PK-12 Student Programs

Dates and Costs

• January 4 - February 1, 2025
• $260.00

This program is thoughtfully designed to provide your child with the most innovative content and engaging learning methods available in gifted education today.  With hands-on activities and the opportunity to engage with other children with similar interests and abilities, we are certain that your child will thrive each Saturday morning.

The five-week program compacts the curriculum in a way that provides accelerated and enriched learning experiences that meet the needs of advanced learners. These courses balance opportunities for engaging in projects that develop critical thinking skills and technology use with those that help students connect with artistic expression and design. All of our classes benefit from community and university mentors who will visit and spend time answering questions about future opportunities related to the class.

Eligibility:

Students who score at or above the 90th percentile on an individual IQ test, or students who score at or above the 90th percentile on nationally normed tests of achievement appropriate for their grade level, are eligible for this program

The Saturday Gifted Studies Program for 2025 is now open for registration.  

Click here to apply. 

Dates and Costs:

• June 10-14, 2024
•  $260.00

Designed to serve the youngest of our students, the Young Gifted Students program is a one-week, half-day program offered in the summer each year. Students explore their own strengths and weaknesses as learners while they discover the joy of accelerated curriculum. Vocabulary development and broad exploration of integrated topics make this a program your young child will talk about for a long time. 

Eligibility

 Students who score at or above the 90th percentile on an individual IQ test, or students who score at or above the 90th percentile on nationally normed tests of achievement appropriate for their grade level, are eligible for this program. Provisional eligibility may be obtained for this program. Please contact our director for details.

APPLICATIONS FOR THIS PROGRAM ARE NOW CLOSED.

Dates and Costs

•  June 10-14
• $260.00

Designed with our middle grades students in mind, this program offers a format similar to our other popular day programs. Demonstrating creative and dynamic exploration of interesting topics, students can still embrace the flexibility afforded by a half-day program. Middle grades are wonderful years of growth and discovery and during this time there are wide differences in individual development. This program may meet your family's needs to serve as an extended transition to our residential programs. 

Eligibility

Students who score at or above the 90th percentile on an individual IQ test, or students who score at or above the 90th percentile on nationally normed tests of achievement appropriate for their grade level, are eligible for this program.

APPLICATIONS FOR THIS PROGRAM ARE NOW CLOSED.

Dates and Costs

•  June 16-20, 2025
• $985.00

The Summer Gifted Studies Program is now in its forty-seventh year and is the one that started it all! The success of the very first summer program, prompted the University to establish The Center for Gifted Studies the following year. This one week intensive program offers students in grades four through eight the opportunity to explore interesting topics through an integrated unit of study. This program introduces our upper elementary and middle grades students to residential life and rigorous study. Students enjoy fascinating courses during the day and experience ample recreation and social activities in the afternoons and evenings. 

Eligibility

Students who score at or above the 90th percentile on an individual IQ test, or students who score at or above the 90th percentile on nationally normed tests of achievement appropriate for their grade level, are eligible for this program.

Students who score at or above the 90th percentile on an individual IQ test, or students who score at or above the 90th percentile on nationally normed tests of achievement appropriate for their grade level, are eligible for this program.

Dates and Costs

• June 23 -27, 2025
• $985.00

Offered annually, this residential program invites students to assess their own leadership potential, gain individualized instruction on growing in that potential, and provides each student the opportunity to develop a platform for community development.  Three Levels of courses are available in this program and must be taken in order. Community leaders provide mentorship and guidance during afternoon sessions and cheer students on during our Annual Leadership Banquet.   During the Banquet students present their leadership platforms, impassioned speeches, or research on past leaders.  Students in recent years have raised more than $5,000.00 for their various causes once they have returned home to execute their plans.  Recreation, meals, room and board are included. 

Eligibility

The Leadership Studies Program is open to all students who have a desire to grow as leaders and who are dedicated to helping their community thrive. That dedication is shown through an entrance essay of 500 words that completes and expands upon this framework:

"My goal for participating in the Leadership Program is to learn _______, to develop myself by _________, and to change my community through ______________."

Courses Available for Summer 2024

Leadership I

Learn your strengths and weaknesses as a leader. Build basic skills such as public speaking, team leadership, and idea generation.

Leadership II (Leadership I prerequisite)

Delve further into teams with an understanding of situational and transitional leadership. Help your team work together and know when to instruct and when to let them be creative.

Dates and Costs

•  June 16-27, 2025
• $2600.00

This two-week residential program brings together the talents of engaging professors and instructors from across the Southern Miss Campus and Community with highly able students who desire to try their hand at accelerated course work.  Students spend two weeks diving into courses designed to give them the experience of studying at their own rapid pace and gaining a sense of the world of work and the university resources. Students have opportunities to visit the USM arm of the Mississippi Crime Lab, Polymer Science Labs, Nursing Simulation Labs,  Art Galleries, Musical performance, Rock Wall Climbing, and personalized time with the Honors College Admissions team.  Recreation, meals, room and board are included. 

Eligibility:

Academically Talented Program: ACT or SAT scores

Artistically Talented: Portfolio submission

This two-week residential program brings together the talents of engaging professors and instructors from across the Southern Miss Campus and Community with highly able students who desire to try their hand at accelerated course work.  Students spend two weeks diving into courses designed to give them the experience of studying at their own rapid pace and gaining a sense of the world of work and the university resources. Students have opportunities to visit the USM arm of the Mississippi Crime Lab, Polymer Science Labs, Nursing Simulation Labs,  Art Galleries, Musical performances, Rock Wall Climbing, and personalized time with the Honors College Admissions team.  Recreation, meals, room and board are included.