Seattle Public Schools Ends Gifted Program in Favor of Inclusive Model

The decision aims to address racial inequities and create a more equitable and culturally sensitive learning environment for all students.

Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is phasing out its Highly Capable Cohort (HCC) program for gifted students, citing concerns over racial inequities and a desire for a more inclusive, equitable, and culturally sensitive alternative.
The HCC program, criticized for being disproportionately white and Asian, will be replaced by the Highly Capable Neighborhood School Model, which integrates students of all abilities in the same classroom and employs individualized learning plans.
Critics of the change worry that gifted students will be overlooked and that the new model places an undue burden on teachers to create personalized lesson plans for up to 30 students.
Advocates argue that the new model will address historical inequities and provide all students with the opportunity for enrichment and growth.
The transition to the new model is part of a broader trend across the United States to dismantle honors programs in the name of diversity and equity.