The Monroe County Community School Corporation values differentiated instruction and opportunities for acceleration at all grade levels. These opportunities are available for all students, not just those who are formally identified as high ability. Individual teachers and building principals work to develop the most appropriate educational experience possible for each student, including flexible ability grouping in math and language arts and inquiry based learning. Beginning in kindergarten, all students' intellectual abilities are assessed. For students in grades four through eight who demonstrate exceptional academic and intellectual ability, the MCCSC offers the Accelerated Learning Program for Students or ALPS. In middle and high school, honors and advanced classes are offered.
We comply with the Indiana Code for High Ability Education and the MCCSC's School Board of Trustees High Ability Policy.
Elementary High Ability Services
The Accelerated Learning Program for Students (ALPS) offers academically and intellectually identified high ability third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students the opportunity to participate in academic activities and experiences in self-contained classes that are uniquely designed to provide the challenge and rigor they require. ALPS students complete grade-level requirements as well as appropriate enrichment and acceleration activities in all areas of the curriculum. ALPS students may have grade-level instruction with their age-level peers, including math, special area classes, and thematic curriculum. In their classes, ALPS students routinely engage in thematic reading and writing activities, are required to use critical thinking skills, and are encouraged to develop as independent, self-directed learners. Placement in the MCCSC elementary ALPS program requires formal high ability identification/recommendation by the high ability identification committee.
The ALPS classrooms will begin to transition to Fairview Elementary School with new students eligible for the high-ability program being placed at Fairview Elementary School for the 2023-2024 school year. No current ALPS student will be impacted by this three-year transitional change. Currently, ALPS serves students in Grades 4-6; however, a grade 3 classroom will be added for the 2023-2024 school year. Prospective ALPS students for Grades 3 and 4 for the 2023- 2024 school year will be identified during spring of 2023. As part of this three-year transition, ALPS for Grades 3 and 4 will be at Fairview for the 2023-2024 school year, with ALPS continuing at Fairview Elementary School to include Grade 5 for the 2024-2025 school year and Grade 6 for the 2025-2026 school year.
The challenges of the ALPS program require both students and their families to make a commitment of time and energy. Students and families who elect to participate in the program agree to work together to ensure that the student:
- Participates for a full academic year in the assigned placement
- Produces work of high quality and submitted on time
- Actively and meaningfully participates in class
- Maintains a continuous desire to work at a level above and beyond what is explicitly taught in the classroom
For more information on the elementary high ability identification process, please click here.
Middle School High Ability Services
Middle School High Ability Services Identification Presentation
All MCCSC middle schools offer self-contained Accelerated Learning Program for Students (ALPS) classes, advanced language arts instruction, and advanced math classes (algebra and geometry) for students formally identified as high ability. The middle school ALPS program offers academically and intellectually identified high ability middle school students the opportunity to participate in an advanced block of classes (science, language arts, and humanities/social studies) in both grades seven and eight. Students in all high ability classes can expect an enriched and accelerated curriculum as well as assignments that are more rigorous. Placement in advanced math classes is a separate identification process based on a student’s current math level and achievement that takes place in May. Middle school high ability students also enroll in additional classes to meet the curricular requirements of the State of Indiana.
The challenges of middle school high ability classes require both students and their families to make a commitment of time and energy. Students and families who elect to participate in high ability classes agree to work together to ensure that the student:
- Participates for a full academic year in the assigned placement
- Produces class work and assignments of high quality and are submitted on time
- Actively and appropriately participates in class and comes prepared to class
- Maintains a minimum grade of “B” in each high ability class
High School High Ability Services
High ability classes are self-selected at the high school level and available to any student who meets the course pre-requisites. Bloomington High School North, Bloomington High School South, and The Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship offer honors level classes, Advanced Placement courses, and Advanced College Project courses in many content areas. The high schools also provide release time for students to attend classes on the Indiana University and Ivy Tech campuses.
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