Highly Capable Programs

  • Highly Capable Program – Second Grade Screening Underway

  • Highly capable children and youth perform or show potential to perform at remarkably high levels of accomplishment and require a higher level of rigor, depth, breadth, or acceleration beyond the basic programs provided in general education classrooms. The Puyallup School District provides programs for rigorous, student-centered learning that affirms diversity and promotes growth for highly capable students.

    The identification process for students in second grade is now underway. Second-grade students’ district achievement scores have been screened to determine eligibility for further testing. To be eligible, achievement scores should fall in the range of 80 percentile and above.  Students identified for further testing through the screening process are invited to take the Cognitive Abilities Test.  Families of students who are eligible will receive an invitation to test through email.

    Once the assessment process is completed, the comprehensive collection of data will be evaluated by the Multidisciplinary Selection Committee to determine placement in the QUEST Program, a full-time program for students in grades 3-6.  Placement letters and test results will be mailed to families in late March.

  • Important QUEST Dates
    • February 16 - March 12, 2021: Testing window for current eligible 2nd graders
    • • March 16, 2021:  Selection Committee Meeting
    • Late March 2021: Placement letters mailed

    Important PAGE Dates (additional testing of current 6th and 7th graders)
  • (In response to the absence of honors classes in 7th and 8th grades next school year)
    • March 1, 2021:  Invitations to eligible students
    • March 24 - April 2, 2021:  PAGE Testing Window
  • • April 6, 2021:  Selection Committee Meeting
  • • Mid April 2021: Placement letters mailed
  • • April 20, 2021:  Appeal Deadline
  • • May 4, 2021:  Appeal Committee Meeting
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If you have recently registered your K - 8th grade student in the Puyallup School District for the 2020-21 school year, you may apply for possible placement in the highly capable program.  Please complete the highly capable online application.  The highly capable testing schedule and deadlines are now posted though are subject to change due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

During these unprecedented times, the National Association for Gifted Children has offered ways for supporting your gifted child at all age levels. Please click on:  Supporting Your Gifted Child During COVID-19

  • The Puyallup School District is committed to providing access to highly capable students from all backgrounds to accelerated learning and enhanced instruction.

CHANGES TO ELEMENTARY HIGHLY CAPABLE SERVICES

Grades K-2: Young Scholars (K-2) Program will continue to serve students in each elementary school.

Grades 3-6: 
2020-2021: While maintaining eight host schools, the plan includes relocating some QUEST host schools to accommodate the need for transportation improvement.  QUEST configuration include 3rd/4th, 4th/5th, 5th/6th, and 3rd/4th/5th grade combination classrooms.  If numbers indicate the need, some sites may have separate 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade and 6th grade QUEST classrooms.

QUEST host schools  Feeder schools
Brouillet Carson
Pope Edgerton, Hunt
Woodland Zeiger
Dessie F. Evans  Firgrove
Sunrise Ridgecrest, Wildwood
Shaw Road Karshner, Stewart
Spinning Fruitland, Maplewood, Meeker, Waller Rd
Northwood Mt. View
Edgemont (cluster) Northwood 6th grade, Mt. View 6th grade

 


CHANGES TO SECONDARY HIGHLY CAPABLE SERVICES

Providing access to rigorous curriculum and ensuring post-secondary opportunities for each of our students is the primary mission of our district.  We are committed to expanding access to more of our students to the learning that will be required in college. Pre-AP and AP courses are self-elected courses that are under the Highly Capable umbrella of additional classroom rigor. Pre-AP and AP courses are available in grades 9-12 at all secondary schools.

Grades 7-8
As the Highly Capable program continues to create equity within our district, we are growing our Junior High PAGE Program. Students in grades 7 and 8 from across our district will continue to qualify for PAGE.  PAGE curriculum will prepare students for the rigor expected for college preparatory coursework. 

2020-2021: The PAGE Program will be available for 7th and 8th graders at the three regional sites - Stahl, Ferrucci, and Kalles. 

Grade 9
9th graders have access at each of the regional junior high schools to rigorous Pre-AP and AP courses, many of which were previously only available to 10-12 grade students.  AP Human Geography is available at all junior high schools, bringing rigorous coursework to the 9th grade level. 

Grades 10-12
Our high schools are continuing their work to expand and coordinate the rigor of their offerings, including the AP Capstone Program, an increase in AP course offerings and CWU Cornerstone classes.