Background: Autism has traditionally been regarded as a clinical condition affecting only individuals with a formal diagnosis and their immediate families. However, recent research indicates that autistic traits (AT) are continuously distributed across the population, blurring the boundaries between clinical and non-clinical groups. Consequently, screening children in the general population to identify those with elevated levels of AT is essential to ensure timely access to resources and services. Objectives: To examine how screening strata map to final diagnosis (ASD vs non-ASD) and how intelligence and adaptive behavior domains differ overall and within strata. Methods: The sample for this study was drawn from a larger population-based project on socio-communicative skills in school-aged children. Screening strata were defined by AQ-Child-SV total score (Fernández-Álvarez, et al., 2025): AT (≥76), Elevated Autistic Traits (EAT; 71-75; within five points of the 76 cut-off), and No AT (≤70). Cognitive ability was indexed by a composite IQ from age-appropriate, language-standardized tests. Adaptive functioning used Vineland-II/3 (ABC and Communication, Daily Living, Socialization domains). Results: Among the 75 children assessed, 38 received an ASD diagnosis. Screening-to-diagnosis mapping based on AQ-Child-SV classifications revealed that ASD was most prevalent among children in the AT range (27 of 49; 55%), less frequent in the EAT range (3 of 16; 19%), and present in half of those within the No AT range (5 of 10; 50%). Comparing final diagnoses, the ASD group showed lower adaptive functioning on Daily Living (p=.007) and Socialization (p=.002), with no difference in Communication (p=.466). IQ did not differ overall between ASD and Non-ASD (p=.726). Conclusions: Children who screened in the AT group were more likely to receive an ASD diagnosis (55%) compared to those in the EAT group (19%). These patterns suggest screening should inform, but not determine, the decision to pursue a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation.