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Early Childhood Assessment
The Gifted and Talented department can assess students with the Naglieri Nonverbal Abilities Test (NNAT3) starting at age 4. Unfortunately, we cannot offer testing younger than age 4.
Click here to submit a nomination form to nominate your child for testing.
Denver Public Schools Gifted and Talented supports gifted identification and programming for our youngest learners. Starting in fall of 2022, Gifted and Talented educators are available to our ECE center sites: Escalante Biggs Academy, Pascual LeDoux Academy, Sandra Todd-Williams Academy, and Stephen Knight Early Learning Center.
To learn more about what programming is available at these sites, please contact the following GT point of contact for Pascual LeDoux, Stephen Knight, Escalante-Biggs, and Sandra Todd Williams:
If you have a child attending an elementary school who is in ECE, you can find the school's GT Teacher/Point of Contact in this document.
How do I select the best Early Childhood experience for my child?
As a family of an advanced learner who is looking for possible school options for your child, there are several questions which can help you gain more information about individual schools philosophies and whether it will be a good fit for your child. We encourage visiting schools and asking questions like the ones below.
What are the advanced learning opportunities at your school?
How do you identify advanced students who need differentiated instruction?
How are advanced programming services decided and implemented?
How can we ensure that the advanced programming services do not simply mean more work for my child, but differentiation to meet their needs?
What does staff training for gifted and talented look like?
How do we address the social and emotional needs of my child?
In what ways can we work/communicate together?
How do I assist my child in transitions to a new school?
What are the ways I can participate in school activities/committees?
What kind of assessments are used to monitor my child’s progress?
What resources or support systems are available to families of advanced children?
What are some ways I can support my child’s strengths outside the school environment?
What does Giftedness look like in Young Children?
Please view our Giftedness in Young Children flyer (translations included)
What Are My Options at Magnet Sites?
If your child scored in the 95%ile or higher on a cognitive assessment (NNAT, WPPSI, etc.), they will be considered magnet eligible and may attend a highly gifted magnet site (please check the grade availability ).
Please note: Polaris DOES NOT accept students before 1st grade. However, once a student becomes magnet eligible, they will remain magnet eligible through their time in DPS and families may "Choice-In" for the student's first grade year.
Magnet sites include the following elementary schools:
Edison Elementary (ECE-5th)
Teller Elementary (ECE-5th)
Gust Elementary (ECE-5th)
Stephen Knight (K)/ Cory Elementary (1st-5th)
Lena Archuleta Elementary (1st-5th)
Polaris Elementary (1st-5th)
Please note: Eligibility does not guarantee admission, as the same Choice process and protocol for admission is required; therefore, it is possible to have a waiting list for some grades and programs at times.
Formal gifted identification occurs at the school level and you will be notified once your school’s GT teacher gathers all state required data for formal gifted identification. Once formal identification has occurred, an Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) will be created.