Amphitheater Public Schools

Gifted Identification FAQs

1. Which one of my children tested for gifted services? 

You will receive a score report in a separate message that will have your child’s full name on it and their Student ID Number.  You had to sign a permission to test form for your child to be tested.

2. When will my child begin receiving gifted services:

If your child is in elementary school, they will begin receiving gifted services the week of January 5^th .  If your child is in middle school or high school, they may start receiving gifted services the week of January 5^th if their schedule allows.  If not, they may register for Humanities (grades 6-8) or REACH Honors English (grades 9-11) next year.

3. Does my middle school or high school student have to change their schedule?

If your child is interested in moving into Humanities (middle school) or REACH Honors English 9, 10, or 11 (high school) second semester, they will need to speak to their counselor to see if a schedule change is possible.  If they are unable to change their schedule, they may register for Humanities or REACH Honors English during the 2026-2027 school year.  There is no obligation to change a student’s schedule or to register for REACH classes.  

4. How do students qualify for gifted services?

The state of Arizona defines giftedness as scoring in the 97^th percentile or above on any battery (Verbal, Quantitative, Nonverbal) of a state approved test (Cognitive Abilities Test).  Amphitheather School District casts a wide net by accepting students provisionally for one year with scores between the 94^th and 96^th percentiles. 

5. What does it mean if my child did not qualify for gifted services?

A score in the 50^th percentile is an average score, so anything above that (and below a gifted identification score) means that your child is exactly where they should be based on national norms.  Many high achieving, bright students do not qualify for gifted services.  Giftedness is neurobiological in origin and a type of neurodivergence (how the brain is wired).  To learn more about giftedness, please consider watching the, “What is Giftedness?”, video located under the “Links to Resources” tab (scroll down to the bottom of the page) on the “Gifted Education/REACH” website.

6. What do gifted programs look like at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels?

Please click on the tabs titled, “Elementary Cluster Program”, “Elementary REACH Pull Out Program”, “REACH Middle School Program”, and “REACH High School Program” to learn more about each program.  Please reach out to your site’s gifted specialist to learn more about what is happening in their gifted program. Please consider watching the videos located under the “Links to Resources” tab (scoll down to the bottom of the page) titled, “REACH Information Night Recorded Video”, and “High School REACH Information Night Recorded Video” to learn more about gifted services in Amphi.