Elementary/Secondary  GT/ASPIRE Identification Timeline

Currently Enrolled in a GCISD school
Please use this link to see the timeline for testing during this school year.
Out of District
If your child is not currently enrolled in one of our district schools, please contact Sara Hartsfield ([email protected]) for additional information about gifted services in GCISD.

Gifted and Talented (Frequently Asked Questions)

Texas State Definition of Gifted Students
Gifted and talented students in the state of Texas are defined as children or youth who perform at or show the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who exhibit high performance capability in an intellectual, creative or artistic area, possess an unusual capacity for leadership, or excel in a specific academic field.

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Definition of Gifted Students
Gifted and talented students in GCISD are defined as those who excel in the ability to think, reason, judge, invent, or create to the degree that they need special facilities and/or educational services. GCISD GT students are identified and served based on general intellectual ability.

Gifted & Talented ASPIRE Academy
Qualification 95th percentile 99th percentile
Elementary School Services GT LEAD Pull-Out & students placed in cluster classrooms with GT trained teachers

Location: All campuses		 Core Classes: students with ASPIRE peers and teacher in humanities, math and science classes

Location: Glenhope Elementary
Middle School Services GT Discoveries (ELA & social studies) & GT Independent Study (optional)

Location: All campuses		 Core Classes: students with ASPIRE peers and teacher in humanities, math and science classes

Location: Cross Timbers Middle
High School Services GT Pre-AP/AP courses in all core subjects

Location: Colleyville Heritage High &
 Grapevine High		 ASPIRE Pre-AP/AP English and/or ASPIRE AP Social Studies and/or GT Pre-AP/AP courses in math & science

Location: Grapevine High

Expand the below buttons for more information regarding gifted and talented services at the various grade levels.

Elementary School GT LEAD Services (K-5)

Students in this program are referred to as GT LEADers. LEAD stands for “Learning Experiences for Academic Discovery.”

  • Students who qualify for this program typically score in the 95th percentile or above on multiple batteries of a nationally normed aptitude test and in the 95th percentile or above on at least one section on an achievement test.
  • Placed in a homeroom class with other students identified as in need of gifted services with a trained teacher who has the initial GT 30 hours of training in addition to annual GT training.
  • Pulled out for additional GT services by a campus GT Specialist:
    • Kinder - 45 min/week (after Spring qualification)
    • Grade 1 - 1.5 hrs/week
    • Grades 2&3 - 2 hrs/week
    • Grades 4&5 - 2.5 hrs/week
  • GT LEAD curriculum includes critical thinking, creative thinking, and problem solving. It is cross-curricular and can be driven by student voice/interest.

Middle School GT Services (6-8)

  • Students do not have to re-qualify for gifted/talented services when they move from elementary school to middle school.
  • GT students may take GT Discoveries in grades 6-8 for their English and social studies credits:
    • 6th Grade - GT World Discoveries
    • 7th Grade -  GT Texas Discoveries
    • 8th Grade - GT American Discoveries 
  • GT students may also take a GT Independent Study course as one of their electives.
  • Information about GT Discoveries classes and accelerated math and science courses can be found here.
  • GT students may also telescope for math and/or take accelerated math and science courses. Students do not have to be identified as gifted to telescope or take accelerated courses in math or science. It should be noted that testing for this is handled by GCISD’s Assessment Department.
  • This is an excellent link to help you decide which 6th grade math course would be a good fit for your student: Middle School Math Course Selection Guidance.

High School GT Services (9-12)

  • Students do not have to re-qualify for gifted/talented services when they move from middle school to high school.
  • GT students may enroll in GT sections for Pre-AP and AP courses of which GCISD offers GT sections.