The goal of the Highly Capable Program is to provide maximum choice at the high school level to enable students to tailor their program of advanced studies as much as possible based on their post-secondary goals. To that end, we offer a variety of rigorous options at the high school level that our highly capable students can participate in including Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), honors courses, and College in the High School. Each of our high schools provides accelerated course enrollment options.

Services may include:

• Clustering identified students in a classroom to provide a peer group

• Adjusting pacing, curriculum compacting, reducing review and repetition, incorporating inquiry, and investigations in instruction

• Enhanced/Enriched content or curriculum

• Providing a multidisciplinary approach to learning

• Differentiation of curriculum and instruction

• Counseling support for social-emotional needs

The College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level classes in a wide variety of subjects that students can take while still in high school. They offer students challenging course work and a taste of what college classes are like. When students take an AP course, they have the opportunity to take an AP Exam in that subject, which may make students eligible for college credit.

The College in the High School Program is designed to offer highly capable students the opportunity to take rigorous college courses while in high school. The courses are taught by qualified high school instructors who have been approved by appropriate Central Washington University (CWU), Eastern Washington University (EWU), and/or University of Washington (UW) academic departments and colleges as affiliate faculty. Courses must be university catalog courses at the 100- or 200-level and require the same prerequisites.

The International Baccalaureate ( IB) Programme is offered at Kent-Meridian High School. The IB programme is an academically challenging and balanced program of education that emphasizes the development of the whole child-intellectually, emotionally, and ethically. The International Baccalaureate Organization is recognized worldwide for providing students in grades 11-12 with a challenging, college-prep curriculum. Graduates from IB programs are highly valued by colleges and universities as the program is known for its rigor, authentic assessment design, and international focus. Students who earn the IB Diploma or the IB Certificate may earn college credit.

Students in grades 9-11 may be referred for possible HiCap services by a parent/guardian, teacher, peer, community member, or themselves in the fall. To refer your student for possible HiCap Services, please complete the online form (coming by September 20, 2024) between October 1 and November 22, 2024. 

Each referred student will submit a portfolio reflecting the traditional thinking of a Highly Capable student. The portfolio must include the following four work samples:

• One English Language Arts (ELA) work sample which can include essays, book projects, cross-disciplinary work that shows deep analysis and/or application in Science and Social Studies.

• One math work sample that shows multiple pathways of solving problems at a higher level and deep reasoning abilities.

• One project that shows interdisciplinary work, and creativity.

• An explanation of leadership experience inside and/or outside of school and community initiatives.

Please scan all portfolio documents and email them to KSD HiCap, KSDHiCap@kent.k12.wa.us or mail them to the HiCap office before March 7, 2025.

Kent School District
Highly Capable Program
12033 SE 256th St., Suite A-400
Kent, WA 98030

We will also review data for referred students from other assessments,

• Reading i-Ready Benchmark Assessment

• Reading Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) from the last two years 

• Math i-Ready Benchmark Assessment

• Math Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) from the last two years

• First-semester report card and grades

We will consider input from teacher(s) and parent(s)/guardian(s) using rating scales.

English Language Learners

Students with a first language other than English will also be evaluated for rapid language acquisition using the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA).

Special Education Students

Students who qualify for HiCap and also qualify for either special education services or a 504 plan are often referred to as twice-exceptional students. It is important that staff from both programs collaborate when planning for students who are eligible for multiple services. Additional data available for students with IEPs may also be used in the identification process.

The Multidisciplinary Identification Committee will meet in April 2025 to identify students who will receive HiCap services in the 2025-2026 school year. The Multidisciplinary Identification Committee is made up of teachers, principals, a school psychologist, and district Highly Capable program staff. In accordance with state requirements, the committee makes identification decisions for services using multiple objective criteria to identify students who are among the most highly capable.

Decision letters (identification or non-identification) will be mailed to all families of referred students by April 25, 2025. The families of all referred students must accept or appeal the HiCap decision by May 9, 2025:

• If the student is identified for HiCap, the family must return signed acceptance letters to begin services.

• If the student is not identified for HiCap, the family may submit an appeal form.

The Multidisciplinary Selection Committee will review all appeals on May 15, 2025, and communicate the decision in writing to families by May 19, 2025.