Desoto independent school district

The DeSoto Independent School District plans to introduce a Talented and Gifted Academy at Ruby Young starting in the 2024-2025 academic year.

Ruby Young will take applications for incoming Kindergarten through sixth-grade students. Residents within the district will be given priority in the application process. Students that apply MUST meet eligibility, however, all current 2023-24 students have the option to remain for the 2024-25 school year. 

There is a maximum of 44 seats available for scholars in first through fourth grade per grade level availability. 

The Ruby Young Talented and Gifted Academy will serve students in kindergarten through 8th grade focusing on fostering growth and critical thinking through individualized impactful experiences and immersive learning experiences which are slated to include capstone projects, project-based learning experiences, learning beyond the classroom and in-depth exploration of concepts and curriculum.

As presented to the Board, the program will focus on TAG-centered education and advanced academics to prepare scholars for optimal personal and educational outcomes by:

• guiding and developing scholars’ internal and external emotional intelligence;

• allowing scholars to explore their interests and the relationships of those interests to society;

• supporting scholars’ development of learning outputs that reflect those explorations;

•  creating platforms for scholars’ presentations of learning and discovery designed to challenge conventions;

• and deepening scholars’ sense of belongingness and community to support pride in academic achievement in a more rigorous environment.

To support this level of rigor and instruction, scholars will learn from teachers who have completed Gifted and Talented-training requirements and received immersive training in project-based learning.

Apply for the Talented and Gifted Academy at Ruby Young here.