Sedro-Woolley School District

The mission of Sedro-Woolley School District's Highly-Capable Program is to equitably identify and serve all advanced K-12 students who have exceptional abilities. The program offers challenging and enriching learning experiences at all SWSD schools by providing a consistent and supportive educational environment with increased enrichment opportunities.The increased enrichment and challenge comes from advanced learning opportunities, interaction with peers, projects and activities that create holistic learning opportunities for our Highly-Capable students through project-based learning, team and individual problem-solving, critical thinking opportunities, creativity, purposeful research, and more.

Highly-Capable students are students who perform or show potential for performing at significantly advanced academic levels when compared with others of their age, experiences, or environments. To determine student eligibility, the SWSD Highly-Capable Advisory Committee is actively working to ensure every effort is made to provide a screening, testing, and placement process that considers each referred student carefully and thoughtfully. This committee uses established criteria that maintain equity and conforms to state guidelines. 

• SWSD screens all students in 2nd and 6th grade. Students from Kindergarten-11th Grade may be referred through a nomination process. Students who are identified by the committee through the screening process may qualify for additional assessment of their abilities. 

• Students who transfer to SWSD with a previous Highly Capable qualification will have this qualification honored and will be offered placement in the appropriate classes.

• Screening for students new to SWSD will be conducted on a request-to-screen basis via the formal referral process. 

We are confident that the  Sedro-Woolley School District Highly Capable Program will provide our highly capable students with a rigorous and stimulating learning environment that will challenge each student to strive for excellence.

If you have questions, please contact Tim Gjefle, Highly Capable Program Administrator, at 360-855-3738 or by email, tgjefle@swsd101.org. 

SWSD Highly Capable Program Model

The Sedro-Woolley School District Highly Capable Program offers a continuum of advanced learning opportunities to eligible students, and the elementary model has been modified for academic year 2022-2023:

Kindergarten students will remain in their home schools where they may receive the following services: Differentiated and enhanced instruction in their classroom; pull-out single-subject acceleration in a separate setting; content telescoping; and/or cluster-grouping.

Grades 1-6 Highly Capable students will be provided enhanced learning opportunities either in their home schools or at Central Elementary (the “magnet school”). Once qualified for Highly Capable services, families may choose to enroll their student at Central Elementary for weekly services. These students will receive services in a pull-out, separate-setting model 3 days per week, all school year. Transportation will be provided. If families and students choose to stay at their home school, students will still receive services by the Elementary Highly Capable Teacher, but these services will occur in 5-week blocks, twice a year. During this 5-week block, students will receive enrichment in groups two times per week in a pull-out, separate-setting model. Additional enrichment throughout the academic year may occur in elementary classrooms, depending on the availability of the Elementary Highly Capable Teacher.

Grades 7-8 Highly Capable students will be provided learning opportunities using accelerated and enhanced instructional design and advanced math placement or Honors classes at Cascade Middle School. Students will also attend a Highly Capable advisory class.

Grades 9-12 Highly Capable students will have access to Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors courses, College in the High School classes, College-Prep courses and Running Start at Sedro-Woolley High School.

For more Highly Capable Program information, click on the menu items on the left side of this webpage 

(Note: many of these tabs are currently being updated).