Advanced Programs

WCPS Advanced Programs attract highly-able, highly-motivated, and identified gifted students.  Some programs are more competitive than others and placement in those programs is not guaranteed. Some programs are based at a student's "home" school and others require a student to enroll in a new school.

Washington County Public Schools offers a spectrum of special focus programs for advanced-level learners, aligning with Maryland's Continuum of Services in Gifted and Talented Education. These programs are an integral component of WCPS initiatives to provide challenging academic experiences for an increasingly diverse student population across the county.  For a details about the variety of programs at elementary, middle, and high school programs, click on each level under the Advanced Programs and Magnet tabs.

Advanced Programs include the following:
  • Merit - competitive middle school classes, all students are reviewed for appropriate placement
  • AP (Advanced Placement) = Open Door Policy via the College Board, but successful students meet some prerequisite criteria, such as specific reading level and/or coursework
  • AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) = somewhat competitive (not in all High Schools)
  • Early Talent Development = Occurs for all students in Grades Pre-K through 2, using the Primary Talent Development Program.  Performance on these high-level tasks, designed to foster seven gifted learning behaviors, is one measure used to screen students for enrichment or gifted and talented services.
  • Elementary School-Based GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) = competitive elementary school-based program
  • Honors =  competitive high school classes designed to prepare students for AP coursework
  • IB (International Baccalaureate) Classes = competitive students who live in the attendance zone for North Hagerstown High School may take IB classes without enrolling in the competitive, magnet IB Diploma Programme (IBDP); courses may require students to meet some prerequisite criteria; students can be in AVID and take IB courses.

Elementary Level

Gifted and Talented Education ​(GATE) services are available at all WCPS primary and elementary schools and serve students through concept-based instruction that includes specific creative and critical thinking training exercises, Shared Inquiry, and STEM-based activities. GATE programs are designed to service students who consistently perform above grade level on math and/or reading skills, as well as meet multiple criteria for placement in the program. Measures of ability/aptitude, performance, and potential are utilized during the screening and the identification processes.

Middle Level

Merit classes which are advanced-level courses are available at every middle school and are designed to service students who consistently perform above grade level on math and reading skills and/or would like to experience more challenging curricula. 

High School Level

Advanced Placement (AP) Programs
Advanced Placement courses offer highly motivated students the opportunity to take college-level classes in high school. AP programs are available at every high school and are designed to challenge students in various content areas and prepare them to take the Advanced Placement (AP) Exam. AP courses on a student’s transcript enhance college applications, and a qualifying score on an AP exam can mean that a student is eligible to receive college credit at a college/university. AP offerings vary by school and are dependent upon course enrollment.

Honors Coursework
Honors courses are available at every high school and are designed to challenge students in several content areas and prepare them for enrollment in Advanced Placement (AP) coursework.

Magnet Programs

Magnet Programs are highly-competitive gifted and talented programs for identified gifted and talented students. These advanced programs are designed for the most highly gifted students in the county.  

Elementary and Middle Magnet Programs
At the elementary and middle school levels, students are invited to apply to magnet programs, based on a screening and/or referral process which includes ability (CogAT) scores. 

High School Magnet Programs
  • ALA (Academic Leadership Academy) at South Hagerstown High:  highly competitive; deadline to apply with flexible admissions until program is filled
  • IBDP (International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme) at North Hagerstown High:  highly competitive; students who admitted to the IBDP from outside of the attendance zone for NHHS must comply with all program expectations and deadlines that lead to the IBDP in order to remain on the NHHS campus.

School-Based Gifted & Talented Programs

What does is mean to be identified as "gifted and talented" (GATE)?  
In WCPS "GATE" describes a student who is identified through the multiple measures of ability/aptitude, performance, and potential as needing specialized curriculum to meet their unique learning and developmental needs.  GATE services through specialized advanced curriculum options are provided in every school.  

How does WCPS identify students for participation in GATE Programs?
WCPS aligns its GATE program identification processes with those noted in the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) for Gifted & Talented Education (13A. 04. 07). The universal screening process begins when the child enters WCPS and is ongoing.

Specialized Programs

WCPS Specialized programs attract both advanced-level learners (highly-able and identified gifted) and highly motivated students in regular education programs. Depending upon the specific program, some programs are more competitive than others. 

Specialized Programs Include the following :
  • Academy Programs = moderately competitive, depending upon the Academy and number of applicants; open application
  • Barbara Ingram School for the Arts (BISFA)  = highly competitive; audition or portfolio-based; begins at grade 9
  • Career Technology Education (CTE) Programs = moderately competitive, depending upon the program and number of applicants; open application
  • Washington County Technical High School = moderately to highly competitive, depending upon the program; begins at grade 11

Early College Programs

WCPS and Hagerstown Community College (HCC) work in a partnership to provide high-achieving high school students opportunities to earn college credit while in high school.  Interested students should contact their school counselor for more information. Complete information may be found in the current High School Program of Studies.  Programs include the following: