Gifted Education in Korea: Three Korean High Schools for the Mathematically Gifted

Korea is one of a few countries known for its mathematics achievement. Findings from studies such as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 1999 and 2003 and the Programme for International Assessment (PISA) 2000 and 2003 have consistently shown that Korean students do well in mathematics. As a result of such comparative studies, there has been a growing interest in mathematics achievement at the international level. Participants in TIMSS and PISA are elementary, junior high, and high school students, including gifted students. Although educators in other countries have developed schools and programs for gifted students (Donoghue & Vogeli, 1998; Holton, 1995; Vogeli, 1997), this paper will present a brief history of three Korean high schools for the mathematically gifted, how those schools operate, and how their mathematics curricula differ compared to those of regular high schools.