It's very interesting reading your posts. My children's school seems quite different in that it does use very narrow criteria to identify kids for the gifted program. Each year about 5 kids out of 125 are selected for the G/T program (which is really not intensive, just a one hour weekly pull-out).

My own child did not make the cut off because her score was too low. smile

But the reason I consider her "gifted" and what brings me to this message board is simply that she is driven to learn all the time. She is insatiably curious and picks up knowledge very easily. That innate desire to learn is not found in all people and is definitely something to be nurtured.