Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies

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Welcome to the Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies!

Each year since 1979, The Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies has provided high-quality educational programs and on-campus experiences for gifted and twice exceptional students. We offer six unique in-person academic programs for children and youth ages 3-18, while also supporting families, training educators, and advocating for the needs of advanced learners. We invite you to explore our programs, find your point of entry, and fan the flame of learning for your family.

Let us make sure that the flames we light are useful

for the purposes spoken into our hearts by our creator.

The Mission of the Karnes Center is to empower gifted and twice exceptional individuals, to develop a meaningful community of intellectuals and innovators, to help students and families explore the breadth of educational possibilities, and to create deep learning opportunities. The four tenets of our mission are expressed when we:

Assure Identity – Gifted individuals experience their world in unique ways. Our content and programming provide assurance for the unique traits and behaviors that make up who they are.
Support Needs – Gifted individuals need community in which they can express their ideas and learn to express themselves in meaningful ways. The relationships that we build through all of our programs generate life-long connections.
Experience Possibilities – Gifted individuals want to explore learning to its fullest with rich engagement of ideas and collaborative adventures. We provide programs and activities allowing families and individuals to try new things and learn to navigate their educational pathway.
Celebrate Growth – The accomplishments of gifted individuals are often overlooked in our society, but not here. We celebrate the accomplishments of our Center family and share the ways that they are making a difference right where they are.

We invite you to join us in this endeavor. If you know a gifted or twice exceptional student who could benefit from our programs, please share this information with them and help them register for an upcoming program or event. If you would like to increase our ability to reach more students and help them achieve at their greatest levels of potential, please click on Support the Center. Your encouragement and dedication are valuable. Thank you for joining us on this journey.

Current Events at the Karnes Center

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Select the plus sign below for an overview of the many services offered for students, parents, and educators.

Karnes Center Services

Our goal is to enhance the lives of students who have gifts in the areas of cognition, academics, arts, and leadership by providing services to the students, their parents, and their educators.

PK-12 Student Services

The Karnes Center offers a variety of programs for students in PK3-rising seniors in high school.

Day Programs:

Young Gifted Students Program
Summer In the Middle Program
Saturday Gifted Studies Program

Residential Programs:

Summer Gifted Studies Program
Leadership Studies Program
Summer Program for Academically Talented Youth
Summer Program for Artistically Talented Youth

Online Programs:

Young Leaders Book Club
Kaleidoscope Competitions

Learn more about Student Programs

Parent Services

Parents and family members of gifted students need support. The Karnes Center is here to help.

Parenting Workshops and networking opportunities are available at various times throughout the year and provide the opportunity to seek information about a wide range of topics.

Parenting Programs:

Parenting Gifted Children Workshop Series (January)
Family Financial Fun Day (February)
Munch and Muse Mondays (March)

You can guide your children in a way that develops their abilities and talents while maintaining joy in your home.

Learn more about Parent Programs

Educator Services

From the start, The Karnes Center's mission has involved providing outstanding training opportunities for educators. You can depend on us to provide you with reliable tools to use with the gifted students in any classroom.

Educator Programs:

Day of Sharing for Teachers
Educator Development Program
Karnes Ambassadors Program

Discover the exciting world of working with gifted students and help them reach their highest potential.

Learn more about Educator Programs

Support the Center

The Karnes Center is an amazing place because of your support. Learn more about the many ways you can be involved and contribute to all we do.

Giving To the Center

Become a Friend of Gifted Studies by providing for our student programs, or contribute to the Frances A. Karnes Endowed Chair for Gifted Studies. There are multiple levels of giving allowing everyone to make a difference.

Learn more about giving to the Karnes Center.

Mississippi Talent Development Initiative

Community Leaders and School Administrators, recommend students for scholarships and support their applications to our summer programs by participating in the Mississippi Talent Development Initiative (MTDI).

Learn more about the MTDI.

Advocating for Gifted Children

Research shows that gifted students are the group whose needs are most often overlooked when planning for a school's curriculum and budget. Grow your advocacy skills by joining the Karnes Center Gifted Advocacy Task Force.

Learn more about becoming an Advocate.