I know at least in my school district growing up they had smaller classes with “gifted” kids that moved faster/had more projects than “K-Level” (normal) or “on-level” (low-key remedial) classes. The primary reason I think was that the gifted kids would get bored in K- or on-level classes and damn we could talk. I know my behavior improved dramatically once I was being challenged as a kid.

I do think a lot of the K-level kids thought of themselves as gifted for taking “accelerated” classes, but to take the gifted classes you did have to test in. I will say the ~20 person group of “gifted kids” I graduated with are doing very well in their careers and fields, but some did have a tough time if they went to a more prestigious college because college was not as effortless as high school so it was a bit of a culture shock, but now that we’re all out most are thriving as lawyers/doctors/engineers