Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Testing

At Tucson Unified, we recognize that gifted students have special educational needs that should be met within the context of the whole child. The role of the GATE Testing & Placement Office is to ensure all students at Tucson Unified schools have equitable opportunity and access to the GATE Program services we offer. Through our practice, we utilize multiple measures (i.e. the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), and the Raven Progressive Matrices, etc.) to determine a student's program eligibility.

Feel free to use the sections below to learn more about our office.

In the Tucson Unified School District, all students in 1st grade and 5th grade are tested to determine their qualifications to participate in our Gifted and Talented Education Programs. Additionally, any student in Kinder, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 6th can have their parent/guardian request an evaluation to determine their qualifications or re-test to possibly qualify for our full-day GATE Self-Contained program.

**Students who have already qualified for our GATE Self-Contained program will not be re-tested.
Once a student has qualified for our GATE Self-Contained program, this qualification will follow them in TUSD until the end of their 8th grade year**

Tucson Unified would like to invite your student to determine their qualification to participate in one of our GATE Programs. If you are the parent/guardian of a student in 1st grade or 5th grade or would like to request testing for your Kinder, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 6th grade student, please complete our Request to Test Form below.

Parent/Guardian Request for Testing Form for Kinder, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and/or 6th Grade and Out of District Students:

Tucson Unified universally evaluates all students in 1st grade and 5th grade as long as they have not already qualified for our Full-Time Self-Contained GATE Program. If you are the parent/guardian of a student in 1st grade or 5th grade and would like to decline universal testing for your student, please complete our Decline of Universal Testing Form below.

Parent/Guardian DECLINE of Universal Testing Form:

July:

Parents with a student registered in TUSD are sent an invitation to request GATE Testing or decline Universal GATE Testing depending on grade level.

August - October:

Testing for 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade occurs.*

October - December:

Testing for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade occurs.*
One Make-Up/Out of District Student testing session offered per month on Saturday mornings
for ALL GRADES.

December:

4th, 5th, and 6th grade testing scores reports, qualifications, and possible placement offers are released to parents/guardians via mail and e-mail.

January - February:

Testing for Kindergarten occurs.*
One Make-Up/Out of District Student testing session offered per month on Saturday mornings
for ALL GRADES.

January:

1st, 2nd and 3rd grade testing score reports, qualifications, and possible placement offers are released to parents/guardians via mail and e-mail.

Early March:

Kinder testing score reports, qualifications, and possible placement offers are released to parents/guardians via mail and e-mail.

*Please reach out to your school's principal to know which particular day we will be completing GATE Testing for your specific grade.

Was your student absent the day of GATE testing? Was your student not registered at a Tucson Unified school when GATE testing occurred?

Don't worry, you can always sign up for Make-Up GATE Testing. To register your student for Make-Up Testing, click the green button below:

Important Make-Up Testing Information

Dates:

Dates vary by semester, for the most up to date dates please click on the green button above

Location:

Cavett Elementary School
(2120 E Naco Vista, Tucson, AZ 85713)

Time:

8:00 am - 8:30 am: Student Check-in
8:30 am - 11:30 am: Student Testing*

* Please note time is inclusive of various breaks for the student(s) and time to eat a snack.

What to Bring:

- Water bottle
- Snack
- Jacket

Should you have any questions or concerns about Make-up Testing please don't hesitate to reach out to us via email or via phone at 520-225-1310.

School Year Office Hours Of Operations
Monday - Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Summer Office Hours Of Operations
Monday - Friday: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm

MEET OUR STAFF

Roberto Cruze
Senior Coordinator
ALE Testing, Placement, and Recruitment
Advanced Learning Experiences

Janelle Odom
Testing Specialist - LEAD
ALE Testing, Placement, and Recruitment
Advanced Learning Experiences

GATE Administrative Secretary
Administrative Secretary
ALE Testing, Placement, and Recruitment
Advanced Learning Experiences

Should you have any questions about testing and placement at Tucson Unified, feel free to contact us at 520-225-1310 or via e-mail.