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Advanced Learning Services

SPS Advanced Learner (AL) & Highly Capable (HC) Services

All schools in the district are responsible for meeting the needs of students eligible for Advanced Learning services.

By February 28, 2025:

  • All SPS families will have access to their student’s Universal Screening results in the Source.
  • If a student is found eligible, their family will receive an email from the Advanced Learning department.

Learn more about Identification & Eligibility for AL and HC Services

AL and HC Services in Neighborhood Schools

Students found eligible, will have access to advanced learning and highly capable services in their neighborhood school. If you have questions about what AL or HC services look like at your student’s school, please reach out to your school’s staff first.

Learn more about how SPS is providing services in every Neighborhood School

Highly Capable Pathway Schools

Students eligible for HC services can choose to enroll in an HC Pathway school instead of attending their neighborhood school. Families must submit a School Choice Form during Open Enrollment for their student to attend an HC Pathway School.

Learn more about Open Enrollment

All HC Pathway Schools teach the adopted curriculum. Teachers enrich grade level curriculum with additional material that is unique to each school and/or instructor. For additional details contact your student’s school counselor and/or their teacher.

Elementary Schools

2024-25 Highly Capable (HC) Cohort Pathway Elementary Schools

HC Pathway schools offer accelerated learning in English language arts and math, and grade level content with differentiated student learning in Science and Social Studies.

Middle Schools

2024-25 Highly Capable (HC) Pathway Middle Schools

All students receiving advanced learning services are enrolled in their grade level courses. The course content is an essential building block for future coursework. In math, students are enrolled in the next course in the SPS Course Sequence.

High Schools

2024-25 Highly Capable Pathway High Schools

All students can access advanced level coursework regardless of eligibility for Highly Capable (HC) services.

Students do not need HC eligibility to access Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or dual credit courses in high school (except for students who want to apply for early entrance to the Diploma Program at Ingraham HS). The Diploma Program at Ingraham High School is an optional pathway.

All AP, IB and dual credit courses are open to every student regardless of HC eligibility. Eleven of our comprehensive high schools offer a wide range of advanced courses.

Learn more about all the High School Advanced Placement Courses

Learn more about other high school dual credit course options

How to Transition or Exit AL and HC Services

Students found eligible for Advanced Learner eligibilities receive services through grade 8. In grade 8, students will be re-evaluated for a Highly Capable eligibility. Students can exit from Highly Capable (HC) services if services are no longer appropriate.

Transition from AL to HC

Students found eligible for Advanced Learner eligibilities receive services through grade 8. In grade 8, students will be re-evaluated for a Highly Capable eligibility.

  • If 8th grade Advanced Learners are found NOT ELIGIBLE for Highly Capable services, students will no longer retain an Advanced Learning eligibility through high school.
    • All students can access advanced level coursework regardless of Advanced Learning eligibility.
    • Students DO NOT need to obtain HC or AL eligibility to access Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or dual credit courses in high school (except for students wishing to apply for early entrance to the IB Diploma Program at Ingraham HS).
  • If 8th grade Advanced Learners are found ELIGIBLE for Highly Capable services, they will remain on their Highly Capable Pathway if families have opted in via School Choice form submission.
    • Families do not need to re-submit a School Choice form to continue from Elementary > Middle > High School Pathway Schools.
  • Students found eligible for Highly Capable services who have opted in to receiving services at their neighborhood or option school, not the HC Pathway School, will continue to receive services in their neighborhood schools from Elementary > Middle > High School. Families have the opportunity to opt into the HC Pathway during Open Enrollment.
Exiting HC Services

Students can exit from Highly Capable (HC) services if services are no longer appropriate. A meeting with the following attendees is required before this service delivery change.

  • parent/guardian
  • teacher
  • administrator
  • a representative from the Advanced Learning Office
  • the student (at parent/guardian discretion)
What process do students identified as Highly Capable (HC) need to participate in if they leave the district for longer than one academic year?

Students with a Highly Capable designation who leave the district for longer than one academic year will need to participate in the Universal Screening or New Eligibility process to determine eligibility.