Loudoun County Public Schools: gifted testing

Gifted Education (SEARCH K-3, FUSION and DCI 4-5, SPECTRUM 6-8)

Every second grader takes the CogAT, usually in February. Every third grader is then evaluated for gifted services in the spring with no form needed: a committee looks at the CogAT, current MAP scores and a portfolio of classroom work. Students in grades 4-8 can be evaluated through a Permission to Evaluate form.

Published criteria

• No cutoff score is published. Under the plan, no single test, score or criterion can qualify or rule out a child on its own; local and/or national norms are used. source

Deadlines

• Next evaluation request cycle (grades 4-5) (2027-01-01): The fall 2026 Permission to Evaluate deadline was September 25, 2026. Families who missed it may submit a new request during the next evaluation cycle in January 2027. source

Appeals / retesting: Families should first talk with the school's gifted resource teacher. An appeal form goes to the Gifted Education Office by the posted deadline (about 10 days after the eligibility notice). The appeal re-examines the original profile; no new evidence is collected beyond a short reason. The appeal committee's decision is final. source