Issaquah School District Highly Capable Gifted Program

What Parents Need to Know Now

If you’re looking into the Highly Capable (Hi-Cap) Program in Issaquah School District, now is the time to pay attention. The screening process starts early, moves fast, and uses multiple tests—not just a single score.

Families who understand the testing process before it begins are best positioned to help their child qualify.

What Is the Issaquah Highly Capable Program?

The Issaquah Highly Capable Program is designed to support students who demonstrate advanced learning potential. The program focuses on:

• Expanding academic and intellectual skills
• Encouraging curiosity, independence, and responsibility
• Supporting positive self-concept and peer relationships
• Developing originality and creativity

Once students are identified, eligibility continues through grade 12 unless they exit the program. Services expand over time, including pull-out and self-contained options in later grades.

Kindergarten & Elementary Screening: How Identification Works

Step 1: i-Ready Universal Screening (Fall)

All enrolled K–8 students take i-Ready Reading and Math during the school day:

• Testing window: each Fall and Winter/Spring for Benchmarking students
• Administered in classrooms with peers
• Used as the universal screener for Highly Capable eligibility

Families receive i-Ready results by email. Students who qualify move on to additional testing.

–> Important: i-Ready replaced the IOWA test for elementary Highly Capable screening in 2025.

Step 2: CogAT Testing (February–March)

Students who progress take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT):

• Kindergarten CogAT Screener: Form 7, Level 7 (1st grade level)
  • No reading required—all pictorial

• 2nd Grade Group CogAT Screener – Form 8, Level 9 (3rd grade level)

• 3rd-8th Grade CogAT Screener – Form 8, advanced level (one grade higher than student)

• Paper-and-pencil, machine-scored

• Three subtests:
  • Picture (Verbal) Analogies
  • Number Analogies
  • Figure Matrices

Step 3: Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT)

The Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (Figural) plays a major role—especially for second grade identification.

• Testing window: Early December
• Three timed sections (10 minutes each):
  • Picture Construction
  • Picture Completion
  • Lines
• Measures creativity traits such as:
  • Fluency
  • Originality
  • Elaboration
  • Abstractness of titles
  • Resistance to premature closure

This test looks very different from traditional academics—and students benefit from knowing what’s expected before test day.

How Eligibility Is Determined (This Is Key)

Issaquah School District uses a holistic matrix score, combining results from:

• i-Ready Reading & Math
• CogAT
• TTCT

No single test determines eligibility. Instead, the district looks for a pattern of advanced reasoning and creativity.

Once identified, students continue in the program through grade 12. Pull-out (SAGE) or self-contained (MERLIN) services typically begin in the 3rd grade.

How TestingMom Helps (Before Testing Happens)

TestingMom helps families prepare the right way—by building familiarity, confidence, and reasoning skills before school-day testing.

Online Practice for Issaquah Hi-Cap Tests

TestingMom offers online practice questions aligned to the tests Issaquah actually uses:

• i-Ready Reading & Math practice

• CogAT practice (picture analogies, number analogies, figure matrices)

• Torrance Test of Creative Thinking-Style activities to support creative thinking and originality

These aren’t generic worksheets. They’re designed to mirror the question types, visuals, and thinking skills students will see.

One-on-One Gifted Tutoring

TestingMom also offers one-on-one tutoring for Highly Capable preparation. Tutors help students:

• Learn how to think through unfamiliar problems

• Stay calm and focused during testing

• Understand instructions quickly

• Express creativity and ideas clearly (especially for TTCT)

Families often combine self-paced practice + tutoring for the strongest results.

What Parents Should Do Right Now

If your child is approaching Kindergarten or 2nd grade in Issaquah:

• Don’t wait for scores to come home

• Understand the testing timeline early

• Prepare for i-Ready, CogAT, and TTCT together

The Highly Capable process doesn’t reward last-minute prep. It rewards early understanding and thoughtful preparation.

Ready to help your child get into the Issaquah School District Highly Capable Program? Try out our 100 Free Questions below!

For more information, read over the Issaquah School District 411 webpage.

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