You understand that being classified as GT in school and actually being gifted are two different things, right?
Here's a wordier explanation...
Unfortunately, many/most "gifted" programs have NOT been created to identify the pupils needing more/different/accelerated curriculum and then matched the program to each child. Instead, many/most schools had a program and/or activity in mind and then sought to populate it with a group of pupils who "fit" that somewhat narrow offering. GT selection rules may have included (non-relevant) criteria such as older sibling in program. Therefore (as an example) an only child with a 150+ IQ may NOT have been identified/selected but a dozen children with "optimal" IQ 124-132 and older "gifted" siblings may have been selected.
