While most people think that a brilliant child will automatically do well in school, this isn’t always the case. Research shows that anywhere from 9 to 50 percent of gifted students may actually underperform in school. Fortunately, there are things parents can do to ensure their gifted children excel. 

This article discusses what giftedness is and why gifted students sometimes struggle in academic environments. It also explains how a therapeutic school in NYC can help gifted students achieve their full potential.

What is Giftedness? 

According to the National Association for Gifted Children, a gifted child is one who “performs – or has the capability to perform – at higher levels compared to others of the same age, experience, and environment in one or more domains.” So, a fourth grader who reads at a ninth-grade level would be gifted. 

Due to the fact that they generally perform at a higher academic level than their peers, gifted children usually need more challenging coursework. 

How Is Giftedness Determined? 

Giftedness is determined in several ways. Generally, it involves a combination of standardized cognitive tests, academic achievement tests, portfolios, and coursework.

Usually, the gifted evaluation process begins with a parent or teacher nomination. However,  implicit biases sometimes lead to children of color and female students being referred for gifted testing less often than white and male students. As such, many school districts have decided to test all students in a particular grade for giftedness.

Why Gifted Students Can Still Struggle in School  

Despite their intelligence, gifted students can and do struggle in school. Here are some reasons why: 

• “They don’t need my help.” Many teachers assume that smart children don’t need any additional help or services. However, a person who grasps one subject may still need help with others, so this attitude can make students reluctant to ask for help when they need it. 

• “I can’t ask for help.” Many gifted children get labeled as “the smart kid” early in their academic careers. If they have been given that label, they may be reluctant to ask for help for fear of losing their status. 

• Boredom. Gifted students may already know the information presented in the lesson. If they do, they’re likely to tune out during class. Even if a gifted student is also learning a concept for the first time, they will probably grasp it quickly. As a result, they’ll be bored for the remainder of the class, unit, or semester. 

• Lack of depth. Most schoolwork focuses on rote memorization or test prep. But gifted students often want – and need – work that requires more than memorizing facts. 

• Fear of failure. Many gifted students struggle with perfectionism. While helpful in small doses, this fear of failure can lead to procrastination and avoidance. These habits, in turn, can lead to work being turned in late or not at all. 

• Mismatched development. While gifted children are advanced intellectually, they are not necessarily more mature than their peers. In fact, researchers have found that gifted children may have lower emotional regulation than non-gifted children of the same age. 

• Masking. Gifted children sometimes go out of their way to hide their abilities. This behavior, known as masking, can lead to them purposefully underperforming to fit in with their peers. Unfortunately, the research on gifted children shows that over 40 percent of them experience bullying, so the impulse to hide skills to avoid bullying is understandable. 

• Weak study habits. Because they usually get good results with minimal effort, many gifted children lack study skills. When those skills are needed, they may not know how to respond. Similarly, after years of easily passing classes, when challenges arise in later grades, students may be overwhelmed. 

Twice-Exceptional Children: A Special Type of Giftedness 

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), an exceptional child is “a child who is substantially above or below the average in some significant respect.” A gifted child is above average in many respects. However, some children who are gifted in one area are below average in another. Experts call these children twice-exceptional, or 2e, students.   

Twice-exceptional students present special issues. Because of their academic profile, they experience the issues of a gifted child and the issues suffered by those with their particular learning disability or difficulty. Dealing with dual struggles can make school particularly challenging for these children. 

When to Consider a Therapeutic School for Your Gifted Child 

Many gifted children do quite well in traditional schools. However, some gifted students struggle. 

Teachers in traditional schools are under pressure to get everyone in the class to meet minimum standards. As such, they tend to focus more on students who they know struggle to meet those standards rather than those who have or can. Also, most traditional schools aren’t equipped to address the unique emotional needs of gifted children, such as perfectionism. 

These issues are particularly significant for 2e students.  As a recent Hechinger Report article said, “Parents say it’s often impossible to find schools to educate bright kids who have disabilities.” Indeed, few schools are equipped to both challenge a student’s abilities and support their limitations. While an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) can help, implementation can be a problem. 

It can be difficult for parents to know when a therapeutic school is a better fit than a traditional one. However, switching to a therapeutic school may be a good option if the issue is not the content of the lessons or the school’s ability to adapt them, but your child’s social, emotional, or mental health. Some signs that a therapeutic school might be best include:  

• Persistent school refusal 
• School-related anxiety 
• Emotional dysregulation or crises 
• The need for clinical and therapeutic support during the school day
• Attendance issues 
• The current school’s failure (or unwillingness) to implement your child’s IEP
• When your child isn’t improving or thriving, but the current school says there is nothing more they can do

With smaller class sizes and trained counselors on staff, therapeutic schools are better able to handle these issues. These schools can provide challenges and support at the same time. 
If you live in New York City and are looking for a therapeutic school for your gifted child, consider Academics West. We are a therapeutic school in New York’s Upper West Side that strives to support students of all abilities in every possible way. To learn more about our school, take our virtual tour, then call 212-580-0080 or use our booking tool to visit us in person.