Gifted

Challenging Minds, Inspiring Potential

Glendale Elementary School District is committed to nurturing gifted learners from kindergarten through eighth grade by engaging them intellectually, socially, and emotionally. Our Gifted Education Program is designed to help inspiring students recognize and reach their full potential at every step.

Key Goals of Our Gifted Program

• Identifying Talent Thoughtfully: We use a range of appropriate measures to recognize gifted learners across our district.

• Meeting Every Aspect of Student Needs: Programs are crafted to support both academic growth and social-emotional well-being throughout the school day.

• Equipping Teachers for Success: Educators receive training in recognizing gifted characteristics and differentiating curriculum to meet students where they are.

• Aligning with National Best Practices: The program incorporates the National Association for Gifted Children’s 2010 Gifted Programming Standards, emphasizing meaningful student outcomes.

Gifted Placement & Identification

Students are assessed in verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning domains using the CogAT assessment. In alignment with Arizona Department of Education guidance, GESD identifies students for gifted program placement who score at or above the 97th percentile on state-approved assessments. In some cases, the NNAT assessment is also used for identification, with the same 97th percentile criterion applied.

Testing Information

Testing is available throughout the school year, for all existing kindergarteners through 8th-grade students who attend a GESD school.  Testing will take place during the school day.  If you would like your child tested, you need to notify your child’s teacher.

nomination form

Fill out nomination form and bring to your child's teacher if you would like your child tested for gifted.