1121 N. Fern Creek Ave., Orlando, FL 32803

Phone: 407-897-6410

https://orlandogiftedacademy.ocps.net

ORLANDO GIFTED ACADEMY

OGA PHILOSOPHY

The philosophy of Orlando Gifted

Academy is to provide

opportunities for gifted learners to

reach their full potential while

pursuing personal interests and

tapping into their strengths with

the support and guidance of a

caring and nurturing teacher/

facilitator.

PRINCIPAL Britt Despenza

LEADERSHIP TEAM Dawn Cannon

Mary Ann Dunn Andrea Hale

Tiffany McRae Ericka Scheid-Atkins

Jodi Wuthrich

GUIDANCE COUNSELOR Niccara Brown

Orlando Gifted Academy (OGA) was established by Orange County Public

Schools in 2018 to meet the needs of intellectually gifted students throughout

the district. It is the only public stand-alone magnet school for students

identified as gifted in the central Florida area. Orlando Gifted Academy

provides students with a rigorous and challenging academic curriculum using

standards-based instruction with differentiation. Teachers use the Florida

Frameworks for K-12 Gifted Learners to meet each students’ needs.

Students work individually and collaboratively with peers and are challenged

to think creatively and use problem-solving strategies to develop real-world

and applicable projects. Students learn to develop skills to defend their

thoughts and ideas, while communicating in a positive and respectful

manner. OGA allows students to learn and flourish in a classroom

environment where they are permitted to engage in independent learning

activities based on their interests. Students have the opportunity to deepen

their understanding of content through research and investigating open-

ended tasks.

Students are eligible to attend on the basis of full scale intellectual

assessments. Orlando Gifted Academy serves students in grades 2-6

(7th grade in 2020) with a current enrollment of 282.

Further advancement of the curriculum is completed through SEM-R,

M2M3, IIM Research, Junior Great Books, Orange County Virtual

School, field trips, and enrichment clusters.

OGA will be a LaunchED 1:1 Digital Learning School in the 2020-2021

school year, providing students access to world-class, digital tools and

resources that allow them to be collaborative, connected, critical

thinkers and problem solvers, and creative and innovative.

45% of Orlando Gifted Academy staff possess one or more advanced

degrees in their teaching areas.

POINTS OF PRIDE

Before/After School Clubs

Battle of the Books, Chess Club, Dungeons and Dragons, Girl

Scouts, Girls Running the OGA Way, Girls who Code, Lego

Club, Math Olympiads, Middle School Intramurals, Morning

Mile, Music Ensemble, National Elementary Honor Society,

National Junior Honor Society, News Crew, SECME,

Yearbook Club

Collab Lab

Located in the Media Center, the collab lab provides students

with opportunities to work together on innovative and engaging

activities. Students use out-of-the-box, self-reflective thinking.

The collab lab features collaborative work stations and

modular seating.

Enrichment Clusters

Students participate in enrichment clusters three days per

week, 45 minutes each day. Clusters focus student attention

on authentic learning applied to real-life problems. Cluster

activities are directed toward the production of a product or

service. Past clusters have included environmental studies,

newsletter production, animal kindness, space exploration,

mixed media, world drumming, and jewelry making.

Grants

$25,000 iRock Grant—STEM program for OGA and select

Title I schools that taps into their creative minds and makes

connections to possible career paths

$20,000 Lockheed Martin Grant for Project Lead The Way

$2,480 Duke Energy MSE Impact Grant for 3-D Printers

Makerspace

Students have the opportunity to work in the Makerspace,

located in the Media Center. It includes a Lego Wall, 3D

printers, Cricut, laser cutter, Sphero BOLTs, and littlebits Pro

Library

OWL Express

The Owl Express is a weekly print and digital newsletter that is

designed and directed by OGA students. Students provide

readers with upcoming events and a recap of past events.

OWL Pride

OGA encourages students to show OWLS pride each day.

Students are recognized weekly for being a Character Star.

Social Emotional Learning

Sanford Harmony is available to all teachers and supplements

the Health Florida State Standards.