Mead High School has a “Gifted and Talented” program, which allows students to challenge themselves by taking harder classes such as AP courses. This program is for students who are academically inclined and stand out beyond other students. Students of this program meet every MAV20. 

Most students join the program earlier in elementary or middle school by taking a standardized test. Even if most of the kids joined in elementary and middle school, students can join in high school either through the district noticing their talent and being invited to take a test that determines whether they qualify for the program, being nominated by a teacher, nominated by a parent, or nominating students themselves. 

Ms. Christine Engelen is the advisor of Gifted and Talented. This is her second year occupying this role. Engelen was in the program herself when she was in high school and was excited for the opportunity because of her prior experience and knowledge of the program.

She said, “We have sheltered advisory groups. In each of the four grade levels there is an advisory class where all of the Gifted and Talented from that grade are in the same class.” Currently there are about a hundred students involved in this program. 

Engelen said that most of the time the program has a normal advisory class, this allows Engelen to provide students with additional information and have certain activities to challenge students. Students have an Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) where it helps them decide what they want to focus on in their classes. 

A student part of the program, Elena Freed (‘25), said that the primary part of this program is to be inclined to take harder classes. Freed (‘25) said “one of the differences between normal MAV20 and our Mav20 is that we do goal settings that are supposed to challenge us more.”

Freed (‘25) said this program has challenged her academically. As a freshman she didn’t think she would have taken any AP classes, but she ended up taking AP Human Geography.

Eris Price (‘25) has been part of the program since elementary school. Price (‘25) said they learned about the program because a teacher recommended them. Price (‘25) enjoys the opportunities the program provides.

Engelen said the program has an education which she hopes will be for everyone and not only for a special group.

They always try to encourage kids to nominate themselves if they think that they are talented in a particular area.