Aurora Public Schools (APS), in Aurora, Colorado, identifies gifted students through a Body of Evidence rather than one test score. Its Gifted & Talented pages say every 2nd grader is universally screened, and that the district places a lot of value on teacher and family referrals.
What APS says about identification
The APS data collection page says Colorado requires districts to offer a universal screener to every 2nd and 6th grader each fall, in October and November. APS does not publish exact 2026 dates.
Colorado criteria include a score at the 95th percentile or above on a nationally normed test, but a single score is never enough on its own. APS stresses that criteria are not cut-off scores: a review team keeps collecting evidence, such as achievement data, observation scales, portfolios and interviews. Students who are not formally identified may be placed in a high-potential Talent Development Pool.
| Test basics | What APS parents should know |
|---|---|
| Test | NGAT per the district assessment page; the GT page describes the CogAT. Confirm with your school |
| Universal screening | 2nd grade (the GT page also cites 6th); assessment page lists 2nd, 5th and 6th |
| Window | Fall, October to November per the GT page; exact dates not published |
| Referral | Anyone, any grade, through the school Gifted Education Facilitator |
| Qualifying score | No cut-off; Colorado criteria include the 95th percentile within a Body of Evidence |
| Results | GT Facilitator notifies families; timing not published |
| Contact | Your school's GT Facilitator; APS main line 303-344-8060 |
How referrals work in APS
Teachers, school leaders, parents, students and community members can nominate a student. You can submit the Advanced Academics Referral Form found on your school's website, or write a letter to the school's Gifted Education Facilitator. The Advanced Academics and Gifted Services team reviews the referral with the school, may ask the family for more evidence, and the Facilitator lets families know if the student is identified or added to the Talent Pool. Under Colorado rules, the team has up to 30 school days after a referral to gather information.
How to prepare without adding pressure
Because the test is not clearly named, start by confirming it. Both the NGAT and the CogAT include verbal, quantitative and nonverbal parts, so short, varied reasoning practice fits either one.
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 APS parents should ask
- Which test will my 2nd grader take this year, the NGAT or the CogAT?
- What are our school's screening dates this fall?
- Will we get our child's screening scores even if they are not identified?
- How do I submit a referral, and what evidence helps?
- If my child is placed in the Talent Pool, what services come with it?
- If my child is not identified, when can they be screened again?
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 Aurora Public Schools use for gifted screening?
District pages disagree. The APS assessment page for parents lists the NGAT, while the Gifted and Talented data collection page describes the CogAT. Ask your school's Gifted Education Facilitator which test your child will take.
Which grades does APS screen for gifted?
APS says every 2nd grader is universally screened. Its gifted page also cites Colorado's requirement to screen 2nd and 6th graders, and its assessment page lists 2nd, 5th and 6th grades.
When does APS screen for gifted?
In the fall. The APS data collection page describes October to November. Exact 2026 dates are not published, so ask your school.
What score qualifies a student in APS?
APS does not use cut-off scores. Colorado criteria include the 95th percentile or above on a nationally normed test, but one score alone is not enough; the team reviews a full Body of Evidence.
How do I refer my child for gifted identification in APS?
Submit the Advanced Academics Referral Form from your school's website, or write to the school's Gifted Education Facilitator. Parents, teachers, students and community members can all refer.
Does GateBuddy offer NGAT practice for APS 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- APS: Data Collection, universal screening and CogAT description
- APS: Identification Information
- APS: Nomination
- APS: Gifted & Talented
- APS: State and District Testing Information for parents (archived March 11, 2026), where NGAT and grades 2, 5 and 6 appear
- Colorado Department of Education: Gifted Identification Guidance Handbook
- GateBuddy: NNAT® vs CogAT® vs OLSAT®