Highly Capable Services

MISD Highly Capable Services (HiCap) are provided to meet the needs of students who perform or show potential for performing at significantly advanced academic levels when compared with others of their age, experiences, or environments in our District.

Services Provided

Primary Enrichment Services (PES) - Grades 1 and 2

Students who qualify for PES will receive services within their regular classroom from their teacher. (Please note that all teachers have access to PES materials and can provide them to students who have not qualified, but who demonstrate a need for enrichment, rigor, depth, complexity, etc.)

Qualification Criteria:

For students who score in the 97th percentile or higher, in either the age or grade score of the CogAT Screener assessment, we begin a portfolio review process. These students are eligible to complete the Iowa Assessment in math.

HiCap Services - Grades 3 through 8

Incoming 3rd & 4th graders

For students entering third and fourth grade for the 2024-2025 school year, we have two types of services:

Code 32 Services: Students qualify in one area (either math or reading). Services are provided in the regular classroom.

Code 33 Services: Students qualify holistically. Services are provided in a unique classroom at Lakeridge Elementary School.

Qualification Criteria:

Code 32: Students must score a “10” or higher in either the Reading/Verbal Domain or the Math/Quantitative Domain.

Code 33: Students must score a "28" or higher on the Identification Matrix. This is a combination of reading, math, science and creative thinking. No single domain eliminates a student's eligibility to receive services.

Incoming 5th graders

For students entering fifth grade for the 2024-2025 school year, we have one service delivery option:

Code 33 Services: Students qualify holistically. Services are provided in a unique classroom at Lakeridge Elementary School

Qualification Criteria:

For students entering grade 5, we utilized the same Identification Matrix used to identify their peers in previous years. Students in grade 5 take the TTCT and Iowa science exams so as to provide their teachers with a more holistic picture of their cognitive and academic needs; however, these scores are not incorporated into a student’s identification.

A student must have either earned an “8 or higher” in one domain AND a “10 or higher” in the matrix to qualify for services.

Incoming 6th, 7th & 8th graders

For students entering sixth through eighth grade for the 2024-2025 school year, we have one service delivery option:

Code 33 Services: Students qualify holistically. Services are provided in a unique classroom for Language Arts/Social Studies, and Science

Qualification Criteria:

For students entering grades 6-8, we use the Iowa reading and science assessments along with the CogAT verbal and non-verbal assessments as the service delivery areas at IMS are language arts, social studies, and science. Students take the TTCT exam so as to provide their teachers with a more holistic picture of their creative thinking and learning needs; however, these scores are not incorporated into a student’s identification.

A student must have either earned an “8 or higher” in one domain AND a “10 or higher” in the Identification Matrix to qualify for services.

Services in math are identified through a separate process as outlined on the MISD Math Pathways webpage.

High School Services

TEST INFORMATION

All MISD Kindergarten and Grade 2 students are universally tested during the school day in their respective classes. Testing occurs during a 2-week window in the middle of January. Each school determines its own testing schedule for these assessments.

Students in grades 1, 3-9 can be nominated by their families for testing. These students will test on the January dates of the testing calendar provided on the next tab .

All tests are timed except for those administered in Kindergarten and Grade 1.

* The Mercer Island School District does not allow students to retest within 12 months. Additionally, students may only test for two consecutive years before a mandatory year off from testing.

Please note that based on students’ graduation classes, different grades complete different assessments. Below is a chart showing which tests are administered at each grade level.

Tests Administered by grade level

Testing Levels for Highly Capable and Primary Enrichment Services

TEST CALENDARS

TEST NOMINATION

Hi-Cap Testing for the 24/25 School Year has closed. Nominations for testing in January 2026 will open in November.

August Testing for New Students:

The August testing window is for rising 3rd thru 12th grade MISD or Private School students new to Mercer Island after December 13, 2024, who have not tested in the last year. Students must be residents of Mercer Island or enrolled in the Mercer Island School District to participate in testing. Testing will take place on August 4th, 5th, and 6th.

August Testing Nomination Form

APPEALS

Appeals will only be considered when based on one of the following:

A condition or circumstance believed to have caused a misinterpretation of testing results (example: an incorrect birth date or grade level used in calculating an assessment score).
An extraordinary circumstance occurred during the testing period that negatively affected the validity of the results (example: death in the family or extreme physical ailment of the student).
A misapplication or miscalculation of scores by the Multidisciplinary Committee (MDC).

Private testing is not required. We will accept other measures of readiness such as report cards, Benchmark, or iReady data.

For further information please review Board Policy 2190 P - Highly Capable Services (HCS) Procedure

Appeal forms can be downloaded HERE.

QUESTIONS? Contact Weston Lucas

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Highly Capable Services

Services Provided

Primary Enrichment Services (PES) - Grades 1 and 2

HiCap Services - Grades 3 through 8

Incoming 3rd & 4th graders

Incoming 5th graders

Incoming 6th, 7th & 8th graders

High School Services

TEST INFORMATION

TEST CALENDARS

TEST NOMINATION

APPEALS