The Pleasant Ridge Union School District is proud to offer our Advanced Studies Program for gifted students in grades 4 through 8. The focus of the program is to challenge the students to apply what they have learned in the classroom in new and divergent ways. They have much choice in their work and many opportunities to interact with each other. Each year, the 4th-8th grade students are involved in a year-long unit of study, revolving around different curricular areas. The study is culminated in April with a family-oriented field trip. For example, every four years we study the political process of electing the President with a trip to southern California to visit the Nixon and Reagan Presidential Libraries.
To participate in Advanced Studies, students must successfully complete a rigorous selection process, which includes an intelligence test, teacher and parent evaluations, a written application and an oral interview. Students are selected to enter the process based upon high test scores on the standardized achievement test and/or teacher recommendation. However, students or their parents may also request to be screened.
4th-5th Grade Program
We give students the opportunity to challenge their thinking with Weekly Challenges, to work in teams to earn points in Team Games, to stretch their thinking through Games and Activities, to engage in fast fluent thinking through short spontaneous challenges, and to problem solve by practicing Odyssey of the Mind problems.
Tina Toft - 4th-5th Grade Advanced Studies Teacher
Tina Toft has been in the education field for 17 years. She has a BA in Psychology and a MS in Educational Administration. She began teaching in the Advanced Studies Program in 2007. She has been married for 20 years and has 3 children that are and have been part of the Pleasant Ridge District.
In Advanced Studies we pick a unit study each year. Some examples include National Parks, the American Political system, art and literature. We focus on giving students options and choices. Students in 4/5th grade from the 3 elementary schools meet once a week at Cottage Hill Elementary.
around different curricular areas. The study is culminated in April with a family-oriented field trip. For example, every 
four years we study the political process of electing the President with a trip to southern California to visit the Nixon and Reagan Presidential Libraries.
arents may also request to be screened. 
Tina Toft has been in the education field for 17 years. She has a BA in Psychology and a MS in Educational Administration. She began teaching in the Advanced Studies Program in 2007. She has been married for 20 years and has 3 children that are and have been part of the Pleasant Ridge District.