Young Scholars is Norfolk School’s middle years’ magnet program for highly motivated learners identified as gifted. This “school-within-a-school” is housed at Rosemont Middle School. A specially trained faculty will provide researched-based instruction that is challenging, differentiated, and supportive to the development of critical thinking skills and positive habits of mind.

               The program’s curricular design is built around seven instructional principles:

• Learning through thoughtful processing of content information;
• Differentiated instruction focusing on acceleration, depth, problem-solving, and higher-order thinking;
• Ongoing assessment using a wide range of evidence to inform instruction;
• Enhanced and expanded content standards;
• Development of academic skills and interests using the Autonomous Learner Model ( ALM), which fosters independence in meeting the unique needs of gifted learners;
• Learning activities that students for the scholarly demands of high school and college and promote a lifetime love of learning;
• Dedication to academic excellence.

Click to view/download the current Young Scholars brochure: Young Scholars Brochure 2025-26

Click Young Scholars Information Presentation for general information.

Application Process

Step One: Complete the Middle School Specialty Program Application packet.    PLEASE NOTE:  The Young Scholars is not immediately listed on the initial school selection page.  Choose "The Academy of International Studies at Rosemont" (this is the school where the program is housed), then continue applying. At one point, you will be asked to choose a pathway, either Young Scholars or Academy of International Studies.  You may choose one or both programs here. 

Step Two: Select a product you created within the past year that demonstrates your creativity and/or research skills. You will present your product if selected to complete an interview as a candidate with high potential for success as a Young Scholar.

Step Three: Young Scholar candidates will be contacted to make an appointment to interview and present their product in January 2026.  Not all applicants will be invited to interview. 

Step Four: Participate in the interview and complete an onsite writing sample essay. Final acceptances will be mailed to students in March 2026.

Students must be identified gifted in general intellectual aptitude, or Math and/or Communication skills in order to apply. Final selections are chosen through a competitive application process.

Are You a Potential Young Scholar?

• I am curious about many things and love to learn.
• I prefer learning at my own pace, in my own way.                                                     
• I willingly accept leadership roles and collaborate well with others.            
• I enjoy researching ideas using a variety of advanced resources.
• I want to become and independent, self-directed learner.
• I am extremely motivated to achieve in life.
• I want to develop self-confidence and a positive self-concept.  
• I have many outside-of-school interests.  
• I want to learn how to express my own ideas more effectively.

    

 

Young Scholar Students participate in an engineering event at Old Dominion University.