Free guide · For parents · Grades 6 to 12

Gifted and twice-exceptional students

Advanced learners need challenge too, and some are gifted and also have a learning difference or ADHD (often called twice-exceptional, or 2e). Signs to notice, options to ask for and how to advocate.

Your progress

Signs to notice

Learns new material much faster than classmates
Deep, intense interests and advanced vocabulary or reasoning
Bored, or coasting, with grades that do not reflect ability
2e signs: strong reasoning but surprising trouble with reading, writing, organization or attention

Ask the school

How students are identified for gifted services, and whether you can request testing
Options such as subject acceleration, grade skipping, honors or compacting the curriculum
For 2e students: whether gifted services and an IEP or 504 plan can work together

Outside school

Readiness checks to see if your student can move ahead in math
Competitions, college courses in high school and passion projects
Talent search programs and summer programs for advanced students

Watch for

Perfectionism and fear of mistakes
Social fit and finding true peers
Asynchronous development: advanced thinking with age-typical emotions

General information from Caveat Academic Services, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules vary by state, school and college; confirm with each one.

Want help with this part? Your Caveat advisor can plan acceleration, enrichment and supports together, especially for twice-exceptional students.

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This tool is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Each college decides admission, aid and how credit counts, and requirements change; check each college's own pages. Examples are examples, not promises. Caveat Academic Services is an independent college preparation company. Students do all of their own work.