The Washington State Legislature passed a law (WAC 392-170) that requires 
all school districts to identify and serve their “most highly capable” students and provide a
 continuum of services to those students in Kindergarten through
12th grade, beginning in the 2014-2015 school year. 

A student who has been assessed to have superior intellectual ability as demonstrated by one or more of the multiple criteria specified in WAC 392-170-040. These students exhibit high capability in intellectual and/or creative areas, possess an unusual leadership capacity, or excel in specific academic fields, thereby requiring services beyond the basic programs provided by schools.

The Onalaska School District Highly Capable Program is designed to meet the academic needs of our students in grades K-12 who fall generally in the top 10 percentiles for cognitive aptitude.

• Elementary School Programs K-5

  • Identified students are offered enrichment projects by classroom teachers once classwork is completed.

  • Wednesday optional after school program offered once a month.

  • Highly Capable enrichment trips.

• Middle School Programs 6-8

  • Identified students are offered enriching projects by classroom teachers once classwork is completed.

  • Wednesday optional after school program offered once a month.

  • Highly Capable enrichment trips.

  • Enrichment classes for students who are exceeding in the classroom.

• High School Programs 9-12

  • Highly Capable enrichment trips.

  • Math advancement, personal enrichment option, college in the classroom, running start, New Market Skills Center.

  • Wednesday optional after school program offered once a month.

Onalaska School will universally test all 2nd and 5th grade students annually using the Cognitive Abilities Test (CoGAT) Screening form. Determination will also be based on project based assessment scoring as well as past test scores.

If you believe that any K-12 student in the Onalaska School District may qualify for the highly capable program, you can nominate him or her by filling out the Highly Capable Nomination Form.  Nomination forms are  available in each school office and linked below . The Hi Cap coordinator will notify parents of the nominations and obtain written permission for further assessing.

Hi Cap Nomination Form

Hi Cap Permission to Test Form 

An appeals process is available for the results of the Hi Cap testing. If you would like to appeal this decision, your written request must be delivered to your student's building principal.