Elementary Service Models

Students are enrolled in a general education classroom & placed in like-peer groupings of 2-8 members based on their area(s) of strength including: English Language Arts (ELA), Math and cognitive abilities. Students’ Highly Capable Program screening data points and related building-based data are considered when forming student groupings. Based on a student’s area(s) of strength and classroom performance, their teacher will design and implement a student learning plan as they partner with families to best meet their student’s needs. As a student progresses in their learning, student learning plan may be revisited and revised as necessary over the course of the school year. This model is offered at all elementary schools in the Renton School District.

Starting in grade 3, students who qualify for services may also be served in a Discovery self-contained classroom offered in grades 3, 4 and/or 5 at assigned district locations. Assignment to schools offering Discovery classrooms is based on a student’s home address school path. These classes are unique in that all students have qualified for Highly Capable Program services per district processes. Students in Discovery classrooms may expect to experience increased levels of depth and complexity across content, project or problem-based learning, discussions rich in critical thinking and faster pacing at multiple points over the course of the school year. Beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, Discovery classrooms will only be offered at Kennydale and Talbot Hill; this model is offered to the highest-performing Highly Capable students in each Discovery schools' feeder pattern.