Seattle, WA · Highly Capable services · 2026-27 · Checked November 1, 2026
Seattle Highly Capable eligibility,
explained for parents
Seattle mostly identifies Highly Capable students from tests children already take at school, and adds the NGAT for first graders this December. Private test results are not accepted. Here is how it works and every date for 2026-27.
Independent guide. iMasterly is not affiliated with Seattle Public Schools (SPS), Washington. Every fact below links to the district's own page.
Quick answer
How does Seattle decide Highly Capable eligibility?
Seattle Public Schools uses its own assessment data, not private tests. Grades 1 and 4 are reviewed automatically; grades 2, 3 and 5-11 need a referral between October 10 and November 6, 2026. A committee looks for achievement far above national norms, typically more than 2.2 standard deviations (about the top 1%) on several measures such as MAP reading and math. First graders also take the NGAT on December 1-11, 2026.
Source: SPS Identification and Eligibility 2026-27 · Updated
Seattle at a glance
Highly Capable (HC) services
| What the district says | |
|---|---|
| Ability test | Naglieri General Ability Test (NGAT), grade 1 only, new this year |
| Reviewed automatically | Grades 1 and 4 (families can opt out) |
| By referral | Grades 2, 3 and 5-11 |
| Main benchmark | Achievement more than 2.2 standard deviations above national norms on several measures (about the top 1%) |
| Private testing | Not considered |
| Subjects | A child can qualify in reading, math or both |
Key dates for 2026-27
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| September 30, 2026 | Letter to families in grades 1-11 about HC services and referrals |
| October 10 - November 6, 2026 | Opt-out window (grades 1 and 4) and referral window (grades 2, 3, 5-11) |
| December 1-11, 2026 | NGAT for all first graders |
| December 17, 2026 | Eligibility decisions, grades 2-11 |
| December 18, 2026 - January 12, 2027 | Appeals, grades 2-11 |
| January 4-31, 2027 | Open enrollment, grades 2-11 |
| January 26, 2027 | Eligibility decisions, grade 1 |
| January 27 - February 10, 2027 | Appeals, grade 1 |
| February 1 - March 31, 2027 | Open enrollment, grade 1 |
| February 18, 2027 | Appeal decisions, grades 2-11 |
| February 25, 2027 | Appeal decisions, grade 1 |
What data Seattle looks at
Seattle reviews data from the previous school year and the current fall. All of it comes from district assessments, so no extra testing is needed:
- MAP Reading and MAP Math (the most common achievement measures)
- Smarter Balanced tests (grade 4 and up)
- The NGAT (grade 1)
- WA-Kids (kindergarten and grade 1)
- WIDA English proficiency results, special education evaluation data and, for grades 8-11, a student portfolio
Three ways to qualify
Most children qualify through achievement: at least two recent measures in both reading and math that sit far above grade-level peers. Seattle’s benchmark is generally more than 2.2 standard deviations above national norms, which it says puts a child around the top 1% nationally.
Children just below that benchmark can still qualify through multiple measures, where the committee also weighs language data, advanced coursework and other district information. There are also specialized pathways for students who are McKinney-Vento eligible, multilingual, in special education, or in the free and reduced lunch program.
The final decision belongs to the Multidisciplinary Placement Committee (MPC).
Why Seattle does not publish MAP cutoffs
Seattle says it does not print MAP percentile cutoffs because national norms change and a single number would mislead. The committee looks at several measures over time instead.
What to do as a parent
- Grade 1 or 4: you do nothing unless you want to opt out (by November 6, 2026).
- Grades 2, 3 or 5-11: submit the referral form between October 10 and November 6, 2026. A teacher referral is not needed if you refer.
- Do not pay for private testing for this process. Seattle will not use it.
- Watch for the decision (December 17 for grades 2-11, January 26 for grade 1) and note the appeal window that starts the next day.
Try a few nonverbal reasoning puzzles
The NGAT includes a Nonverbal part. These are original items in a similar style, not Seattle or NGAT questions.
Questions parents ask
What MAP score qualifies for Highly Capable in Seattle?
Can I submit a private IQ test?
Does my first grader need to prepare for the NGAT?
Can a child qualify in just math?
We missed the November 6 referral deadline. What now?
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Seattle's own pages, read on November 1, 2026. Dates can change during the year, so confirm anything you plan around. Last reviewed .
Other district guides
More districts, with testing windows and referral deadlines: gifted testing dates 2026-27.
Know the format before test day
Short practice in the real question types, with every wrong answer explained, so test day holds no surprises.