Mukilteo School District – Highly Capable Program
This page is a simple, parent-friendly guide for families with elementary students (Kindergarten–Grade 5) living within Mukilteo School District boundaries, including public, private, and homeschool students.
It provides a simple overview of the Highly Capable program, including important dates, testing, and the learning services available for students.
This page is for informational purposes only. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please visit the official Mukilteo School District Highly Capable Services page .
The Highly Capable Program supports students who learn quickly, think deeply, and benefit from extra academic challenge.
These students often understand new ideas faster, enjoy problem-solving, and show strong abilities in reading, math, or creative thinking.
- Understands concepts quickly and remembers them well
- Enjoys complex or challenging questions
- Makes creative connections between ideas
- Asks thoughtful “why” and “how” questions
- Can focus deeply on topics of interest
| Stage | When | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Universal Screening | Fall & Winter | Grades 2 & 5 |
| Referral Window | By early October | Grades 1, 3, 4 (if requested) |
| Additional Testing | Fall / Winter | Some students |
| Results Shared | Spring | Families notified |
| Services Begin | Next school year | Identified students |
Mukilteo School District uses a combination of assessments to understand how students think, learn, and perform academically. No single test determines eligibility.
| Assessment | What It Measures | Who Takes It |
|---|---|---|
| District Screeners Reading & Math |
Academic skills vs grade-level expectations | Selected elementary grades |
| SBA ELA & Math |
State academic achievement | Grades 3–5 |
| CogAT | Reasoning and problem-solving ability | Invited students |
| WaKIDS | Early learning and readiness | Kindergarten |
Multiple data points are reviewed together to determine whether a student may benefit from additional academic challenge.
| Program | Grades | What It Means for Students |
|---|---|---|
| Highly Capable Pathway | K–2 |
Extra challenge within the regular classroom Advanced activities and projects |
| LEAP | 3–5 |
Advanced reading and/or math at the home school Prepares students for advanced coursework |
| Summit Program | 3–5 |
Full-day, self-contained classroom Faster pace and deeper learning |
Mukilteo School District uses multiple measures to identify students for Highly Capable services. Students are often expected to demonstrate thinking and learning behaviors at least one grade level above their current grade.
CogAT: Measures students’ reasoning abilities in verbal, quantitative, and non-verbal areas rather than learned academic content.
English / Reading: Emphasizes reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and the ability to clearly explain ideas and reasoning.
Math: Focuses on mathematical reasoning, number sense, and explaining thinking using multiple strategies.
Select your child’s current grade to view complete preparation materials for CogAT, English, and Math, including one grade above.
This page is a parent-friendly summary created for Elementary Explorer. It is not an official Mukilteo School District resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Mukilteo School District.
Program requirements, identification criteria, and timelines may change. Families should consult Mukilteo School District’s official Highly Capable webpage for accurate and current information.
Mukilteo School District – Highly Capable (Official)