TESTING INFORMATION
How do I sign up for cognitive testing?
Nominate your child for magnet testing (Applicable for students ECE-12)
Note: In-district students in 1st and 5th grade will be assessed as part of our Universal Screening and a nomination form is not necessary.
Downloadable application- English
Nomination forms (available in Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, French, Nepali, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese). Make sure to download the file or make a copy to complete in Google Docs.
Please submit paper nomination forms to your GT Teacher and they will submit them to our office. Alternatively, you may scan and send them to giftedandtalented@dpsk12.org.
Testing Windows
In-District Students
In-district students will be tested at their school between October 20 – December 5, 2025.
Your child’s GT teacher will send more details after the nomination deadline on October 10, 2025
Out-of-district, Private, or Home-School Students
Out-of-district, private, or home-school students will test by appointment at Emily Griffith Campus (1860 Lincoln St.) during the same October 20 – December 5 window.
A Sign-Up Genius link will be emailed after October 10 to schedule your spot.
No testing will be done before or after these dates.
Testing Rules & Exemptions
One test per year only!
A student tested in Spring 2025 cannot test again until Spring 2026
1st and 5th graders already take a universal test in the fall with the NGAT—so they do not need to fill out a nomination form
Students with Magnet Eligible (ME) or Highly Gifted (HGT) labels do not need another cognitive test—they already have a qualifying score.
GT-identified or Talent Pool students can test again to see if they now qualify for magnet schools or HGT status. Talk to your school’s GT teacher for information.
Children must be at least 4 years old. For younger kids, see the Early Childhood or Early Access pages.
Visit our Early Childhood page for more information about ECE testing and the Early Access page.
How Can I Get My Child Tested?
Grade Level | How to Get Tested | Which Test |
1st and 5th Grade | Students are included in the Universal Screening. No further action is needed. | 1st: NGAT- Verbal Battery 5th: NGAT (full test) |
K, 2nd, and 6th (fall 2025 only) | Fill out the Opt-In form (translations) | K: NGAT- Nonverbal Battery |
ECE | Fill out the Nomination Form | NNAT |
3rd, 4th, 7th-12th Grades | Fill out the Nomination Form | CogAT |
Early Childhood Assessment
The Gifted and Talented department can test students with the Naglieri Nonverbal Abilities Test (NNAT3) starting at age 4. We cannot offer testing younger than age 4.
Click here to submit a nomination form to nominate your child for testing.
My child took a cognitive test outside of Denver Public Schools. Can it be used towards a gifted identification and/or magnet eligibility?
Possibly, pending a Data Committee Review.
If you have additional testing data external to Denver Public Schools such as WISC, WPPSI, DAS, Stanford-Binet or other cognitive testing you would like reviewed for eligibility, please email the file to giftedandtalented@dpsk12.org.
Important: If your child is not currently a student in DPS, please also include a copy of their birth certificate so that we can generate a district file to house the data.
Please review the Outside Testing Policy.