Gilbert Public Schools Gifted Program Information

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.

Request Gifted Testing

Elementary Gifted Services

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.

Gifted Identification

Every student enrolled in Grades 3 and 5 will be screened for Gifted Potential and further Gifted Testing unless parents/guardians elect to opt out of this Blanket Screening. For students not enrolled in Grades 3 or 5, there is a Gifted Testing Application that may be completed by the parent/guardian to request consideration for Gifted Testing.

Gilbert Public Schools currently utilizes the state approved CogAT Form 7 computer-based assessment to identify students for Gifted Services. Students who score in the 95th percentile are eligible for Gifted Services and will receive specific information about the services available to qualified students through their enrolled school site.

Self-Contained Elementary Gifted Program

A 4th, 5th and 6th grade Self-Contained Elementary Gifted Program is offered at Towne Meadows Elementary School.

Learn More

Junior High Honors Program

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

A 7th and 8th grade Gifted Talented and Creative (GTC) Program is offered at Highland Junior High School.

Learn More

High School Honors Program

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.

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 95th percentile are eligible for Gifted Services and will receive specific information about the services available to qualified students through their enrolled school site.

Students are eligible for GPS provided Gifted Testing once every 23 months. Every student enrolled in Grades 3 and 5 will be screened for Gifted Potential and further Gifted Testing unless parents/guardians elect to opt out of this Blanket Screening.

Gifted Testing Contact

Lynn Emerson, District Test Coordinator 480-497-3392
What is the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)?
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is a group-administered K-12 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.

Gifted Testing Contact

Lynn Emerson, District Test Coordinator 480-497-3392
How can my child be considered for Gifted Testing?

Students in Grades 3 and 5 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 Grade Level Screening may opt out. For students not enrolled in Grades 3 or 5, there is a Gifted Testing Application that may be completed by the parent/guardian to request consideration for Gifted Testing. Information regarding your school's process can be found by contacting your child's school.

Request Gifted Testing

Gifted Testing Contact

Lynn Emerson, District Test Coordinator 480-497-3392
My child was tested in another school district. Do those scores count?
Scores from other districts are screened by the Assessment and Accountability Department. Gifted scores must be a result from a 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 Coordinator, at lynn.emerson@gilbertschools.net
- or mail to: Gilbert Public Schools, Assessment & Accountability, 140 S Gilbert RD, Gilbert, AZ 85296
Is summer Gifted Testing Available?

Gifted Education Department Contacts

Name:

Title:

Location:

Showing results for "Professor named Smith at Elementary School"

Amber MacRobbie

480-545-2173

Matthew Moix

480-497-3322

Lynn Emerson

480-497-3392

Last Modified on November 6, 2019

Gifted Education

Gilbert Public Schools Gifted Program Information

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.

Elementary Gifted Services

Great effort is made to provide the most appropriate placement for every child attending Gilbert Public Schools.

Gifted Identification

Self-Contained Elementary Gifted Program

Junior High Honors Program

Gifted Talented and Creative (GTC) Program

High School Honors Program

How are students assessed for Gifted Identification?

What is the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)?

How can my child be considered for Gifted Testing?

My child was tested in another school district. Do those scores count?

Is summer Gifted Testing Available?

Gifted Education Department Contacts