In 2020 Youth Data Analysts and the Gifted and Talented Design Team addressed a question:

• How can we get more students of color into honors, AP, IB, and Gifted and Talented (GT) courses? 
• Why aren’t students already in these classes?

The YDA received 300 survey responses and conducted 52 interviews from their peers. Five major themes emerged, including concerns about the messaging and culture surrounding gifted education. Students centered these themes around:

1. Teacher encouragement and support (more support for gifted education)
2. Relationships and representation (more teachers and students, and better curriculum for gifted education)
3. Exclusivity (more white students represented in gifted education)
4. Gifted and talented promotes unhealthy competition between different student groups
5. Gifted and talented students are offered better supports

In the survey responses, a tenth grade student shared, “Oh, just give extra work to the smart kids’… it kind of sets you up to think that you’re smarter than other people, just because you did well on one test, and now you’re in the gifted group, and now you deserve to have more chances than other kids.” 

This research led the district to adjust the gifted and talented program to talent development, which created more equitable pathways for each elementary student to be prepared for high-impact learning throughout their entire experience with St. Louis Park Public Schools. Talent Development is available for all students K-5, providing the opportunity for growth in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM). These STEAM opportunities set students up for advanced success in middle school programs such as Advisory, Keystone, and Extended Learning. The opportunities to further develop academic achievement in elementary and middle school prepare students for the many high-impact learning opportunities at the high school. By the time they graduate, every student in the class of 2027 will have engaged in at least one high-impact experience.

St. Louis Park High School has the following high-impact course offerings:

• Advanced Placement (AP) courses: A wide range, including Calculus, Computer Science, Environmental Science, African American Studies, and Psychology, to name a few.
• Articulated College Credit: 19 courses allow students to earn college credits while still in high school.
• Concurrent Enrollment: Seven classes offer real-time college-level experiences in subjects like College Writing, Intro to Psychology, and Statistics.
• International Baccalaureate (IB): With 15 IB classes and 14 diploma candidates, the program has become a cornerstone of the district's rigorous academic offerings.
• PSEO: Allows high school students, typically in grades 10-12, to take college-level courses at participating colleges or universities. These courses are often available at little or no cost to the students, as the program is funded by the state or school district.

Compared to the previous year, at least 20% more 12th grade students are taking high-impact, college credit bearing or honors courses, and 413 students participated in fall activities. We are seeing evidence that our students are engaged in their learning in and out of the classroom, which is a beautiful thing to witness!

Shifting the Paradigm

The shift in access and rigor has required expanding teacher training and increasing the number of educators qualified to teach advanced courses. There are nearly 300 teachers with advanced degrees within St. Louis Park Public Schools.

The district also has foundational programs like immersion and the Primary Years Programme (PYP) that provide all students with early exposure to rigorous learning. By ensuring every student has a high-impact academic experience, St. Louis Park Public Schools are working to close opportunity gaps and build a more inclusive culture of excellence.