to gain maximum points.

For more information on the Governor’s Schools, please contact your school counselor.