NTPS Highly-Capable Program
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At NTPS, we want to develop the special abilities of all our students, and we offer highly-capable services to help identify Kindergarten through 12th grade students who would benefit from accelerated learning and enhanced instruction. See Policy 2190
We want to help our students:
- expand academic and intellectual skills;
- stimulate intellectual curiosity, independence, and responsibility;
- develop a positive attitude toward self and others; and
- develop originality and creativity.
More about the Hi-Cap Program
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Characteristics of the Highly Capable Student
As defined by the Washington Administrative Code (WAC 392-170-035), highly capable students are students who perform or show potential for performing at significantly advanced academic levels when compared with others of their age, experiences, or environments. Outstanding abilities are seen within students; general intellectual aptitudes, specific academic abilities, and/or creative productivities within a specific domain.Further, WAC 392-170-036 states that "the term learning characteristics means that students who are highly capable may possess, but are not limited to, these learning characteristics:- capacity to learn with unusual depth of understanding, to retain what has been learned, and to transfer learning to new situations;
- capacity and willingness to deal with increasing levels of abstraction and complexity earlier than their chronological peers;
- creative ability to make unusual connections among ideas and concepts;
- ability to learn quickly in their area(s) of intellectual strength; and
- capacity for intense concentration and/or focus.
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Eligibility
All students within the North Thurston school district boundaries who are motivated to take on a more rigorous academic curriculum are eligible to apply. Students are welcome to test for highly capable identification once per year during the applicable grade level testing cycle (calculated from the last testing date).Out of district students may be assessed for a non-refundable fee of $150. Placements will be offered to out of district students only if there is capacity two weeks prior to the beginning of the school year and will need to reapply every year for continuation in the program.Each school year, the identification of students for the highly capable program will begin during the first semester for grades K-1 and second semester for grades 2-11. -
K-5 Elementary School Highly Capable Service Options
Grades K-2Once identified, highly capable students in Grades K-2 will have access to accelerated learning through differentiation in their neighborhood school.Grades 3-5Identified highly capable students entering grades 3-5, may be served either in a self-contained program (Talented and Gifted* (TAG)) housed at Lakes Elementary or at their neighborhood school through differentiation.*Note: Offering of the TAG program at Lakes Elementary is dependent on the number of students identified and that accept placement into the TAG program. In the case that TAG classes are under-enrolled, service options such as multi-grade TAG classes or Individual Learning Plans at the student’s neighborhood school may be provided as an alternative.
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6-8 Middle School Highly Capable Service Options
The NTPS Middle School Highly Capable program is designed to accomplish three main goals:- Enhance access to rigorous and challenging courses;
- serve students in either a highly capable English Language Arts/social studies pathway and/or an accelerated math pathway;
- serve students in their home schools.
Students who are identified and qualify, will be placed in a highly capable English Language Arts/social studies pathway and/or an accelerated math pathway at their neighborhood middle school. Students who are identified for either pathway, may also be cluster-grouped with differentiated instruction for science.Students who attended the TAG program at Lakes Elementary and qualify for services in middle school, will be served in their neighborhood middle school.Note: students being considered for 8th grade accelerated math (high school level Geometry), must have successfully completed an accredited high school level Algebra I course prior to enrollment.For more information on the different classes, please select from below:
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9-12 High School Highly Capable Service Options
Highly capable students in grades 9-12 who seek a more rigorous curriculum have a variety of options available to them including Honors classes, Advanced Placement classes, College in the High School and the Running Start Program. Please contact assessment@nthurston.k12.wa.us for more information.
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Re-testing for Highly Capable Service Options
Once students are identified and enrolled in highly capable classes, no additional testing is required except as noted below.
Grade 2
Identified 2nd grade students, who wish to attend a different service option for grades 3-5, will be required to participate in highly capable testing in the winter of 2nd grade.
Grade 5
Identified 5th grade students who wish to continue accessing highly capable services in middle school will be required to participate in highly capable testing in the winter of 5th grade to determine the most appropriate placement option.
