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Highly Capable

Highly Capable

The referral window is closed.

The referral window for potential placement beginning in the 2025/26 school year is closed. Referrals are accepted during the months of October and November only. The referral window for the 2026/27 school year will open on October 1, 2025. However, if your student has recently transferred to West Valley and you are interested in having them tested for potential immediate placement in the program please contact the program coordinator.

Highly Capable Program Coordinator is Wendy Clark. (509) 972-5700 ext 3746

In accordance with state guidelines, students are referred, assessed, and selected to the Highly Capable Program based on their demonstrated achievement or potential ability in terms of general intellectual ability, academic aptitude, and creative or productive thinking.

The program is based on the following objectives:

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

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 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.

  • In accordance with state guidelines, students are referred, assessed, and selected to the Highly Capable Program based on their demonstrated achievement or potential ability in terms of general intellectual ability, academic aptitude, and creative or productive thinking.

    The program is based on the following objectives:

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

    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 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.

WVSD Continuum of Highly Capable Program Services K-12

  • Some students identified as Highly Capable are served at the elementary schools in their general education classroom as part of the “Benchmark and Beyond” program. These services include opportunities for students to participate in differentiated and enhanced instruction by their classroom teacher designed to meet areas of strength. For more information about Benchmark and Beyond at your child’s school, contact that building’s principal.

  • Some identified students will be offered full-time Highly Capable services through the self-contained Program for Advanced Learners (PAL) at Wide Hollow STEAM Elementary. This program serves grades 3-5 with teachers that have been trained to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of highly capable students. It includes project-based learning, advanced pacing, and advanced curriculum. For more information about PAL, contact the Wide Hollow STEAM Elementary principal, teachers, or program coordinator.

  • Beginning in 6th grade, all students will have options for enrichment and individual choice through electives. Please note that some electives are only offered at certain times of the day, which may conflict with other advanced options.

    • 6th Grade: Some identified students will be placed in an advanced math class based on areas of strength. Some identified students will be placed in Advanced Inquiry courses for language arts, science, and/or social studies based on their identified areas of strengths and performance on their most recent assessments (ie: i-Ready, Smarter Balanced). These courses will include project-based learning, advanced pacing, and advanced curriculum. Other identified students will be served through differentiation and enrichment provided in the general classroom.
    • 7th & 8th Grade: Some identified students will be placed in Extended Algebra based on the algebra readiness exam taken in the spring of their 6th or 7th grade year. Some identified students will be placed in Advanced Inquiry courses for language arts, science, and/or social studies based on their identified areas of strengths and performance on their most recent assessments (ie: i-Ready, Smarter Balanced). These courses will include project-based learning, advanced pacing, and advanced curriculum. Other identified students will be served through differentiation and enrichment provided in the general classroom.

  • Some students will be served through personalized learning at the Innovation Center. Students will have the opportunity each year to apply and interview for this unique program. This new opportunity allows students to work at an advanced pace in a hands-on environment in a variety of programming options. For more information, contact the Director of the Innovation Center, Jed Watters.

  • At grades 9-12, options for services vary depending on the needs and interests of each student and includes a wider array of enrichment opportunities and electives. Students may be served through Honors courses, Advanced Placement (AP) options, College in the High School (CHS) offerings, and/or Running Start. There are a variety of pathways for students to explore. For more information about the advanced options at the secondary level, contact one of the high school counselors.

For more information about the Highly Capable Program in the West Valley School District, including available services and resources for families, CLICK HERE WVSD Highly Capable Program

For more information about the Highly Capable program, or if you have a transfer student you would like to be considered for the Highly Capable Program, please contact:

  • For more information about the Highly Capable Program in the West Valley School District, including available services and resources for families, CLICK HERE WVSD Highly Capable Program

  • For more information about the Highly Capable program, or if you have a transfer student you would like to be considered for the Highly Capable Program, please contact: