Enrichment Programming at BTSD
Within and outside the traditional classroom, our teachers and staff provide opportunities for BTSD's students to thrive based on their abilities and interests. The enrichment offerings described below are in addition to the wide variety of school-wide assemblies and activities that help our students grow into kind, thoughtful, and informed citizens who help make the world better.
Ethel Hoppock Middle School
Enrichment Programs
Our middle school students actively engage in various clubs and programs that enrich their educational experience. Whether participating in Art Club, Student Council, Drama Club or choir, students have numerous opportunities to explore their interests and talents. Beyond sports, academic, and arts-related activities, students can participate in offerings such as an ecology club, Model UN, Robotics Club, Poetry Slam, Mass Media, and Debate Club.
Accelerated Math
EHMS also provides an accelerated math track for students who are ready to tackle more advanced concepts. The compacted math curriculum prepares students to succeed in a traditional algebra course in eighth grade.
Gifted & Talented Cohort Instruction
Once per week, during WINN, students identified as G&T will be joining our language arts and math teachers for more challenging and in depth studies that will push students thinking and provide them with opportunities to explore these areas in greater depth. Students will be challenged to think critically and to participate in tasks and activities that require higher level thinking skill such as analysis and synthesis of information.
Thomas B. Conley Elementary School
G&T Small Group Program
This new program at TCES offers weekly enrichment activities for qualifying students in grades 3-5. Eligibility for the program is based on assessments measuring nonverbal reasoning, academic achievement, and quantitative reasoning. The program allows students to engage in various projects designed to enhance their critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity by applying their academic knowledge.
For more information about the TCES enrichment program, please contact Ms. Robinson at bbrace@btschools.org.
Enrichment Program Qualifications 2025-26
Students who show significantly higher performance than their grade-level peers in two of the four assessed areas (non-verbal reasoning, verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, academic performance in math and/or ELA) will be invited to participate in the Enrichment Program. The current qualifying levels for each of the assessments are shown below.
| Assessment | Measured Attribute | Qualifying Percentile |
| CoGAT | Verbal, Quantitative & Non-verbal reasoning | 96 |
|
i-Ready Math or Reading NJSLA Math or ELA (Gr 4&5) |
Academic Performance | 98 |
**The assessment processes and qualification benchmarks are subject to change based on continued monitoring of students, state guidelines, and emerging research.
Qualification Process for 2025-26
Rising Third Graders
In fall 2025, all third-eighth students will take the CoGAT and iReady Math and Reading diagnostics. Students scoring in the qualifying range in both of the assessments will be selected for the Enrichment Program at BTSD.
New Students
Newly arrived students in the BTSD will be eligible for a testing process comparable to that of rising third graders once they have acclimated to the routines of their new school. This testing will generally occur around the time of the pre-scheduled i-Ready diagnostic assessments.
Appeal Process
While we seek to provide a fair and accurate process for selection for the Enrichment Program, there may be extenuating circumstances that a student or parent may wish to bring to the attention of our team. In these cases, parents should provide an email to the school principal explaining why they believe the student should qualify for the program despite not meeting the qualifying scores in the assessments provided.
Evolution of Enrichment Programming at BTSD
Our offerings are reevaluated annually according to school curriculum, program and staff availability, student interests, national or world events, and emerging research. If you have suggestions for adjustments or questions about our district-wide enrichment program, please contact Ed Abato, Superintendent at eabato@btschools.org.