High Ability

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High Ability in the MSD of Lawrence Township

The high-ability program in Lawrence Township is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable learning environment that caters to the unique needs of every student. Through careful identification processes, we ensure that students from diverse backgrounds, irrespective of privilege or socioeconomic status, have equal access to our program. Our commitment to equity is reflected in the varied options available. We believe in providing a dynamic and tailored educational experience that not only challenges and supports high-ability students but also embraces the diversity of their talents, ensuring every learner has the opportunity to thrive academically and contribute meaningfully to our vibrant school community.

High-ability services are available across all Lawrence Township school sites, affirming our commitment to providing an equitable and enriched learning environment. Families will have the opportunity to select from a range of distinguished services tailored to meet the unique needs of their high-ability learners. The following options are presented for families to choose from:

Option A: Self-Contained Classroom - The self-contained high-ability program will be located at four district sites: Amy Beverland and Oaklandon on the east side of the district, and Mary Castle and Crestview on the west side of the district. Student placement at a specific site is determined by their home address. Bus transportation is provided between the home address and the assigned high-ability school. Students may qualify for either a full-day self-contained classroom or in math/humanities only.
Option B: Enriched Curriculum- (available at all schools - varies by school)
- Cluster Grouping - High-ability students, once identified, are strategically grouped with similarly high-performing peers within their regular classrooms, a practice known as cluster grouping. This arrangement allows for tailored and differentiated instruction to meet the unique needs of these academically advanced students, fostering an environment of challenge and support within the general education setting.
- Pull Out High Ability - High-ability students, once identified, participate in a pull-out model where they are withdrawn daily from their regular classrooms to receive an enriched and specialized curriculum. This approach allows for targeted instruction and tailored educational experiences to meet the unique needs of these academically advanced students.
Option C: Two-Way High Ability/Dual Language - Students have the opportunity to participate in a unique dual language program. this program offers two-way dual language using the high ability curriculum. There are two viable research backed models of language allocation: one being where 50% of the day is dedicated to English instruction and the other 50% is dedicated to Spanish instruction; the other is a gradual build of English instruction as the the student matriculates through each grade with 80% of the day being in Spanish and 20% of the day being in English starting in first grade. It is an inclusive program that welcomes all students, regardless of their home language. The goal is to provide a high-quality education while immersing students in a bilingual and bicultural environment.

High Ability by Grade Level

Grade 1

The MSD of Lawrence Township has four sites district-wide for self-contained high ability programming - Amy Beverland Elementary and Oaklandon Elementary on the east side of the district and Mary Castle Elementary and Crestview Elementary on the west side of the district. Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, the Oaklandon and Mary Castle sites will become self-contained dual language high ability programs. Amy Beverland and Crestview will continue to serve as the self-contained high ability programs on the east and west side of the district. Students' home addresses are used to determine which site they will attend. Bus transportation will be provided to and from the home address to the high ability school assigned.

Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, high ability enriched curriculum will be available in all elementary schools for qualifying students.

Grades 2 through 6

Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, high ability enriched curriculum will be available in all elementary schools for qualifying students.

Grades 7 through 12

Advanced Placement courses are available when students in the high-ability program enter MSD of Lawrence Township middle schools. These courses are considered "OPEN ACCESS" and are available to any student interested in accelerated coursework. These courses prepare students for high school AP/ACP/IB courses. Students can also take several courses for high school credit while in middle school. Students in grades 9-12 who are achieving at advanced levels will be scheduled into Honors, AP, IB, and dual credit courses. All advanced courses at the secondary level are open to all students pending availability.

Explanation of Tests

Identifying High Ability Students

All students in Kindergarten and grade 2 will be tested each year.
Families can request testing in grades 1, 3, 4, & 5.

The following four items are considered for identification. Students must meet two of the four requirements in order to identified for high ability.

Measuring Cognitive Potential

Measuring Academic Achievement

Performance Task

Measuring Characteristics of Giftedness

Students in grades K and 2 will take a CogAT screener. Scores at or above the 77th percentile on the CogAT screener will qualify for the full CogAT.

Students must score in the 80th percentile or higher.

Students who score in the 95% percentile will automatically be invited.

Normative data from the district progress monitoring assessment is used to identify high academic achievement for students in reading or math. The assessment is an adaptive test that provides progress scores as well as national norms.

I-Ready scores are on grade-level or above. (On grade-level must match the timeline of early/mid/late.)

Students can qualify for high ability math, high ability ELC, or both.

The Kingore Observation Inventory (KOI) will be given to all students in grades K and 2. The KOI allows teachers to gather data through specific planned experiences. These experiences are high-level, open-ended activities that have proved responsive to under-represented populations in demonstrating gifted potential. Scores are given on a 4 point rubric.

Gifted Characteristics Checklist

Homeroom teacher will fill out a checklist for students who qualify for only one A or B Dimension.

Students will learn a qualifying score in at least 2 of the 4 characteristic categories.

Learning Characteristics: 29/36

Click here for information about reading your CogAT Score reports.
Click here for CogAT FAQ's

MSDLT High Ability Program – Schedule for Testing – 2024-2025

November 18 – December 13, 2024
CogAT Screener and first Planned Experience given to all MSDLT Kindergarten & 2nd-Grade students

December 2, 2024 – January 3, 2025
Registration window for students in grades Kindergarten through Grade 5, students that reside in the district, but are not currently attending MSDLT schools. Click here to register for testing.

January 3 – January 17, 2025
Registration window for parent requests for high ability testing for students in grades 1, 3, 4 and 5 that are currently attending MSDLT schools. Testing will take place in the student’s home school during school hours. If you are interested in requesting testing for your student, please register here.

January 13 – January 31, 2025
Second planned experience given to all Kindergarten and 2nd-grade students; Full CogAT given to students who score at/above the 77th percentile rank on the CogAT screener.

January 16, 2025
Full CogAT given to Kindergarten through Grade 2 students that reside in the district, but are not currently attending MSDLT schools, at LECC, 3-6pm.

March 10 – March 28, 2025
Window to request appeals.

Moving into the MSD of Lawrence Township

Families of students who enroll in MSD of Lawrence Township, whose child/children have been in high ability classes in other school districts must provide documentation of their High Ability status. If unable to provide the appropriate data, the student will need to be tested by Lawrence Township administrators to assure that placement in High Ability is the most appropriate placement.

Additional Information

For additional information about the High Ability in the MSD of Lawrence Township please see the High Ability Parent Communication Handbook.

high ability parent communication handbook - english

high ability parent communication handbook - spanish

Parent & Caregiver Resources

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Troy Knoderer
Chief Academic Officer
(317) 423-8327
(Contact Troy Knoderer)