Courses for Gifted Middle School Students

Challenge your gifted sixth, seventh or eighth grade student with our exciting and thought-provoking Fast-Paced math, verbal, technology and other courses in subjects such as languages, the arts and STEM. All are designed to engage and equip your bright student for academic success.

Review our Code of Conduct. Agreement with the Code of Conduct is required for participation.

To qualify for the 2025-2026 CLC Fast-Paced Talent Search, students must meet the following criteria:

• Currently enrolled and attending school in a Lake County, IL school district.
• Currently enrolled in fifth to seventh grade during the 2024-2025 school year.
• Obtained the following scores:
  • 95th percentile or above on any one sub-test or total composite of the district's math and/or verbal aptitude achievement test. Scores at the 95th percentile or higher on the Total Composite Battery Score also qualify students, or
  • 95th percentile or above on another nationally normed, standardized grade-level achievement test, or
  • 95th percentile or above on a national achievement test (i.e. Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) or on a test of quantitative aptitude. Either the total score or the score on any portion of the mathematics or verbal (language) part of the test is acceptable

Lake County students who are identified by their school districts as scoring in the 95th percentile on an acceptable achievement test in sixth grade will be invited to participate. Homeschool, private and parochial school parents may email CPEInfo@clcillinois.edu for information about submitting their children's scores. The qualification period is between December 2024 and March 2025. Qualified students will be contacted by College of Lake County via email by May 31, 2025. Registration for Fall 2025 Fast-Paced classes will open in late July 2025. Check this page for updates.

Spring 2025 Fast-Paced class dates: Monday, January 27 to Thursday, March 20, 2025. 

Class locations:
Monday and Wednesday – Grayslake Campus
Tuesday and Thursday – Southlake Campus, Vernon Hills

Class times:
5-6:30 p.m.
7-8:30 p.m.

Parents, please note the following:
1 When you click on a class below, all of the available locations and times are listed. Double-check the campus and time you have chosen before finalizing your registration. 
2 All Monday and Wednesday classes meet at the Grayslake Campus. All Tuesday and Thursday classes meet at the Southlake Campus.
3 Registration closes when each class fills or at midnight on Tuesday, January 8, 2025. No refunds, transfers or withdrawals are available after that date.
4 A wait list automatically becomes available when a class fills.
5 The week before the classes begin, you will receive an email with complete class information, directions, sign-in and parking instructions.
6 If you have additional questions, email CPEInfo@clcillinois.edu or call (847) 543-2980.