Lake Washington School District – Highly Capable Program
Looking for Lake Washington School District’s Highly Capable or gifted program? This parent-friendly guide summarizes eligibility, referral steps, testing, and services. Families should confirm current residency, enrollment, and referral requirements with LWSD.
It provides a simple overview of how identification works, general timelines, key assessments, and what services look like once students are identified.
This page is for informational purposes only. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please visit the official Lake Washington School District Highly Capable page .
Lake Washington School District’s Highly Capable Program identifies and supports students who show advanced academic ability and learning potential beyond the regular classroom.
Identification is based on a student’s full body of evidence, which includes academic data and, when needed, cognitive assessments.
| Stage | When | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Referral Window | September | District, Private,& homeschool families |
| Portfolio Submission (PS/HS) | September | Private & Homeschool families |
| Universal Academic Screening | October | Grades 2 & 5 ( internal students) |
| Additional Testing (as needed) | November - February | Identified/portfolio students |
| Appeals Window | February-March | Families,submitting appeals |
| Eligibility Notification | Spring | Families notified by email |
| Services Begin | September(following school year) | Eligible students |
Timelines are approximate and may change each year. Families should always refer to the district’s official website.
LWSD may use different procedures for district-enrolled students and students who need portfolio or transfer documentation. Check the official 2026–2027 instructions before submitting materials.
LWSD reviews a student’s body of evidence, including academic achievement and, when necessary, cognitive reasoning data.
Cognitive assessments such as CogAT are used only when needed.
| Assessment | K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FastBridge | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| CogAT | — | — | ✔* | ✔* | ✔* | ✔* |
| SBA (ELA & Math) | — | — | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| WCAS (Science) | — | — | — | — | — | ✔ |
*CogAT is administered only when additional reasoning data is needed.
| Program | Grades | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Classroom-Based Services (CBS) | K–5 | Enrichment and challenge in the general classroom |
| Full-Time Quest (FTQ) | 2–5 | Advanced full-time program for identified students |
Lake Washington School District uses multiple measures to identify students for Highly Capable 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.
This page is a parent-friendly summary created for Elementary Explorer. It is not an official Lake Washington School District resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Lake Washington School District.
Program requirements and timelines may change. Families should always consult the district’s official website.
Lake Washington School District – Highly Capable (Official)