The Puyallup School District is committed to nurturing the abilities of highly capable students. The PAGE Program is offered for highly capable seventh and eighth grade students who have been identified by the multidisciplinary selection committee. The PAGE Program includes courses with a high level of rigor, depth, breadth, and acceleration within a cohort setting. 6th grade applicants may be identified for one or more of the following core subjects: English, Social Studies, Mathematics and Science. 7th grade applicants may be identified for English and/or Social Studies.
Learners should plan to participate in a rigorous curriculum and their work should exceed grade level content standards. Successful students exhibit a strong work ethic and a high level of task completion.
- • November 16, 2022: Application deadline
Highly Capable Students
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. These students are present not only in the general populace but are present within all protected classes.
Students who are highly capable may possess, but are not limited to, these learning characteristics:
- 1. Capacity to learn with unusual depth of understanding, to retain what has been learned, and to transfer learning to new situations;
- 2. Capacity and willingness to deal with increasing levels of abstraction and complexity earlier than their chronological peers;
- 3. Creative ability to make unusual connections among ideas and concepts;
- 4. Ability to learn quickly in their area(s) of intellectual strength; and
- 5. Capacity for intense concentration and/or focus.
PAGE Program Locations
The PAGE Program is available for 7th and 8th graders at three regional sites - Ferrucci, Stahl, and Kalles. PAGE transportation uses hub pick-up and drop-off sites. To see the 2022-23 hub visit our Transportation webpage.
Identification Process
PAGE identification steps for students currently in grades 6 or 7:
1. Interested parents complete a Highly Capable Application online by November 16th.
2. The student’s achievement scores are screened to determine eligibility for further testing; achievement scores must provide evidence of high performance for the student to be eligible for highly capable testing.
3. Students identified for further testing through the screening process are administered the Cognitive Abilities Test at the Kessler Center on a regular school day. Parents provide transportation.
4. The data is reviewed by a selection committee.
5. Multiple criteria are used to identify students who are among the most highly capable. Results from ability and achievement tests, teacher rating scales, and state and district assessments are considered.
6. The assessment results and placement decision are mailed to parents.
7. Identified students begin receiving services in September 2023.
Parents, teachers, staff, students, or members of the community may refer a student. Forms are available on the district website. Referred students are screened to determine eligibility to test for the highly capable program.
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PAGE is the Puyallup School District’s cohort acceleration program housed at Ferrucci Junior High, Kalles Junior High and Stahl Junior High. PAGE is a choice program open only to students identified for the highly capable program by the multidisciplinary selection committee. This choice program for highly capable students and their families features a higher level of rigor, depth, breadth and acceleration within a cohort setting. English/Language Arts, Social Studies, Mathematics and Science all feature curriculum compacting, curriculum acceleration, interdisciplinary curriculum and an emphasis on higher level thinking skills. In addition to the PAGE programming, students will have the opportunity to enroll in fitness and the arts within the PAGE schools' programs.
Each junior high school, including the PAGE program offers accelerated students the opportunity to take advanced mathematics classes, world languages and other appropriate coursework at the high school. Limited transportation for students will be provided, contingent upon school bell schedules. The number and type of courses open to accelerated students will be dependent upon the transportation schedule and the high school master schedule.
During the registration period each year, all secondary highly capable students will receive specialized counseling services related to acceleration and pathway options.
FAQ's:
Q: How do I know when to apply to have my student tested?
A: Be informed of the testing calendar.
Q: My student receives very high scores in math but not in English, can s/he still participate in PAGE?
A: Yes, if placement is recommended for PAGE, the student can take part in specific areas.
Q: I would like to still have rigorous courses for my 9th grader, but I would like him/her to be within walking distance from home. Are there rigorous 9th grade courses available at our local junior high?
A: All junior high schools offer AP Human Geography. Some advanced courses are available at the high school for 9th graders (buses transport students to the high school for approved courses).
Q: Can my 9th grade student at a non-PAGE school apply for AP Capstone for the following year?
A: Yes, please see each high school webpage for application process and deadlines.
Q: I am new to the district, but I missed the PAGE application deadline, can my student still be tested?
A: Students not enrolled in the district during the previous identification cycle should complete an application as early as possible after enrollment. Testing and placement decisions will be completed within 90 days.