Accelerated Programs
2025-26 Highly Capable Identification Process
Highly Capable Identification results letters are now available to families.
The multidisciplinary placement committee (MPC) reviews a complete body of evidence for all referred and universally screened grades. Students are referred for the complete review process, not for the administration of individual tests. Not all students needed additional assessments.
For information on how the MPC determines if a CogAT is needed, please visit the identification process webpage. This page has information explaining how and when a CogAT may be provided.
Information regarding appeals and portfolio reviews is provided in the identification results letter for each student.
Updated 3/2/2026.
Welcome!
LWSD’s highly capable services offer enriched and enhanced instructional opportunities to students who have been identified as needing service.
This may look like:
- Enrichment and extension of academic and intellectual skill;
- Stimulation of intellectual curiosity, independence and responsibility;
- Adjusted pacing and enrichment of content to meet student learning needs; and
- Development of advanced critical thinking, communication and collaboration skills through the lens of local and global citizenship.
As you explore our website, you will encounter these terms:
- Accelerated Programs - The name of the entire department that includes all service models K-12.
- Highly Capable (HiCap) - Washington state's official term for any student receiving services for gifted education/advanced learning.
- Service models – The program service models within Accelerated Programs: Early Entrance to Kindergarten (EEK), Classroom-Based Services (CBS), Full-Time Quest (FTQ) and Middle School Quest (MSQ). In high school, service models include student self-selected courses and experiences in programs such as: Running Start, College in the High School and Advanced Placement (AP).
October 6, 2025 presentation to LWSD Board
Lake Washington School District’s Highly Capable identification process was featured in the October 6 board study session. The session provides an overview of how the district uses a body of evidence for the purpose of Highly Capable identification and placement and how the Multi-Disciplinary Placement Committee (MPC) makes decisions based on academic and cognitive data.
This is a helpful resource for those interested in learning more about how student placement decisions are made.