Elementary Explorer

Bellevue Advanced Learning Program

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 .

Overview

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 Timeline

Registration typically opens in the fall( October-November). Families should monitor communication from the district and school.

Applications for winter testing are currently open. The official BSD application page states that applications close on October 6, 2026 at 4 p.m.

Families should submit the official application before the deadline and review the district’s current instructions for the student’s grade and enrollment status.

Apply through the official BSD Advanced Learning application →

Testing Dates (Yearly Overview)
  • 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.

How BSD Reviews Students
Grade i-Ready CogAT SBA
K✔ Fall/Winter/Spring——
1✔ Fall/Winter/Spring——
2✔ Fall/Winter/Spring✔ Universal—
3✔ Fall/Winter/Spring✔ As Needed✔
4✔ Fall/Winter/Spring✔ As Needed✔
5✔ Fall/Winter/Spring✔ Universal✔

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

General Assessment Information
Assessment Strong Indicator Meaning
CogAT 132+ (98–99th %) Top ~2% reasoning ability
i-Ready 95th % / 2+ years above Advanced academic performance
SBA Level 4 / 95th %+ Exceeds state expectations

These ranges are general educational context, not official BSD 2026–2027 qualification cutoffs. Bellevue uses its current multiple-measures process, so families should rely on the district’s published requirements rather than a single score.

Screening Process
  • Kindergarten: Classroom & assessment data review
  • Grade 2: Universal CogAT screening
  • Grade 5: Data review with possible testing
Parent-Friendly Preparation Tips

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.

Bellevue School District – Preparation Overview

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.

Important Disclaimer

This page is a parent-friendly summary created for Elementary Explorer. It is not an official Bellevue School District resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bellevue School District.

Program requirements, identification criteria, and timelines may change. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, families should always refer to Bellevue School District’s official Advanced Learning webpage.

Bellevue School District – Advanced Learning (Official)