Identifying High Ability Students Hamilton Southeastern Schools http://www.hse.k12.in.us/ IDENTIFYING HIGH ABILITY STUDENTS Students are identified in two ways: 
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those with exceptional cognitive potential those with outstanding achievement in mathematics/reading. Measuring Academic Achievement Measuring Cognitive Potential Normative data from the NWEA test is used to identify high academic achievement for students in reading or math. The NWEA is an adaptive test that provides progress scores as well as national norms. All students in grades K – 6 participate in the NWEA two times a year. Grades K and 1 students who score at the 99 percentile and grades 2‐6 students who score between the 95th and 99th percentile on national norms from the spring administration of NWEA will be identified as eligible for service in the areas of mathematics, reading, or both depending on the results of the test. All students in grades K, 2, and 5 who have not already fully qualified in both reading and math through NWEA will then participate in a cognitive potential screener. This second round of testing is intended to find any students with cognitive potential that might have been missed through achievement testing. A screen is a short version of a test followed by a full version pending screening results. In measuring cognitive potential, we use the CogAT, a nationally normed test of aptitude. Students in grades K and 2 will take a CogAT screener. Scores at or above the 80th percentile on the CogAT screener will qualify for the full CogAT. In grade 5 scores at or above the 80th percentile on the NWEA will qualify participation in the full CogAT. A score between the 95th ‐ 99th percentile on the full CogAT at grades K, 2, and 5 indicates that the student qualifies to receive high ability services. Potential Third Qualifying Test Students with results that just miss the cut off score within the standard error of measure (SEM) on either test are eligible for a third qualifier. The Scales for Identifying Gifted Students Inventory (SIGS) will be used to collect data from parents and teachers. A score between the 95th – 99th percentiles on the SIGS indicates that the student qualifies to receive high ability services.