Elementary: CFBISD uses a cluster-group model in all elementary schools. Identified students stay in their regular classroom and are served in language arts, math or both.
CFBISD gifted and talented
CFBISD gifted screening, referrals, and GT services.
Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD screens every kindergartner and fifth grader with the NGAT, and parents or staff can refer other students. This guide separates the screening benchmarks from the committee decision that follows.
NGATMAP
Last verified: October 15, 2026
CFBISD gifted screening at a glance
- District
- Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District
- Program
- Gifted and Talented (GT) Services, including Advanced Learner Services
- Tests named
-
- NGAT (Naglieri General Ability Tests): all three tests, Verbal, Nonverbal and Quantitative, given as the universal screening for kindergarten and grade 5 (the 2026–27 calendar names non-LEAP students)
- MAP reading or math scores: one of the initial screening benchmarks in CFBISD's FAQ
- Formal identification: qualitative and quantitative evidence from three or more measures, including parent and teacher surveys and ability and achievement scores
- Grades tested / screened
- Kindergarten and grade 5: every student is screened with the NGAT, with no referral needed (the 2026–27 calendar names non-LEAP students). Other grades: students are referred by a parent or staff member during the published windows; the 2026–27 calendar lists district screening for grades 6–12 from September 1 to December 18, 2026.
- Universal vs referral
- Both. Kindergarten and grade 5 are screened universally, with no separate referral needed. Parents and staff can refer other students for GT testing with the elementary or secondary referral form, during the district's published referral windows.
- Last verified
- October 15, 2026
CFBISD’s 2026–27 GT calendar
About these dates
- 2026–27 dates from CFBISD's GT Assessment Calendar 26-27, the district calendar linked from its GT Assessment Calendar page. Checked October 15, 2026.
This cycle, in date order
- Aug 11, 2026 Fall referral window for grades 1–4: August 11 – September 25, 2026 (closes at 4:00 pm) Already closed when we checked on October 15, 2026 Fall referral window, Grades 1–4
- Sept 1, 2026 District GT screening for grades 6–12: September 1 – December 18, 2026 District screening, Grades 6–12
- Nov 4, 2026 NGAT universal screening window for kindergarten and grade 5 non-LEAP students: November 4–13, 2026 NGAT universal screening, kindergarten and Grade 5
- Apr 1, 2027 Spring referral window for grades K–5: April 1 – May 21, 2027 (closes at 4:00 pm), with screening the following fall semester Spring referral window, kindergarten to Grade 5
- Apr 1, 2027 Spring referral window for grades 6–11: April 1 – May 21, 2027 (closes at 4:00 pm) Grades 6–11, spring referral and summer testing
- May 27, 2027 Summer testing options for grades 6–11: May 27 and July 22, 2027 Grades 6–11, spring referral and summer testing
Abbreviations on this page: GT = Gifted and Talented.
CFBISD publishes screening benchmarks, not a final cutoff.
CFBISD’s FAQ lists two initial screening benchmarks: at least “89%” on either the Math or Reading MAP assessment, or a composite score of 116 on the NGAT. A student who meets one moves on to the formal identification process, which uses three or more measures, qualitative and quantitative. A committee of trained district staff decides placement.
The FAQ says no single criterion is used to qualify a student for, or deny access to, gifted programs. The “89%” is copied as CFBISD’s FAQ writes it; the FAQ does not say which kind of score it is.
CFBISD asks families not to prepare for the ability test.
CFBISD’s NGAT page says it is crucial to avoid any form of test preparation, including study guides or practice materials. This page follows that advice: it links no practice materials or workbooks.
How CFBISD serves GT students
The district records the area of identification as 1E (advanced language arts), 1M (advanced math) or 1EM (both). Ask your child's classroom teacher how the services are delivered.
What CFBISD says about appeals
Initial screening results are not appealable. For a formal identification decision, contact the GT specialist for your child’s campus to start a Level One appeal, and complete the online appeal form within 15 business days of the postmark date on the GT assessment report, with documentation that supports the appeal.
The useful CFBISD-specific details
CFBISD screens every kindergartner and fifth grader rather than every second grader, and it publishes the benchmarks that lead to formal identification. It also asks families not to prepare children for the ability test.
Students are assessed in languages they understand to the extent possible, or with nonverbal assessments.
Updates
Want district guide updates?
Get low-frequency updates when gifted-testing windows and district guides change. No PDF is required for this opt-in.
CFBISD parent questions
Which test does CFBISD use for gifted screening?
CFBISD gives all three NGAT tests (Verbal, Nonverbal and Quantitative) as a universal screening for kindergarten and grade 5; its 2026–27 calendar names non-LEAP students. Formal identification then uses three or more measures, including parent and teacher surveys and ability and achievement scores.
When is the 2026–27 NGAT screening?
November 4–13, 2026, for kindergarten and grade 5 non-LEAP students, with no referral needed. The calendar also lists district GT screening for grades 6–12 from September 1 to December 18, 2026. We checked the calendar on October 15, 2026.
Is an NGAT composite of 116 a passing score?
No. CFBISD’s FAQ lists a composite of 116 on the NGAT, or at least “89%” on the Math or Reading MAP assessment, as initial screening benchmarks for moving on to formal identification. A committee then decides placement, and the FAQ says no single criterion qualifies or excludes a student.
How and when can I refer my child?
Parents and staff can refer students for GT testing with the elementary or secondary form on CFBISD’s GT Referral Form page, during the published windows. For 2026–27 the fall window for grades 1–4 closed on September 25, 2026. The spring window for grades K–5 is April 1–May 21, 2027, closing at 4 p.m., with screening the following fall semester.
Can I appeal a CFBISD decision?
Initial screening results are not appealable. For a formal identification decision, contact your campus GT specialist to start a Level One appeal and complete the online appeal form within 15 business days of the postmark date on the GT assessment report.
Can outside test scores be used?
Outside scores may be used to meet the prescreening benchmarks, but CFBISD accepts only testing done within the district for final identification and placement.
Official CFBISD sources used
- GT Universal Screening, NGAT: universal kindergarten and grade 5 screening, the three tests, GT services, preparation advice and contacts
- GT Assessment Calendar page, which links the 2026–27 calendar
- GT Assessment Calendar 26-27, the district calendar with the 2026–27 screening and referral dates
- GT Referral Form: who can refer and how formal identification works
- Advanced Learner FAQs: screening benchmarks, outside scores and cutoff policy
- Advanced Learner Services: identification process and appeals
Naglieri General Ability Tests™ (NGAT) is a trademark of Multi-Health Systems Inc. (MHS), used here for identification purposes only. Reasonwell Press is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or licensed by MHS or Dr. Jack Naglieri, and MHS was not involved in producing our materials. Our practice materials are original NGAT-style items, not actual test questions, and do not guarantee any score or placement outcome.
MAP® Growth™ and NWEA® are trademarks of NWEA. Reasonwell Press is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NWEA. This page is an independent parent guide and does not reproduce NWEA norm tables.