Clustering - (Grades K through 8)

The clustering model is offered in different capacities from kindergarten through 8th grade.  This model provides services through differentiated instruction in the general classroom to students who have been identified as potentially highly capable or highly capable in either language arts or math.

STREAM Program - (Grades 2 through 5)

The Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts and Math (STREAM) Program is a magnet program offered to students who qualify in both language arts and math.  The STREAM Program follows a dynamic, integrated curriculum that focuses on 21st Century skills and project based learning.  Students are encouraged to explore their talents and think like an entrepreneur.  The framework of this program shall encompass, but is not limited to, the following objectives:

Expansion of academic attainments and intellectual skills 

• Stimulation of intellectual curiosity, independence and responsibility
• Development of a positive attitude towards self and others
• Development of originality and creativity

Math

Beginning in middle school, math placement is based on the Math Pathways model which offers multiple options for mathematics success and acceleration.  The Exceptional Pathway is offered to students who qualify as highly capable.

Click here for the SVSD Math Pathways information.

Language Arts 

Highly Capable students are clustered in general education classrooms and offered enrichment, independent projects, curriculum compacting, and/or acceleration.

Highly Capable services are offered through Honors and Advanced Placement courses, College in High School, and Running Start.

Cluster - Students who qualify for cluster services will be served at their school of residence and will be placed in a classroom that has a group of students receiving services. 

Self-Contained -  Students who qualify for self-contained services will receive classroom instruction with other highly capable students. These classes are only available at Snoqualmie Elementary School. 

Kindergarten Screening: All kindergartners will be screened using the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) screener during the school day. 

• • Any kindergarten student who scores at a 95th percentile or above will automatically be assigned a cluster group for 1st grade.  The district does not provide self-contained, highly capable classes in the 1st grade.

  • Any kindergarten student scoring between the 85th percentile or above on the CogAT screener will be invited to participate in the second criteria of the identification process sometime during their 1st grade school year.

2nd Grade Screening: All 2nd grade students will be screened using the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) screener. These screenings take place during the school year and in class. 

• Students scoring at the 95th percentile or above on the CogAT screener will be invited to participate in the second criteria of the identification process.

-OR-

• Nominations: Students may be nominated for highly capable assessment by a parent, teacher, or community member, annually. Nominations are used for those students who did not meet the screening requirements listed above or are new to the school district. 
  
  

  • The district's multidisciplinary team reviews all nominations to determine eligibility for further testing. Not all nominations will qualify for further assessment. 
    
    

    • Data reviewed by the committee to determine eligibility may include CogAT, IOWA Math and Reading, STAR Math and Reading, Acadience Reading, WAKids (kindergarten) Inventory of Developing Skills, ELPA/ WIDA Multilingual assessments, NNAT measure of general abilities, SBA state assessment, and Scales for Identifying Highly Capable Students (SIGs) rating scales.

Students who meet screening requirements or have a nomination approved by the Highly Capable Advisory Committee continue to the second criteria of the identification process. 

• • Assessments - Students will work with highly capable staff to determine if they qualify for services. The staff may conduct any of the following assessments. Other assessments may be used as needed. 

    • CogAT, IOWA Math and Reading, SIGs rating scales. 

Students who meet all criteria will be placed in the self-contained STREAM program (except kindergartners going into first grade). Please see  the Highly Capable Program Identification Matrix for more information.

Elementary:

Qualification for highly capable services is determined by entering CogAT and ITBS scores into the Elementary Highly CapableTesting Qualification Matrix.  Students must score a ten or higher in one domain to qualify for highly capable services in that domain.  Elementary students who score a ten in one domain and a nine or higher in the other domain will qualify for the STREAM Program.  Students that qualify for Math or ELA cluster classroom services do not need to re-test to continue services from year to year. 

Middle School:

Qualification for highly capable services is determined by entering CogAT Verbal and ITBS Reading scores into the Middle School Highly Capable Testing Qualification Matrix.  Students must score a ten or higher to qualify for highly capableservices in ELA. 

The Snoqualmie Valley School District, in compliance with WA 392-170-176, has developed an appeal process.  Appeals will be considered based on outlined criteria only.  An appeal of the final placement decision may be filed when based on one of the following criteria:

1. A condition or circumstance believed to have caused a misinterpretation of the testing results (ex: an incorrect birth date or grade level used in calculating assessment score).
2. An extraordinary circumstance occurred during the testing period that may negatively affect the validity of the test results (ex. death in the family or extreme physical ailment).
3. Suspicion of an error in the administration of the assessment.
4. A misapplication or miscalculation of scores by the multidisciplinary selection committee.

Appeals submitted for reasons other than above will be denied without further consideration.  Outside assessments will not be considered.  Illness will not be considered a valid reason for appeal.   

Selection Decision Appeal Form English / Selection Decision Appeal Form Spanish

If for any reason, a student requires additional support in regard to the appropriateness of highly capable placement, the procedures outlined in the following document will be implemented: Highly CapableIntervention/Exit Procedure Form

In order to get accurate testing results students should not do anything to prepare.

If your child is ill on the day of testing, please contact Darlene Lane in the Teaching and Learning Department at laned@svsd410.org or 425-831-8018.

Clustering is grouping students of similar intellect into the same classroom.  For example, if a school has four different kindergarten classrooms and six highly capable children in kindergarten, all six of these children would be placed in the same classroom.  This allows teachers to meet the needs of highly capable children through differentiated and/or extended instruction.

Washington Administrative Code 

Funding Information

High Achiever vs. Highly Capable Learner