LWSD Highly Capable & CogAT Testing — Parent FAQs
Key dates for LWSD families
- End of August 2026: Process details published - LWSD will publish the full 2026–27 Highly Capable identification process and family instructions.
- Fall 2026: Universal screening and referrals - Students in the district's universal screening grades will have academic data reviewed. Families may refer students in other eligible grades through Skyward.
- Approximately November 2026–March 2027: CogAT as needed - If the placement committee needs more information, a student may take selected CogAT sections or the full CogAT. Exact dates are coordinated by each school.
- Spring 2027: Identification decisions - Families are expected to receive final identification and service decisions after the review process is complete.
LWSD has not yet published the final 2026–27 screening grades, referral deadlines, or testing calendar. The timeline above reflects the district's current process. Always verify details with LWSD Accelerated Programs.
Who Is Screened or Referred?
For 2025–26, students in Grades 2 and 5 received universal academic screening. LWSD will confirm the 2026–27 grades in August.
Students in other eligible grades may be referred by their families through Skyward.
Families may opt out of universal screening.
All referred and universally screened students have their existing academic data reviewed unless a parent opts out.
Does Every Student Take the CogAT?
No. CogAT is no longer automatically given to every student in a universal screening grade or to every referred student. The placement committee first reviews the student's academic record and then decides whether additional cognitive data are needed.
- Some students may take only selected CogAT sections.
- Some students may take the full CogAT.
- Some students may be identified for Classroom-Based Services without taking CogAT.
- Families cannot request CogAT simply as an additional test if the committee determines it is not needed.
How Does Identification Work?
LWSD uses a comprehensive body of evidence rather than a single cutoff score. The review may include FastBridge, Smarter Balanced, WIDA, WaKIDS, report card information, prior Iowa or NNAT results, and CogAT when additional cognitive information is needed.
CogAT results do not override academic performance. The committee determines both whether a student qualifies and which service model best matches the student's demonstrated needs.
What Levels of Service Does LWSD Provide?
Classroom-Based Services (K–5): Students remain at their neighborhood school and receive differentiation, extensions, or enrichment in literacy, math, or both. Services are provided by the general education teacher and may include advanced small-group work, higher-level questioning, independent projects, and beyond-grade-level materials.
Full-Time Quest (Grades 2–5): Students with advanced academic and cognitive needs attend a designated Quest site in a self-contained, often multi-age classroom. Mathematics is taught one grade level above the student's current grade, while learning across subjects is faster-paced, deeper, and more complex.
Middle School Quest (Grades 6–8): Students attend a designated middle school site for advanced ELA/social studies and mathematics pathways. Sixth-grade math is taught one year above grade level; students typically continue with Algebra in Grade 7 and Geometry in Grade 8.
What Does the CogAT Measure?
The CogAT measures how students reason and solve unfamiliar problems in three areas:
- Verbal reasoning: sentence completion, classification, and analogies
- Quantitative reasoning: number series, number puzzles, and number analogies
- Nonverbal reasoning: figure matrices, paper folding, and figure classification
LWSD administers CogAT on a computer. Testing is proctor-paced and audio-led, and students use headphones. The district does not publish specific CogAT levels or forms.
What Scores Typically Support Identification?
LWSD does not assign fixed weights to individual data points, but its current guidance describes the typical body of evidence seen among identified students:
- Classroom-Based Services: commonly at least three academic scores at or above the 95th percentile.
- A cognitive-plus-academic pathway to Classroom-Based Services: commonly at least three academic scores at or above the 90th percentile plus cognitive performance at or above the 95th percentile.
- Full-Time Quest or Middle School Quest: commonly at least three literacy scores and three math scores at or above the 98th percentile, plus CogAT performance at or above the 98th percentile.
- Kindergarten: considered only for Classroom-Based Services; additional cognitive testing is not required.
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
How to Prepare for Possible LWSD CogAT Testing
Because not every student will take CogAT, preparation should support broad reasoning skills without treating the test as the only path to Highly Capable identification.
- Practice verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning.
- Build strong reading and mathematics achievement, since academic data are central to LWSD's process.
- Review missed questions so your child understands the reasoning behind the correct answer.
- Use occasional timed practice to build attention, pacing, and confidence.
Practicing daily or every other day makes test-taking second nature to your child
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Quick FAQs
Does LWSD use the CogAT? Yes, but only when the placement committee needs additional cognitive information. Not every screened or referred student takes it.
Which grades are universally screened? Grades 2 and 5 were universally screened in 2025–26. LWSD will publish the 2026–27 process at the end of August 2026.
Can a child qualify without CogAT? Yes. Students may qualify for Classroom-Based Services through an academic body of evidence without cognitive testing.
Does a high CogAT score guarantee Quest placement? No. CogAT does not override academic data. Quest placement requires a consistently advanced academic and cognitive profile.
Will families receive an exact CogAT date? Usually not far in advance. Schools coordinate testing within the district window, and the district may not provide individual dates or times.
What happens to students transferring from another gifted program? LWSD reviews recent district documentation, ability and achievement scores, and other evidence. Prior identification does not automatically guarantee the same LWSD service level.
Official LWSD resources
- LWSD — Highly Capable Identification Process
- LWSD — Accelerated Programs
- LWSD — Identification Assessments
- LWSD — Identification Process FAQ
Last reviewed: 2026-07-24
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AceGiftedTest and its parent company, Lumina Ed, are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Lake Washington School District (LWSD). Highly Capable identification procedures, screening grades, referral windows, CogAT administration decisions, and placement policies are set by LWSD and may change each school year. Families should verify details with their child’s school or LWSD Accelerated Programs.