The district's World's Best Workforce document details the mission of High Potential Programming, and it details how students are identified for participation in the programming. Students in grades 5-8 may take Advanced Math and/or Advanced English Language Arts. They may also take STEM as a responsive hour class, along with other enrichment-based responsive hour classes. There are additional enrichment opportunities as part of the extracurricular activities at the middle level.
"The mission of St. Michael-Albertville High Potential Programming is to challenge and meet the needs of academically talented students in grades 3-8 by enhancing the Math and Language Arts curriculum and providing learning opportunities beyond the general school program in these two subject areas. Students are assessed annually for placement in High Potential Programming services; therefore, participation in the program can vary from year to year based on students’ developmental needs. Data points are screened annually to identify students who may qualify for high potential programming. A committee of educators reviews MAP, FastBridge Assessments and MCA-III scores as well as classroom performance data and teacher recommendations in order to ensure the appropriate educational placement for each student. The identification process for levels of programming and its components are described in detail in the documents referenced above."
As stated in the district's World's Best Workforce document, "Acceleration can mean completion of the K-12 program in less than 13 years as well as earlier introduction and use of curriculum content and materials."
Acceleration and enrichment at the middle level includes: grade-skipping, single-subject acceleration, and curriculum compacting (elementary and middle school math).
STEM offers students time to learn about a wide variety of activities while incorporating the four major components listed above. Students learn and work on understanding the engineering design process to help them complete projects. Projects that they work on introduce careers that are in the real world. Students collaborate and communicate their thoughts/ideas to their classmates throughout the trimester. Besides being collaborators/communicators, students are also innovators, hands-on learners, creative thinkers, problem solvers, and many more wonderful qualities that allow STEM to be fun.
If you're looking for district-related enrichment resources, check out the page linked above.
For additional state and national enrichment opportunities, head to our Get Involved, Get Connected page.
Reach out to the people below if you'd like more information about anything related to middle level high potential programming.
Building level: Administrators, Middle School Activities Director, Advanced Math or Advanced English Language Arts teachers, STEM teachers, classroom teachers, and/or guidance counselors/social workers
District level: Director of Teaching and Learning (and current High Potential Coordinator), Director of Curriculum and Student Programming (and High Potential Coordinator starting July 2020), Testing and Assessment Coordinator, District Advisory Committee, School Board, and/or Superintendent
State level: Minnesota Department of Education