Highly Capable Services

SPS Highly Capable (HC) Services

Every school in Seattle Public Schools develops a Continuous Improvement Plan (C-SIP), which outlines district and school priorities, student outcome goals, strategies, activities and resource allocations. The Highly Capable Services may vary by school, grade level, and students’ needs.

By February 7, 2026:

SPS families will have access to their student’ eligibility results in The Source

Learn more about Identification & Eligibility for HC Services

HC Services in Neighborhood Schools

Students found eligible will receive support using a range of strategies to meet their academic needs. Specifically, the Highly Capable Learning Specialists support neighborhood schools with the implementation of following strategies:

Differentiation: Supporting educators to use data to determine the needs of students, implement flexible grouping, extension opportunities, and tiered assignments to meet the varied needs of learners.

Critical and Creative Thinking Frameworks: Supporting educators in integrating structured thinking routines across subject areas to support depth and complexity in learning.

Universal Design for Learning: Supporting educators in proving multiple means of representation, flexible grouping, and choice-based learning to support learner access to grade level and above grade level learning.

Social Emotional Learning: Supporting educators in meeting the needs of highly capable learners. Learning may include strategies that nurture self-awareness, empathy, and resilience. Instruction may include opportunities to explore identity, manage perfectionism, and develop collaboration skills.

2025-26 Highly Capable (HC) Cohort Pathway Elementary Schools

Neighborhood schools: Neighborhood schools offer an inclusive instructional program that aligns with SPS core instructional strategies, including Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Students receive instruction in multiple ways according to their demonstrated strengths and needs. Each neighborhood school’s C-SIP describes how educators meet the needs of students.

Cohort Schools: Students attending cohort schools (Cascadia, Decatur, Thurgood Marshall) receive instruction using the district-approved curriculum, accelerated by two grades in mathematics and one grade in English Language Arts. In science and social studies, students benefit from differentiated instruction designed to meet their learning needs. Each cohort school’s C-SIP details how acceleration and differentiation are implemented.

2024-25 Highly Capable (HC) Pathway Middle Schools

Neighborhood schools: In neighborhood middle schools, educators use differentiation and UDL strategies to meet the diverse academic needs of their students, including those identified as Highly Capable. All students have access to Compacted Math 7/8 in 7^th grade, which enables students to enroll in Algebra in 8^th grade, potentially reaching AP Calculus by 12^th grade. Each school’s C-SIP explains how educators meet the needs of students.

Pathway Schools: Pathway schools (Madison, Washington, Jane Addams, Hamilton, and Robert Eagle Staff) offer additional acceleration options, including Geometry in 8^th grade for eligible students. Language Arts uses a cluster group model, with differentiation to ensure access to accelerated standards. Each pathway school’s C-SIP outlines the ways that educators meet the needs of Highly Capable learners.

2024-25 Highly Capable Pathway High Schools

All students may enroll in advanced coursework at their high schools, including courses designated as honors, Advanced Placement (AP), Running Start, College in the High School, and International Baccalaureate (Chief Sealth, Ingraham, Rainier Beach HS only). Students with their academic counselor to plan their schedules and will often take advantage of a combination of these opportunities.

Learn more about all the High School Advanced Placement Courses

Learn more about other high school dual credit course options

How to Transition or Exit AL and HC Services

Students found eligible for Advanced Learner eligibilities receive services through grade 8. In grade 8, students will be re-evaluated for a Highly Capable eligibility. Students can exit from Highly Capable (HC) services if services are no longer appropriate.

Students found eligible for Advanced Learner eligibilities receive services through grade 8. In grade 8, students will be re-evaluated for a Highly Capable eligibility.

If 8th grade Advanced Learners are found NOT ELIGIBLE for Highly Capable services, students will no longer retain an Advanced Learning eligibility through high school.
- All students can access advanced level coursework regardless of Advanced Learning eligibility.
- Students DO NOT need to obtain HC or AL eligibility to access Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or dual credit courses in high school (except for students wishing to apply for early entrance to the IB Diploma Program at Ingraham HS).
If 8th grade Advanced Learners are found ELIGIBLE for Highly Capable services, they will remain on their Highly Capable Pathway if families have opted in via School Choice form submission.
- Families do not need to re-submit a School Choice form to continue from Elementary > Middle > High School Pathway Schools.
Students found eligible for Highly Capable services who have opted in to receiving services at their neighborhood or option school, not the HC Pathway School, will continue to receive services in their neighborhood schools from Elementary > Middle > High School. Families have the opportunity to opt into the HC Pathway during Open Enrollment.

Students can exit from Highly Capable (HC) services if services are no longer appropriate. A meeting with the following attendees is required before this service delivery change.

parent/guardian
teacher
administrator
a representative from the Highly Capable Services Department
the student (at parent/guardian discretion)

Students with a Highly Capable designation who leave the district for longer than one academic year will need to participate in the Universal Screening or New Eligibility process to determine eligibility.