Academic Programs
High Ability Program
Students can be identified for the High Ability Program through one of the following six pathways:
How Students Are Identified as High Ability in Math:
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By Performance: A very high score (96th percentile or higher) on a math test that compares students across the country.
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By Potential: A very high score (96th percentile or higher) on a test that measures math thinking or reasoning skills.
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By Other Information: If a student scores just below the cutoff, teachers may look at classroom work or use rating forms to decide if the student should still be placed in the program.
How Students Are Identified as High Ability in Language Arts:
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By Performance: A very high score (96th percentile or higher) on a reading and language test.
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By Potential: A very high score (96th percentile or higher) on a test that measures verbal reasoning.
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By Other Information: If scores are just below the cutoff, teachers may review classwork and other information to help make a decision.
The district knows that all students learn and grow at their own pace. To make sure every student gets the right kind of instruction, the school checks all students for placement in Kindergarten, 2nd grade, and 5th grade. These placements can change as students grow and their learning needs change throughout elementary and middle school.
Special Education Services
21st Century Scholars Program
Dual Credit Courses at Portage High School
Project Lead the Way
PLTW-Project Lead the Way, is a premier STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) curriculum. PLTW courses focus on:
• Computer Science
• Computer Integrated Manufacturing
• Engineering Design and Development
• Biomedical Sciences
To learn more about Project Lead the Way, go to www.pltw.org
Check us out in the PLTW blog!
English Learner Information
● Our teaching philosophy (home page) -
The English Learner (EL) Program is another piece of the students’ support
system here at PTS so that they can understand, use, and master academic
English in Social and Instructional English as well as the Language of Language
Arts, Science, Math, and Social Studies. We engage our students through Reading
and Listening projects and activities to elicit academic English through Writing
and Speaking. EL services at PTS are designed to, “simplify the language, but
NOT to simplify the content.”
● EL Program FAQs:
○ How does a child get selected and qualify for EL services?
In order to be eligible for EL services, first the student must have a completed Home
Language Survey that states the student participates in another language outside of school.
Students are then given the WIDA Screener, and English language proficiency assessment. If
the student’s score is less than 5, then the student qualifies for EL services.
○ When is the family made aware of the student qualifying for EL services?
A letter is sent home every year that the student qualifies for EL services.
○ How is student progress measured?
Every year during the winter, students who qualify for EL services take the ACCESS test
to measure the student’s growth in academic English.
○ How does a student exit services?
If the student earns a composite score of 5 on the ACCESS test, then they will begin to
exit the EL Program. Students are monitored for 2 years to support them in case they still need
academic support.