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Highly Capable (Gifted)

The Tahoma School District Highly Capable Program provides a continuum of services for eligible students in grades 1-12.

The continuum of services is fluid and responsive to students needs.  The Elementary and Middle School Highly Capable Programs provide identified students with academic opportunities at an advanced, accelerated and rigorous level due to their ability to comprehend and apply information and skills. Options for services may include: self-contained classrooms, cluster groupings, differentiated instruction, AP courses, College in the High School, and Running Start. 

Highly Capable Students

Highly capable students are students who perform or show potential for performing at significantly advanced academic levels when compared with others of their age, experiences, or environments. Outstanding abilities are seen within students' general intellectual aptitudes, specific academic abilities, and/or creative productivities within a specific domain. WAC 392-170-035

Program Goals

  1. Provide enriched and accelerated academic learning opportunities with a focus on developing critical thinking and problem solving skills and strategies. 
  2. Offer an environment where highly capable students meet their full potential and are stimulated intellectually and encouraged to develop the Tahoma Future Ready Skills.
  3. Foster the social and emotional welfare of our highly capable students where they grow and develop a positive image of themselves and others.
  4. Offer learning opportunities that promote originality and creativity throughout their 1-12 experiences.
  5. Provide opportunities for all Tahoma students to be screened for highly capable services.

Highly Capable Information by Grade

Highly Capable Referral Window for 2025-26 School Year is Closed

The window for parent referrals for assessing students in grades K–7 for the 2025-26 school year took place November 1 through December 31, 2024 and is now closed. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our Highly Capable Coordinator, Chris Everett at ceverett@tahomasd.us.

Screening Information

Washington State requires that all students in grades 2 and 5 are offered the opportunity to be screened for eligibility and participation in the Highly Capable Program. The screening will take place during a normal school day with your student's classroom teacher. 

Second and fifth grade students throughout the district will take the appropriate CogAT Screener assessment for their grade level. Following the screener assessment, students who qualify will have the opportunity to take another round of tests to determine final placement. The assessments used for the second round are the full CogAT assessment and the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. All families will receive notification from the district sharing whether or not their child will continue with the assessment process. Please see your child's grade information below for a specific timeline.

If you wish for your student to participate, you do not need to do anything. If you would like to opt your child out of the screening, please fill out this CogAT Screener Refusal Form.


Second and fifth grade students who attend private schools or home-based programs and reside in the TSD boundaries are also invited to participate during the assessment window. To enroll your student in testing, please contact Summer Welch in the fall of their second or fifth grade year at swelch@tahomasd.us.

Additional Placement Information

Appeal Process

The Tahoma School District, in compliance with the Washington State rules for Highly Capable Programs (WAC 392-170-076), has an appeal process. Please note: Screening decisions and/or placement decisions, as allowed under statute, are not subject to appeal.

You may file an appeal of the selection decision based on one of the following criteria:

  • A condition or circumstance believed to have caused a misinterpretation of the data reviewed. An example may include missing information.
  • An extraordinary circumstance occurred during one previous grade that may negatively affect the overall profile of a student.

Appeals submitted for reasons other than above will be denied without further consideration. No outside testing will be considered.

To file an appeal you must use the Selection Decision Appeal Form (please click the button below to access the form). The form must be completed and returned to the district office within ten (10) work days following the notification of score results.

Selection Decision Appeal Form

All appeals will go before the Appeal Review Team and you will be notified of the decision by mail. The purpose of the Appeal Review Team is to consider individual circumstances based on the criteria above, that may have impacted the student's evaluation data. The decision of the Appeal Review Team is final.

Highly Capable Program Exit Procedures

A student may be exited from the program either at the request of a parent or a teacher. A meeting will be held with a building or district administrator, parent, and teacher to agree upon the decision to exit.

Contact Information

Chris Everett
Highly Capable Program Coordinator
(425) 413-3400

Resources

Frequently Asked Questions