Highly Capable (Gifted)
Announcements
Program Referral Window is Open September 1-14:
Referrals of students to determine possible eligibility for the Highly Capable Program will be accepted online through the Highly Capable Program web page beginning September 1 through September 14. Students may be referred by parents or other individuals, including teachers, other staff, or community members. Students in 1st grade and 3rd grade through 12th grade can be referred using the following online referral form.
The following exceptions will apply:
- Referrals will not be accepted for students who participated in the Issaquah School District Highly Capable testing during the previous school year, 2025-26.
- Referrals will not be accepted for kindergarten students because they will be screened this fall to determine eligibility for further testing and possible selection into the Highly Capable Program.
- Referrals for current first-grade students are accepted only for those newly enrolled in the school district. (All enrolled Kindergarten students were internally screened last spring and will be fully tested in second grade.)
- Referrals for second-grade students will not be accepted because their testing will occur midyear.
- Referrals for current third-grade students are accepted only for those newly enrolled in the school district. All enrolled 2nd-grade students were tested universally last school year, 2025-26.
Anyone making a referral must use the district-provided online referral form. Please submit only one referral per student. The district’s referral procedure may include screening, as permitted by state statute. The district's Multidisciplinary Selection Committee reviews all referred students. Screening decisions will be emailed to families the week of Sep 14. Ensure your primary Family Access email address is current, and check your spam folder.
Testing is administered on Saturday, 9/19, and Saturday, 9/26, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm at the ISD Administrative Building (5150 220th Ave SE, Issaquah, WA 98029). Students must attend both days. For more information, please visit the September Referral website.
Definition
Highly capable students 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. Highly Capable services are provided to students who currently reside in and are attending the Issaquah School District and have been identified as in need of services through the ISD referral process. A Gifted Learner differs from a High Achieving student or a Creative Thinker. Students who are highly capable may possess these learning characteristics (among others):
- Capacity to learn with unusual depth of understanding, to retain what has been learned, and to transfer learning to new situations.
- Capacity and willingness to deal with increasing levels of abstraction and complexity earlier than their peers.
- Creative ability to make unusual connections among ideas and concepts.
- Ability to learn quickly in their area(s) of intellectual strength.
- Capacity for intense concentration and/or focus.
Objectives
Highly Capable Program Objectives:
- Expansion of academic attainment and intellectual skills
- Stimulation of intellectual curiosity, independence and responsibility
- Development of a positive attitude toward self and others
- Development of originality and creativity
ISD offers highly capable identified students a continuum of services in grades K-12, which may include, but is not limited to advanced or accelerated coursework, classroom grouping/clustering, independent study, enrichment, and honors classes, International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Credit CTE courses, Running Start, College in the High School and online courses.
Contact the Highly Capable Program
Phone: 425-837-7120 Department Email: HighlyCapable@issaquah.wednet.edu
Highly Capable Program Staff:
Executive Director of Elementary Education: Dr. Melinda Reynvaan
Program Assistant: Dulce Rodriguez
Address: Issaquah School District | Highly Capable Program | 5150 220th Ave SE | Issaquah, WA 98029