The Discover Program is an elementary program that targets students who demonstrate the need for increased higher order thinking activities but are not currently identified for participation in the PACE program.  The goal of the program is to provide early intervention with strategies that might lead to eventual placement in the PACE program.  Discover staff members sometimes go into mainstream classes and, in collaboration with the classroom teacher, identify students who demonstrate high levels of potential when compared to their same age peers. The Discover Program is not available on all campuses.

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Discover Video

Discover (PowerPoint Version)

Destination ImagiNation: DI
DI is an international, creative, problem-solving competition open to all PISD students, grades K-12.  DI announces a series of creative problems to be solved, and campuses assemble teams of students to compete.  School time is not provided for DI preparation, since participation is voluntary.  Work is completed outside of the school environment and parents serve as team managers.  Competition guidelines and procedures are managed and updated by the DI organization; the most current information is found on-line at http://next.texasdi.org.   The PISD establishes guidelines for its staff, parents, and students within the general philosophy and rules provided by the DI organization and the NExT Region. 

Duke Talent Search
PISD neither encourages nor discourages participation in the Duke University Talent Identification program. The Duke Talent Identification programs are private for-profit programs operated by Duke University. As a community service, PISD serves as an initial point of information for many families, but PISD does not have input into Duke's criteria for participation or their registration process. To contact Duke University Talent Identification Program, please click: http://www.tip.duke.edu.

Middle School Program
This opportunity is for students enrolled in the 7th grade and whose standardized test scores meet the criteria as determined by Duke University. (Qualifying scores may vary from year-to-year.) PISD sends a letter to students whose scores qualify them for the opportunity to take the SAT test. Registration is with Duke University and not with PISD. (NOTE: In some instances, 7th graders may be assessed in the same room with seniors. The testing service that manages registration across the nation assigns students to alternative sites when the student’s preferred site has reached its capacity.) Families pay a fee to have their student sit for the same SAT test that graduating seniors take. SAT results are announced in the second semester. Depending upon their scores, students may receive a letter honoring them as either a state or a regional honoree. Duke Talent Identification distributes a mailing list of honorees to many private educational groups and businesses, so some honorees may receive additional literature through the mails.

Elementary Program
This opportunity is for students enrolled in the 4th or 5th grades and whose existing standardized test scores meet the criteria as determined by Duke University. (Qualifying scores may vary from year-to-year.) Families pay a registration fee to receive a certificate of achievement, a handbook, announcements about additional opportunities, and newsletters. PISD does not have information to hand out regarding this program. The only way to get further information is to visit http://www.tip.duke.edu to discover this year’s qualifying criteria and to register your student.