Dimension A

Reasoning Abilities

Nationally normed individual or group aptitude test:

·      a score at the 93rd national age percentile or higher on verbal/linguistic, quantitative/mathematical, nonverbal, and/or a composite of the three

Students may be eligible for placement on the basis of their aptitude scores alone:

·      a composite score at the 98th national age percentile or higher for students entering grades one and two

·      a composite score at the 96th national age percentile or higher (S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 43-220.2(B)(5)(c)) for students entering grades three through twelve

Dimension B

High

Achievement

Nationally normed achievement test:

·      a score at the 94th national percentile or higher on approved subtests (reading comprehension and/or mathematical concepts and problem solving)

If the approved subtests are unavailable, use the total reading and/or total mathematics score.

PACT:

·      advanced-level score on the reading portion of the PACT English language arts test and/or mathematics test

Dimension C

Academic Performance

 Project STAR, for students entering grades three through six:

·      primary verbal or nonverbal: 16 or higher for students entering grade three; 18 or higher for students entering grade four

·      intermediate verbal: 16 or higher for students entering grade five; 18 or higher for students entering grade six

·      intermediate nonverbal: 22 or higher for students entering grade five; 25 or higher for students entering grade six

Grade point average (GPA) in the academic disciplines, for students entering grades seven through twelve:

·      3.75 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale

Students who meet the eligibility criteria in two of the three dimensions are eligible for gifted and talented services. Aptitude test results alone can qualify a student for placement (see Dimension A, above). No single criterion can eliminate a student from consideration (24 S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 43-220.2(B)(7)(c)(4)).