Academics
Overview
At the Spencer Center, CPS’ most academically promising students blossom in a flexible, rigorous environment. A new grade will be added each year until the school serves grades 3-12.
Gifted and exceptional students benefit from
- A rigorous curriculum that connects the classroom to actual workplaces — providing students with opportunities for internships and career-based experiences to prepare them for the real world
- Opportunities to study through exciting field experiences in Cincinnati, and, eventually, abroad
- Wide array of fun, student-directed extracurricular and elective options
- Latin classes to support students in understanding the linguistic roots of our modern culture
- Unique electives, such as Yoga, robotics and mindfulness
- Project-based, hands-on learning incorporating problem-solving and design-thinking to bring academic concepts to life
- Advanced Placement (AP) and College Credit Plus (CCP) offerings to prepare students for rigorous college courses
At Spencer, a school community is built via
- Schoolwide pep rallies and community meetings
- Spirit Week
- Project-based focus
- Rotating elective and co-op choices
- Student-led initiatives
- Mindful attention to students' workloads
Who Can Attend the Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students?
Students currently attending Cincinnati Public Schools, as well as in-district students in private, charter or home schools, are eligible to apply to Spencer Center if they meet these eligibility requirements:
For Exceptional Students (grades 7-12)
- Scores at the 85th percentile or greater in reading on the Iowa Achievement Test
Or
- Scores at 123 or above on the Inview Cognitive Skills Index
Or
- Scores at 123 or above on the CogAT Student-Aged Score (SAS) or other approved Cognitive Abilities Test
For Gifted Students (grades 7-12)
- Rank at the Superior Cognitive Level on a Cognitive Abilities Test (as approved by Ohio Department of Education)
Or
- Scores at the 95th percentile or higher in two of the following subjects on the Iowa Achievement Test or other state-approved standardized achievement test: Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies. One of the two subjects must be Math or Reading.
Advanced Placement Courses
- Human Geography
- U.S. History
- American Government
- Psychology
- Environmental Science
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Calculus
- Statistics
- English
Foreign Languages
- Latin
- Spanish