Adams 12 Five Star Schools, based in Thornton, Colorado, uses the Naglieri General Ability Tests (NGAT, which the district calls "Nag Gen") as its 2nd grade universal screener for Gifted and Talented (GT) identification. The NGAT covers verbal, nonverbal and quantitative reasoning using pictures rather than reading. In 6th grade, the district screens with the CogAT instead.
What Adams 12 says about identification
The screener is a first look, not the final decision. It flags students who warrant further evaluation. The district's Advanced Academic & Gifted Services (AAGS) department then reviews a Body of Evidence following Colorado Department of Education criteria. That can include cognitive scores, achievement data such as MAP or CMAS, behavior rating scales and work samples. Adams 12 describes intellectual ability as shown by performance at the 95th percentile and above on standardized cognitive tests.
After the review, a student may be identified as gifted, placed in the Talent Pool (meaning more data will be gathered over time), or found not gifted at this time. A letter goes home with the decision. Identified students get an Advanced Learning Plan (ALP).
| Test basics | What Adams 12 parents should know |
|---|---|
| Test | NGAT (2nd grade universal screener); CogAT (6th grade) |
| Screened grades | 2nd and 6th, students not already identified |
| Window | Set by each school; fall 2026 examples: September 15-18 and September 22 to October 5 |
| Other grades | Parent, staff or student nomination through the school GT coordinator |
| Qualifying level | 95th percentile and above on cognitive tests, within a full Body of Evidence |
| Results | Letter home after AAGS review; timing not published |
| Contact | Advanced Academic & Gifted Services, 720-972-4321 |
If your child is not in 2nd grade
Any student can go through the GT process through a nomination. Each school's GT page has a nomination form and lists its own deadline. Since dates differ by school, the first step is to find your school's GT coordinator on the school website and ask for this year's nomination deadline and testing dates.
How to prepare without adding pressure
The screener is taken over a few days in the regular classroom. For a later nomination test, familiarity with picture-based reasoning questions helps a child feel settled.
If you choose to practice, keep it short and calm: 10 to 15 minutes a day, plus at least two full timed practice tests before the test date so pacing is not a surprise. Practice teaches your child what the questions look like and gives them ways to approach and think through them, so test day feels familiar instead of surprising. Our guide on how to prepare a young child for a gifted test covers the approach.
Questions Adams 12 parents should ask
- What were, or will be, our school's 2nd grade screener dates this year?
- What is the nomination deadline at our school for grades other than 2nd?
- Will we see our child's screener score even if they are not referred for more testing?
- What else goes into the Body of Evidence for my child?
- If my child is placed in the Talent Pool, what happens next?
- When will we get the identification letter?
Our broader questions to ask your school guide can help you turn those into one clear conversation with the office or program contact.
Frequently asked questions
What test does Adams 12 use for the 2nd grade gifted screener?
The Naglieri General Ability Tests (NGAT), which the district calls Nag Gen. It covers verbal, nonverbal and quantitative reasoning. Sixth graders are screened with the CogAT.
When is the Adams 12 universal screener in 2026?
Each school sets its own dates. Two school pages list fall 2026 screener dates of September 15 to 18 and September 22 to October 5. Ask your school GT coordinator for yours.
Does a high screener score mean my child is identified as gifted in Adams 12?
No. The screener flags students for further evaluation. The AAGS department makes the decision from a full Body of Evidence following Colorado criteria.
What score counts in Adams 12?
The district describes intellectual ability as performance at the 95th percentile and above on standardized cognitive tests, as part of a Body of Evidence.
Can I nominate my child in another grade in Adams 12?
Yes. Parents, staff and students can nominate through the school GT coordinator. Each school posts its own nomination form and deadline.
Does GateBuddy offer NGAT practice for Adams 12 families?
Not yet. GateBuddy currently offers NNAT practice, and the NGAT is a different test. Join the waitlist on this page to be notified if NGAT practice launches.
Want to hear if GateBuddy adds NGAT practice?
GateBuddy does not offer NGAT practice today. Join the list and we will email you if that changes, plus GateBuddy’s existing guides in the meantime if your family is weighing more than one district or test.
Join the waitlist- Adams 12: Universal Screener
- Adams 12: Identification & Assessment
- Adams 12: Assessments & Body of Evidence
- Adams 12: Intellectual Ability/Academic Aptitude
- Glacier Peak Elementary: Gifted & Talented, September 15-18 screener dates
- Rocky Mountain Elementary: Gifted & Talented, September 22 to October 5 window
- GateBuddy: NNAT® vs CogAT® vs OLSAT®