Highly Capable (HC) Services

Catharine Blaine Highly Capable Overview

Students who demonstrate high academic achievement, but who do not meet the definition of Highly Capable are identified as HC Learners. Highly Capable instructional programs for elementary and middle school students provides flexible learning opportunities to enhance, enrich and/or accelerate curriculum in reading or mathematics. Service delivery is through an inclusive approach with an emphasis on differentiated instruction and flexible grouping. The only exception in Algebra I for middle school students, which is a stand-alone class.

Within heterogeneous, inclusive learning groups and settings, teachers provide enriched, differentiated, and rigorous standards-based instruction that presents learning at a pace, depth, and intensity that meets students’ intellectual needs and motivational levels. The school district’s Highly Capable programs make available accelerated and enriched learning opportunities to students at each school who are academically ready and have the motivation for this extended curricular challenge.

Whom does the program serve?

Highly Capable serves two primary student groups: (a) district-identified students who are academically highly gifted/gifted, and (b) teacher-identified students who demonstrate skills and readiness for participation in a rigorous curriculum.

For more information, please visit the Seattle Public Schools Highly Capable webpage.