Universal Screening
Benchmark-based, at multiple elementary/middle grades (NNAT grade 1, CogAT grade 2 per school pages); parents may opt out
APS gifted services
APS gifted eligibility and cluster-service facts.
Arlington Public Schools uses universal screening and referral, but identified students remain in a collaborative cluster model rather than moving into a separate FCPS-style center program.
NNATCogAT
Last verified: July 2, 2026
APS gifted screening at a glance
- District
- Arlington Public Schools
- Program
- Advanced Academics & Talent Development / Gifted Services
- Tests named
- NNAT (Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test) — administered in Grade 1 as part of universal screening (per multiple official APS school-level pages); CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) — administered in Grade 2 as part of universal screening (per the same school-level pages); Note: APS's central eligibility page states only that 'nationally-normed aptitude assessments' are used and does not name CogAT/NNAT at the district level — the specific test names come from consistent statements across individual APS school sites
- Grades tested / screened
- Grade 1: universal NNAT screening. Grade 2: universal CogAT screening. APS states universal screening happens 'at multiple grade levels in elementary and middle school' — additional grades beyond 1 and 2 are not itemized on the central eligibility page. K-12: referral-based screening open at any grade, once per student per school year, deadline April 1.
- Universal vs referral
- Both. Universal screening at multiple elementary/middle grade levels (students who reach a benchmark score are automatically screened unless a parent opts out — NNAT grade 1, CogAT grade 2 per school pages). Separately, teachers, staff, parents/guardians, community members, or students may submit a referral (deadline April 1 annually) at any grade K-12; students in the automatic pool do not need to also submit a referral form.
- Last verified
- July 2, 2026
APS screening, referral, and appeal steps
Referral Deadline
April 1 annually (moves to the first day back from spring break if April 1 falls during the break); one referral per student per school year
Screening Data Gathering
Typically winter/spring of the school year (fall for students new to APS)
Identification Decision
Holistic case-study committee reviews all data; eligible families receive a permission form; ineligible families receive appeal instructions
Appeal Level One
Written appeal to the school Principal within 10 instructional days of the decision; Principal + Advanced Academics Coach meet with the family within 10 instructional days of receiving it
Appeal Level Two
Written appeal to the Syphax Education Center, Office of Academics, Director of Advanced Academics and Talent Development, within 10 instructional days of the Level One meeting
APS uses a holistic case study and does not publish a cutoff.
APS says the identification committee reviews multiple data points: nationally normed aptitude assessments, achievement data, teacher observations, parent information, and digital portfolios or work samples. The official eligibility page does not publish a single score that determines eligibility.
That matters because APS families may hear benchmark language around universal screening, but final identification is still described as committee review.
How APS delivers gifted services
No FCPS-style numbered 'Levels' — APS uses a collaborative/cluster delivery model
Elementary: 'collaborative resource model' — classroom teacher works with an Advanced Academics Coach (AAC) to deliver differentiated experiences within the general-ed classroom
Elementary/Middle cluster grouping: identified students cluster-grouped (minimum 10 at elementary; groups of 5-8 at middle by identification area) within heterogeneous general-ed classes
Middle school: each school has a full-time Resource Teacher for the Gifted (RTG); math-acceleration pathways (Pre-Algebra 6th/7th, Algebra Intensified, Geometry Intensified) and advanced/HS-credit courses; 8th graders may apply to Arlington Tech or regional TJHSST
High school: no separate identification — Honors/AP/IB/Dual Enrollment open to any student meeting prerequisites
What APS says about appeals
APS uses two written appeal levels: first to the school principal within 10 instructional days of the decision, then, if needed, to the central Office of Academics within 10 instructional days of the Level One meeting.
The useful APS-specific details
APS is best understood as an identification and differentiation model. The important parent question is less "which center?" and more how the school uses cluster grouping, the Advanced Academics Coach, and subject-area identification.
Students already flagged by the universal screener (benchmark NNAT grade-1 / CogAT grade-2 score) do NOT need to also submit a referral form — both pathways feed the same holistic committee.
APS explicitly declines to publish score cutoffs anywhere in official eligibility materials — 'holistic case study' language is consistent, with no percentile threshold stated.
Identification transfers automatically between APS schools; a student transferring from another district is NOT automatically identified — bring prior identification paperwork at registration, but APS runs its own (re-)screening.
Families do not need to obtain outside/private testing — APS states this is handled in the universal testing cycle or via referral for later entrants.
A student may be referred/screened only once per school year.
APS's delivery model differs fundamentally from FCPS's — no separate full-time gifted center/school; identified students remain cluster-grouped in general-ed classrooms district-wide.
Updates
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APS parent questions
Which tests does APS use for gifted screening?
APS central materials say nationally normed aptitude assessments are used. Multiple official APS school pages name NNAT in Grade 1 and CogAT in Grade 2 as universal screening tests.
Does APS have a published gifted cutoff?
No public cutoff was found on the official APS eligibility materials reviewed. APS describes a holistic case-study decision by committee.
Do automatic-pool students also need a referral?
APS says students who meet the universal screening benchmark and are automatically screened do not need to submit a separate referral form.
Does APS gifted identification transfer from another district?
APS says identification transfers between APS schools, but students transferring from another district are not automatically identified. Families should bring prior paperwork, and APS runs its own screening process.
Are APS gifted students moved to a separate school?
No separate gifted center model is described. APS uses classroom differentiation, Advanced Academics Coaches, and cluster grouping inside heterogeneous classes.
Official APS sources used
CogAT® and Cognitive Abilities Test™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of Riverside Assessments, LLC (Riverside Insights), used here for identification purposes only. Reasonwell Press is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or licensed by Riverside Insights, and Riverside Insights was not involved in producing our materials. Our practice materials are original CogAT®-style items, not actual test questions, and do not guarantee any score or placement outcome.
NNAT® is a registered trademark of NCS Pearson, Inc., used here for identification purposes only. Reasonwell Press is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or licensed by NCS Pearson, Inc., which was not involved in producing our materials. Our practice materials are original NNAT®-style items, not actual test questions, and do not guarantee any score or placement outcome.