- Gilbert Public Schools
- Gifted Education Overview
Gifted Announcements
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Apply Now - Gifted Talented and Creative (GTC) 7th & 8th Grade Gifted Program
Applications for the 2023/24 school year for our Gifted, Talented and Creative program for 7th and 8th graders hosted at Highland Junior High are now open. Please complete the application below.
Application Form - Gifted, Talented & Creative Program
Please note: Application is open to in-district and out-of-district students who qualify for this program. Families who are out-of-district please email qualifying test scores to Lisa Creaser, Gifted Coordinator.
Gilbert Public Schools Gifted Program Information
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Gilbert Public Schools is a premier provider of services to Pre-K through Grade 12 students identified as gifted or twice-exceptional, using research-based instruction to address the needs of the whole child.
To achieve this vision, GPS seeks to:
- Address the social, emotional, cognitive, academic, physical, and kinesthetic needs of each gifted or twice-exceptional student.
- Use state-of-the-art diagnosis and pre-assessment tools that enable teachers to provide a rigorous curriculum at an appropriate instructional level for each student, with options that allow differentiation, individualization, and flexibility.
- Address the specific needs of gifted, highly gifted, profoundly gifted and twice-exceptional students using hands-on and project-based learning and innovative use of technology.
- Ensure appropriate training and professional development for teachers of gifted education students.
- Provide mechanisms for effective communication between families and school professionals.
Our elementary schools use cluster and replacement models to serve gifted students in grades K–6. These programs support our students who are identified as gifted through testing (CogAt or IQ) or twice exceptional. Gifted students are academically-talented students who excel in their ability to think and reason and need academic challenges beyond the regular classroom setting to address the needs of the whole child. The cluster model is offered at all GPS elementary schools, K-6 grades - Gifted students are clustered into mixed-ability classrooms while receiving instruction and support on a daily basis from teachers who understand and are trained in the learning needs of gifted students.
The replacement model is offered at 23 elementary schools to 4-6 grade students. - Gifted students are provided with gifted math and ELA instruction. Gifted math for 4-6 graders includes instruction each day, one year above the student’s grade level. Gifted ELA for 6th graders includes instruction each day with the gifted teacher. All gifted teachers are highly qualified and have a gifted endorsement.
A 4th, 5th and 6th-grade Self-Contained Elementary Gifted Program is offered at Towne Meadows Elementary School.
Testing Updates for 2022–23 School Year: The Fall Testing window is August 1–September 2, 2022. Any requests received after August 22nd will be considered for May 2023 testing. The May testing window is May 1–25, 2023. All 2nd grade students will be administered the CogAT gifted blanket screener in February 2023.
How to Request Gifted Testing
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The Request for Gifted Application forms are now available via each school's individual website under Classrooms, Gifted Education. Please contact your student's enrolled campus if you have any questions or concerns.
Elementary Gifted Services
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Great effort is made to provide the most appropriate placement for every child attending Gilbert Public Schools.
Our elementary schools use the cluster and replacement models to serve gifted students in grades K–6. These programs comply with a legislative mandate requiring schools to provide services for academically-talented and ambitious students who need challenges beyond the regular classroom setting.
Self-Contained Elementary Gifted Program
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A 4th, 5th and 6th grade Self-Contained Elementary Gifted Program is offered at Towne Meadows Elementary School.
Junior High Honors Program
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Junior High Honors is designed to provide academic acceleration and enrichment for the academically able and ambitious student. Grades in honors classes are weighted grades. It is recommended that students maintain a grade of C or better to continue in the honors sequence.
Students who have not participated in the Accelerated Learning Program at the elementary level will need to qualify for the junior high program.
Please contact your junior high counselor for information regarding the indicators.
Gifted Talented and Creative (GTC) Program
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A 7th and 8th grade Gifted Talented and Creative (GTC) Program is offered at Highland Junior High School.
High School Honors Program
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High School Honors is designed to provide academic acceleration and enrichment for the academically able and ambitious student.
Students who have not participated in the Honors Program at the junior high level will need to qualify for the high school program. There are several indicators that are used to determine eligibility for honors classes.
Please contact your high school counselor for information regarding the indicators.
GPS Gifted FAQ
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How are students assessed for Gifted Identification?
Great effort is made to provide the most appropriate placement for every child attending Gilbert Public Schools. GPS currently utilizes the state approved CogAT Form 7 computer-based assessment to identify students for Gifted Services.
Students who score in the 97th percentile are eligible for Gifted Services and will receive information about the services available at their enrolled school site.
Gilbert Public Schools universally screens all enrolled 2nd graders in early spring. Screening is completed by your child’s classroom teacher during the regular school day. Students and their families who qualify for additional testing will be notified individually by the student’s enrolled campus.
Gifted Contact
Lisa Creaser, Gifted Coordinator 480-497-3420
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What is the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)?
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is a group-administered assessment intended to estimate students' learned reasoning and problem-solving abilities. The test is divided into three independent batteries: Verbal, Quantitative and Non-Verbal. All three batteries appraise inductive and deductive reasoning.
Each battery also appraises additional cognitive abilities that specifically relate to that battery:- Verbal: Picture Analogies--Sentence Completion--Picture Classification
- Quantitative: Number Analogies--Number Puzzles--Number Series
- Non-Verbal: Figure matrices--Paper Folding--Figure Classification
Scores indicate the relative standing of a student in comparison to other students in a particular norm group. The percentile rank designates the percent of students in the norm group who earned scores that were the same as or lower than a particular score. For example, if a fourth-grade student receives a 92 percentile score on the Verbal Battery, it means that 92% of fourth-grade students in the standardization sample received scores lower than the score achieved by this particular student.
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How can my child be considered for Gifted Testing?
Students in grade 2 will be screened as part of their grade level program by their classroom teacher. Families who do not wish to have their child participate in the universal screening may opt out. For students not enrolled in Grade 2, there is an online form (found on the individual school's website under Classrooms, Gifted Education), that may be completed by the parent/guardian to request consideration for Gifted Testing. This request is routed to your student’s elementary school to process and consider. Each individual campus manages these requests and will notify parents and/or guardians.
Information regarding your school's process can be found by contacting your child's school.
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My child was tested in another school district. Do those scores count?
Scores from other districts will be evaluated by the Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment Department. Gifted scores must be a result from an ADE State Approved Test and align with Gilbert Public Schools Gifted Criteria.
To have your student's Out of District Gifted Testing Results evaluated, please send to:- Contact Lynn Emerson, District Test Manager, at 480-497-3392 for email instructions
- Mail to: Gilbert Public Schools, Lynn Emerson, District Test Manager Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment, 140 S Gilbert RD, Gilbert, AZ 85296
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Is summer Gifted Testing Available?
Gilbert Public Schools does not offer summer Gifted Testing.
Gifted Education Department Contacts
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- Dr. Matthew Moix
- Lisa Creaser
- Brittany Halbert
