student looking smartDirector, Elementary Teaching and Learning
Melissa B. Hamilton | 801-264-5025 | mhamilton@murrayschools.org

Secretary, Teaching and Learning
Megan Kunzler | 801-264-7437 | mkunzler@murrayschools.org

Office Hours: 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM

5102 Commerce Drive | Building #1 | Murray, Utah 84107
Phone: 801-264-7400 | Fax: 801-264-7456

While we consider multiple changes across the district to gifted services, we will not accept any new students to our gifted education program for the 2023-24 school year.  We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we consider how to provide the benefit of gifted services for most students in the Murray City School District.  Current Gifted and Talented Students at McMillan Elementary will continue in their current placement for the 2023-24 school year.  For questions or concerns please feel free to contact Missy Hamilton mhamilton@murrayschools.org or Brittaney Larsen blarsen@murrayschools.org.

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“Gifted students possess talent and abilities that differ from those of their peers to such a degree that differentiated opportunities must be provided to help them develop to their greatest potential. In keeping with the Murray City Schools goals to assure the development of curriculum and implementation of instructional programs that will serve the needs of all students, the Murray Board of Education is committed to the identification of gifted students, and to providing appropriate educational experiences for those students.” (Murray School District Board Policy IN306)

The Murray City School District provides the following to meet the need of high-ability elementary students:
  • McMillan Elementary hosts a full-time magnet program for identified students in grades 2 to 6.  Transportation is provided by families.  Screening and Diagnostic testing begin in Kindergarten.
  • After school enrichment programs are offered to 4th and 6th-grade students through the Gifted and Talented programs with the introduction of Math Olympiad as an alternate after school enrichment opportunity
The Murray City School District provides the following to meet the need for high ability secondary students:
  • Students in junior high have opportunities for academic enrichment.  The curriculum is designed to be interdisciplinary while focusing on higher-level thinking skills, problem-solving, research, and independent studies.
  • A task force of counselors and teachers are involved in providing various services to gifted and talented students,  including Honors designations, expanding scholarship opportunities, advanced placement, and honors courses.

Math Olympiad will be taught once a week with a coach, in the same after school setting as Creative Pursuit and Debate. The students on the Math Olympiad team will participate in five contests throughout the year from November to March (one per month). Every student will work their own problems and all scores are combined to make a team total. Certificates are awarded to all participants, and top individual and team scores are further recognized with additional awards. Some of the goals of Math Olympiad are:

  • To stimulate enthusiasm and love for mathematics.
  • To teach major strategies for problem-solving.
  • To foster mathematical creativity and ingenuity.