WCPS Advanced
Programs Overview
K-12 Academy, Specialized, Signature, and Magnet
Programs Open House Event
Jessica Reinhard
Supervisor of K-12 Advanced Programs
Background: Maryland Annotated Code
for Gifted and Talented Education
“Gifted and talented
student" means an
elementary or
secondary student who
is identified by
professionally qualified
individuals as:
Background: Maryland Annotated Code
for Gifted and Talented Education
1. Having outstanding talent and
performing, or showing the potential for
performing, at remarkably high levels
of accomplishment when compared
with other students of a similar age,
experience, or environment;
“However gifted an individual is at the
outset, if his or her talents cannot be
developed because of his or her social
condition, because of the surrounding
circumstances, these talents will be stillborn.”
Simone de Beauvoir
Background: Maryland Annotated Code
for Gifted and Talented Education
2. Exhibiting high performance
capability in intellectual, creative,
or artistic areas;
Background: Maryland Annotated Code
for Gifted and Talented Education
3. Possessing an unusual leadership
capacity;
Background: Maryland Annotated Code
for Gifted and Talented Education
OR
4. Excelling in specific academic
fields.
Maryland Annotated Code, cont.
The General Assembly finds that:
1. A gifted and talented student needs
different services beyond those
normally provided by the regular
school program in order to develop the
student's potential.
Maryland Annotated Code, cont.
The General Assembly finds that:
2.
Gifted and talented students are to be
found in youth from all cultural groups,
across all economic strata, and in all
areas of human endeavor.
(Section 8: 201-202)
“The essence of our effort to see that
every child has a chance must be to
assure each an equal opportunity, not to
become equal, but to become different —
to realize whatever unique potential of
body, mind, and spirit he or she
possesses.”
John Fischer
Continuum of Services
Maryland offers a continuum of services in
gifted education; some serving all students,
and some considerably fewer.
As program intensity increases, the number of
students participating decreases.
Continuum of Services
1.
Nurture critical and creative thinking and
problem solving in all students (all or most).

Discussion Protocols
Higher Order Questioning
Inquiry-Based Learning
Student-Centered Mathematics
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Continuum of Services
2.
Provide additional challenge and enrichment
as needed (many).

Enrichment, Merit, Honors, A.P.
Elementary Signature Language Program (Spanish)

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Bester, Boonsboro, Greenbrier, Old Forge, Paramount,
Pleasant Valley, Potomac Heights, Sharpsburg, and
Smithsburg
Challenges and Contests

Academic Teams, Destination Imagination,
Geography Bee, Math 24, National History Day,
Stock Market Game, etc.
Continuum of Services
3. Identify and develop demonstrated talent
areas (some).
 Academy and CTE Programs
 Barbara Ingram School for the Arts
 ESSENCE
 Magnet Programs
 WCTHS
Continuum of Services
4.
Expand expectations for high achievers
(few).

Acceleration (full grade)
Johns Hopkins University’s Center for
Talented Youth participation

WCPS K-12
Advanced, Specialized, and Magnet Programs
OVERVIEW
Elementary
Co/Extra-Curricular
Enrichment Program
Magnet Programs
Signature Lang. Prog.
S.T.E.M.
Middle School
Co/Extra-Curricular
Merit Classes
Magnet Programs
Signature PLTW
S.T.E.M.
High School
Academies
AP Courses
ALA
BISFA
Co/Extra-Curricular
Emergent Scholars:
AVID
ESSENCE
IB Programme
S.T.E.M.
WCTHS
“Believing in people before they have proved
themselves is the key to motivating people to
reach their potential.”
John C. Maxwell
Identification and Service Delivery
1.
Highly Gifted Learner:
High IQ/non-verbal ability measure.
2.
Three-Ring Definition of Giftedness:
Above-average ability + task commitment +
creativity
WCPS Enrichment/Merit/Honors
and Magnet Programs
What’s alike?
What’s different?
 Acceleration of
 Ability measures are used during

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the application process for
elementary and middle school
students. Student interviews and
tasks are utilized.
Co-curricular enrichment activities
and projects (all students in
building).
Interdisciplinary focus and
integration of school-wide theme.
Regular acceleration and
curriculum compacting.
Specialized magnet courses are
designed to challenge the most
highly able/highly-gifted students.
 Teacher recruitment, selection,
and professional development.
content/curriculum compacting
Differentiation.
High academic expectations
Maryland Assessments and 
State Curriculum
Opportunities for enrichment 
Participants fit the “three-ring”
definition.

WCPS curriculum and

benchmark assessments.
Elementary School Programs
 Co-curricular Activities
 Elementary Enrichment

Placements made based on student data and
teacher recommendations.
 Elementary Magnet Programs

Competitive Application Process
 Signature Language Programs
“There are admirable potentialities in every
human being. Believe in your strength and
your youth. Learn to repeat endlessly to
yourself, 'It all depends on me.'”
André Gide
Elementary Enrichment Program
 Enrichment Teacher Services:
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Primary Talent Development (Grades K-2)
Math and Language Arts/Reading (Grades 3-5)
Service Delivery through
 Consultation
 Co-Teaching
 Pull-out
 Push-in (cluster and flexible groupings)
 Co-curricular/Extra Curricular Activities:
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Chess Clubs
Destination Imagination
Geography Bee
Math 24 Game
Stock Market Game
Elementary Signature Programs
Foreign Language Programs:
 Bester
 Boonsboro Elementary
 Greenbrier Elementary
 Old Forge
 Paramount Elementary
 Pleasant Valley Elementary
 Potomac Heights
 Sharpsburg Elementary
 Smithsburg Elementary
Elementary Magnet Programs
Grades 2 through 5
 Boonsboro Elementary
Magnet Program for World
Languages and Global
Communication
 Emma K. Doub Elementary
Magnet Program for Integrated
Arts and Technology
 Fountaindale Elementary
Magnet Program for the Arts
and Academic Excellence
 Williamsport Elementary
Magnet Program for
Science,Technology,
Engineering, and Math
(S.T.E.M.)
“The greatest waste in all the world is
living below our potential.”
Harold B. Lee
Middle School Programs
Merit Classes:
English, math, science, and social studies

Placements made based on student data and
parent/teacher recommendations
Middle School Magnet Programs

Competitive application process
Co-curricular/Extra Curricular Activities:
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Destination Imagination
Geography Bee
Math 24 Game
National History Day
Student-led Conferences
Middle School Magnet Programs
Grades 6, 7, and 8
 Boonsboro Middle School
Magnet Program for World
Languages and Global
Communication
 E. Russell Hicks Middle School
Magnet Program for Media
Technology, the Humanities,
and Communication
 Springfield Middle School
Magnet Program for Science,
Technology, Engineering, and
Math (S.T.E.M.)
High School Choices
 Academies and CTE Programs
 ALL Schools: Advanced Placement
and Honors Courses
 Barbara Ingram School for the Arts
 North Hagerstown High School
 AVID- Advancement Via Individual
Determination
 International Baccalaureate
Programme (2006)
 South Hagerstown High School
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Academic Leadership Academy
AVID
 Washington County Technical High
School
 Williamsport High School
 AVID
 S.T.E.M.
“When we treat man as he is, we make him
worse than he is; when we treat him as if he
already were what he potentially could be, we
make him what he should be.”
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe