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

It provides a simple overview of eligibility, general timelines, testing, and available Highly Capable services.

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

Issaquah School District’s Highly Capable (Hi-Cap) Program provides enriched and advanced learning opportunities for students who demonstrate advanced reasoning, academic ability, and/or creativity.

• Students living within Issaquah School District boundaries
• Public, private, and home-based students
• Students demonstrating advanced thinking, learning, or creativity

Gifted learners are not simply high achievers. Identification focuses on how students think and learn.

Private and home-based families should monitor registration deadlines carefully.

Issaquah School District uses multiple measures across reasoning, achievement, and creativity. No single assessment determines eligibility.

Decisions are based on overall patterns of advanced performance.

Students may receive enrichment within their classroom or more intensive advanced instruction depending on individual learning needs.

Issaquah 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.

Measures creativity, originality, and flexible thinking through open-ended tasks.

TTCT does not involve traditional test preparation. Families can support students by providing opportunities for creative expression and open-ended problem solving.

The assessment is designed to capture natural creativity; there are no right or wrong answers.