Explorer classrooms (grades 1–5): students identified in ELA or math are cluster-grouped within their general-education classroom.
Tahoma Highly Capable
Tahoma Highly Capable screening and referrals.
Tahoma screens every second and fifth grader with the NGAT Nonverbal, then gives the full NGAT to students who qualify. Parents can also refer students in grades K–7 during a set window.
NGAT
Last verified: October 15, 2026
Tahoma gifted screening at a glance
- District
- Tahoma School District
- Program
- Highly Capable Program: Explorer (grades 1–5) and Discovery (grades 3–5)
- Tests named
-
- NGAT Nonverbal (Naglieri General Ability Tests): the universal screener offered to every grade 2 and grade 5 student, in class
- Full NGAT, all three tests: the second round for students who qualify on the screener
- NGAT for referred grade 6 and grade 7 students, given by district staff; state and district assessments are also considered
- Grades tested / screened
- Grades 2 and 5: every student is offered the NGAT Nonverbal screener in class, and students who qualify take the full NGAT in a second round. Grades 6 and 7: referred students take the NGAT, given by district staff.
- Universal vs referral
- Both. Every grade 2 and grade 5 student is offered the screener; families do not need to do anything for their child to take part, and the district links an opt-out form. Parents can also refer students in grades K–7 during the parent-referral window, which for 2026–27 is November 1 – December 31, 2026.
- Last verified
- October 15, 2026
Tahoma’s 2026–27 referral window and standing rules
About these dates
- 2026–27 dates from Tahoma's Highly Capable page, checked October 15, 2026. For your child's screening day, ask the school or the Highly Capable office.
This cycle, in date order
- Nov 1, 2026 Parent referrals for grades K–7: November 1 – December 31, 2026, and the district will share the referral form through ParentSquare when the window opens Parent referral window, kindergarten to Grade 7
Standing rules and yearly deadlines (no year given)
- Second- and fifth-grade students who attend private schools or home-based programs and live within the district's boundaries are invited to the screening; families contact highlycapable@tahomasd.us in the fall of that grade. Private and homeschool students
- Appeal a selection decision within 10 school days of the decision notification, and the appeals team replies in writing within 10 school days of receiving the request Appeal of a selection decision
Tahoma selects on several measures, not one score.
Tahoma says selection uses achievement and ability tests along with observation of student characteristics and strengths. Its description of the self-contained Discovery program says these students are typically in the top 5–7% of their grade level in a variety of measures.
That “top 5–7%” line describes the students Discovery serves. It is not a published qualifying score, and it does not promise a place for a score in that range.
Explorer, Discovery and later grades
Discovery (grades 3–5): a self-contained, full-time program.
Middle school (grades 6–8): highly capable options in ELA and social studies. Accelerated math placement is a separate evaluation, completed in the spring of grade 5.
What Tahoma says about appeals
Parents or legal guardians send the Highly Capable Coordinator an appeal form or letter with the reasons for the appeal and additional supporting evidence, within 10 school days of the selection committee’s decision notification. The appeals team decides within 10 school days of receiving the request and replies in writing.
The useful Tahoma-specific details
Tahoma uses a two-stage screen: a nonverbal screener for everyone in grades 2 and 5, then the full NGAT for students who qualify. It also invites resident private-school and home-based students in those grades.
Screening in grades 2 and 5 happens during a normal school day with the classroom teacher. Families who do not want their child screened use the district's opt-out form.
Students who move into the district after the referral window closes can submit a move-in referral form, once they are registered with the district.
Updates
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Tahoma parent questions
Which students take the NGAT in Tahoma?
Every grade 2 and grade 5 student is offered the NGAT Nonverbal screener in class, and students who qualify take the full NGAT in a second round. District staff also give the NGAT to referred students in grades 6 and 7, and state and district assessments are considered too.
When can I refer my child?
For 2026–27 the parent-referral window for grades K–7 is November 1–December 31, 2026. The district says it will share the referral form through ParentSquare when the window opens; it had not opened when we checked on October 15, 2026.
Does a top-5% score guarantee a Discovery place?
No. Tahoma’s description says Discovery students are typically in the top 5–7% of their grade in a variety of measures, but that describes the students served, not a qualifying score. Selection considers achievement and ability tests and observed strengths.
Can private-school, homeschool or new students take part?
Second- and fifth-grade students who attend private schools or home-based programs and live within the district’s boundaries are invited to the screening; families contact highlycapable@tahomasd.us in the fall. Students who move in after the referral window closes can use the move-in referral form once they are registered.
How do appeals work?
Send the Highly Capable Coordinator the reasons for the appeal and additional supporting evidence within 10 school days of the decision notification. The appeals team replies in writing within 10 school days of receiving the request.
Official Tahoma sources used
Naglieri General Ability Tests™ (NGAT) is a trademark of Multi-Health Systems Inc. (MHS), used here for identification purposes only. Reasonwell Press is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or licensed by MHS or Dr. Jack Naglieri, and MHS was not involved in producing our materials. Our practice materials are original NGAT-style items, not actual test questions, and do not guarantee any score or placement outcome.