214 1st Avenue NE
Buffalo, MN 55313
United States
Teaching & Learning
Quest Program
Program Highlights
The Quest program services highly gifted students (top two to three percent in class) in grades 2-9 and is a tuition-free school within a school located at Parkside Elementary (grades 2-5), Buffalo Community Middle School (grades 6-8), and at Buffalo High School (grade 9). Siblings of students in the elementary program may choose to open-enroll at Parkside as well.
Admission to the Program
Families must make a request for their child to be assessed for the Quest program. Test scores from the FastBridge aReading/aMath and the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) are used to make placement decisions, as well as other information. Students who are considered for placement should score in the mid-90th percentiles on the FastBridge and CogAT tests. Parents and teachers submit information on students to help guide the team in making placement decisions for the program. BHM School District resident and non-resident students are welcome to apply. Qualified resident students receive priority placement. All qualified students participate tuition free.
Curriculum
The program covers the core areas of English, mathematics, science and social studies within a full-time elementary classroom for students in grades 2-5, and at the middle and high school level in grades 6-9. Students in the Quest program experience enriched and accelerated curriculum. Instructors in the Quest program receive specialized training for meeting the needs of highly gifted students. The curriculum includes state standards and district curriculum taught at an accelerated or enriched level. Students can expect to learn at a faster pace than in a regular classroom, and to apply what is being learned to the world through technology and connections in the community. The curriculum is accelerated in mathematics and science, with students studying content above grade level. It is also highly enriched in language arts and social studies. Students have the opportunity to produce work at an advanced level, and will receive homework appropriate for their learning level. Students also have the opportunity to participate in state and national academic competitions.