Acceleration - is placement in an advanced level class or grade without taking all consecutive courses.  Parents/guardians of gifted students may consider acceleration for a variety of reasons. The district accelerates students when appropriate after careful evaluation of the student's level of performance and readiness.  In accordance with Ohio Department of Education Administrative Code 3301-35-06, Canton City School District provides the opportunity highly advanced students to be assessed to see if acceleration is an appropriate placement for students.

Subject Acceleration: In a few instances, a student's ability in a particular subject area may be so advanced that his/her needs are best met by an above-grade level curriculum.  Subject acceleration is considered by a team that includes the parent/guardian, building staff, administration and gifted coordinator. Multiple data points are considered when determining subject-acceleration for a student.  This process begins through a discussion with the classroom teacher/subject area teacher to see if the student meets the requirements to be considered for assessment. The practice of assigning a student to a higher grade level in a specific subject than is typical given the student’s age. This placement is typically done on a subject by subject basis.

Whole-Grade Acceleration: In even fewer instances, a student's ability across the entire curriculum may be so advanced that his/her needs are best met at a higher grade level.  The decision to meet a child's needs through whole-grade acceleration is made very carefully and takes into account both academics and the social/emotional needs of the child.  Whole grade acceleration is considered by a team that includes the parent/guardian, building staff, administration, and gifted coordinator. Multiple data points are considered and as required by the Ohio Department of Education, are processed through the Iowa Acceleration Scale.  This process begins through a discussion with the classroom teacher/subject area teacher and the building principal. The practice of assigning a student to a higher grade level than is typical given the student’s age on a full-time basis for the purpose of providing access to appropriately challenging learning opportunities.

Early Graduation: Some students take advantage of the option to graduate in less than four years. This is processed through the counseling department at the high school and requires the student to meet the credit requirements of graduation as determined by the Ohio Department of Education guidelines and Talawanda district guidelines.  

Feel free to contact the gifted coordinator with your questions regarding acceleration.

Early Entrance

Kindergarten has changed! It is now an academically rigorous program that stresses language arts and math, as well as social and emotional development.

Canton City School District requires that children entering kindergarten must be five by September 30th of their kindergarten year. Occasionally, exceptions to this policy are granted for children whose potential and skills are in the very superior range, and who reside in the Canton City School District. CCSD has specific criteria and procedures for considering parents requests for early entrance.

The decision for a child to enter school early can have a profound effect on his or her academic and social performance for the remainder of the child’s school career. Since early entrance is equivalent to grade acceleration and because CCSD takes this decision very seriously, the standards for early entry are very rigorous. The goal is to ensure that children are not frustrated by the challenges of the kindergarten program and the effect that early placement has on years to come.

Parents interested in early entrance should pick up a packet from their home school office. The early entrance application should be filled out and returned to the gifted coordinator in the district. These are due to the school office by June 16th of the summer before the requested school year.