Primary Talent Development (Pre-K to Grade 2): every student takes part in eight lessons a year that build analytical and creative thinking
HCPSS Advanced Academic Programs
HCPSS AAP screening and placement criteria facts.
Howard County gives CogAT to every third grader, later than many Virginia neighbors start screening, then publishes percentile rules for Advanced Mathematics, middle school advanced content classes and the separate Accelerated Mathematics Program.
CogATMAP
Last verified: October 17, 2026
HCPSS gifted screening at a glance
- District
- Howard County Public School System
- Program
- Advanced Academic Programs (AAP), formerly Gifted and Talented (G/T)
- Tests named
-
- CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) — given to all Grade 3 students and to students new to HCPSS in later years; HCPSS uses CogAT Grade Percentile Ranks (GPR), and middle-school placement uses these scores
- MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) — fall and winter scores: MAP Math for Advanced Mathematics in grades 4 and 5, and MAP Math or MAP Reading, matched to each class's subject, for middle school advanced content classes
- MCAP (Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program) — Level 4 in the class's subject is one of the four middle school measures; an MCAP Math scale score of 810 or higher is one of the Accelerated Mathematics criteria
- Other evidence for a separate recommendation route: additional assessment scores, mathematical tasks, student work samples and report card grades
- Grades tested / screened
- HCPSS's universal screening is in Grade 3: all third graders take CogAT, as do students new to HCPSS in later years. Maryland's regulation (COMAR 13A.04.07.02) requires universal screening as early as possible and no later than Grade 3, and asks districts to document early evidence of advanced learning in PreK-2. HCPSS says middle-school placement uses the Grade 3 CogAT scores, or scores from testing when a student enrolls in HCPSS. From Pre-K through second grade, every student takes part in 'Primary Talent Development' enrichment, not formal identification testing.
- Universal vs referral
- Universal at Grade 3 (CogAT for all students, and for students new to HCPSS in later years; middle-school placement uses these scores), with ongoing annual data review in grades 4-12 per COMAR. Students who do not meet the score rules can still be recommended on other evidence, by the school-based team for Advanced Mathematics or by the school's AAP Placement Committee for middle school advanced classes. Families who disagree use a 'Course Placement Review' (elementary) or the 'Course Request' in HCPSS Connect (middle school), rather than a separate referral-nomination pathway with a published window.
- Last verified
- October 17, 2026
HCPSS screening points and placement review
About these dates
- The CogAT window was checked against the official HCPSS testing schedule on October 17, 2026.
This cycle, in date order
- Nov 30, 2026 November 30 – December 18, 2026 (online, districtwide) CogAT, Grade 3, 2026–27
Standing rules and yearly deadlines (no year given)
- Fall and Winter windows each year MAP Math
- No specific eligibility-decision date or appeal-deadline window is published on the official pages reviewed Decisions and appeals
Abbreviations on this page: AAP = Advanced Academic Programs; MCAP = Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program; MAP = MAP Growth, the NWEA achievement test.
HCPSS publishes percentile rules for placement, and Accelerated Mathematics is higher.
Advanced Mathematics, grades 4 and 5: students are recommended when they score at the 90th percentile or higher on at least two of three measures: CogAT Quantitative-Nonverbal (QN), fall MAP Math and winter MAP Math. Middle school advanced content classes: students are recommended when they meet at least three of four measures: CogAT, fall MAP and winter MAP at the 90th percentile or higher, and Level 4 on MCAP. Each class counts its own subject scores; Advanced Math, for example, uses the CogAT QN composite, MAP Math and MCAP Math, while Advanced English uses CogAT Verbal, MAP Reading and MCAP Reading. HCPSS uses CogAT Grade Percentile Ranks (GPR), which compare a student with others in the same grade. A student who misses these rules can still be recommended on other evidence: for Advanced Mathematics, additional assessment scores, mathematical tasks and report card grades; in middle school, a review by the school's AAP Placement Committee of data such as additional assessment scores, student work samples and report card grades.
Accelerated Mathematics is a separate, countywide middle school program with a much higher bar. HCPSS automatically considers students who meet its initial criteria, which include CogAT Quantitative-Nonverbal (QN) and Quantitative (Q) scores at the 98th-99th percentile, MAP Math at the 98th-99th percentile and an MCAP Math scale score of 810 or higher. A recommendation for advanced classes is not the same as consideration for Accelerated Mathematics.
HCPSS AAP services by school level
Instructional Seminars (Grades 3-8): interest-based enrichment open to all students; at elementary school, families contact the school's AAP Resource Teacher to show interest
Curriculum Extension Units (Grades 3-5): thematic units that extend the science or social studies curriculum; participation is based on demonstrated academic readiness (MAP and CogAT, classroom achievement, advanced learning behaviors), and the school notifies families
Advanced Mathematics (Grades 4-5): a daily enriched and accelerated math class taught in place of general education math; placement is by recommendation from the school-based team, using the published score rules or other evidence
Advanced Research Investigations (elementary and middle school): long-term research for students with a strong interest in a field, guided by the AAP Resource Teacher and generally lasting the school year; participation is based on interest
Middle school advanced content classes (Grades 6-8): advanced English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies at every middle school, taught daily in place of the general education course
Accelerated Mathematics Program (middle school, countywide): students move through the math course sequence at an accelerated rate, in one of two sequences that include weekly after-school or evening class sessions; the entry bar is much higher than for advanced classes
Middle school Curriculum Extensions extend the advanced content classes (offerings vary by school, such as Writers Guild and History Day); a sixth-grade Advanced Research class is for students recommended for Advanced English and either Math 7 or PreAlgebra AAP
Research and Internship Experiences (Grades 6-12): advanced research and internship opportunities for secondary students
High school: Advanced Coursework continues through Grade 12 for students who show readiness for advanced-level work (the AAP overview lists it for Grades 3-12)
What HCPSS says about placement disagreement
Official HCPSS pages reviewed for this guide did not publish a formal appeal deadline. At elementary school, families of students not recommended for Advanced Mathematics may contact the school's AAP Resource Teacher to request a Course Placement Review, a further look at the data. At middle school, families who disagree with the AAP Placement Committee can submit the Course Request in HCPSS Connect, which enrolls the student in the requested class.
The useful HCPSS-specific details
HCPSS is the clearest example of a course-placement model. Parents should look at the specific class being discussed, because open seminars, Advanced Mathematics, middle school advanced content classes and Accelerated Mathematics have different gates.
HCPSS's universal screening happens in Grade 3; Maryland's regulation (COMAR 13A.04.07.02) sets Grade 3 as the latest point for universal screening, not the earliest. From Pre-K to Grade 2, every student gets enrichment ('Primary Talent Development'), not formal testing, unlike Virginia neighbors that test as early as Grade 1.
CogAT is given once in elementary school, to all Grade 3 students (November 30 – December 18, 2026 this year). HCPSS says middle-school placement uses those Grade 3 scores, or scores from testing when a student enrolls, so there is no Grade 5 retest.
Accelerated Mathematics has a much higher bar (CogAT QN and Q and MAP Math at the 98th-99th percentile, plus an MCAP Math scale score of 810 or higher) than the advanced content classes (at least three of four measures: CogAT, fall MAP and winter MAP at the 90th percentile or higher, and MCAP Level 4), so a recommendation for advanced classes is not the same as consideration for Accelerated Mathematics.
The score rules are not the only way in: HCPSS says students may also be recommended on other evidence, such as additional assessment scores, mathematical tasks or student work samples, and report card grades. In middle school, the school's AAP Placement Committee makes that review.
HCPSS does not publish a numeric appeal deadline: disagreement is handled through a Course Placement Review (elementary) or the Course Request in HCPSS Connect (middle school), where the family's request directly enrolls the student.
Instructional Seminars (Grades 3-8) are open to all students, based on interest. Curriculum Extension Units are not open to all: HCPSS bases participation on demonstrated academic readiness. Advanced Mathematics and middle school advanced content classes use the published score rules.
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HCPSS parent questions
When does HCPSS start screening for advanced programs?
In Grade 3, when HCPSS gives CogAT to all students. From Pre-K to Grade 2, every student takes part in Primary Talent Development enrichment rather than formal identification testing.
Does HCPSS give CogAT more than once?
No. HCPSS gives CogAT to all Grade 3 students; the 2026-27 window is November 30 to December 18, 2026. HCPSS says middle-school placement uses those Grade 3 scores, or scores from testing when a student enrolls in HCPSS.
Which scores count for each middle school advanced class?
Advanced Math uses the CogAT Quantitative-Nonverbal composite, MAP Math and MCAP Math. Advanced English uses CogAT Verbal, MAP Reading and MCAP Reading. Advanced Social Studies uses the CogAT Verbal-Nonverbal composite, MAP Reading and MCAP Reading. Advanced Science uses the CogAT Verbal-Quantitative-Nonverbal composite, MAP Reading and MAP Math, and MCAP Reading and MCAP Math. For each class, students are recommended when they meet at least three of four measures: CogAT, fall MAP and winter MAP at the 90th percentile or higher, and Level 4 on MCAP.
Can a student be recommended without meeting the score rule?
Yes. HCPSS says students may also be recommended for Advanced Mathematics on other performance measures, including additional assessment scores, mathematical tasks and report card grades. For middle school, the school's AAP Placement Committee reviews data such as additional assessment scores, student work samples and report card grades, and may recommend advanced classes at the end of elementary school or in later middle school years.
Are advanced classes and Accelerated Mathematics the same gate?
No. Middle school advanced content classes use the three-of-four rule. The Accelerated Mathematics Program's initial criteria include CogAT Quantitative-Nonverbal (QN) and Quantitative (Q) scores at the 98th-99th percentile, MAP Math at the 98th-99th percentile and an MCAP Math scale score of 810 or higher.
What if a family disagrees with placement?
At elementary school, families of students not recommended for Advanced Mathematics can ask the school's AAP Resource Teacher for a Course Placement Review. At middle school, families who disagree with the AAP Placement Committee can submit the Course Request in HCPSS Connect, which enrolls the student in the requested class. The official pages give no appeal deadline.
Are Instructional Seminars open only to recommended students?
No. HCPSS says Instructional Seminars are open to all students, based on interest; at elementary school, families contact the school's AAP Resource Teacher to show interest. Curriculum Extension Units are different: HCPSS bases participation on demonstrated academic readiness (MAP and CogAT results, classroom achievement and advanced learning behaviors) and notifies those families. Advanced Mathematics and middle school advanced content classes use the score rules above.
Official HCPSS sources used
- Advanced Academic Programs overview: services from Pre-K to Grade 12, Maryland screening rules and the program contact number
- Elementary AAP page: Advanced Mathematics criteria, Course Placement Review, Primary Talent Development, Instructional Seminars, Curriculum Extension Units and Research Investigations
- Middle school AAP page: criteria for advanced content classes, Grade 3 CogAT scores used for placement, the AAP Placement Committee, the Course Request in HCPSS Connect and Accelerated Mathematics criteria
- Hammond ES example: Grade 3 CogAT Dec 1-3 2025
- 2026-27 testing schedule: CogAT Grade 3, November 30 – December 18, 2026
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.
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.