Gifted and Talented Education Program

Goose EggVision:

We believe that Carson City School District's Gifted and Academically Talented Education (GATE) program will create independent, self-aware, creative thinkers who persevere within a challenging and ever-changing world.

Empower Carson City 2022 Strategic Plan:

Continue to provide specialized programming to support gifted and talented students, English Language Learners, students with special needs and other student populations that would benefit from specialized programming.

Our Goals:

  • To provide an educational program which enables each identified student to develop his/her thinking and self-esteem to the fullest potential.
  • To provide specialized and ongoing training for teachers on how to provide these educational opportunities within the regular classroom.
  • To create an enthusiasm in the cluster group classroom that will encourage all students to raise their own expectations of their personal performance.
  • To serve a broader base of our student population with a challenging and enriched curriculum.

The GATE program officially begins for third-grade students at all elementary schools. Incoming third-graders are identified by going through our GATE nomination process in the spring of their second-grade year. We also offer a Young Scholars program at most elementary schools for first and second graders. In Young Scholars, our teachers focus on providing a rigorous, differentiated learning experience for our first and second grade students with the goal of reaching the specialized needs of potential GATE students.

NestsOur GATE cluster classes start in third grade and extend to fourth and fifth grades at our elementary sites. Click here to access our elementary program options. We also offer GATE cluster programs at Carson and Eagle Valley Middle Schools. Click here to access our middle school options in English and in Spanish.

While teachers will be doing the majority of nominating students in grades 2-8, parents can also request to have their child nominated for inclusion in the program. The screening includes: teacher observations, SBAC scores when available, CogAT scores and MAP scores. Nominations typically take pace in the spring. Please review or print the nomination packet. Review the differences between a High Achiever vs. a Gifted Learner.

For more information on our GATE program, please refer to our GATE Handbook.

If you have any questions about the process, are new to our district or would like further information, please contact Joanna Kaiser, GATE Implementation Specialist, 775-283-1591 or [email protected].

Gifted and Talented Education

604 West Musser Street, Carson City, NV 89703

Phone: (775) 283-1523

Fax: (775) 283-1590