Enrichment and Acceleration

Enrichment/Honors

Students are challenged academically through a range of honors level programming beginning in grade 6 with an honors in English and math.

Q.U.E.S.T (Question, Understand, Experiment, Share, Think)

This one day a week, “pull-out” program is for Gifted and Talented students in fourth and fifth grade. Students in Q.U.E.S.T. work on thematic units of instruction designed to supplement and elaborate on the general curriculum. The goal of the program is to provide students with the opportunity to meet and exceed challenging learning standards in an interactive and hands-on classroom environment. All parents in grades 3 and 4 will be notified annually about this offering and informed on the criteria needed to qualify for the program.

More information can be found on the QUEST Web page.

Critical Inquiry

The goal of this program is to provide a challenging and rigorous humanities curriculum for highly able students in sixth grade, designed to strengthen critical thinking skills and nurture creative thought using a Socratic Seminar approach and inquiry model of instruction.

Critical Inquiry Google Slides Presentation

Acceleration

Students are challenged academically through a range of accelerated programming.

  • At the elementary level, students may be evaluated for possible acceleration in mathematics.
  • At the middle school level, students may be identified for acceleration in math after grades 6 or 7. Accelerated programs for English and social studies begin at grade 7 and for science, art, and technology at grade 8.

The district has established a process to identify students for acceleration. Identification criteria include the CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test), the TOMAGS (Test of Mathematical Abilities for Gifted Students), the Gifted Rating Scale, as well as input from the parent, teacher and principal. Results of these data points are returned to the building level committees to determine appropriate programming.

Technology

Accelerated Technology Information Packet

Accelerated Technology Informational Presentation

Math/Science Presentations

The Math and Science Acceleration Program – 7th Grade Moving to 8th Grade is for students who have been recommended for acceleration in math and science.

The Math parent presentation is for 6th graders moving to 7th grade and have been recommended for acceleration in math.

Early Admission to Kindergarten

The district has a procedure whereby high ability children who are at least four years old, may apply to enter school early. Contact the office of the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Curriculum and Assessment at 518-881-0640 for more information.