Current District-Enrolled Students

In accordance with Washington State Law, LWSD implements the following for the 2025-26 HiCap referral process for district-enrolled students:

• Students in grades 2 and 5 will participate in universal screening to review student academic and cognitive performance data in a one-step process.
  Correction: October 2, 2025 – All students in universal screening grades (2 and 5), as well as those referred in other grades, will receive academic screening. Cognitive assessments, such as the CogAT, will be administered only when needed based on initial results – meaning not all students will take the CogAT. This will be a two-step process starting this year.
  • Families have the ability to opt-out of universal screening through Skyward (directions for opting out of universal screening).
  • LWSD may determine that additional data is needed, such as an additional assessment.
• Students from all other grades (K, 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th) can be referred for highly capable service consideration in Skyward (directions for giving permission to assess).
  • Students in all grades have their existing data reviewed. 
  • LWSD may determine if additional data is needed, such as additional assessment.
• All students who are referred or are part of the universal screener will have their body of evidence reviewed unless a parent/caregiver opts them out.
• More information about a student’s body of evidence can be found on Identification Assessments.

Please note: CogAT scores do not override academic performance data. Identification for Full-Time Quest (FTQ) and Middle School Quest (MSQ) requires a combination of academic and cognitive data, typically at the 98th–99th percentile across multiple data points. Classroom-Based Services (CBS) offer multiple pathways, including options that do not require cognitive data.