Early Development Program

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Early Development Program

What it is
The Early Development Program (EDP) is an educational effort at The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China (RDFZ). It aims to identify students with high academic and creative potential early and help them grow.

History in brief
- 1978: The school began early efforts to identify and educate gifted students.
- 1985: An experimental junior class for exceptionally gifted students was started.
- 2010: It officially became known as the Early Development Program (EDP).
- It then joined national and Beijing initiatives to reform and improve talent development.
- Over the years, the program has expanded and connected with various educational and innovation programs in China.
- 2023–2024: It gained recognition as a Beijing base for cultivating outstanding innovative youth and joined local development efforts in Haidian District.

Educational philosophy
- The program wants to grow students’ innovative thinking and creativity.
- It looks for a mix of strong thinking skills (measured by tests) and qualities like curiosity, imagination, resilience, and initiative.
- Learning focuses on applying knowledge across different subjects to solve real problems, not just memorizing facts.
- Since 2015, the school uses assessment ideas inspired by international frameworks (like PISA) to measure key competencies.

Curriculum and learning style
- Students stay on a standard 6–12 grade path, but with deeper and broader study across subjects.
- Reading and writing are emphasized. Since 2010, a Classics Reading program has students reading many works and writing extensive notes.
- Science starts early (physics, chemistry, biology from around grade 6), often with hands-on labs and off-campus experiences.
- The program offers Research and Special Topics courses across grades, taught by teachers from various subjects and sometimes outside experts.
- Elective courses for younger students (like Grade 7) focus on topics such as algorithm design, microcontrollers, digital media, film studies, drama, and independent physics research, combining classroom learning with practical projects.

Notable achievements and alumni
- Students have earned medals and honors in national and international competitions (for example in mathematics and informatics).
- Some graduates have gone on to study at top universities, including MIT, and have built notable careers in tech and science.

Admissions
- Target students are fifth-graders living in Haidian District who show exceptional intellect, character, and creativity.
- Admissions use several steps: screening, interviews, and camp-based assessments.
- The process is highly competitive, with only a small percentage of applicants being admitted each year (roughly around 1% in recent years; thousands apply and only tens to hundreds are accepted).

Publications and discussion
- The program’s approaches and experiences have been discussed in books and academic articles, highlighting how it identifies and nurtures gifted young people.

In short, the Early Development Program helps promising students grow their talents through an enriched, cross-disciplinary curriculum, thoughtful assessment, and strong emphasis on reading, science, creativity, and real-world problem solving.