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Current Students: Identification and Eligibility Process 2026-27
Seattle Public Schools / Departments / Highly Capable / Current Students: Identification and Eligibility Process 2026-27 / Grade 1 Highly Capable Screener

Grade 1 Highly Capable Screener

A New Way to Recognize Student Potential

Naglieri General Ability Test (NGAT)

In Seattle Public Schools we know that every student brings unique strengths to the classroom.  

Starting this December, all first-grade students will take the Naglieri General Ability Test (NGAT) as part of our Universal Screening process. The NGAT provides additional information about how students think, reason, and solve problems, giving us another way to recognize students’ strengths and potential.

Along with academic measures, the NGAT helps ensure that we identify and support students with highly capable learning needs from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.

The NGAT is an additional pathway for eligibility. Some students will qualify based on academic measures, some through strengths in reasoning and problem solving, and others through a combination of both. By including the NGAT in our screening process for our youngest learners, we can recognize exceptional potential that is often not recognized on academic measures.

What is the NGAT?

The NGAT is designed to measure reasoning and problem-solving abilities. Rather than focusing on specific academic content, it gives students opportunities to demonstrate how they:

  • Recognize patterns and relationships
  • Think through unfamiliar problems
  • Make connections between ideas
  • Apply reasoning in new situations

Students will take part in two NGAT assessments:

  • NGAT Nonverbal, which uses visual patterns and images to measure reasoning.
  • NGAT Quantitative, which measures mathematical reasoning and problem-solving.
Why Are We Adding the NGAT?

The NGAT adds an important new perspective to our identification process.

Using the NGAT helps us:

  • Better understanding how students think and learn.
  • Recognize reasoning and problem-solving strengths.
  • Identify students whose advanced potential may not be fully reflected through achievement measures alone.
  • Gather additional information to support fair and comprehensive identification decisions.
  • Build a more complete picture of a student’s strengths and learning needs.
Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child need to study for the NGAT?

No. The NGAT is not designed to measure skills that can be learned through studying or test preparation. It focuses on reasoning and problem-solving.

Will I receive information about my child’s results?

Yes. Families will receive information about assessment results and any next steps after the district’s eligibility is complete.

Does a high score automatically mean a student is eligible for Highly Capable services?

Not necessarily. A strong NGAT score may qualify a student for HC services if it meets the established eligibility criteria, typically amongst the top one percent of test takers on a national level. Assessment results are reviewed through the Multidisciplinary Placement Committee (MPC), which considers all available information when determining eligibility.  

Can a particularly strong score on either the NGAT-NV or the NGAT-Q be used in eligibility decisions?

Yes. This is the benefit of using the NGAT with our youngest learners. We know that our academic measures are not necessarily capturing students who have no access to strong pre-school/early childhood education.  SPS has multiple pathways to HC identification, and the NGAT is one such pathway.

What will students experience?

Students will take the NGAT during the school day at their school. The NGAT is computer administered. Each section takes about 30 to 35 minutes to complete. Students will take two sections over multiple days.

There is no special preparation required. The best way to support your child is to:

  • Ensure they get a good night’s sleep.
  • Help them arrive at school on time.
  • Encourage them to do their best.
  • Remind them that the assessment is simply one way for us to learn more about how they think and learn.

How will IEP and 504 accommodations be provided during the NGAT?

The SPS HC identification process uses assessment data that is generated within SPS classrooms. All SPS educators are trained and responsible for implementing 504 and IEP accommodations on a daily basis, including during testing sessions if applicable. The NGAT is not an exception.