Gifted and Talented

  • Creative Inquiry (Grades 3-6)
    In 2017, CCUSD introduced the new Creative Inquiry class for gifted students in grades 3 through 6. The goal of the Creative Inquiry class is for identified gifted students to improve problem-solving skills and develop creative thinking while working collaboratively with other gifted students on meaningful projects.

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  • Gifted Testing

    We qualify students as gifted based on the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) and determine giftedness by the percentile each student scores.  To qualify as gifted each student must receive a 97% in one of the three areas tested on the CogAT:  verbal, non-verbal and quantitative reasoning.

    • Verbal reasoning include the child's ability figure out the context of a sentence, analogies or vocabulary.

    • Non-verbal test measures the child's ability of visual and spatial relationships and how they correlate to geometric shapes and figures.

    • Quantitative test measures the child's ability to reason numerically as well as problem solve.

    Each year CCUSD blanket tests all second-grade students during the school day in February.  Referral testing for other elementary grades [through 5th grade] occurs in our district three times per year [fall, winter and spring].  Both teachers and parents may refer students for testing.  A child may not be retested on the same test within a 12 month period. If you would like to refer a child for testing, please complete this form. Parents may opt for outside (private testing) as long as the state of Arizona recognizes that test to qualify the student for gifted services.

    Middle & High School Opportunities
    At the secondary level, 7th-12th grade, CCUSD offers a variety of honors programs that lead to our Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs at Cactus Shadows High School.  For more information on  programs, please feel free to contact the counseling department at STMS or  CSHS.


    As a district, we work collaboratively with parents, students, administration and teachers to ensure our gifted students' needs are met in the classroom.