Our school is the district magnet for gifted and talented students. Learners here experience an academic program that challenges and builds on student strengths, passions and interests in core subjects as well as science and the arts.

Elementary students can participate in an array of music programs including band, orchestra, choir and Suzuki strings; other activities like Science Olympiad, science fair, geography and spelling bees, debate, History Day and Word Masters take place during the day or after school.

At the elementary level, Capitol Hill has specialists in science, visual arts, drama and physical education as well as music, and students participate in a variety of local, state and national competitions. Admission for grades 1-6 is based on identification of gifted/talented status through assessments given in kindergarten and second grade.

The Capitol Hill Mission

The School Board of the St. Paul Public Schools originally established what is now Capitol Hill as a full-time program for gifted students. The sole mission of Capitol Hill Magnet School is “challenging academically gifted and talented students in a diverse school community.” There are three major components to successfully meeting the goals embedded within the school's mission:

• Students who are academically gifted and talented (and who need a specialized setting in order to achieve their fullest potential) must be identified
• A school community that recognizes, accepts, and embraces diversity must be maintained
• The educational modifications that it takes to truly meet the needs of these exceptional learners must be provided.

Capitol Hill can operate optimally only with the full inclusion of all three of these key components.

Grades 1 – 6 General Information

SPPS utilizes the CoGAT to identify students who are eligible for gifted and talented services within the school district. All SPPS students in kindergarten and second grade take this test.

Students in grades 1, 3, 4 and 5 may also be nominated to receive special permission to take the test based on their high test scores and outstanding school work. There are also days set aside for non-public and charter school students to take the assessment.

Students who are identified to be gifted and talented are then eligible for gifted/talented services at any St. Paul Public School. They are also eligible for Capitol Hill Magnet School. 

If student applications exceed Capitol Hill Magnet School's openings, applicants are drawn from the pool to fill the openings. The remaining applications are placed on a waiting list.

Students must be identified eligible to receive gifted and talented services using the district's testing assessment or portfolio review process. Please note, g/t identification is a requirement to apply for Capitol Hill, identification does NOT guarantee placement.

Contact the SPPS Talent Development and Acceleration Services (TDAS) at 651-744-7504 for more information.

Grades 6 – 8 General Information

There is open enrollment for the Middle School.