What Is a High Achiever?
In school, a high achiever would be a student who gets high marks and good grades. They do the work that is required and do it well. They tend to be well-organized, with good time-management skills, which is why they turn in neat and tidy work on time. They also tend to be well-behaved, adjusting well to the classroom environment and participating in classroom discussions. On the other hand, being gifted denotes intellectual ability, a trait that may or may not translate into high academic performance. Giftedness (also called talented and gifted or TAG) is primarily determined through testing, which is often conducted by school districts. There are a variety of ability areas that may be assessed, including general intellect, creativity, leadership abilities, and specific subjects, such as math. Testing for giftedness may also be done privately, using a variety of methods or tests. Standards of what constitutes giftedness are defined on a state and local level using a variety of tests to measure ability. Nationally, approximately 6% of students in public schools are classified as gifted and participate in talented and gifted school programs.
Why High Achievers Aren’t Always ‘Gifted’
High achievers are not necessarily gifted, although some high achievers are also gifted. High achievers are often externally motivated by the desire to get good grades or even high praise. They also can often be motivated by stickers with smiley faces. Some gifted children may be bored at school and/or internally motivated, so unless they are interested in the task or the material to be learned, they may not do well on assignments and may not even complete them. High achievers may need an educational environment beyond what is offered in the average classroom, but that is not necessarily the same environment required by gifted kids to be successful. Your child’s school will be able to help you assess whether your child needs more motivation in class or whether they are performing at their potential. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and have patience. It may take time to figure out the best place for your advanced learner. Try not to bring too many of these terms into the conversation with your child, because you don’t want to create unnecessary stress for them by applying labels they may not fully understand. Remember, this is about the child and their needs.
Differences Between Learners
Here’s a chart that helps explain the differences between high achievers, gifted learners, and creative thinkers (another type of student that may stand out). Regardless of where your child falls as a learner, the best thing you can do is to be their advocate at school and at home, offering support, understanding, and new challenges as needed. Equally important is to make clear to your child that while it’s wonderful to be a high-achieving and/or gifted student, what you are most proud of is their effort and simply the person they are. There was an error. Please try again.
