Apply for Summer Challenge

  • The lottery for Summer Challenge 2026 opens February 1st at 4pm and closes February 14th at 4pm.
  • Students must currently be in 5th or 6th grade when they register.
  • Applications are only considered once they have completed the online application and submitted appropriate documentation.
  • Classes that are under-enrolled by Friday, April 17, 2026 may be canceled.

Registration Tips:

  • Classes fill quickly! Students may select up to two class choices during registration, but are only accepted into one class. Only one application permitted per student.
  • For any uploaded documents, be aware that file size must be under 2 MB or it will not upload.

Lottery Admission Process

To increase access and equity, we are moving from a first-come, first-served model to a lottery system.

How the lottery works

  • Apply anytime during the first two weeks to enter the lottery.
  • Select a first-choice and a second-choice course on your application.
  • After the lottery closes, students are placed into courses.
  • When courses fill, students are placed on the waitlist.
  • Families receive placement results by the Thursday after the lottery closes.
  • Open spots after the lottery are filled from the waitlist on a first-come, first-served basis.

Summer Challenge Lottery Dates

  • Registration opens February 1st at 4:00 PM
  • Lottery period closes February 14th at 4:00 PM
  • Placements completed on February 19th

Qualifiers

Pathways to Qualify for a Challenge Course–only one is required.

  • Enrollment in an identified highly capable program that specifically serves highly capable students. 
  • Participation in the Rainier Scholars program.
  • Smarter Balanced (SBAC) scores from the current or previous school year in the 90th percentile or above in at least one subject area.
     4th grade test. ELA 2605 or Math 2603.
     5th grade test. ELA 2649 or Math 2638.
     6th grade test. ELA 2660 or Math 2666.
  • Other standardized test scores from the current or previous school year in the 90th percentile or above in at least one subject area. Accepted tests include ITBS, SSAT, SCAT, CoGAT, ERB, and ISEE.
  • PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores from the current or previous school year in the 85th percentile or above in at least one subject area.
  • MAP scores from the current or previous school year in the 99th percentile in any one subject.
  • Recommendation from a teacher who can speak to the student’s ability to be successful in the program and in the relevant academic subject area.
    • Provide the teacher's institutional email address that is associated with their school or institution.
    • A recommendation request will be sent automatically to the teacher after the application is submitted.
    • Teacher recommendations may not be submitted by family members.
    • All recommendations must be completed by February 18.
  • Previous enrollment in our Summer Challenge or Saturday Enrichment Program.

Examples of acceptable documentation include a letter of placement or a report card. Documentation must be uploaded to your account. Files may be submitted as a photo, PDF, or JPEG. File size must be under 2 MB or the file will not upload.

How to Make an Account

How to Apply

Appeals

If a student was not accepted into the program and would like to appeal that decision, parents have a week to submit an appeal. If you wish to appeal, please log into your account, where there is a link to an appeal form. Once the appeal has been completed and submitted, and the required documents uploaded to your account, the admissions team will reconsider your application and, if necessary, forward the appeal to the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, which has the final word on all appeals.