Issaquah Highly Capable & CogAT Testing — Parent FAQs
Key dates for Issaquah SD families
- September 1–12, 2026: Referral window - The referral window is open for students in Grades 1 and 3–12. Applications and supporting evidence are due September 12 at 4:00 PM.
- September 19 and 26, 2026: District testing - Students invited after referral screening complete district testing from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the ISD Administration Building.
- Mid-December 2026: Eligibility decisions - Eligibility and placement decisions for the September referral cycle are expected by email.
- 2026–27 kindergarten and Grade 2 cycle: Universal screening - These students are universally screened and do not use the September referral form. Grade-specific winter and spring testing dates will be published separately.
This is the most current information available through the Issaquah School District. Always confirm exact dates and other details with your child’s school or gifted program coordinator.
Who Is Screened or Referred?
All kindergarten students are screened using winter i-Ready Reading and Math. Students with qualifying results are invited to take the full CogAT.
All Grade 2 students participate in universal Highly Capable testing unless the school team determines testing is not appropriate for an individual student.
Students in Grades 1 and 3–12 may be referred during the September window.
Students identified in another district must still complete Issaquah's referral and review process.
What Assessments Does Issaquah Use?
Issaquah uses a combination of cognitive, academic, and creative-thinking measures rather than relying on one test alone.
- CogAT: full verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal battery
- i-Ready Reading and Math for elementary students
- Iowa achievement testing for secondary students
- TTCT creative-thinking assessment for Grades 2–12
For Grade 2, Issaquah publishes CogAT Form 8, Level 9. The test is paper-and-pencil and timed: each battery contains three 10-minute subtests, for about 30 minutes per battery.
How Does Identification Work?
A district multidisciplinary committee reviews the complete student profile and converts the assessment results into a single matrix score. CogAT receives the greatest weight, achievement results receive the next-highest weight, and TTCT adds creative-thinking evidence for students in Grades 2–12.
The committee determines both eligibility and the service level that best matches the student's needs. One strong score does not automatically guarantee placement.
What Happens if My Child Is Identified?
PEP (Kindergarten–Grade 2): School-based enrichment that may include pull-out, push-in, classroom differentiation, acceleration, or clustering. Kindergarten students typically receive about 30 minutes weekly; Grades 1–2 receive about one hour weekly.
SAGE (Grades 3–5): Subject-specific services in reading, mathematics, or both. Students receive advanced problem-solving, creative-thinking, and process-thinking instruction while remaining at their elementary school.
MERLIN (Grades 3–5): A full-day, self-contained program with faster-paced, deeper, and more demanding instruction across subjects. MERLIN is located at designated elementary schools, and families provide transportation.
CogAT Testing Format
The CogAT assesses your child's cognitive development in three key areas: verbal, quantitative, and non-verbal abilities. Rather than focusing on academic knowledge, it evaluates reasoning skills that your child uses to solve problems and think critically.
Note: There are some variances in the testing format for students in grades 3 and up. If your child is in grades 3–5, click on the Level 3–5 tab below to learn more about the test format for those grades.
This section assesses your child's ability to understand and use language. It includes the following three sections:
Picture Analogies
Picture Classification
Sentence Completion
Which CogAT level should my child prepare for?
Issaquah publishes the following CogAT level for Grade 2 universal Highly Capable testing. Confirm the correct level with your child’s school for other grades.
| Grade | CogAT Level |
|---|---|
| Grade 2 | Form 8, Level 9 |
Please confirm the correct CogAT level for your child with Issaquah School District or your child’s school before beginning preparation.
How to Prepare for Issaquah CogAT Testing
- Practice verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning.
- Use paper-and-pencil practice for Grade 2 so students are comfortable marking an answer sheet.
- Review missed questions and discuss the reasoning behind the correct answer.
- Build reading and mathematics achievement as well as reasoning skills, since Issaquah uses multiple measures.
- Use occasional timed practice to build focus, pacing, and confidence.
Practicing daily or every other day makes test-taking second nature to your child
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Quick FAQs
Does Issaquah School District use the CogAT? Yes. The district administers advanced versions of the full verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal CogAT battery.
Do kindergarten families submit a referral? No. Kindergarten students are universally screened with i-Ready, and qualifying students are invited to take CogAT.
Does every Grade 2 student take CogAT? Grade 2 uses universal testing, although the school team may determine that testing is not appropriate in an individual circumstance.
Is CogAT the only factor in identification? No. Issaquah also uses achievement results and, for Grades 2–12, the TTCT creative-thinking assessment.
What CogAT level is used in Grade 2? Issaquah publishes CogAT Form 8, Level 9 for Grade 2.
Help your child prepare for Issaquah SD testing
AceGiftedTest offers CogAT-style practice across verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal sections so students build familiarity with question formats before Issaquah CogAT test day.
Get started with AceGiftedTestCognitive Abilities Test™ (CogAT®) is a registered trademark of Riverside Assessments, LLC. AceGiftedTest and its parent, Lumina Ed, are not affiliated with Riverside Insights, nor is the content on this site promoted or endorsed by Riverside or its affiliates.
AceGiftedTest and its parent company, Lumina Ed, are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Issaquah School District. Highly Capable identification procedures, referral windows, testing dates, CogAT levels, and placement decisions are set by Issaquah School District and may change each school year. Families should verify details with their child’s school or the gifted program coordinator.