Gifted and Talented Education

While teachers and other school personnel are responsible for nominating students in grades 2-8, parents can also request to have their child nominated for the GATE program. Parents are encouraged to contact their child’s teacher to initiate the GATE nomination process. The screening includes: teacher observations, academic achievement data and a cognitive assessment.

The district’s GATE program begins in third grade. The district provides GATE Cluster programs in grades 3-5 at all elementary schools and a cluster program in grades 6-8 at Carson and Eagle Valley Middle Schools. All GATE students are taught by teachers with the GATE endorsement on their licenses, which includes 12 graduate credits in specialized instruction for GATE students.

If you would like to have your child considered for the GATE program in Carson City, please contact your child’s teacher and ask him or her to nominate your child. Parents will also need to complete and sign a Parent Authorization for Eligibility Testing form that the child’s teacher will provide.

GATE Nomination Process Timeline:

• Week of January 8, 2024: Parent letters out to all 2nd through 8th grade families in Parent Square.
• Week of January 8, 2024: Teachers and parents nominate students. Teachers complete a nomination packet and parents complete “Parent Permission."
• February 2, 2024: All nomination packets are due to the GATE coordinators.
• February 16, 2024:  All nomination packets due to the GATE department.
• March 5 through March 25, 2024: CogAT Testing at all elementary and middle school sites.
• April 8, 2024:  All Coordinators score GATE Nomination Packets.
• Mid-to-end April 2024: Schools and parents notified regarding who qualified/did not qualify for GATE for the 2023-2024 school year.

Once the nomination process has been completed in April 2024, parents will receive written notification of their child’s eligibility in GATE for the 2024-2025 school year by the end of April. If you have any questions about the process, please contact Joanna Kaiser, GATE implementation specialist, 775-283-1591 or jkaiser@carson.k12.nv.us.

Incoming Students to Carson City School District:  If your child is registered at a Carson City school as an incoming student for next school year, we can start the GATE nomination process in May which includes the CogAT given the first week of August. If you are entering CCSD from a local private school, please click the link below to the letter explaining the process. If your child will be attending CCSD schools, and you are interested in GATE identification, please contact our office for more information.

GATE Nomination Packet 2024-25:

• All grades Parent Letter (English)

• Carta para los padres de todos los grados

• Private School GATE Nominations