Phelps Center for Gifted Education is the primary advocate for gifted children in the community.  With the mission of providing a rigorous academic curriculum in a supportive environment, Phelps Center strives to be a collaborative learning community in which staff and students discover and understand their strengths and abilities, set high expectations for themselves and each other, and successfully master the skills necessary to transform their potential into performance.  Taken together, these programs provide comprehensive service for gifted students and work to support other programs and schools to ensure success for all students. 

The WINGS Program, the Middle Years Scholars Program, and service for high school gifted students comprise the Springfield Public Schools programs for academically gifted students.

The BRIDGES Program represents a new service model developed in the fall of 2005, and provides increased services to gifted students in the district from Title One schools.

Description of Programs

The WINGS Program is designed to identify academically gifted students in grades K-8.  The purpose of the program is to provide academic challenge and rigor, as well as address the social/emotional needs of the gifted student.  Students attend one full instructional day per week. 

In the fall of 2005, the BRIDGES Program was initiated to target and focus on under-identified gifted students in grades three, four and five.  Using the service model of the WINGS Program, students attend one full instructional day per week.  BRIDGES is located in a satellite location, Weller Elementary School. 

The full-time component, referred to as the Middle Years Scholars Program, is designed to identify and provide continuous education services for 120 highly gifted middle school students.  This program is located at Central High School.  Service is provided by seven staff members, six with a Master’s Degree or higher and all certified in gifted education.

Service for high school gifted students is provided to support gifted students through counseling, advocacy, communication, career guidance, advanced placement programs, dual enrollment, higher education opportunities, intervention for social and emotional needs, and the Missouri Scholars Academy.  

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Students must meet the minimum eligibility criteria set by the Missouri State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Springfield School District. Eligibility criteria includes test data and information from the following: individual IQ qualifying score, evidence of achievement and/or advanced thinking ability, parent/teacher observation of behaviors, and consent to participate.

PROGRAM GOALS The goals of Springfield's gifted programs are supportive of the goals of the District. The goals include: improve students' thinking skills, improve students' communication skills, improving communication with parents and teachers, refining service to underrepresented populations, and reducing the risk of gifted students dropping our of school.

OUR MISSION The Phelps Center for Gifted Education is the primary advocate for gifted children in the community. With the mission of providing a rigorous academic curriculum in a supportive environment, Phelps Center strives to be a collaborative learning community in which staff and students discover and understand their strenghts and abilities, set high expectations for themselves and each other, and successfully master the skills necessary to transform their potential into performance, Taken together, these programs provide comprehensive support for gifted students and work to support other programs and schools to ensure success for all students.