[hexane360]

I'm not sure how your program worked, but my experience in the States was very different. Gifted was determined based on a high general or specific intelligence score. In elementary school, the gifted kids were given special acceleration in math and reading, and were commonly accelerated a grade or two in specific classes or every class.

And general intelligence is heavily correlated to success. http://www.vox.com/2016/5/25/11683192/iq-testing-intelligenc...

I don't know if your program was different, but your anecdote isn't very convincing. Did you compare the percentage of noteworthy outcomes for students inside and outside the program? What do you consider noteworthy? Has your opinion of them from elementary school colored your views?