High-Ability Program

High-Ability Program at Holy Cross Lutheran School

Holy Cross is committed to meet the needs of high-ability students whose performance is consistent with nationally-recognized criteria for giftedness. We provide them with advanced experiences beyond grade-level curriculum through acceleration and/or enrichment of the curriculum.

High-ability students perform at or show the potential for performing at an outstanding level of accomplishment in at least one domain (areas of aptitude and talent) compared to other students of the same age, experience, or environment and is characterized by exceptional gifts, talents, motivation, or interest.

Cluster Model

Cluster grouping is when gifted and talented and/or high-achieving students are identified as being within the top five percent and placed in a standard, mixed-ability (heterogeneous) classroom within their grade. Groupings of three to six or five to eight are typical cluster groups. If there are more than eight to ten students meeting the necessary criteria, another cluster group is typically formed and placed in a different class.

Advantages of Clustering

Grouping all gifted children in a regular classroom provides:

Social, emotional, and academic advantages to students.
Inclusive spaces.
Gifted students often feel more comfortable among students with similar abilities.
Cluster groupings help facilitate this comfort level by increasing the number of high-achieving students within one class.

High-Ability Services by Level

Kindergarten – 3rd Grade

Math: Students are grouped by ability and receive instruction at their level.
Language Arts: Reading groups are by ability. High-ability students are reading high-level text and working on high-level assignments.
Writing: Students move at their own pace and move forward as they master each standard.

4th – 5th Grade

Math: High-ability students in 4th grade are instructed in 5th grade standards. High-ability students in 5th grade are instructed in 6th and 7th grade standards.
Language Arts: Reading groups are by ability. High-ability students are reading above-grade level novels and work on higher-thinking questions and projects.
Writing: Writing instruction follows the Lucy Calkins program of study. Individual writing conferences allow teachers to challenge high-ability students to meet academic standards at successive grade levels.

6th Grade Middle School

Math: Pre-algebra is offered for students who are high ability.
Language Arts: Text studies are based on ability and interest. High-ability students read high-level texts, respond to high-level questions, engage in deeper-level-thinking projects, and work toward academic standards at successive grade levels.
Writing: Instruction follows the Lucy Calkins program of study. Individual writing conferences allow teachers to challenge high-ability students to meet academic standards at successive grade levels.

7th Grade Middle School

Math: Courses are offered for Pre-algebra or Algebra.
Language Arts: Text studies are based on ability and interest. High-ability students read high-level texts, respond to high-level questions, engage in deeper-level-thinking projects, and work toward academic standards at successive grade levels.
Writing: Instruction follows the Lucy Calkins program of study. Individual writing conferences allow teachers to challenge high-ability students to meet academic standards at successive grade levels.
Honors English is offered in 7th grade.

8th Grade Middle School

Math: Courses are offered for Algebra or Geometry (high school credit and GPA earned).
Language Arts: Text studies are based on ability and interest. High-ability students read high-level texts, respond to high-level questions, engage in deeper-level-thinking projects, and work toward academic standards at successive grade levels.
Writing: Instruction follows the Lucy Calkins program of study. Individual writing conferences allow teachers to challenge high-ability students to meet academic standards at successive grade levels.
Honors English is offered in 8th grade.