Students with a first language other than English will also be evaluated with the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) for rapid language acquisition, using a non-verbal assessment, and cognitive abilities assessments in home languages when available.
High School HiCap
A goal of the Highly Capable Program is to provide maximum choice at the high school level to enable students to tailor their program of studies as much as possible based on their post-secondary goals. To that end, a variety of options is offered at the high school level that students receiving highly capable services can participate in, including Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) course options, Honors courses, and College in the High School, as well as dual credit CTE courses. Each of our high schools provides accelerated course enrollment options.
Appropriate services options may include:
Cohort of intellectual and age peers through highly capable advisory courses.
Adjusting pacing; curriculum compacting; reducing, review, and repetition incorporating inquiry; and investigations in instruction.
Enhanced and enriched content or curriculum.
Rigorous, differentiated academic instruction with flexible grouping.
Counseling for social-emotional needs unique to highly capable students.
Identification Process
Students in grades 9-11 may be referred for possible HiCap services by a parent/guardian, teacher, peer, community member, or themselves in the fall each year. When the window is open, the referral form link will be available on the Highly Capable webpage.
Identification Portfolio
Each referred student will submit a portfolio reflecting the traditional thinking of a Highly Capable student. The portfolio must include the following work samples:
One English Language Arts (ELA) work sample which can include essays, book projects, cross-disciplinary work that shows deep analysis and/or application in Science and Social Studies.
One math work sample that shows multiple pathways of solving problems at a higher level and deep reasoning abilities.
One project that shows interdisciplinary work, and creativity.
Please scan all portfolio documents and email them to KSDHiCap@kent.k12.wa.us or mail them to the HiCap office before March 7, 2025.
Kent School District
Highly Capable Program
12033 SE 256th St., Suite A-400
Kent, WA 98030
Assessments
In addition to the Identification Portfolio we will also review data for referred students from other assessments, including:
Reading i-Ready Benchmark Assessment
Reading Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) from the last two years
Math i-Ready Benchmark Assessment
Math Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) from the last two years
We will consider input from teacher(s) and parent(s)/guardian(s) using research-based rating scales.
English Language Learners
Students Receiving Special Education Services
Students who are identified for HiCap and also qualify for either special education services or a 504 plan are often referred to as twice-exceptional students. It is important that staff from both programs collaborate when planning for students who are eligible for multiple services. Additional data available for students with IEPs may also be used in the identification process.
Identification
The Multidisciplinary Identification Committee will meet to identify students who will receive HiCap services in the following school year. The Multidisciplinary Identification Committee is made up of teachers, principals, a school psychologist, and district Highly Capable program staff. In accordance with state requirements, the committee makes identification decisions for services using multiple objective criteria to identify students who are in need of highly capable services.
Timeline
Referral window: October 1 through November 21, 2025
Multidisciplinary Identification Committee meeting: April 2026
Decision letters mailed to families: By April 30, 2026
Acceptance and appeal deadline for families: May 6, 2026
Services begin: 2026-2027 school year
Appeals
The Multidisciplinary Appeals Committee will review all appeals and communicate the decision in writing to families by May 15, 2026.