The Bremerton School District is very committed to serving the needs of their highly capable students. Our comprehensive program begins in second grade and spans through 12th grade. Our cadre of highly trained teachers is committed to providing a program that compacts and accelerates the curriculum. They design their lessons to add depth and complexity to the curriculum to keep our highly capable students working on the outer edges of their abilities.
How Does My Student Qualify for the Highly Capable Program?
To qualify as highly capable, students must go through a specific process of referral and assessment. The Bremerton School District assesses students who are referred in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Each January/February, the District engages in the assessment process. Students may be referred by their teachers, parents, other students or may even refer themselves.
In February, March, and once during the summer break, a designated school psychologist administers a battery of tests to look at eligibility. Students must qualify in at least one academic area and on an assessment of cognitive abilities. Following the assessment process a MSC (multi-selection committee) meets to look at all of the information and determine who is eligible for the program. This committee is comprised of the program coordinator, teachers and a school psychologist. Students who qualify will be invited to join the self contained program at the elementary level. If a student transfers to the Bremerton School District with a highly capable label from a previous school district, that student’s records will be reviewed by the school psychologist to determine eligibility in the Bremerton School District.
What Does the Program Look Like?
Elementary Level:
BSD offers an all day self-contained program in two different schools. This year, both Kitsap Lake and View Ridge will offer a 2/3rd and 4/5th grade class of highly capable learners.
These programs are coordinated and offer the same curriculum to their students as follows:
- students are advanced one year in reading and mathematics when they enter the program.
- students are educated in Greek and Latin Root words
- students read from the Junior Great Books Program where they learn to study literature using Socratic Seminars
- students participate in a musical production each year
- students are required to complete 3-4 in-depth projects throughout the year.
Middle School Level:
In the middle school, we begin our highly capable/honors program. These classes include all of the highly capable students plus other high performing students who self select into the course because they are interested in working at a faster pace and a higher level.
Some students are enrolled in the classes because of teacher or parent recommendations. Students are asked to sign a contract that they will work at the A, B, C level. It is expected that they will adhere to this contract.
These programs are coordinated and serve the students in the following subjects:
- Language Arts
- Social Studies
- Science
- Mathematics
(to enter the higher level courses in mathematics, students must place at appropriate levels during a separate assessment process)
At this level, curriculum is compacted and accelerated. Additional projects and higher level reading/writing assignments are designed to keep students working at the outer edges of their abilities.
Students who are identified as highly capable in these classes will also be offered an individual Student Learning Plan which focuses on their specific learning needs.
High School Level:
At the high school level, we continue offering our highly capable/honors program. In addition to the honors classes, we offer a variety of AP course work. These classes include all of the highly capable students plus other high performing students who self select into the course because they are interested in working at a faster pace and a higher level. Some students are enrolled in the classes because of teacher or parent recommendations. Students are asked to sign a contract that they will work at the A, B, C level. It is expected that they will adhere to this contract.
These programs are coordinated and serve the students in the following subjects:
9th and 10th Grade Offerings:
- Honors Language Arts
- Honors Social Studies
- Honors Science (including Honors Biology and Honors Chemistry)
- Honors French
- Mathematics
(to enter the higher level courses in mathematics, students must place at appropriate levels during a separate assessment process)
These honors courses are designed to keep students working at the outer edges of their abilities. The goal is to prepare these students to be successful in the AP coursework.
10th, 11th, and 12th Grade Offerings:
- AP Chemistry
- AP Literature/Composition
- AP Language Composition
- AP Calculus
- AP Statistics
- AP US History
- AP World History
Students who are identified as highly capable in these classes will also be offered an individual Student Learning Plan which focuses on their specific learning needs.
If I Have A Question, Who Should I Contact?
For any questions regarding our highly capable or honors program, please contact the District office at 360.473.1006.
