Highly Capable

Kennewick School District (KSD) is dedicated to ensuring that all students reach their highest potential and are prepared for their future.

KSD is committed to providing high quality services for all students, including our students in need of highly capable services. 

Washington State recently passed new laws governing highly capable programs. New legislation will require all districts in Washington to update their language and processes around eligibility to meet these mandates. Our department has always worked closely with OSPI to align its practices to mandates and guidance from the state. Some current information regarding universal screening is currently unavailable as we revise our processes for the 2023-24 school year to ensure compliance to the new laws. Our community will be notified once our website is up and active, closer to the beginning of the school year.

learn ABout highly capable programs

Our Highly Capable programs offer accelerated and enhanced instructional opportunities to students who have been identified as highly capable. Our programs are designed to meet the needs of our highly capable learners by providing services and instruction beyond the scope of the general education classroom. 

A highly capable learner is defined by the state of Washington as a “student who has been assessed to have superior intellectual ability as demonstrated by one or more criteria.” Our Program uses both cognitive and academic performance data to determine a student’s highly capable eligibility. 

We are proud to offer programs and services which are designed to meet the needs of our highly capable learners through: 

• Enrichment and extension of academic and intellectual skill;
• Stimulation of intellectual curiosity, independence and responsibility; 
• Acceleration and enrichment of content to meet student learning needs; and 
• Development of advanced critical thinking, communication and collaboration skills through the lens of local and global citizenship

As you explore our webpage, you will read these terms:
Highly Capable Programs (High Cap) - This includes all of the programs and services from grades K-12 including KOG, Young Scholars, Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB), Running Start, College in the High School. 

Parent Permission to Test for Highly Capable
OSPI Washington State Highly Capable (Law, Guidance and Resources)
Hoagies' Gifted Education
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
National Association for Gifted Children
Robinson Center for Young Scholars
Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted
Washington Association for Educators of the Talented & Gifted

Program Contacts