Illinois examples
- Woodridge 68: Grade 2, Grade 6
Gifted testing age
When do schools test for gifted programs?
There is no national gifted-testing age. Districts choose their own screening grades, referral windows, tests, score rules, and appeal timing.
Is there a standard age for gifted testing?
No. Some districts use universal screening in early elementary grades, some rely heavily on referral, and some use later course-placement reviews. The same child could face different steps after a move.
A safer parent question is: when does my district screen, and when can families or teachers refer?
What should parents check before the testing window?
Check four items: test name, grade window, universal-versus-referral rule, and how the district uses scores. A high ability score may be a referral trigger in one district and one portfolio element in another.
- Which grades are tested automatically?
- Can parents refer outside the universal grade?
- Does the district publish a testing calendar or only an annual window?
- Does the district publish criteria, or explicitly use holistic review without a single cutoff?
Gifted testing ages and windows by verified district
The table is wider than this screen: swipe or scroll it sideways to see every column.
| District | Tests named | Grades / timing | Universal or referral? | Current window clue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCPS Fairfax County Public Schools Last verified September 5, 2026 · dates checked October 14, 2026 | NGAT for Grade 2 and selected referred students; paper CogAT only as an accommodation | Grade 2 universal screener; grades 3-7 by referral for Full-Time AAP | Universal Grade 2 pool plus staff, family, or self-referral | Aug 24 – Dec 15, 2026 — no exceptions to the deadline |
| LCPS Loudoun County Public Schools Last verified July 2, 2026 · dates checked October 14, 2026 | CogAT in Grade 2 (plus a first-year NGAT pilot in 2026-27), with MAP and portfolio evidence | All Grade 3 students evaluated for services unless a family opts out | Universal testing and evaluation in the elementary pipeline; referrals outside that cycle | CogAT for students without scores: grades 3-5 Oct 13 - Nov 20, 2026 (fall) |
| APS Arlington Public Schools Last verified July 2, 2026 · dates checked October 13, 2026 | NNAT in Grade 1 and CogAT in Grade 2, named on APS school pages | Universal screening at multiple elementary and middle grades; K-12 referral possible | Automatic benchmark screening plus April 1 referral pathway | Benchmark-based, at multiple elementary/middle grades (NNAT grade 1, CogAT grade 2 per school pages) |
| MCPS Montgomery County Public Schools Last verified July 2, 2026 · dates checked October 14, 2026 | CogAT screener in Grade 2; MAP-R and academic data for Grade 3 CES review | Grade 2 GT screening and Grade 3 CES Central Review | Universal Grade 2 and Grade 3 processes; referrals for other situations | December 7–9, 2026, for Grade 4 students not yet identified as gifted and talented |
| ACPS Alexandria City Public Schools Last verified July 2, 2026 · dates checked October 14, 2026 | CogAT, NNAT, MAP Growth, and gifted rating scale data | Grade 3 automatic-referral screening; K-8 referral and Young Scholars pathways | Grade 3 automatic referrals (score triggers, Young Scholars, current GIA students) plus an annual referral window | September 1 – November 20, 2026, for both Tier II GIA (Grades K-3) and Tier III SAA (Grades 3-8) referrals |
| FCCPS Falls Church City Public Schools Last verified July 2, 2026 · dates checked October 13, 2026 | NNAT3 in Grade 1, CogAT in Grade 2, STAR, SOL, rating scales, and accepted outside tests | Grade 1 and Grade 2 universal tests; grades 3-8 referrals for Level Two or Three | Universal early testing with referral-based later placement review | Referrals for Level Two/Three can be submitted by families within one year of any previous screening (rolling, not a single window) |
| HCPSS Howard County Public School System Last verified October 17, 2026 | CogAT in Grade 3, MAP Math, MCAP, and performance measures | Universal screening in Grade 3 (Maryland requires it no later than Grade 3); middle-school placement uses those Grade 3 CogAT scores | Universal Grade 3 review, then course placement review or requests | November 30 – December 18, 2026 (online, districtwide) |
| PWCS Prince William County Public Schools Last verified July 2, 2026 · dates checked October 16, 2026 | NNAT3 in Grade 2, CogAT in Grade 3, NNAT3 also listed for Grades 6 and 9, plus KBIT-2R in committee contexts | Grade 2 NNAT3 and Grade 3 CogAT universal screening; K-12 referral possible year-round | Universal ability testing in two grades plus year-round referral | NNAT3 Online for Grades 2, 6 and 9: Oct 20 – Nov 20, 2026, on the division testing calendar |
| CFBISD Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District Last verified October 15, 2026 | NGAT (Verbal, Nonverbal and Quantitative) for kindergarten and grade 5; MAP and other evidence in formal review | Universal kindergarten and grade 5 screening (non-LEAP students in the 2026-27 calendar); other grades by referral | Universal kindergarten and grade 5 screening with no referral needed, plus parent and staff referrals | NGAT universal screening window for kindergarten and grade 5 non-LEAP students: November 4–13, 2026 |
| BSD Beaverton School District Last verified October 15, 2026 | One NGAT test a year: Nonverbal in grade 3, Verbal in grade 4, Quantitative in grade 5; CogAT no longer given | Universal in-class NGAT testing in grades 3, 4 and 5 | Universal grades 3-5 testing plus a TAG referral form; BSD-enrolled students only | BSD's target is to have all NGAT testing done in October, though the district says some usually finishes in November, and your child's school has the exact date |
| Tahoma Tahoma School District Last verified October 15, 2026 | NGAT Nonverbal screener in grades 2 and 5, full NGAT in a second round; NGAT for referred grades 6-7 | Universal screening in grades 2 and 5, with an opt-out; K-7 parent referrals in a set window | Universal two-stage screening plus a K-7 parent-referral window (November 1-December 31, 2026) | Parent referrals for grades K–7: November 1 – December 31, 2026, and the district will share the referral form through ParentSquare when the window opens |
| ACS Asheville City Schools Last verified October 15, 2026 | Full NGAT at the end of grade 2 and NGAT Nonverbal in grade 6, with achievement data | Universal NGAT in grades 2 and 6; yearly data review in grades 3-7 | Universal grades 2 and 6 plus teacher, caregiver and student referrals | Every student takes the full NGAT battery at the end of grade 2, and the NGAT Nonverbal battery in grade 6 |
| Woodridge 68 Woodridge School District 68 Last verified October 15, 2026 | NGAT for every grade 2 and 6 student and nominated students, plus achievement and rating-scale evidence | Universal grades 2 and 6; nominations in grades 3, 4, 5 and 7 | Universal grades 2 and 6 plus nominations; every nominated student continues through identification | Nominations for the 2027–28 school year open in early December 2026 |
| ABSS Alamance-Burlington School System Last verified October 15, 2026 | Online NGAT or paper/pencil CogAT for the grade 2 screen; Iowa, BOG and EOG achievement tests | Universal grade 2 screen each spring; referrals in grades K-12 | Universal grade 2 screen plus K-12 referrals; a referral does not guarantee testing | Second graders take the universal screen in the spring, with the online NGAT or a paper/pencil CogAT |
What the districts’ pages show, by state and grade
Maryland examples
North Carolina examples
Oregon examples
- BSD: Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5
Texas examples
- CFBISD: Kindergarten, Grade 5
Virginia examples
Washington examples
- Tahoma: Grade 2, Grade 5
Parent questions
What age are kids tested for gifted programs?
It depends on the district. In the districts we cover, some screening starts in kindergarten or Grade 1, many screening points are in Grades 2 or 3, and later grades may use referral or placement review.
Is Grade 2 the normal gifted testing year?
Grade 2 is common in several districts in this set, but it is not a national rule. Check the district row and official source for your child.
Can a child be referred outside the testing grade?
Often yes, but referral rules are local. Some districts accept referrals at many grades, while others use specific review windows or course-placement requests.
Should I prepare before the school announces testing?
First confirm the district test and window. Practice should be short format familiarity after you know which test family and process apply.