GATE Program Eligibility Criteria

Pinelands Regional uses multiple data points to determine eligibility for gifted and talented education (GATE) services. Student data including, but not limited to: academic accomplishments; assessment data; teacher recommendations; writing ability; and, grades, are used to establish giftedness. Criteria minimums: a student must at least score “proficient” on recent standardized assessments and be recommended by their sixth-grade teacher. Qualitative and quantitative student data and artifacts will be reviewed by a committee of GATE educators and administrators who will use the information to recommend student placement in the GATE program.

The Pinelands Regional School District GATE cohort defines gifted students as children and youth with outstanding talent who perform or show the potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared with others of their age, experience, or environment. We believe gifted students typically have an unusual talent in one or occasionally two of the following areas: creative thinking, leadership, general intellectual ability, psychomotor, specific academic ability, and visual/performing arts.