Identification Procedures

Rockingham County Schools identifies students in the areas of academically gifted in math, reading, or both or intellectually gifted in math, reading or both. Students must meet specific criteria to be identified in one or more of these areas. In third grade students are screened by the school district using the CogAT test. The CogAT (The Cognitive Abilities Test) assess reasoning skills in the areas of Verbal, Nonverbal, and Quantitative. It is a multiple choice test used to measure reasoning and problem solving skills of students. Parents, teachers, and other school personal may request screening prior to this student screening as well. Students can be identified and placed in the AIG program at any time of the year. Placements are considered after students have been screened and multiple criteria has been presented to the Identification/Placement team.

In order for students to be identified in one of the previously mentioned areas students must:

*Perform at the top ten percent on the standardized assessment in comparison to same age peers in reading(AR), mathematics(AM), or both areas (AG).

*Score at the top five percent of a nationally normed test in comparison to same age peers in reading (IG-R), mathematics (IG-M), or in both areas.

* Demonstrate strengths in areas of performance and reasoning skills in at least one academic area.

The district has recently adjusted the pathways in which students will be identified. The five pathways are defined below. More information can be found in the school and district AIG plans (available on this site through links on home page).

Academically Gifted Requirements: (AR, AM, AG)

Pathway 1: Students need to have a minimum score of 85th percentile on an EOG AND 85th percentile on a CogAt in one or both areas. Partial composite scores can be used.

Pathway 2: Students need to have a minimum score of 90th percentile on an EOG or on a CogAt in one or both areas. Partial composite scores can be used.

Pathway 3: Students need to have a minimum score of 88th percentile on an EOG or on a CogAt in one or both areas and perform at a high level on a performance task (non-traditional measure). Partial composite can be used.

Academically and Intellectually Gifted Requirements: (AI)

Pathway 4: Students need to have a minimum score of 95th percentile on a CogAt in one or more areas (AI). Partial composite can be used.

Pathway 5: Individualized (AI) Students need to have a minimum score of 98th percentile on an EOG and on a CogAt. Partial composite can be used. For grade acceleration decisions, see grade/subject acceleration procedures.