Every Kindergarten student is screened in the second semester of their Kindergarten year.
Students in grades K-12 may be nominated at any time by teachers, counselors, administrators, parents, self, or peers. The person nominating a student should complete a referral form and return it to the campus QUEST-G/T teacher, who will add names for the next testing window. (Form linked below)
Step 1 Screening: The purpose of the screening is to identify those students who demonstrate potential in the areas of General Intellectual Ability and Creative Thinking. If students demonstrate at least three indicators, they will move to Step 2: Testing.
Step 2 Testing: Students are given additional intellectual and achievement assessments. This data will be used to make placement decisions.
Step 3 Placement: To qualify for QUEST-gifted services, students must score in the 95%ile or higher on standardized intellectual ability/achievement tests.
The QUEST-G/T teachers at each campus gather the screening and identification measures. The measures are evaluated and scored by the QUEST-G/T Identification and Placement Committee. This committee is made up of all the district K-12 QUEST-G/T teachers, plus the district coordinator and director. All have at least 30 hours of training in gifted education plus additional hours of training in testing and identification of gifted students. Placement decisions are made by this committee.
The 2026 Spring Screening Request Window is now open.
1st through 5th parent referral forms are due by MARCH 1, 2026. (Please complete the form linked at the bottom of this page.) Students that qualify for Quest will begin in FALL 2026.
All Kindergarten students will be automatically screened in January 2026.
***NEW DISTRICT POLICY** Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, Quest screening will only take place during the SPRING SEMESTER. The only exceptions are transfer GT students who provide documentation of participation in previous GT programs.
Kindergarten
QUEST serves kindergarten students in two ways:
During the first semester, QUEST teachers provide enrichment opportunities for all kindergarten students. The QUEST teacher goes into each kindergarten classroom at least four times during the semester to provide foundational enrichment activities in critical and creative thinking. This helps prepare the students for the type of thinking that will be tested in January. The QUEST teacher is also available to provide additional support and enrichment for kindergarten teachers and students, depending upon campus needs and time constraints,.
The initial QUEST screening on all Kindergarten students begins in January of each year. All kindergarten students are automatically screened for the QUEST gifted and talented program. The state of Texas requires that kindergarten gifted students are served by March 1. However, the screening process is on-going, and we will continue to gather information about your student's intellectual and creative thinking abilities throughout the kindergarten year.
Please read the following article that explains the characteristics of a gifted learner:
Characteristics and Traits of Gifted Children
If you believe your student displays these characteristics, you may fill out the Parent Referral Form linked below. The Parent Referral Form for Spring 2026 is now OPEN. Kindergarten students will be screened in JANUARY and notified of results in FEBURARY. 1st-5th students will be screened in MARCH and will be notified with results in APRIL. This will determine if they move to the testing phase. Students that qualify will start Quest in August of 2026.