Activities offered by the Special Curriculum Department can be interdisciplinary or single subject, and result in projects or portfolios. Planning includes higher level instructional and product differentiation with individual classroom teachers and whole teams. Activities are offered for all students at times throughout the school year. Enrichment opportunities include: integrated subject enrichment for Sargent Center, River Unit and Washington D.C. field trips, mini-courses, guest speakers, assemblies, fairs, and performances. We coordinate school-wide contests, quiz bowls, bees, Olympiads, invention conventions, national competitions, etc.

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An academy provides a learning experience that integrates different subject areas; it is theme-based and project-oriented. These are graded classes that utilize performance assessment, and involve differentiated instruction accelerating benchmarks, as determined by the subject area. Students with an average grade of A in reading and parental permission can apply for an academy. Students who attend an academy do so in lieu of their reading class

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DestiNation Imagination® provides all students opportunities to explore and discover unlimited creative potential trough teamwork, cooperation, and mutual respect. The key to the DestiNation Imagination® program is discovering the process of creative problem solving. Throughout the year, students work as a team to solve a central Team Challenge as well as learn the techniques of brainstorming and instant problem solving through Instant Challenges and the use of improv items. What they learn during this process are the tangible rewards of the program. The culmination of their work is showcased at the regional DestiNation Imagination® tournament. Teams use art, technology, performance, and real world relevance as they take one of the five Team Challenges.

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Special Curriculum offers a challenging curriculum of high-level content and rigorous pace combined with higher-level thinking skills, problem solving, inquiry, creative productivity along with the development of self-direction, risk taking, curiosity, imagination, and inter/intra-personal relationships. We utilize flexible grouping including individual tutorials, small group, large group, and whole class instruction, with focus on acquisition of skills related to identified strengths.

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Differentiation is the recognition of and commitment to a plan for student differences. A differentiated classroom provides different avenues to acquire content, to process or make sense of information and ideas, and to develop products. The goals of a differentiated classroom are to maximize student growth and to promote individual student success.

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