Highly Capable (Gifted)

Definition

Highly capable students 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. Highly Capable services are provided to students who currently reside in and are attending the Issaquah School District and have been identified as in need of services through the ISD referral process. A Gifted Learner differs from a High Achieving student or a Creative Thinker.  Students who are highly capable may possess these learning characteristics (among others):

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 peers.
3. Creative ability to make unusual connections among ideas and concepts.
4. Ability to learn quickly in their area(s) of intellectual strength. 
5. Capacity for intense concentration and/or focus.

Objectives

Highly Capable Program Objectives:

• Expansion of academic attainment and intellectual skills
• Stimulation of intellectual curiosity, independence and responsibility
• Development of a positive attitude toward self and others
• Development of originality and creativity

ISD offers highly capable identified students a continuum of services in grades K-12, which may include, but is not limited to advanced or accelerated coursework, classroom grouping/clustering, independent study, enrichment, and honors classes, International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Credit CTE courses, Running Start, College in the High School and online courses.