Testing Process
What is the REACH referral process?
Students can be referred to the gifted program by a teacher, parent/guardian, counselor, or by the student themselves. Students can only receive a referral automatically based on test scores.
The Eligibility Team reviews all referrals and documentation to determine whether there should be a formal evaluation or not.
Parents must provide consent for testing and if eligible, consent for placement in the gifted program.
Testing Periods
September (1st grade through 5th grade)
January (1st grade through 5th grade)
March (Kindergarten testing)
What tests will my child take?
Cognitive Ability - COGAT
Mental Ability: The CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) is a test that focuses on analytical and logical thinking. The CogAT is administered during multiple test sessions and is reported based on your child’s verbal (V), quantitative (Q), and non-verbal (NV) areas. You will also see a C on the eligibility report, which is the cumulative percentile of the average of all of the raw scores. Mental ability tests do not test school content such as basic math facts. Instead, these tests incorporate critical thinking questions with academic knowledge. This test is NOT a normal standardized test and very bright students may still score at lower percentiles because of its difficulty. Average scores range from 40%iles to 70%iles. Above average scores are 80%iles and higher.
Achievement - ITBS
Achievement: The ITBS (administered to 3-5) is a test that focuses on skills taught in the classroom. Students are tested in the areas of reading and math. Average scores range from 60%iles to 80%iles. Above average scores are in the 90%iles.
Motivation - Interview
Motivation: Motivation interviews are given in this area. To complete the interview, your child was in a one-on-one setting with a certified gifted teacher who asked him or her certain questions. Each child is asked the same questions and the interview is scored by multiple gifted teachers. The scores are then averaged together to get a total percentage.
Creativity - TTCT
Creativity: The Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT) is given in this area. The TTCT is a standardized creativity test that uses three picture-based exercises to access five mental characteristics: fluency, originality, abstractness of titles, elaboration, and resistance to premature closure.
What scores does my child need to qualify?
Students can qualify for gifted in two different ways. The majority of students qualify under Option B that is listed below.
Option A: Student has 99th percentile in mental ability (K-2) or 96th percentile in the composite score in mental ability (3-12) and a 90th percentile in total math or total reading in achievement.
Option B: Student has 3 out of the 4 qualifying scores.
96th percentile or higher in any area in mental ability
90th percentile or higher in total reading or math in achievement
90th percentile or higher in motivation
90th percentile or higher in creativity
Can my child be tested again?
When a child is tested for gifted, these test scores are valid for two years. This does not mean; however, that the school committee will wait two years to recommend testing again. You are free to refer your child as many times as you wish; however, the committee's recommendation to move forward with testing will be based on current data. To be tested for gifted, a child should exceed state standards and display a need, just as with any program, and if your child is meeting grade-level standards and doing well in the classroom, then the child's needs are being met and no additional services are needed.