In education, part of our job is to meet students where they are. Every student has a unique relationship with learning. From their learning preferences to how their brain explores concepts, education isn't a "one size fits all" experience.
At Rochester Public Schools, our Advanced Learning program helps meet the needs of students who are ready for more challenging content and require experiences beyond the traditional classroom setting.
Elementary
Starting in elementary school, all students in grades 1 and 2 receive Primary Education Thinking Skills Lessons (PETS) that teach students various thinking skills to foster their ability to problem-solve and think flexibly.
After students have qualified for Advanced Learning, in grade 3, they begin "pull-out" classes where the teachers pull students from their core classroom and they join a class of other students from their same grade to work on Verbal (reading/writing) and Non-Verbal (math/science) skills.
Middle School
Students continue with advanced learning in middle school, where they can take two different advanced learning pathways. Middle School Advanced Program is a school within a school designed to meet the unique educational, social, and emotional needs of academically advanced students in grades 6-8 while still allowing them to participate in a regular middle school experience. Rochester Accelerated Math Program (RAMP) is a way to provide students with a more challenging math experience in middle school. This allows students to accelerate, go into greater depth, and move at a faster pace.
High School
Once students enter high school, there is a range of opportunities and curricula such as PSEO, Advanced Placement, Honors, and Mentorships. At the high school level, students are at the center of the decision making by working closely with their school counselors and advanced learning specialist to find the best option to find the coursework and pathway that suits them best. Advanced Learning in high school can lead students to weighted GPAs, Honors Diploma, early entrance to college, professional experience through mentorship, and even confirmation of their desire to follow a career path or field of study in the future.
Identification of Students
When it comes to identifying students who qualify for Adanvaced Learning, RPS offers a variety of pathways to evaluate students. Starting in the PETS program, advanced learning specialists and classroom teachers are looking to see how quickly students learn new concepts as an additional pathway for identification. Beginning in grade 2, students can be identified through their FastBridge and CogAT test scores. As a third option, there is a Portfolio Assessment. Portfolio Assessment is an open-ended, paper-and-pencil exam where students hand-write their responses. The assessment asks students to problem-solve, reason, think in divergent ways, elaborate, and demonstrate creative thinking. The Advanced Learning Portfolio Assessment is very different from standardized tests in which there is one correct answer. This assessment examines thinking skills, problem-solving, word choice, diverse approaches or strategies, and flexible, creative responses.
Laura Willis, coordinator of Advanced Learning, shared that “we believe every student has unique strengths and can grow with differentiated learning opportunities, and we’re committed to using equitable identification that validates our students’ identities, language, prior learning, and lived experiences.”
With the support of the 2024 Ignite Student Learning Referendum, the Advanced Learning program would have 10 years of funding.
If you're looking for more information on Advanced Learning services and future testing opportunities, please visit our Advanced Learning webpage
.