High School Highly Capable Referral

Referrals for High School Highly Capable Services

The Highly Capable eligibility referral process for 9th-11th grade students takes place from February 5-March 15.

Opportunities for all SPS Students

All SPS high school students, with or without a Highly Capable designation, can register for:

Honors
Advanced Placement (AP)
International Baccalaureate (Chief Sealth, Ingraham, Rainier Beach HS only)
Running Start
College in High School courses

See what courses are offered at each high school.

How are eligibility decisions made for 9th-11th grade students?

High School students can be referred by themselves, parents/guardians, teaching staff, and community members submitting a Highly Capable referral form by March 15, 2025.
Teaching staff can support students by providing completing an online form about student’s strengths and talent development characteristics
The Advanced Learning department will gather and evaluate available student’s educational records.

Eligibility Criteria

One standardized test scores (MAP/SBA) in Math and ELA
- 95 percentile or higher
One semester grades of A’s in ELA, Math. Exceeding standards in any other academic courses (First Semester)
Teaching staff recommendation (details coming soon)
Cumulative GPA 3.65

One standardized test scores (MAP/SBA) in Math and ELA
- 95 percentile or higher
One semester grades of A’s in ELA, Math. Exceeding standards in any other academic courses (First Semester)
Teaching staff recommendation (details coming soon)
Cumulative GPA 3.65
Transcript shows accumulation of 10+ total credits

One standardized test scores (MAP/SBA/PSAT, SAT) in Math and ELA
- 95 percentile or higher
Advanced Placement test scores of 3+
One semester grades of A’s in ELA, Math. Exceeding standards in any other academic courses (First Semester)
Teaching staff recommendation (details coming soon)
Cumulative GPA 3.65

Language acquisition assessment for students receiving multilingual services; and
Additional assessments in a student educational record that were used as part of a SPS Special Education evaluation, which resulted in a student receiving an individualized education program (IEP)

Timeline for Highly Capable Referrals

Referral process for High School

April and May 2025

Eligibility decision letter sent out
Parents/guardians provide consent for Highly Capable services.
Parents/guardians will receive details and guidance on how to submit an appeal in their student eligibility letter.
The Appeal Multidisciplinary Selection Committee will review each appeal and provide a written decision to parents/guardians within 25 school days of the receipt of the appeal form and all documentation/evidence.