Manatee County, Florida -- Do you think your child has the potential for an exceptional level of performance in school?

Learn all about the School District of Manatee County's Gifted Program by attending a seminar for parents provided by the staff from the Exceptional Student Education and Student Services Department. Participants will find out more about: who to contact at the school for information on the Gifted Program, Gifted Program eligibility, characteristics of gifted learners and more. 

Bradenton, Florida -- Four Manatee High School seniors have been named semifinalists in the academically prestigious 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,000 National Merit Scholarships, worth about $35 million that will be offered next spring.

The 2014 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists from the Manatee District are:

Bradenton, Florida - Twelve students from De Soto National Memorial's Youth Advisory Council spent a week in the Smoky Mountains connecting with and learning about nature.

The YAC students attended classes and activities at the remote Tremont Institute on the Tennessee side of the Smoky Mountain National Park. The 15 to 18 year old students hiked to a waterfall, monitored salamanders, tagged endangered birds and studied the night sky. Many students had never seen a mountain before, never mind the copperheads, bears and white tailed deer they encountered along the way.