This page is a parent-friendly guide for families with elementary students (Kindergarten–Grade 5) living within Bellevue School District boundaries, including public, private, and home-school students.

It provides a simple overview of Advanced Learning, including general timelines, testing criteria, and preparation tips.

This page is for informational purposes only. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please visit the official Bellevue School District Advanced Learning website .

Advanced Learning supports students who learn quickly, think deeply, and benefit from more challenging work than the general classroom provides.

These students may grasp new ideas rapidly, enjoy complex problem-solving, or demonstrate advanced reading or math skills.

Registration typically opens in the fall (usually October–November). Families should monitor communication from the district and schools.

Registration is required to be considered for the annual testing cycle.

• Application / Registration: Fall (October–November)
• Testing Period: Mid-November through mid-March
• Most Elementary Testing: December–February
• Results / Notifications: Spring

Exact dates may vary by year and by school.

The district uses multiple measures and may adjust screening practices over time.

Parent summary: qualifying students typically fall in the top 2%–5%.

• Kindergarten: Classroom & assessment data review
• Grade 2: Universal CogAT screening
• Grade 5: Data review with possible testing

Bellevue School District uses multiple measures to identify students for Advanced Learning services. Students are often expected to demonstrate thinking and learning behaviors at least one grade level above their current grade.

CogAT: Measures students’ reasoning abilities in verbal, quantitative, and non-verbal areas rather than learned academic content.

English / Reading: Emphasizes reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and the ability to clearly explain ideas and reasoning.

Math: Focuses on mathematical reasoning, number sense, and explaining thinking using multiple strategies.

Select your child’s current grade to view complete preparation materials for CogAT, English, and Math, including one grade above.