Highly Capable Program

About our Program 

The Lynden School District has a long history of serving high-performing students using a variety of strategies.  Building on that history we are offering a continuum of K-12 services to students identified through a formal process in accordance with state law.  The process occurs annually. Once a student is identified as having unique learning needs, our department will match the student to one or more district services which best meet the student’s needs.

Highly Capable Program Contacts are available to answer your questions:

Megan Dickson, Program Coordinator
dicksonm@lynden.wednet.edu

Bernice Vossbeck Elementary –  Lynne Barrios
barriosl@lynden.wednet.edu

Fisher Elementary – Lynne Barrios
barriosl@lynden.wednet.edu

Isom Elementary – Lynne Barrios
barriosl@lynden.wednet.edu

Lynden Middle School – Lynne Barrios
barriosl@lynden.wednet.edu

Lynden High School – Christina Lynch
lynchc@lynden.wednet.edu

Lynden Academy – Lea Kope
kopel@lynden.wednet.edu

Identifying Highly Capable Students:

Highly capable students are students who perform or show potential for performing at significantly advanced academic levels when compared with others of their age, experiences, or environments. Outstanding abilities are seen within students’ general intellectual aptitudes, specific academic abilities, and/or creative productivities within a specific domain. These students are present not only in the general populace, but are present within all protected classes.

Highly Capable student learner characteristics include, but are not limited to: 

1. The capacity and willingness to deal with increasing levels of abstraction and complexity earlier than their chronological peers.
2. The capacity to learn with unusual depth of understanding, to retain what has been learned, and to transfer learning to new situations.
3. The ability to learn quickly in their area(s) of intellectual strength; and the capacity for intense concentration and/or focus.

Referral Process:
Students must go through the district’s referral assessment process in order to be considered for the Highly Capable program.

Applicants must:
Parents may submit Parent/Guardian Referral Form at any time, but it must be received by Oct. 24, 2022, for the student to be scheduled for the Fall assessment process. The formal referral process will be conducted February through May.

In an effort to provide equitable access to qualify for Highly Capable identification, Lynden School District screens all second grade students. Referrals for second grade are not necessary.

Who refers students for highly capable:

• Teachers
• Families
• Community Members
• Students in 6th-11th grade may self-refer. (WAC 392-170-045)

Student Referral forms are available online, in school offices, at the district office or through email request via the Highly Capable Program Contacts. The forms may be returned to your school office to the attention of program contacts listed above.  

Please use the following forms below to refer students:
Teacher/Staff Referral Form
Parent/Guardian Referral Form – English
Parent/Guardian Referral Form – Spanish