Seattle Public Schools

Student Family Portal
Highly Capable
Seattle Public Schools/Departments/Highly Capable/Private and Homeschool Highly Capable Application Process

Private and Homeschool Highly Capable Application Process

Private and Homeschool Highly Capable Application Process and Timeline

Private and homeschool students are considered for SPS Highly Capable Services through a multi-step process that includes an initial application and fee (waived for eligible families), a comprehensive review of a student’s academic strengths, and participation in additional assessments.  

Please note: SPS does not accept private evaluations in place of school and district-based assessments. If you are transferring from a public school and have an existing Highly Capable designation, please contact hicap@seattleschools.org directly.  

Criteria for Participation

Criteria for non-SPS students to participate in the Highly Capable Identification Process 

Once materials are received, families will receive access to register for one of two assessment dates.  

Assessment

As of the 2025-26 school year, SPS will use a new series of assessments for private/homeschool student identification in general abilities, math, and language. Please visit Naglieri for more information about these assessments. The results of these assessments will become part of the overall package of data reviewed for each student. We are offering two different testing dates.  

  • Saturday, Feb. 7 Testing at Cascadia Elementary  
  • Tuesday, Feb. 18 Testing at Thurgood Marshall Elementary 

Testing will be from 9 a.m.-noon. Assessment will take approximately 90 minutes (including directions and breaks). Parents should plan to remain at the testing location with their child.

Comprehensive Portfolio

Portfolio materials need to be emailed to hicap2@seattleschools.org no later than Jan. 16, 2026. Please review the information requested. We want to emphasize that the quality of the information is more significant than the quantity. Portfolios at a minimum need to include the following:  

  • Standardized Assessment Data from the current and previous school year (two years total) in reading and math. Examples include ERB, SSAT, i-Ready, STAR, IOWA, MAP, etc.  
  • Current and previous school year report cards 
  • Contact information for the current classroom teacher, who will complete a short questionnaire about your child’s classroom-based academic progress and potential 

Winter Application Window: Dec. 1-Jan. 16

All portfolio materials are due no later than Jan. 16. Please submit all materials to hicap2@seattleschools.org.

Applications will not be reviewed or processed if families are unable to submit required documents during the Dec. 1-Jan. 16 submission window.  An additional assessment window will occur in the summer of 2026.

Qualification

Qualifying decisions are based upon whether the total package of data indicates a need for services beyond the scope of our neighborhood schools. Multiple measures are used to provide an accurate view of each student’s potential, ability, and need.  

In addition to the student’s academic information submitted via the family, the Multi-Disciplinary Team will consider the current teacher’s assessment of student’s strengths and needs as well as the Naglieri assessment results.   

Timeline

  • Dec. 1 Private School Application Opens 
  • Jan. 16 Private School Application Due 
  • Feb. 7 Saturday Testing at Cascadia 
  • Feb. 17 Tuesday Testing at Thurgood Marshall 
  • Feb. 25 MPC Reviews all data and makes final determination 
  • March 6 Decisions Released  
  • Aug. TBD New to Seattle testing dates, portfolio review 

Appeal

Because private and homeschool students begin with a portfolio review, identification decisions may only be appealed under specific conditions.