Middle School Highly Capable Services

Middle school Quest students at the Capitol for Project Citizen.

CogAT screening

Due to issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic, including continuously changing health and safety environment guidelines, in-person assessments will not be administered this year. Instead, we are moving to remote online testing for the current eligibility cycle. As part of the eligibility screening process, the CogAT screener will be administered in January 2021. Below is an overview of the CogAT screener for all applicants, as well as LWSD 1st grade students.

All assessments given online (similar to SBA)
Universal screening for current LWSD 1st graders (January 2021) administered remotely by classroom teachers using Teams. Elementary sites determine specific dates within the screening window.
2020-21 Applicants screening – tentative dates below
- Private/home school students – January 2021
- LWSD students in 5th grade applicants – January 2021
- LWSD students in 6th and 7th grade applicants – January 2021
- LWSD students in K, 2-4 applicants – January 2021

Families will be sent information via email specific to their student’s test event including date, time, and technology requirements for completing the assessment.

Students who meet the screening criteria will receive email notification from the Accelerated Programs Department regarding next steps in the eligibility process. Notifications are anticipated to be emailed to families two to three weeks after screening is complete. The quest@lwsd.org email address continues to be the most efficient method of communication with our department.

Update regarding the highly capable application process for the 2021-22 school year

The application window for highly capable services closed on November 30, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. after being open for almost six weeks. We do not accept late applications. Families are encouraged to apply in the fall of 2021 if they are still interested in the highly capable services. Between the application deadline and the actual testing there is a large amount of document processing and scheduling that occurs. The testing company also has deadlines we need to adhere to in order for testing to be completed prior to moving on to the second round of testing.

As with all things across the district, COVID-19 has required us to make several changes to our normal practices, one example would be the application window. We were not able to set up specific dates for assessments as the company that provides our assessments did not have a remote option ready for use at the beginning of the school year. We postponed our application window until we were sure we would be able to complete the assessments and eligibility given the current remote requirements.

Due to the delay, we chose to increase the application window from twenty days to six weeks. During that time, we posted information in the local online newspapers, added information to all of the district webpage banners, included information in the bimonthly parent communication newsletter, and updated our webpage regularly as our plans continued to solidify. Families that reached out to the Accelerated Programs department for information and updates were continuously encouraged to check our webpage for the most current information.

To date, we have scheduled all LWSD first grade students to take the CogAT screener in January and families have been notified of assigned date and time. We will continue to schedule screening for private school and LWSD kindergarten, and second thru fourth grade students. Please watch your email for more information.

Overview

Students conducting an experiment.

The Middle School Quest program allows the most highly capable students to engage in rigorous and challenging curriculum with their academic peers. The program meets the needs of students who have been identified as having exceptional cognitive and academic ability by accelerating and enriching the district curriculum. Classes include greater breadth and depth of subject matter and a wide variety of learning processes and teaching methods. There are high expectations for student work and achievement.

For sixth grade students, Middle School Quest consists of a two-period integrated language arts and social studies block, one period of science and one period of math. This schedule leaves students two periods for required and elective classes.

For seventh and eighth grade students, Middle School Quest consists of a two-period integrated language arts and social studies block and one period of science. Students are placed at the appropriate math level for one other period. This schedule leaves students two periods for required and elective classes.

The learning pace is faster than in the regular education program. Students are expected to perform work that exceeds grade level standards by at least one grade level. Middle School Quest also emphasizes advanced academic thinking skills and strategies, strong communication and collaboration skills, and an increased awareness of local and global citizenship.

Additional information regarding our programs can be found here

Overview

Students in grades 6-8 attend a self-contained core content classroom five days per week with highly capable peers
Students are provided services at identified middle schools based on neighborhood school boundaries
Assigned middle school becomes student's primary school
Services begin at the start of the school year
Students interested in advanced programming at the high school level have access to Advanced
Placement {AP), Honors, College in the High School, and Running Start

Emphasis

Acceleration of math and reading
Enrichment/differentiation of social studies, science and writing
Advanced academic thinking skills and strategies
Strong communication and collaboration skills
Integrated learning opportunities
Curriculum based on Common Core and NAGC (National Association of Gifted Children)
standards
Opportunities to participate in interest-based electives dependent on assigned school offerings

Middle School Quest programs are currently located at:

Evergreen Middle School, Redmond
Kamiakin Middle School, Kirkland
Redmond Middle School, Redmond
Timberline Middle School, Redmond

The district assigns a student to attend a Middle School Quest school based on his/her home address. School assignment is subject to change. For more information on Quest placement, view the Middle School Quest Feeder Pattern:

Middle School Quest Feeder Pattern

Transportation

LWSD offers limited bus transportation for students enrolled in the Middle School Quest programs at Kamiakin Middle School, Redmond Middle School and Evergreen Middle School.

For more information on Quest bus schedules, view the Middle School Quest Bus Schedules.

Referral Process

Important Dates

TBD

Visit Washington Administrative Code Chapter 392-170 and Revised Code of Washington Chapter 28A.185 for information on Washington state regulations for highly capable services.

Nomination Process

Students playing a board game they created. Students are nominated for Highly Capable services by parents, staff or community members by filling out the application form. To nominate your child, parents of students in grades five through seven must apply for their student to be considered for highly capable services for the following school year. To apply, fill out the online application form. Please contact the Accelerated Programs Office at 425-936-1238 if you need:

A paper copy of the application
An application in a language other than English
Assistance uploading documents

Please note: Students must reside in the LWSD boundaries to apply for and participate in Highly Capable programs.

Scroll to the top of this page to find the Highly Capable Programs application form.

Screening Process

LWSD has revised the screening process beginning September 2018. All applicants will now participate in the CogAT Screening Form as part of the multiple objectives for screening. Report card grades will no longer be used to screen out a student from consideration.

Students are screened using the Smarter Balance Assessment (SBA) results from the previous year and the CogAT Screening Form. The typical score range to qualify for further assessment includes:

Level 4 in SBA ELA and in SBA Math (or equivalent for private school students and for students who did not attend Washington state schools in 2018-19)
Composite SAS 126-160 (95-99 Age Percentile Rank) on the CogAT Screening Form

Students who qualify for further assessment who scored at the 95th to 99th APR on the CogAT Screening Form will be scheduled to take the FULL CogAT and the Iowa Assessments.

Assessment Process

Applicants who meet screening criteria will be assessed using multiple objective criteria.

Note: Students who have been previously enrolled in Pull-out Quest or K-5HC at the elementary level are required to apply and qualify for the Middle School Quest Program. Students who are finishing 5th grade in the Full-time Quest Program automatically transition into the Middle School Quest Program. All students remain identified as Highly Capable students regardless of program participation.

Evidence of need for highly capable services is determined by a Multidisciplinary Selection Committee. Members of the committee include, at a minimum, a school psychologist, a teacher and the Director of Accelerated Programs. All decisions are based on the body of evidence to provide a clear picture of each student’s ability and to determine whether the data indicate a need for services beyond the scope of the general education classroom. The body of evidence includes the results of the CogAT and Iowa Assessments, along with the report card and SBA scores from the end of the previous school year. No weights are assigned to data points. Private testing results are not accepted.

Middle School Quest Identification Criteria

Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)

The CogAT provides a measure of a student’s learned reasoning abilities. Subtests are Verbal, Quantitative and Nonverbal.

Typical score range of those students identified for services: Two subtest scores between SAS 135-160 (99 Age Percentile Rank) OR CogAT Composite SAS between 135-160 (99 Age Percentile Rank)

CogAT Standard Age Score Conversion to Percentile Ranks

Standard Age Score (SAS) is a normalized standard score, with a mean (average) of 100. Standard Age Scores of 89-111 are all within the average range. For example:

A student with a SAS of 100 has the rate and level of development of reasoning skills that are typical for his/her age group.
A student with a SAS of 125 has a faster rate and higher level of development of reasoning skills than the typical student in his/her age group.
A student with a SAS of 132 or above has an exceptional rate and level of development of reasoning skills that are considered to be in the highly capable range for his/her age group.

Standard Age Score	Percentile Rank	Standard Age Score	Percentile Rank	Standard Age Score	Percentile Rank
100	50	112	77	124	93
101	52	113	79	125	94
102	55	114	81	126	95
103	57	115	83	127	95
104	60	116	84	128	96
105	62	117	86	129	97
106	65	118	87	130	97
107	67	119	88	131	97
108	69	120	89	132	98
109	71	121	91	133-134	98
110	73	122	92	135-160	99
111	75	123	92

Iowa Assessments

Report Card

Report cards provide a classroom-based measure of academic performance. Report cards are used alongside other criteria during selection to support identification.

Typical score range of those students identified for services:
- Between a 3.5 and a 4.0 mean in all strands of each of the following: language arts and math (Grades 5 and 6)
- B+ or higher in language arts and math (Grade 7)

Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA)

Appeals Process

Highly Capable assessment criteria are applied equitably to all applicants. Appeals for reconsideration of students who have not met the assessment criteria are reviewed by the Multidisciplinary Selection Committee after notification of screening results and after notification of the Multidisciplinary Selection Committee placement decision. Appeals must be submitted to the Accelerated Programs Office in writing within 10 calendar days of notification of results using the online LWSD Highly Capable Program Appeal Form. If you do not have access to a computer, please contact the Accelerated Programs Office at 425-936-1238 or email quest@lwsd.org. Appeals must be based upon a specific criteria related to the screening/testing conditions, or to a misapplication or miscalculation of the scores. The decision of the appeal review team is final.

FAQ

FAQs

1. What is the Quest program?

Lake Washington School District provides a continuum of services to meet the learning needs of highly capable students residing in our district. Quest offers two elementary program options for highly capable students in second through fifth grade: a one day per week program, which provides additional enrichment through pull-out services, and a self-contained, full-time program, which provides an accelerated curriculum in literacy and math. Quest offers a Middle School option for highly capable students in sixth through eighth grade, which offers accelerated classes in Language Arts, Social Studies, Science and Math. Quest programs serve students who:

Demonstrate reasoning ability well above their grade level.
Perform well above their grade level in reading and/or math achievement on standardized tests.

2. How do I know if my student is a good candidate for the Quest program?

The Quest program serves some of the most highly capable students in the district. One way to explore if this program would be a good fit for your student is to discuss your student’s academic abilities and performance with his or her teacher(s). Aside from high academic performance, here are some typical intellectual characteristics of highly capable children:

Unusually large vocabulary for their age
Ability to read earlier than most children
Greater comprehension of the subtleties of language
Longer attention span, persistence and intense concentration
Ability to learn basic skills more quickly and with less practice
Wide range of interests
Highly developed curiosity and a limitless supply of questions
Interest in experimenting and doing things differently
Tendency to put ideas together in ways that are unusual and not obvious (divergent thinking)
Ability to retain a great deal of information
Unusual sense of humor

For more information on traits of highly capable students, see Traits of Giftedness.

3. When is the application period?

4. Do Pull-out Students need to apply for Full-time Quest and Middle School Quest?

5. How do I get an application?

6. Can out-of-district students apply?

7. Can we observe Quest classrooms?

8. How can I talk with parents of students in the program?

9. Does LWSD offer Quest in the high schools?

A goal of the Highly Capable Services Continuum is to provide maximum choice at the high school level to enable students to tailor their program of advanced studies as much as possible based on their post-secondary goals. To that end we offer a variety of rigorous options at the high school level that our highly capable students can participate in including Advanced Placement (AP) course options, Honors Courses, Choice Schools and programs, Running Start and Early College in the High School. Each of our high schools provide accelerated course enrollment options. This approach ensures that students are not required to attend school at a specific location to participate in accelerated learning options.

10. Are there any screening requirements for testing?

11. Can my child still take the assessments for Quest without report card grades and standardized test scores?

For applicants in grades two through seven, report card grades are part of the identification process. For applicants in grades four to seven, standardized test scores are a part of the screening and identification process. Private school students should submit report cards and scores for the standardized tests administered at their private school. If the school does not give report cards and/or standardized tests, please submit a letter from your child's school on school letterhead stating that the school does not use report cards and/or does not administer any standardized tests.

12. Does everyone who completes an application get assessed?

13. My child is in a private school. What should we do?

For students in Kindergarten and Grade 1, please upload the following documents when you complete the online application:

Proof of Residency – Residency Verification Form with two documents listed on the Residency Checklist. These documents must be for the location where the student resides.
Proof of Age – a copy of your child’s passport or birth certificate

For students in Grades 2 to 3, please upload the following documents when you complete the online application:

Proof of Residency – Residency Verification Form with two documents listed on the Residency Checklist. These documents must be for the location where the student resides.
Proof of Age – a copy of your child’s passport or birth certificate
Report Card from the end of the previous school year

For students in Grades 4 to 7, please upload the following documents when you complete the online application:

Proof of Residency – Residency Verification Form with two documents listed on the Residency Checklist. These documents must be for the location where the student resides.
Proof of Age – a copy of your child’s passport or birth certificate
Report Card from the end of the previous school year
Standardized test results (such as the SBA or other state assessment or the Iowa Assessment) from the previous school year

NOTES:

If your school does not issue Report Cards, please submit a letter from your school on school letterhead, stating that the school does not issue report cards. If your school does not give any form of standardized testing such as state testing or the IOWA, please submit a letter from your school on school letterhead, stating that the school does not administer any state or standardized testing to your child.
Please make sure you have all of the documents assembled before you begin the application. If you have any trouble uploading required documents, please contact the Accelerated Programs Office.

14. My child is home-schooled. What should I do?

For students in Kindergarten and Grade 1, please upload the following documents when you complete the online application:

Proof of Residency – Residency Verification Form with two documents listed on the Residency Checklist. These documents must be for the location where the student resides.
Proof of Age – a copy of your child’s passport or birth certificate

For students in Grades 2 to 3, please upload the following documents when you complete the online application:

Proof of Residency – Residency Verification Form with two documents listed on the Residency Checklist. These documents must be for the location where the student resides.
Proof of Age – a copy of your child’s passport or birth certificate
Report Card from the end of the previous school year if one exists. If one does not exist, please submit a letter in lieu of the report card stating that your child is home-schooled and no report card is available.

For students in Grades 4 to 7, please upload the following documents when you complete the online application:

Proof of Residency – Residency Verification Form with two documents listed on the Residency Checklist. These documents must be for the location where the student resides.
Proof of Age – a copy of your child’s passport or birth certificate
Report Card from the end of the previous school year if one exists. If one does not exist, please upload a letter in lieu of the report card stating that your child is home-schooled and no report card is available.
Standardized test results (such as the SBA or other state assessment or the Iowa Assessment) from the previous school year. If your child did not participate in any standardized testing, please upload at letter in lieu of the standardized test results stating that your child is home-schooled and did not participate in any standardized testing during the previous school year.

NOTES:

If your school does not issue Report Cards, please submit a letter from your school on school letterhead, stating that the school does not issue report cards. If your school does not give any form of standardized testing such as state testing or the IOWA, please submit a letter from your school on school letterhead, stating that the school does not administer any state or standardized testing to your child.
Please make sure you have all of the documents assembled before you begin the application. If you have any trouble uploading required documents, please contact the Accelerated Programs Office.

15. My child currently attends a LWSD school but did not attend a LWSD last year. What should I do?

For kindergarten students, no additional documents are required.

For LWSD students in Grade 1, no additional documentation is needed. REMEMBER – LWSD first grade students do not complete the online application in October. Your child will take the district-wide First Grade CogAT Screening Form at his or her school. If your child meets the screening criteria, you will be invited to complete an online application in December.

For students in Grades 2 to 3, please upload the following documents when you complete the online application:

Report Card from the end of the previous school year

For students in Grades 4 to 7, please upload the following documents when you complete the online application:

Report Card from the end of the previous school year
Standardized test results (such as the SBA or other state assessment or the Iowa Assessment) from the previous school year

NOTES:

If your school does not issue Report Cards, please submit a letter from your school on school letterhead, stating that the school does not issue report cards. If your school does not give any form of standardized testing such as state testing or the IOWA, please submit a letter from your previous school on school letterhead, stating that the school does not administer any state or standardized testing to your child.
Please make sure you have all of the documents assembled before you begin the application. If you have any trouble uploading required documents, please contact the Accelerated Programs Office.

16. When are the assessments for Quest?

17. How and when will I know if my child meets the screening criteria?

18. What if my child is sick and cannot take the CogAT Screening Form, the full CogAT or Iowa Assessments on the scheduled date?

Appeals will not be considered for illness. Please email quest@lwsd.org before the test begins if your child is going to miss a scheduled test due to a documented illness. Students who are not feeling well on the date of the original test are given one opportunity to test on the makeup date. Only one makeup date will be scheduled for each test. The district sets the date for that makeup test. Applications for students who miss a regularly scheduled test and the makeup test will be closed.

19. What if we have a family emergency and my child cannot take the test on the scheduled date?

Please email quest@lwsd.org before the test begins if your child is going to miss a scheduled test due to a documented family emergency. Your child will be given one opportunity to test on the makeup date. One makeup date only will be scheduled for each Quest test. The district sets the date for the makeup test. Applications for students who miss a regularly scheduled test and the makeup test will be closed.

20. I had my child privately tested. Can I submit these results with the application?

21. Can I appeal the results of the screening or eligibility decisions?

Transfer Students

Students who transfer or are returning to Lake Washington School District and were enrolled in a highly capable or gifted program in their previous school may apply to Accelerated Programs as a transfer student. Students must reside in LWSD boundaries and must meet highly capable acceptance criteria. Transfer students are not automatically enrolled in the Highly Capable Programs. Students must be enrolled in the LWSD to apply for services. Call the Accelerated Programs office at 425-936-1238 or email at quest@lwsd.org for more information about the transfer process.

Transfer application process for students in grades 6 through 8

Register your student at your neighborhood LWSD shool
Complete and submit a transfer form
Submit report card (for most recent end of semester)
Submit proof of participation in a highly capable or gifted program (from LWSD or school last attended) or submit proof of acceptance into a highly capable or gifted program within the last six months
Submit standardized achievement test results with national or international norms
Submit standardized ability test results with national or international norms
Submit Residency Verification Form with two documents listed on the Residency Checklist.
Submit state assessment results
Meet the Middle School Quest screening and assessment eligibility criteria for admittance into the program

Notes:

Private testing outside of the student’s school district sanctioned testing cannot be used to substitute for district testing
Letters of recommendation are not considered in the review
Transfer applications must be complete with all documentation submitted

Notification/placement process for grades 6 through 8 transfer students

The Accelerated Programs office will notify the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student’s eligibility status after reviewing the applicant’s file. If the student is not eligible and the student is currently in grade 6 or 7, he/she can apply in the fall.

Change of Service

LWSD Highly Capable Programs Change of Service Request

Current LWSD Highly Capable Students: Students participating in LWSD highly capable services may opt to withdraw from highly capable services at any time by submitting the Change of Service Request to the Accelerated Programs Office. Students attending a LWSD school may receive differentiated instruction in their LWSD classroom and will remain identified as highly capable in LWSD regardless of participation. Students opting out of Full-Time Quest may request participation in either Pull-Out Quest or K5HC services. Students opting out of Pull-Out Quest may request participation in K5HC services.

If a family wishes to have their student return to highly capable services, they may submit a Change of Service Request. All Change of Service requests to return to services will be reviewed by the Multidisciplinary Selection Committee.

Deferment of Services: Newly identified highly capable students may opt to defer services from originally offered start date. Students will remain identified as highly capable. Students attending a LWSD school may receive differentiated instruction in their LWSD classroom. After deferring highly capable services, parents who wish to begin previously offered services may complete a Change of Service Request.

Returning LWSD Students: Students who return to LWSD after moving out of district boundaries and who previously received highly capable services in LWSD should complete the Transfer Form found on the Accelerated Programs webpage for review by the Multidisciplinary Selection Committee.

NOTES:

Students must reside in LWSD boundaries to participate in LWSD highly capable services.
School assignment and classroom placement are subject to change.
Change of Service Requests (with any supplemental documentation) should be emailed to quest@lwsd.org.

Please contact the Accelerated Programs Office by email at quest@lwsd.org or by phone at 425-936-1238 for more information.

Navigation

Contact Accelerated Programs

Phone: 425-936-1238
Fax: 425-936-1325
Department email: quest@lwsd.org
Website: lwsd.org/HCP

Accelerated Programs Staff
Becky Kadrmas, Director
Janette Cimburek, Administrative Supervisor
Amanda Olson, Administrative Professional
Jennifer Rusch, Administrative Professional
Britt Galen, Accelerated Programs Psychologist
Crystal Batlle, Instructional Specialist

Mailing address:
Lake Washington School District
Accelerated Programs Office
P.O. Box 97039
Redmond, WA 98073

Location:
Lake Washington School District Resource Center
16250 N.E. 74th Street
Redmond, WA 98052

For a complete list of Accelerated Programs staff, please visit the Highly Capable Programs Staff Directory.

Gifted Education Advisory Council (GEAC)
Gifted Education Advisory Council is a parent-led committee that supports the gifted education program in Lake Washington School District.