Enrichment Program

Advanced Academics Enrichment (Reading and/or Math) Grades 2–5

Tool: FastBridge (aReading and/or aMath)

• Qualifying Criteria: Students must score at or above the 97th National Percentile on two out of the last three FastBridge assessments in the respective content area.
• Annual Re-qualification: Qualification is not continuous. Students must re-qualify each year to ensure the program remains responsive to their current academic development.
• Identification Cycle:
  •  2025-26: Based on the last three available scores starting from any given test date.

Beginning 2026-27: WPS will move to an annual cycle. The three evaluated scores will be the Fall, Winter, and Spring scores from the previous school year.

Seminar Enrichment Grades 4–5

Tool: Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)

• Qualifying Criteria: A student must achieve:
  • A CogAT Composite score of 130 or higher, OR
  • A CogAT Strand score (Verbal, Quantitative, and/or Nonverbal) of 135 or higher.
• Administration: The CogAT is administered to all 4th graders in the Fall and to new/incoming students thereafter.

Continuation: Students who qualify for Seminar services do not need to re-qualify year-to-year.

Advanced Academics Enrichment Grades 2-3

Identification for grades 2 and 3 continues with the previously outlined 2025-26 processes.

• Teacher Partnership: We encourage families who feel their child may benefit from additional academic enrichment to first partner with their classroom teacher to discuss classroom-based enrichment opportunities.

Limited Appeals: Families may pursue further consideration for the Enrichment Program through the appeals process. Please note that for the 2025-26 school year, appeals for grades 2 and 3 will be considered on a very limited basis as we continue our broader program review.

Advanced Academics Enrichment Grades 4-5

This measure applies to students showing strong, consistent performance just below the automatic threshold.

Achievement (FastBridge) vs. Ability (CogAT)

Our Second Measure identification process looks at two different lenses of student performance:

• FastBridge (Achievement): Measures what a student knows and can do in school. High scores suggest mastery of current and advanced curriculum.
• CogAT (Ability): Measures how a student thinks and processes new information. This identifies cognitive potential, regardless of whether they have been taught specific material yet.

The Threshold for Second Measure Consideration:

To qualify for a second measure review, a student must have:

1. One FastBridge score at or above the 97th percentile, AND
2. At least one other score (out of the three evaluated) within one Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) of the 97th percentile in the same content area. See additional details below "Understanding SEM” to help understand the SEM and if your child meets the eligibility thresholds.

Qualification Criteria:

If the above threshold is met, the district will review CogAT scores as the second measure:

• For Reading Advanced Academics Enrichment: A CogAT Verbal Strand score of 135 or higher.
• For Math Advanced AcademicsEnrichment: A combined score on the CogAT Nonverbal and Quantitative strands of 135 or higher.

Process Note: WPS proactively notifies families who meet Second Measure criteria. Participation is optional and based on available space. Parents must formally respond to the invitation to request participation.

The Logic of the "Second Measure" (CogAT 135)

A CogAT score of 135 (99th percentile) is a higher statistical bar than the FastBridge 97th percentile. We use this high bar as a "Safety Net." If a student has exceptional reasoning abilities (CogAT 135+) but their classroom test scores (FastBridge) are hovering just below the cutoff, the CogAT validates that the student has the cognitive "floor" to succeed in accelerated environments. In other words, we are requiring a higher degree of evidence in reasoning to offset the lack of evidence in achievement. This maintains rigor while capturing "non-traditional" high-potential learners.

Eligibility Threshold for Appeal

The district will only consider appeals for students who meet the following test score profile:

• FastBridge Requirement: All three evaluated scores are within one Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) of the 97th percentile, but none are at or above the 97th percentile.
• Note: If your child’s scores do not meet this specific threshold, an appeal will not be considered. See additional details below to help understand the SEM and if your child meets the eligibility threshold. You may also reach out to your school’s Enrichment Specialist if you have questions about whether you should consider an appeal for your child.

Criteria for Review

Successful appeals are based on a comprehensive review and your school’s capacity. The following data points are evaluated by the appeal team:

1. FastBridge Threshold: Must be met first (as defined above).
2. CogAT Scores:
   • Reading Appeal: Verbal Strand of 135 or higher.
   • Math Appeal: Combined Nonverbal and Quantitative strands of 135 or higher.
3. Additional Context: If the above are met, the appeal team may consider:
   • Classroom achievement and progress
   • Partnership with the family for additional information
   • Other relevant criteria, evidence, or input

How to Initiate an Appeal

• Responsibility: The district does not proactively notify families of appeal eligibility. Parents/guardians must initiate this process.
• Timing: Reviews occur following FastBridge testing windows. Start dates in the program for students with successful appeals depend on curriculum pacing and building capacity.

Action: Complete the [Official Appeals Request Form Here].

Understanding SEM (Standard Error of Measurement)

What is an SEM?

Think of a test score not as a single, fixed point, but as a "range." The SEM acknowledges that no test is 100% perfect; factors like sleep, mood, or even luck can cause scores to fluctuate slightly on any given day.

The SEM creates a "confidence interval" around a student's performance. For example, if a student’s score is within one SEM of the 97th percentile, it means that statistically, their "true" score likely falls within a range that reaches that cutoff. Because the 97th percentile is the gateway for our program, we utilize the SEM as a "benefit of the doubt" measure when other supporting evidence is also available. This ensures we aren't excluding students due to minor, everyday testing fluctuations.

We value a stable academic profile rather than just a one-time high score. A student who consistently performs within this range demonstrates a level of readiness that we want to recognize and support.

For FastBridge:

To determine if a student is within one SEM of the 97th percentile, we look at their Scale Score rather than just the percentile rank. Because the SEM represents a margin of error in points, a student slightly below the 97th percentile may still fall within the qualifying range once the SEM is applied.

The exact value of the SEM is not a fixed number; it fluctuates based on the specific subject area, the time of year (test window), and the student’s actual score. If you are considering an appeal but are uncertain if your child’s score meets this statistical threshold, please contact your school’s Enrichment Specialist for details about your child’s scale score data.

Students with a Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) composite score of 130 or above will be enrolled in gifted seminars. These seminars are separate from a student’s academic classes and are taught by the Gifted and Talented coordinator. Gifted Seminar Topics include:

• Coping with Stress
• Perfectionism
• Relationships
• Self-advocacy Leadership
• Time Management
• Organization
• High school readiness

* Qualifying criteria may apply to competitions.

Activities/experiences for within the regular school day:

• American Mathematics Competition *
• Continental Math League competitions
• Knowledge Master Open
• National Geographic Bee
• Spelling Bee
• Young Authors Conference *

Optional activities/experiences available to all students outside the school day:

• Destination Imagination (parent coach required, run through Wayzata Community Ed)
• Future Problem Solving
• First Lego League *
• Honors Reading Program
• Junior High Math League
• Math Counts*
• Math Masters (6th grade only) *
• Northwestern University Midwest Academic Talent Search (7th and 8th grade only) *
• Science Bowl *
• Young Scientist Roundtable