Exciting changes are happening inside Murray City School District classrooms. A recent report presented to the MCSD School Board shows that more elementary students than ever are getting advanced learning support.

Just a few years ago in the 2024–2025 school year, the district served 40 students in grades 3–6 through a single magnet program at McMillan Elementary. Fast forward to the upcoming 2026–2027 school year, and that number is projected to reach 205 students receiving Gifted and Talented (GT) supports—a massive 107% jump from the previous year.

Why the Big Change? Under the old model, the district could only add 12 to 15 students to the program each year. By updating how students are screened and supported, Murray now adds 40 to 70 newly identified students every single year.

Instead of pulling kids out of their neighborhood schools to go to one central location, teachers are bringing advanced learning into every school's classrooms. To help make this work, the district introduced a dedicated GT Instructional Coach to help classroom teachers plan lessons that challenge high-achieving students.

Better Behavior and Social Connections The updated model is also helping students socially and emotionally. School social workers report fewer behavioral issues among these students. Experts believe this is because advanced students are working alongside peers who learn at a similar pace, while teachers are intentionally tailoring daily lessons to keep them engaged.

By the Numbers: Universal Screening

Waiting until 2nd grade and screening ALL 2nd graders across the district is helping find kids who might have been missed in the past:

• Spring 2025 (2nd Grade): 400 students screened | 36 qualified (9.0% rate)
• Spring 2026 (2nd Grade): 334 students screened | 70 qualified (21.0% rate)
• Spring 2026 (Grades 3–5): 101 students screened | 54 qualified (53.5% rate)

By moving away from isolated split-class models and expanding universal screening, Murray City School District is successfully keeping high achievers in their neighborhood schools while ensuring significantly more students receive the tailored, challenging instruction they need to thrive both academically and socially.