Nearly 9% of KISD students participate in the district’s GT and advanced academics programs, and participation and success in programs like advanced placement and dual credit are at record highs in the ongoing 2024-25 school year, Danielle Sanchez, director of GT/advanced academics, said at the April 22 board meeting.
In a nutshell
Since the 2019-20 school year, over 2,100 additional students have enrolled in GT programs, according to state reports. The percent of district students in this program has also risen from 8.1% in 2019-20 to 9% in 2024-25.
- Over 12,000 high school students were enrolled in at least one AP course in the 2023-24 school year, taking over 21,000 AP exams and earning six high schools recognition on the 2024 AP School Honor Roll
- More than 2,000 students are enrolled in dual-credit courses in partnership with Houston Community College, earning more than 16,000 college credit hours for the 2023-24 school year.
Using state-defined qualitative and quantitative metrics, all students are screened for GT services in kindergarten, Sanchez said. From first to 11th grade, a parent or teacher can request a student be screened once a year in the fall or early spring.
In secondary school, screening is often aligned with course selection and planning for advanced academics, as identification may be subject specific, Sanchez said.
Sanchez said students identified for GT services in KISD receive tailored academic support through the following programs:
- Elementary students are enrolled in the Challenge program, which offers project-based learning and career exploration weekly.
- Secondary students are clustered in Katy Advanced Placement, or KAP, pre-AP or AP classes with educators who have completed the required 30 hours of GT training and a campus GT facilitator who monitors academic progress and provides workshops.
- All grade levels participate in academic competitions
Sanchez said parents have pointed out the elementary school GT program feels more different from the regular curriculum than it does at the middle and high school levels; however, she said programs can vary depending on who’s leading it at each school.
“The service model does look a little different at high school,” Sanchez said. “That is something that I'm personally working on ... to kind of enhance the to make the services a little bit more tangible.”
Moving forward, Sanchez said district administration will prioritize professional development for GT educators and continue to offer opportunities for students to showcase their talents through academic competitions and specialized projects.
