Highly Capable

Arlington Public Schools is now accepting Highly Capable Program referrals for students in kindergarten through eleventh grade. Referrals will be accepted from Oct. 1-Nov. 17, 2023, and evaluated for possible program participation for the 2023-24 school year.

Students who are highly capable may possess, but are not limited to, the following learning characteristics:

• Capacity to learn with unusual depth of understanding, to retain what has been learned, and to transfer learning to new situations;
• Capacity and willingness to deal with increasing levels of abstraction and complexity earlier than their chronological peers;
• Creative ability to make unusual connections among ideas and concepts;
• Ability to learn quickly in their area(s) of intellectual strength; and
• Capacity for intense concentration and/or focus.

In accordance with the philosophy to develop the special abilities of each student, the District shall offer appropriate instructional programs to meet the needs of highly capable students of school age.  The superintendent shall establish procedures consistent with State guidelines for nominating, assessing and selecting children of demonstrated achievement or potential ability in terms of general intellectual ability, academic aptitude and creative or productive thinking.

The assessment process for including a student in the Highly Capable Program ("HCP") is:

  1. (A)  A parent/guardian wishing to nominate a student for the screening process must submit a complete HCP Referral Form through the online link below. (B) A teacher wishing to nominate a student for the screening process must submit a completed HCP Referral Form through the online link below and HCP Screening Tool form to the HCP coordinator.

  2. A multi-disciplinary team  meeting is scheduled to review the referral and screening tool to determine eligibility for HCP testing.

  3. A Permission to Assess letter is sent home with the student, signed by parent/guardian, and returned to the HCP Coordinator before testing can occur.

  4. Individual assessment of student takes place.

  5. A multi-disciplinary team meeting is scheduled to discuss results and determine eligibility for placement in the HCP.

  6. Parent notification of eligibility mailed home following multi-disciplinary team decision.

  7. A HCP Student Learning Plan ("SLP") is written for eligible students.

For assistance, please contact Karl Olson, Director of Categorical Programs, at 360-618-6210.

Highly Capable Program Notice- Spanish
Highly Capable Program Notice- Russian

Online Referral Form

Karl Olson
Director of Categorical Programs
[email protected]
360.618.6210

Verlaine Meyers
Highly Capable Program Coordinator
[email protected]
360.618.6287

Heather Demers
Grants Coordinator
[email protected]
360.618.6291