Programs and Services
Highly Capable (HC) Services
Providing enhanced and accelerated instruction is considered basic education for students identified as Highly Capable (HC). Services for students with HC eligibility are provided in neighborhood schools and regional Highly Capable Pathway (HC Pathway) Schools
Choosing to Enroll in an HC Pathway School:
- Students eligible for HC services are not automatically assigned to their HC Pathway school. Families must submit a School ChoiceStudents may choose to apply for another attendance area school, including K-8 Form during Open EnrollmentOpen Enrollment is the annual four-week period where students may first apply for their student to attend an HC Pathway School.
- Learn more about Open EnrollmentOpen Enrollment is the annual four-week period where students may first apply on the Enrollment web page.
Advanced Learners (AL) Services
Advanced Learner (AL) is an eligibility category given during the eligibility decision process. A Seattle Public Schools (SPSSeattle Public Schools) student who has AL status keeps that status through eighth grade, unless:
- The student is re-evaluated and is found eligible for Highly Capable (HC) services, or
- They leave the district for more than one year.
Students designated as AL learn in their neighborhood schools. No additional enrollment steps are needed to receive services at a neighborhood school.
Families new to SPSSeattle Public Schools: If your student is not currently enrolled at SPSSeattle Public Schools, you must complete enrollment registration first.
2022-23: Coursework Scope and Sequence
The class overview for elementary, middle, and high school HC Pathway Schools follow and apply only to the upcoming 2022-23 school year. All HC Pathway Schools teach the adopted curriculum. Teachers enrich grade level curriculum with additional material that is unique to each school and/or instructor. For additional details contact your student’s school counselor and/or their teacher.
2022-23: Highly Capable (HC) Cohort Pathway Elementary Schools:
Fairmount Park remains an option school depending on space available. HC Pathway schools offer accelerated learning in English language arts and math, and grade level content with differentiated student learning in Science and Social Studies.
2022-23: Highly Capable (HC) Pathway Middle Schools
All Washington Middle School students learn in combined (HC and non-HC students) classroom environments. This includes all content areas in conjunction with the STEM by TAF model.
Pathway middle schools offer integrated classrooms with differentiation strategies to meet the needs of students receiving HC services.
All students receiving advanced learning services are enrolled in their grade level courses. The course content is an essential building block for future coursework. In math, students are enrolled in the next course in the SPSSeattle Public Schools Course Sequence.
Teachers differentiate for students, focusing on the Common Core standards for reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Teachers differentiate for students, supporting them as they learn grade level content while engaging in “authentic intellectual work” to become critical thinkers and life-long learners.
HC and AL students are enrolled in the next math course in the district’s established course sequence. All middle schools offer an acceleration option that gives students the chance to take calculus in the 12th grade. Learning strategies include math tasks with high intellectual demand, developing justification and argumentation around math concepts, and go in-depth study of real-life application of mathematical ideas.
All middle school students will take the next course in the Science sequence, in alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards. The curriculum includes flexibility for educators to adapt learning activities and differentiate instruction to accommodate students with diverse learning needs including students with IEPs, highly capable students, and English language learners.
All middle schools offer some type of World Language program. Some schools also offer Dual Language courses for students who took elementary Dual Language or are multilingual learners. Contact your student’s middle school for specific details.
2022-23: Highly Capable Pathway High Schools
All students can access advanced level coursework regardless of eligibility for Highly Capable (HC) services.
Students Do Not need HC or AL eligibility to access Advanced Placement (APThe Advanced Placement program allows students to take rigorous college-level courses while), International Baccalaureate (IBRigorous high school curriculum based on an internationally developed and reviewed curricular), or dual credit courses in high school (except for students who want to apply for early entrance to the Diploma Program at Ingraham HS). All APThe Advanced Placement program allows students to take rigorous college-level courses while, IBRigorous high school curriculum based on an internationally developed and reviewed curricular and dual credit courses are open to every student regardless of HC or AL eligibility.
HC pathway high schools:
The Diploma Program at Ingraham High School is an optional pathway. Eleven of our comprehensive high schools offer a wide range of advanced courses.
Learn more about all the High School Advanced Placement Courses
Learn more about other high school dual credit course options
Exiting Services or Programs
Students can exit from HC Services if they no longer fit a student’s needs. Before a service delivery change and removal of HC eligibility, a meeting between the following people is required:
- Parent/guardian, teacher
- Administrator
- Advanced Learning department representative
- Student (at parent/guardian discretion)
- A student’s family can move them from an elementary HCC Program or middle or high school pathway school to their neighborhood school, while maintaining their HC eligibility.