Tumwater Highly Capable program served 240 students in 2024-25

The Tumwater School District’s Highly Capable program, which served 240 students during the 2024-25 school year, is looking to extend its reach. 

Through the program, selected students from kindergarten to 12th grade are given access to a basic education program that accelerates learning and enhances instruction.  

“A highly capable student is one who has been shown to have superior cognitive abilities, specific academic achievement, or exceptional creativity,” states the district's website. 

Program coordinator and Director of Elementary Education Misty Hinkle delivered the 2024-25 Highly Capable end of year report at a board meeting on Thursday, June 12. 

The district offers a self-contained program at Michael T. Simmons Elementary for fourth and fifth grade students, as well as differentiated enrichment opportunities at all schools. 

A self-contained classroom has only one teacher responsible for instructing the whole class with diverse learners. 

Students in secondary schools (grades six through 12) have access to accelerated learning opportunities and honors courses in English or math, and Advanced Placement and Running Start. 

Current efforts 

Hinkle said the district had a task force for the program this year, where parents, teachers and administrators came together to review current services. 

“This group of people, I'm happy to say, has also said they're willing to continue meeting with me next year to kind of continue this work,” Hinkle said. 

The program will also be transitioning, which entails a phase-out of the self-contained classroom model after the 2025-26 school year.  

“We're trying to expand our cluster classroom models, where the Hi Cap (Highly Capable) students learn alongside peers with some enrichment opportunities,” Hinkle said. 

The change marks a transition away from dedicated self-contained classrooms to integrating highly capable students within general education classrooms with targeted support.  

The district is also exploring adding one enrichment teacher to provide specialized instruction to identified elementary students. 

Enhanced resources and support from kindergarten to fifth grade (K-5) are also eyed, specifically for math, English language arts, social studies and science.  

There are also professional development opportunities for educators in order to build capacity for Highly Capable cluster teachers while developing specific professional learning opportunities. 

Hinkle said the district also improved its method in identifying students to be included in the Highly Capable program. 

“We're trying to really look at equitable and fair ways to identify our students. We made improvements this year and found that that's providing an opportunity for us to support more students,” Hinkle said. 

The report stated the establishment of a task force, planned to transition to a cluster model, and refinement of the equity-focused identification process are significant steps in showing the district’s commitment to the program.