At the elementary level, highly capable students receive services in a variety of ways, depending on age and degree of academic need.

K-2 Differentiation Services: K-2 teachers use small group instruction and activities tailored to students’ unique needs to provide learning opportunities appropriate for their academic skill levels.

Grades 3-4

Cluster Classroom: In this placement, eligible students are served in their home schools through the use of cluster classrooms in which a group of other highly capable students are placed together. Their classroom teachers use a variety of methods to provide continuous learning progress, challenge, and enrichment. Examples include, but are not limited to special projects, online math problem-solving, and small group instruction.

Self-Contained Classroom: Two self-contained classrooms serve eligible students in grades three and four. In this placement, Washington State’s standards-based curriculum has been modified to provide in-depth learning experiences through the use of advanced math and language arts instruction, problem and project-based learning, simulations, Socratic Seminars, technology integration, and challenge in all areas of the curriculum.