MCPS gifted screening, GT identification, and CES: what parents can verify.

Keep GT, CES, and magnets separate.

MCPS describes gifted and talented identification as separate from elementary CES and middle school magnet admission.

• MCPS uses Accelerated and Enriched Instruction as the official curriculum office context for enriched instruction.
• MCPS says GT designation is not considered in elementary Centers for Enriched Studies or middle school magnet selection.
• MCPS says GT designation can inform enriched and accelerated instruction decisions at the local school.

Who MCPS screens, and when.

• For 2026-27, MCPS lists the CogAT on December 14–16, 2026 for all Grade 2 students and on December 7–9, 2026 for Grade 4 students not yet identified (checked October 14, 2026). The MCPS district page on this site lists the dates, with when they were last checked.
• MCPS says all Grade 2 students participate in universal screening for gifted and talented identification.
• MCPS also lists screening for students currently in Grades 4 and 7 who are new to MCPS or who have not previously met the GT designation.
• MCPS says parents receive a June letter with the gifted and talented identification designation.

What the GT review uses (2025-2026 document).

• MCPS lists CogAT as the cognitive assessment for the 2025-2026 GT screening process.
• MCPS lists DIBELS/Lectura, MAP Reading and Mathematics, and MCAP English/Language Arts and Mathematics as academic data sources.
• MCPS lists teacher surveys, a parent input form, and an optional staff advocacy form as behavioral-checklist inputs.

How the elementary CES review is described.

• MCPS describes elementary Centers for Enriched Studies as a Grade 4-5 enriched-literacy program.
• MCPS says Grade 3 students are reviewed centrally and no application is necessary for the elementary CES review.
• MCPS says the CES review considers report cards, instructional reading level, locally normed Winter MAP-R, and student services information; eligible students enter a lottery.

Where families confirm details.

• MCPS lists AEIQuestions@mcpsmd.org for GT and CES curriculum questions.
• MCPS lists DCCAPS@mcpsmd.org for central review and lottery questions.
• Families should also confirm details with the current MCPS pages because screening rules and windows are school-year specific.