If the suggested connection to a principal in Northern Virginia is the correct one, it is interesting to note that there may well have been a significant political purpose to the message.

There is a strong push in the state of Virginia and on principals in Fairfax County (including Reston) to force every student to take at least one AP (Advanced Placement) course in their time in college. AP courses are "college equivalent" courses. (I assume most readers of wordsmith are familiar.) The super's performance evaluation is, in fact, affect by participation in AP courses.

http://www.fairfaxva.gov/school/EvaluationForSuperintendent.pdf

When they talk about a student being "gifted" it is often in reference to the ability of the student to participate in and score well on an AP test.

Again, I don't know that this is the reference, but it seems a plausible connection.