This information was produced by the staff of the Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development (B-BC) at the University of Iowa (belinblank.org). The resources and information listed here are for informational purposes; there is no direct or implied endorsement by the B-BC. Services provided by the B-BC include programs for academically talented K-12 and college students, professional development for teachers, the Assessment and Counseling Clinic, the Acceleration Institute (accelerationinstitute.org), and graduate programs and research in gifted education.

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State Policies in District Of Columbia  

Washington, DC's policy leaves local education agencies (LEAs) to determine whether and to what extent acceleration is permitted.

Grade-based Acceleration

Early entrance to kindergarten

Policy leaves LEA to determine whether early entrance to K is permitted. A student must be five (5) years of age on or before December 31st of the current school year to be eligible for admission to the kindergarten program.

Early entrance to 1st gradePolicy does not permit. A student must be six (6) years of age on or before December 31st of the current school year to be eligible for admission to 1st grade.
Whole-grade accelerationBased on Chapter 22: Grades, Promotion, and Graduation, one may be able to make a case for whole grade acceleration.
Since grade promotions are to be made based on completion and competency, and "Special promotions may be made at any time with the written approval of the Assistant Superintendent whose jurisdiction encompasses the school which the student attends," students who need to move on to the next grade might be allowed to do so depending on the school.
Early high school graduationIf you know where to find this information, please e-mail us.
Early entrance to collegeIf you know where to find this information, please e-mail us.

Content-based Acceleration

Dual or concurrent enrollment in community college, college, or university

Policy leaves LEA to determine whether dual enrollment in high school and college is permitted, and if so, what the earliest grade/age is. Each LEA also determines whether high school credit is given for college courses. 

Several colleges and universities in the DC area have dual enrollment programs. For example, Georgetown University offers Summer Programs for High School Students, which provide opportunities for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to earn up to twelve semester hours of college credit over the summer. There are both residential and non-residential programs. George Washington University also offers a Pre-College Program that allows high school students to earn college credit during the summer.

Middle school students permitted dual or concurrent enrollment in high school

Policy leaves LEA to determine whether and to what extent dual enrollment in middle and high school is permitted.
Advanced Placement®Each D. C. public high school offers at least 4 Advanced Placement courses, and DCPS offers more than 20 AP courses across the district. DCPS pays students' exam fees. See the Academic Offerings page for more information.
Talent Search

There is no Talent Search for the District of Columbia, but gifted students in DC can participate in regional and national talent searches, including those offered by the University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center and the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth.

Credit by examination/proficiency-based promotion

DC policy does not permit proficiency-based promotion.
Other forms of content-based acceleration

Typically left to LEAs to determine. If you know of state-level code, please e-mail us.

Additional Information

District of Columbia Public Schools

The information presented on this page was compiled from a variety of resources, including the State of the States in Gifted Education 2020-2021 (a report by the Council of State Directors of Programs for the Gifted and the National Association for Gifted Children), Websites, professional literature, and personal communication. The Acceleration Institute has not verified the accuracy of this information and does not warrant its accuracy or fitness of use for any purpose. Users should verify information prior to taking any action. Furthermore, the appearance of selected programs and/or resources does not imply an endorsement or affiliation. Programs and resources are highlighted for informational purposes only.