The Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program provides unique education opportunities for students who have been identified as gifted and talented. GATE students at Banyan are clustered into classes by grade-level, facilitating differentiated instruction and dynamic interaction among students. Focus is placed on the development of critical thinking skills and problem solving activities.

At Banyan, our focus is to provide GATE students with enrichment opportunities to motivate them to reach their highest potential, while also kindling a lifelong passion for learning. The GATE program takes many forms at Banyan. 

Students in grades 3-5 are placed in clusters in each classroom where the teacher provides differentiation appropriate for these students' level of academic development. 

Our PAWS program incorporates enrichment classes where our GATE students gain experience with coding, art history, STEM challenges, broadcast journalism, and more. 

Every other week, Banyan's GATE coordinator hosts a "Lunch Bunch" meeting where GATE students gather to eat lunch and socialize while participating in an enrichment activity or listening to a guest speaker. 

Additionally, each spring, Banyan GATE students participate in a culminating project where students spend several weeks researching and designing a passion project.