Highly Capable Program
NTPS wants to develop the abilities of all students and offer highly-capable services to help identify students who would benefit from accelerated learning and enhanced instruction. See Policy 2190.
How it Works
- Eligibility
- Transfer Students
- Withdraw or Appeal
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Types of Tests
- Services We Offer
Eligibility
How it Works
Step 1: Determine Eligibility
Using the eligibility for screening by grade on this page, determine if your student's existing test scores meet the minimum requirements for highly capable assessment.
Step 2: Fill out the application
Parent/guardian application and consent form (open October 1–December 15):
Step 3: Student Achievement Screen
The Student Achievement department will verify applicants are eligible to participate in the highly capable assessment. Families will be notified via email and given the results and instructions on how to move forward in the process.
Step 4: Assessment
Students will be invited to a highly capable assessment. Dates, information, and results will be communicated directly to families via email.
Step 5: Data Analysis
Using the portfolio of data collected during the assessment process, the Multi-Disciplinary Selection Committee (MDSC) will analyze the results, determine eligibility, and notify families of the results via mailed letter.
Step 6: Accept Services
If your student is invited to the highly capable program, a separate acceptance of services form must be completed and returned by the deadline communicated.
Additional Placement Opportunities for Middle School Students
Students in grades 5-7 who excel in English language arts and/or math may be invited to join highly capable classes following a comprehensive review of all available data, academic records, and teacher referrals. Those that meet criteria will be notified of the option to join without the need for additional testing.*
Note: placements are specific to each school's capacity. If a student transfers to a different school after receiving an invitation, placement in the new school is not guaranteed.
*These placements are considered high-performance but do not qualify students as highly-capable as defined by WAC 393-170-035.
Annual Application & Referral Windows
- Applications and referrals are accepted October 1–December 15 to participate in spring testing.
- Applications and referrals are accepted June 1–July 31 to participate in summer testing.
Application
In accordance with WAC 392-170-055, NTPS uses many criteria to identify highly capable students. Students must be currently enrolled in NTPS to participate in the process. If your student enrolls after the December 15 application cutoff for spring testing, they may participate in the summer testing application window that opens June 1 annually.
Students in grade 1 are universally screened and do not require an application process. Grades K and 2–12 must apply and consent to screening.
Referral
- Guardians will initiate their referral by completing the Highly Capable Application (Step 2).
- NTPS teachers and staff may refer students for highly capable screening by completing an internal referral form located on the staff intranet.
- Community members such as coaches, clergy, etc., may refer students for highly capable screening by emailing assessment@nthurston.k12.wa.us with the student's name, school, and referral reason.
- Parents/guardians of referred students will be notified and asked to complete the application form in Step 2 on this page, if interested.
Determine eligibility for screening
Test scores can be found in your student's Test Results tile in Skyward Family Access.
Kindergarten
To participate in the Naglieri Nonverbal Abilities Test (NNAT3), kindergartners will need to be referred for the eligibility process and meet the following:
- 85th percentile or higher on two of the three most recent easyCBM reading assessments; AND
- 85th percentile or higher on most recent easyCBM math
1st Grade
All 1st graders will take the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT3) in class during the first semester. Results of this test will be available in Skyward Family Access under Test Scores in December. Students that achieve an Age Percentile Rank (APR) of 95 or higher will be moved forward in the process. The results from this test, along with other assessment data already collected, will be used to determine Highly Capable program eligibility. The Multi-Disciplinary Selection Committee (MDSC) will meet in March to review data.
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th Grade
To participate in the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), 4th graders need to be referred for the eligibility process and meet the following criteria:
- 85th percentile or higher on the previous spring SBA in ELA AND math (Grade 3 SBA ELA scale score of 2531 or higher; SBA math scale score of 2534 or higher)
OR, if SBA is not available,
- 85th percentile or higher on two of the three most recent easyCBM reading assessments; AND
- 85th percentile or higher on most recent easyCBM math
5th–7th Grade
To participate in the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), 5th graders and up need to be referred for the eligibility process and meet the following criteria:
- 85th percentile or higher on the previous spring SBA in ELA OR math
- 5th grade: 4th grade SBA ELA scale score of 2577 or higher; math scale score of 2578 or higher
- 6th grade: 5th grade SBA ELA scale score of 2620 or higher; math scale score of 2613 or higher
- 7th grade: 6th grade SBA ELA scale score of 2630 or higher; math scale score of 2634 or higher
OR, if SBA is not available,
- 85th percentile or higher on two of the three most recent easyCBM reading assessments; OR
- 85th percentile or higher on most recent easyCBM math
8th–12th Grade
Students in 8th grade and high school will not participate in the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). If an eighth grade or high school student is referred for the eligibility process, our district will review all available data (e.g. Smarter Balanced Assessments) to determine eligibility.
As a reminder, all advanced courses at the high school level are self-select. Students do not need to be qualified for Highly Capable services in order to enroll in an advanced course.
Transfer Students
Is your highly capable student transferring into NTPS?
Students that have previously been identified as highly capable (gifted) in another school district or state can be considered for highly capable services in North Thurston Public Schools by submitting the application below along with all supporting documentation to assessment@nthurston.k12.wa.us.
Transfer Student Application for Highly Capable Services
Depending on documentation and qualifying factors, some students may be placed directly into an appropriate NTPS highly capable service option. In most cases, however, additional testing will be required during the normal testing cycle.
Highly capable records are not typically part of a student's cumulative file. Therefore, we highly recommend obtaining copies of your student's highly capable records and hand-carrying them with you to your new school district to expedite appropriate placement.
Questions? Contact assessment@nthurston.k12.wa.us
Withdraw or Appeal
Need to withdraw your student from the program?
If you wish to discontinue highly capable services for your student, please complete the Request to End Placement form.
Request to End Placement Form Español | Tiếng Việt | 한국어
Need to appeal an identification decision for your student?
If you are dissatisfied with the identification decision for your student, you may appeal for a review. This is not an appeal of program placement, but an appeal of the decision of whether the student is a highly capable student.
Appeals must be submitted within fifteen (15) days of the date of the original decision letter and include reasons that one or both of the following conditions have occurred:
- a condition or circumstance has caused a misinterpretation of the results; and/or
- there was an inequitable application of the identification process.
The appeal is to consider individual circumstances may have impacted the student's evaluation results. Appeal results are sent in a letter no later than fifteen (15) days after the initial appeal was received. The findings are considered final and not subject to further appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Types of Tests
These assessments form a larger portfolio of data to help assess a student's eligibility for the highly capable program.
easyCBM Benchmark Assessment
This is a standard assessment given in class to all students in grades K–8 in the fall, winter, and spring to give educators insight into which students need additional instructional support. Test results can be found in Skyward Family Access.
Smarted Balanced Assessments (SBA)
These are state- and federally-required tests in English Language Arts (ELA) and math that measure progress towards the state standards in those subject areas. In 10th grade, a minimum SBA score must be met in order to meet graduation requirements. Tests are given in the classroom, typically in the spring each school year. See more info on the OSPI website.
Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT3)
This is a 30-minute online test designed to measure general cognitive ability and is not impacted by verbal skill (speaking), primary language, or how long the student has been in school. It is generally administered to all NTPS 1st grade students as a screening tool. The results are presented as a number called the Naglieri Ability Index (NAI) and an Age Percentile Rank (APR). Data will be used to compare student results with average results for their age.
Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)
This is a multiple-choice test to assess cognitive development and reasoning abilities (key factors of academic achievement). Each test section (verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal) includes subtests that evaluate different cognitive abilities and measures both general reasoning skills and specific reasoning abilities unique to that section. The test is available for grades 2–7 and takes about 2 hours to complete. It is given in a group setting with paper/pencil. See CogAT Overview for Parents One-Sheet.
Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS)
This test is given to all kindergarten students within the first few months of the school year. It is a “whole child” assessment that looks at six developing skill areas (social-emotional, physical, cognitive, language, literacy, and mathematics), to help kindergarten teachers know what areas to focus on early in the school year. The results for kindergarten students that present above-grade level are used in considering eligibility for the highly capable program.
HOPE Teacher Rating Scale
This scale assesses the social and academic characteristics of highly capable students from a teacher perspective. It is used alongside other test measurements to help identify students for highly capable program eligibility. It helps in identifying students from traditionally underrepresented groups.
Services We Offer
The type of highly-capable services we offer are dependent on grade-level. These services are designed to address the needs of students with exceptional intellectual and academic abilities through engaging and challenging content.
Grades K–5
Individual Learning Plan
Students in grades K-5 identified as highly capable may receive services in their general education classroom through an Individual Learning Plan at their neighborhood school. Tailored learning experiences will be chosen based on the student’s strengths and may include, but are not limited to:
- Group learning at a higher level or separate work in the classroom
- The same lessons as their peers but with more complexity
- Working with the school Teacher-Librarian to identify more resources on their own
- Additional enrichment opportunities
Talented and Gifted (TAG) Program
Students in grades 3-5 identified as highly capable may receive services in the self-contained TAG program. Housed at Lakes Elementary, students will participate in a fully immersive highly-capable educational experience. Collaboration with other TAG program participants and a deeper understanding of the material is encouraged. NOTE: The TAG program will be offered depending on the number of students who are identified and wish to participate in the program. In the case that an entire classroom cannot be created from enrollees, alternative options such as multigrade TAG classes or Individual Learning Plans at the student's neighborhood school may be offered.
Grades 6–8
Selected students in grades 6–8 will receive services at any of our middle schools through accelerated pathways:
- English Language Arts and Social Studies Pathway: An advanced literacy and social studies pathway that includes deeper-level thinking through project-based learning and inquiry-driven instruction. Students collaborate in groups to tackle real-world challenges and encouraged to plan, think critically, and be creative with more demanding tasks to help build perseverance.
- Accelerated Math Pathway: An accelerated course that covers multiple years of core math standards in one year, advancing students to high school-level algebra in 7th grade and geometry in 8th grade. Successful completion may earn students high school credit.
Both pathways can potentially generate more homework than the traditional core level classes and students must be committed to completing homework and seeking help as needed.
High School
No additional highly capable testing is required to access service options in high school such as Honors classes, Advanced Placement (AP), College in the High School, and the Running Start program. Please contact your school's counseling center for more information on these options. NOTE: College in the High School and Running Start may require additional assessment to determine placement.