Eatonville School District: Highly Capable Program 

Highly capable students perform or show potential for performing at significantly advanced academic levels when compared with others of their age, experiences or environments. Outstanding abilities are seen within students' general intellectual aptitudes, specific academic abilities, and/or creative productivity within a specific domain.

For elementary grades, the continuum of services includes:

  • Cluster grouping

  • Differentiation within the classroom

  • Curriculum Compacting

  • Course Acceleration 

  • Flexible grouping

  • Inquiry based projects

  • Competitions

For secondary grades, the continuum of services includes:

  • Advanced Placement classes or other advanced courses

  • Dual enrollment (including Running Start)

  • Extended core middle school classes

  • Honors classes

  • Integrated classroom approaches and differentiation

  • Online courses

  • Opportunities for course advancement

  • Competitions

Referral Process 
Important Dates

  • K-12 Identification referral Window ( for the 23-24 SY): February 1st - March 15, 2024

  • CogAT Screening (Jan/Feb 2024)

  • Highly Capable Ability Testing - Full Battery (CogAT) - Spring 2024

  • Program notification - June 2024

  • Highly Capable Application: Referrals are open February 1, 2023

Does your child perform at significantly advanced academic levels? Consider referring them for Highly Capable Services by submitting a referral. Referral forms will be available using the link below.

Highly Capable Referral Form

Learning characteristics could include:

  • Analytical thinker

  • Accelerated learner

  • Advanced language speaker

  • Self-motivated

The Highly Capable program referral window will be open from Feb. 1-March 15, 2024.

Anyone (parents, teachers, community, etc.) can refer a student to be tested for potential qualification for next year's highly capable programs. Students from Kindergarten - 12th grade can be referred. Referred students will be tested in the school building in March and April. Results will be sent home through postal mail to families by the end of the school year.

Second and fifth grade students will participate in a Highly Capable Universal Screener the month of January/February and therefore do not need to be referred to be considered for services.

 2nd and 5th  Grade CogAT Screener:

All 2nd and 5th grade students will automatically take the short CogAT screener.  More information about this screener may be found below.  

Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)

The CogAT is an aptitude assessment with three sections or batteries - Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal. The questions on the CogAT do not look like other reading or math questions students may have encountered and instead measure verbal and quantitative/mathematical reasoning in a more abstract way.
A parents guide to CogAT Getting to Know CogAT for Parents

Students who qualify for highly capable programs will remain in the program and progress through this continuum without retesting unless they exit highly capable services.  Students who qualify based on this year's referral and testing will automatically be placed into programs for the next school year.  

Ability Testing

Ability testing for all referred students will take place at the student's school during the school day.  The school will schedule testing as well as notify parents of testing times.  Parents must give permission for testing.  Testing will occur in early Spring of 2024. The test used for ability testing is the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT).  

In addition to the CogAT, we will also review data for referred students from other assessments that are appropriate at their grade level.

  • High Verbal: Student scoring (90th percentile) or higher in the Verbal section and/ or

  • High Quantitative: Student  scores (90th percentile) or higher in Quantitative section 

  • District assessments, Acadience, MAP testing

  • Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA)