Newsworthy: Effective September 2023, highly capable services will be offered at seven elementary schools. Currently the program is hosted at eight elementary schools; Brouillet, Dessie Evans, Northwood, Pope, Shaw Road, Spinning, Sunrise, and Woodland Elementary schools. Effective next school year, Dessie Evans Elementary students who qualify for highly capable (QuEST) services will attend Brouillet Elementary.
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Grades 3-6
Highly capable students in grades 3-6 find their unique learning needs addressed in regional classrooms located at one of 8 host schools throughout the district. Specialized instruction and curriculum are designed to promote higher-level thinking and provide a variety of learning experiences to challenge students. Students gain a deep understanding of content and strengthen basic skills in a full-time, highly capable environment. Intellectual peers provide social interaction and motivation to excel.
Located at Eight Elementary Schools
Host Schools: Feeder Schools:
Brouillet Carson, Dessie Evans, Firgrove
Northwood Mt. View
Pope Hunt, Edgerton
Shaw Road Karshner, Stewart
Spinning Waller Road, Fruitland, Maplewood, Meeker
Sunrise Ridgecrest, Wildwood
Woodland Zeiger
Specialists
Students in the QuEST Program have access to activities and specialists, such as music, P.E., and library, at their QUEST host school. Participation in band is strongly encouraged for 5th and 6th graders.
Transportation
Transportation to the QuEST host school from the feeder school is provided, and transportation back to the feeder school in the afternoon is provided. Parents must arrange for their child to get to the feeder school in the morning and from the feeder school to home in the afternoon.
Identification
For students currently in grades 3-5, an application must be completed by the parent/guardian. Once the application is received, the student’s achievement scores are screened to determine eligibility for further testing; achievement scores should fall in the range of 80 percentile and above. Students identified for further testing through the screening process are administered the Cognitive Abilities Test at the Kessler Center. Parents provide transportation for testing.
No application is required for students currently in grade 2. All second-grade students will be screened using district achievement assessments. Students with scores at 80 percentile or above will be invited to take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT).
The assessment data is evaluated by the Multidisciplinary Selection Committee to determine placement in the QuEST Program.
Characteristics
Students who are highly capable may possess, but are not limited to, these learning characteristics:
• Capacity to learn with unusual depth of understanding, to retain what has been learned, and to transfer learning to new situations;
• Capacity and willingness to deal with increasing levels of abstraction and complexity earlier than their chronological peers;
• Creative ability to make unusual connections among ideas and concepts;
• Ability to learn quickly in their area(s) of intellectual strength; and
• Capacity for intense concentration and/or focus.
Parents, teachers, staff, students, or members of the community may refer a student. Forms are available on the district website.
Puyallup School District recognizes that highly capable learners come from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. We are committed to nurturing the abilities of all students. The District provides programs for rigorous, student-centered learning that affirms diversity and promotes growth for highly capable students.
Timeline
Grades 3-5
December 16: Application Deadline
January 11-27: CogAT Testing Window
Grade 2
February: Eligible 2nd grade students invited to take the CogAT
Mid-March: Selection Committee
Late March: Placement letters and test results mailed
For more information:
Additional information is found on the district website: https://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us/
> Departments/Programs > Highly Capable Programs
Phone: 253-841-8646 or 253-864-5811
2022-2023 Host and Feeder Schools
| Regional School |
Feeder School |
| Brouillet |
Carson, Dessie Evans, Firgrove |
| Northwood |
Mt. View |
| Pope |
Edgerton, Hunt |
| Shaw Road |
Karshner, Stewart |
| Spinning |
Fruitland, Maplewood, Meeker, Waller Road |
| Sunrise |
Ridgecrest, Wildwood |
| Woodland |
Zeiger |
FAQ:
Q: What if I want my child to take a break from QuEST?
A: Identified highly capable students may take a furlough year with the proper completion of a form, and rejoin the program after one year. If more than one year, furlough students will need additional testing.
Q: What is the difference between HP (High Performance) and QUAL (Qualified) placement?
A:
• Qualified Placement: The student qualifies under the criteria of most highly capable and will be placed in program.
• High Performance Placement: Students who have demonstrated high performance and consistently achieve above grade level, have strong task completion and embrace challenges but for whom the cognitive assessment data does not support qualification for the HCP. These students may benefit from and contribute to the unique learning environment of a QuEST, PAGE or accelerated classroom as space is available. Such placements will be reviewed yearly by the
Multidisciplinary Selection Committee, and high performing students are not considered selected or identified for continuing placement within the program.
Q: How many schools offer the QuEST program?
A: 8
Q: What if I have other children who are not in the QuEST program and I would like them to all go to the same school?
A: We strive to keep families together and you can apply for an intra-district transfer for the other children to attend the school where QuEST is offered.