Earlier this spring, we shared that district leadership was reviewing community feedback regarding proposed changes to middle school Highly Capable services, including the recommendation to integrate science and social studies classes beginning in sixth grade. These proposed changes were the outcome of a 14-month Task Force tasked with recommending a model that improves scheduling, elective access, staffing flexibility, and overall school culture while also sustaining academic rigor and improving learning experiences for all students.
Since that time, we have spent several weeks listening, learning, and carefully considering the perspectives shared by our community and staff.
District administration, including Superintendent Dr. Justin Irish, met with all middle school principals and district leaders to review the feedback received, discuss implementation considerations, and examine the feasibility of various options. In addition, district leaders met with members of the Highly Capable Parent Council, community experts, and representative parents who have expressed concerns about the proposed changes. We appreciate the thoughtful and constructive feedback shared throughout this process.
As a result of these conversations, the district has adjusted its approach for the 2026-27 school year.
Rather than moving forward with the proposed integrated science and social studies model, Northshore will implement a sixth-grade pilot during the 2026-27 school year at all six middle schools in Northshore. This pilot will allow us to carefully evaluate the impact of the approach before making any decisions about future expansion, as previously planned.
We know many families have questions about how success will be measured. Two themes emerged consistently throughout our conversations with families: academic outcomes and students' sense of belonging. As a result, these will be key areas of focus throughout the pilot.
To support this work, the Teaching and Learning Department recently met again with all middle school science and social studies teachers to discuss the conditions necessary for a successful pilot, including curriculum, instructional support, professional learning, and evaluation measures. This is a continuation of collaborative work done throughout the 2025-26 school year in preparation for implementation of the model.
In addition, the district will partner with Hanover Research, an independent evaluation firm, to help design and conduct a formal program evaluation throughout the 2026-27 school year. The evaluation will include multiple measures and the perspectives of a broad range of families. This evaluation approach will help us understand the impact of the pilot on all 6th grade students.
We want to be clear that the purpose of a pilot is to learn. Future decisions will be informed by the data collected throughout the year. Implementation for the 2027-28 school year will be made based on the results of the pilot.
To support transparency, district staff have developed a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) that addresses many of the questions we have received from families. The FAQ will be updated as additional questions emerge and more information becomes available.
Timeline
Summer 2026
- Teacher training and instructional planning
- Draft success criteria for social studies and science
- Finalize pilot design
Fall 2026
- Launch sixth-grade pilot
- District and school staff finalize evaluation framework with input from families and students
- Begin data collection
Winter 2026-27
- Share mid-year implementation update
Spring 2027
- Complete pilot evaluation
- Review findings with educators, families, Highly Capable Parent Council, and district leadership
- Determine next steps based on the evaluation findings
We remain committed to providing rigorous learning opportunities for Highly Capable students while ensuring that all students have access to engaging and inclusive learning experiences. We are grateful for the partnership of our families and community as we continue this work together.
If you have questions, please submit them to hicap@nsd.org. We will continue updating the FAQ and sharing information throughout the pilot year.