College & Career Readiness Website  Scholarship & College Information  Scholarship Calendar  8th Grade CCR Website

Credit by Examination/Validation Opportunities

Credit by Exam is designed for students who have never attempted to earn credit for a particular course or who wish to accelerate to the next grade level. Credit Validation is intended for students who have previously taken a course but did not earn credit. This could include students arriving at GPISD from an unaccredited school. 

Please speak with your child's school counselor for more information.

2026-2027 Test Dates
*November 3, 2026 - Deadline for registration: September 25, 2026
*February 12, 2027 - Deadline for registration: December 11, 2026
*June 7-10, 2027 - Deadline for registration: April 23, 2027
*July 20-22, 2027 - Deadline for registration: May 21, 2027

Credit by Exam Application  Credit by Exam Review Sheets

It is essential for students to review the provided Exam Review Sheets (linked above) from Texas Tech University before testing; some tests require reading or completing projects before arriving on test day. Any preparation needed for testing is the sole responsibility of the student.

Galena Park ISD's GT Parent Handbook
The GT Parent Handbook provides an overview of the programs and processes for the Gifted and Talented program in Galena Park ISD.

English Spanish

The Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students
The State Plan provides requirements for and guidance to districts as they meet the unique needs of the gifted/talented population in Texas.
English  Spanish

Other GT Links for Parents

GT Awareness Presentation GPISD GT Services model Request GT Testing

Curriculum Corner

Curriculum Corner - Teachers Only

The Galena Park Independent School District identifies and serves gifted and talented students who consistently excel or show the potential to excel in the areas of general intellectual ability and creative and productive thinking. 

The district serves students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Every effort is made to place students in the most appropriate educational setting. 

Journeys is a talent pool of identified students in kindergarten through fifth grade. It is an enrichment program designed to serve students at each grade level at each campus. 

Beginning in the fourth grade, students are eligible to participate in the Encounters program, which serves a smaller population within the district's overall population. This provision is maintained through grade nine. 

Students in the fourth- and fifth-grade Encounters program participate in pull-out services one day a week at a designated school. The Encounters students in grades six through nine participate in the program on their home campus. 

Students in grades six through twelve also participate in the Advanced and Advanced Placement programs through classes offered in specific academic areas. Students also participate in other options at the high school level (concurrent enrollment and/or independent study) appropriate to their educational endeavors. 

Historical Results  Curriculum Corner - UIL Coaches Only

How are the Gifted and Talented students evaluated?
Report cards specific to Journeys (grades K-5) and Encounters (grades 4-5 only) are issued periodically to students. This report informs parents about the many topics covered in each grading period. This report card also reports the student's academic commitment. Grades 6-9 receive a grade on their report card for the Encounters class.

How are the students' needs met?
A student's needs are met through differentiated classroom experiences. The identified population, both Journeys and Encounters, is allowed to develop practical leadership skills and encouraged to think at a very high level. Enrichment activities throughout the curriculum are provided through innovative and effective teaching strategies, including scientific investigative units, creative approaches to research, creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making.

What is a differentiated curriculum?
Galena Park ISD has adopted activities for Journeys and Encounters that meet the needs of the identified population. The difference is in the content, the process, and/or the product.

How are the Gifted and Talented (Journeys and Encounters) students selected?
Students are selected by a committee comprised of at least three individuals with training in the Nature and Needs of Gifted children. The committee may include any combination of the Director of Advanced Academics, the Program Director of Advanced Academics, the Gifted and Talented Specialists/Teachers, and other trained individuals. The following criteria are used: aptitude test scores, achievement test scores, teacher profile scores, creativity scores, submitted student products, and evidence of outstanding school and/or community performance.

How can I request that my child be tested for Gifted and Talented services?
A request for testing may be made by contacting your child's teacher or the Advanced Academics office (832.386.1064). You may also complete this referral form to have your child tested. All referrals are due by January 1st of each year, except Kindergarten referrals, which are due by October 1st. Testing will take place during the designated time for each grade level (Kindergarten - November/December, 1st and 3rd Grades - January/February/March, 4th grade and above - April/May). All second graders will be tested in February; there is no need to request testing for those students.

What is the difference between Journeys and Encounters? 
Journeys consists of the top students at any one campus, grades K-5. Encounters is the top students from a district-wide group and runs grades 4-9. The Journeys program serves students in the regular classroom on every elementary campus, while Encounters students are served in separate classes clustered entirely with other Gifted and Talented identified students.

Once identified, is a student always identified as Gifted and Talented?  
The simple answer to this question is no. There are two separate services offered, Journeys and Encounters. Once a student is identified for one of the services, he/she will continue receiving that service until it ends (Journeys is kindergarten through fifth grade, and Encounters is fourth grade through graduation). The exception to this would be if a student is exited from the program for lack of academic commitment or moves to a new campus.  A student who is receiving services through Journeys must qualify to be selected for services through Encounters.

What would result in a student being exited from Gifted and Talented?  
One or more of the following may result in a student being placed on probation or being excluded from receiving services.

• The student shows signs of extreme frustration.
• Student shows a lack of response and/or academic commitment (i.e., a student does not complete the required project)
• Student's performance falls below minimum academic standards (i.e., a student who earns an "F" in any subject)

To request your child be assessed for Gifted and Talented services, please contact your child's teacher or complete this form.  Requests must be submitted by the end of the first semester and testing will occur in the spring.

Advanced Placement (AP) and Advanced courses in Galena Park ISD are highly rigorous and equivalent to an introductory college-level course. They are intended for students who have demonstrated both the highest level of academic achievement and commitment to hard work. Typically, successful AP students are task-oriented, proficient readers, organized, and supported by parents/guardians.

Students in AP/Advanced classes will be assigned several outside projects and research-writing assignments throughout the year. Teaching the students the writing style and research methods expected of college students is one of the primary goals of the AP program.

Advanced courses are based on the following two essential premises. The first is the expectation that all students can perform well at rigorous academic levels. This expectation should be reflected in the curriculum and instruction throughout the school, such that all students are consistently being challenged to expand their knowledge and skills to the next level. The second essential premise of Advanced courses is that we can prepare every student for higher intellectual engagement by starting the development of skills and the acquisition of knowledge as early as possible. Addressed effectively, the middle and high school years can provide a powerful opportunity to help all students acquire the knowledge, concepts, and skills needed to engage in higher-level learning.

AP is a rigorous academic program built on the commitment, passion, and hard work of students and educators from both secondary schools and higher education. AP courses can help students develop the skills and habits they need to succeed in college. Students in AP courses will improve their writing skills, sharpen their problem-solving abilities, and develop time management skills, discipline, and study habits. In AP classrooms, the focus is not on memorizing facts and figures; instead, students engage in intense discussions, solve problems collaboratively, and learn to write clearly and persuasively.

Scores on the 5th grade STAAR will be used to place incoming 6th graders or students not currently in an Advanced course.  Scores in reading will be used to place students in Advanced ELA and Advanced Social Studies.  Scores in math will be used to place students in Advanced Math.  Scores in reading and math will be used to place students in Advanced Science.

Please be aware that GPISD abides by the open enrollment policy.  However, in order to be eligible to open enroll in an Advanced or AP course, a student must pass the STAAR.  A student may enroll in an Advanced or AP course with a parent's request as long as he/she has passed STAAR and STAAR EOC, and has earned a passing grade in the previous course.

Students successfully completing an Advanced course will automatically be placed in the next Advanced course of that subject.

- All Advanced/AP students are expected to have scored at the "Meets" or "Masters" performance level on the prior STAAR/EOC test in their content area.
- Advanced courses are college-prep courses designed to prepare students to enter AP and/or Dual Credit courses and are graded accordingly.
- High school credit Advanced/AP courses taken during middle school will be on the student's high school transcript.
- AP courses are college-level courses.  One of the purposes of the Advanced/AP coursework is to help students master the skills required for success in college.
- High School Advanced/AP courses will receive weighted grade points upon successful completion.
- Advanced/AP courses are designed to provide students a more challenging curriculum as well as more opportunities for inquiry and research.

A student and his/her parent may request removal from an Advanced/AP class no later than the end of the progress report date of the second grading period as long as: the student does not have any zeroes in the course, the student attended tutorials, the teacher has made parent contact, and the teacher agrees that the student is struggling.  If a student is removed from an Advanced/AP course, their transfer grade will be provided to the new teacher.  In addition, schedule changes are contingent upon the availability of space in an equivalent content area classroom and may result in the student's schedule being rearranged.

For a middle school student to receive high school credit for Algebra I, he or she must meet the following criteria: 70% or higher final average and passing of the Algebra I End of Course (EOC) examination.  Otherwise, the student shall be required to retake Algebra I in grade 9 in order to receive credit.  If the middle school student fails the first semester of Algebra I, the student will be placed in 8th grade math for the second semester and will retake Algebra I in the 9th grade.

Any assignment that is not turned in on the due date will be assessed a 10-point penalty, per day, for up to five days.  After that time, any assignment may be turned in prior to the last week of the marking period for a maximum grade of 50%.

Advanced Middle School grading categories are 50% major and 50% daily.  Teachers may also use 50% major, 40% daily, and 10% homework.
Advanced High School grading categories are 60% major and 40% daily.  Teachers may also use 60% major, 30% daily, and 10% homework.
AP High School grading categories are 70% major and 30% daily.  Teachers may also use 70% major, 20% daily, and 10% homework.
Homework assignments cannot account for more than 10% of the daily category.