GATE stands for Gifted and Talented Education. NNAT® stands for Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test, a visual reasoning assessment that uses shapes and patterns instead of reading passages, vocabulary, or math computation.
What Corona-Norco says about GATE identification
Corona-Norco Unified says it offers an annual assessment to identify students who qualify for GATE. The district’s GATE page says the selection process reviews multiple data points, including results from the NNAT3 assessment.
For 2nd graders, the district says students are automatically assessed each year unless families complete the opt-out process. For grades 3 through 5, families may submit a referral for testing.
| Test basics | What Corona-Norco parents should know |
|---|---|
| Test | NNAT3, the third edition of the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test |
| Length | 48 questions in about 30 minutes |
| Format | District-issued computer device at school |
| Reading load | No reading passages, vocabulary, or math computation |
| 2nd grade level | Level C, which includes all four major NNAT® question formats |
What 2nd graders should expect from the NNAT®
The NNAT® does not look like regular schoolwork. It asks children to use visual logic: pattern completion, visual analogies, serial reasoning, and spatial visualization. The child needs to spot what changes, what stays the same, and which answer follows the same rule.
Corona-Norco says testing is conducted using the child’s district-issued device at school under teacher supervision. That makes screen familiarity useful. A child who understands the layout can focus more on solving the puzzle and less on figuring out the page.
Elementary schools in Corona-Norco Unified
In most districts, a gifted-screening window applies across the district, while each school handles practical details inside that window. For Corona-Norco families, the November window is the planning window, and your child’s campus is the place to confirm the exact day, make-up instructions, and reminders.
Corona-Norco Unified elementary schools include:
- Academy of Innovation
- Ben Franklin Elementary
- Clara Barton Elementary
- Corona Ranch Elementary
- Coronita Elementary
- Dr. Bernice Todd Elementary
- Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary
- Eastvale Elementary
- Foothill Elementary
- Garretson Elementary
- George Washington Elementary
- Harada Elementary
- Highland Elementary
- Jefferson Elementary
- John Adams Elementary
- John Stallings Elementary
- Lincoln Fundamental Elementary
- Louis VanderMolen Fundamental Elementary
- Norco Elementary
- Orange Elementary
- Parkridge Elementary
- Philistine Rondo School of Discovery
- Prado View Elementary
- Riverview Elementary
- Ronald Reagan Elementary
- Rosa Parks Elementary
- Sierra Vista Elementary
- Susan B. Anthony Elementary
- Temescal Valley Elementary
- Vicentia Elementary
- William McKinley Elementary
- Woodrow Wilson Elementary
The district also lists Cesar Chavez Academy and Home Gardens Academy as K-8 academies.
Questions Corona-Norco parents should ask
- What exact date is our school administering the 2nd grade GATE assessment?
- Is any parent action required if we want our child to participate?
- What is the opt-out deadline if a family does not want testing?
- If my child qualifies for GATE, what additional educational opportunities will be offered in their current grade level and beyond, inside the classroom or outside it?
- When should families expect results?
- How does Corona-Norco use the NNAT3 result alongside other data points?
- If a child qualifies, which GATE program options are available?
How to prepare without adding pressure
For 2nd graders, useful preparation is short and familiar. Start with a few screen-based visual reasoning questions, then talk through the rule behind each answer. The goal is not memorizing pictures. It is helping a child recognize the format before the testing window arrives.
If the NNAT® format is new to your child, begin with the four NNAT® question types, then use short practice sessions before trying a timed test.
Frequently asked questions
When is 2nd grade GATE testing in Corona-Norco Unified for 2026-2027?
The current 2nd grade GATE testing window is expected in November. Families should check their school communication for the exact date scheduled for their child’s class.
Are all Corona-Norco 2nd graders assessed for GATE?
Corona-Norco Unified says all 2nd grade students are automatically assessed each year unless families complete the opt-out process.
How is Corona-Norco’s GATE assessment administered?
The district says testing uses the child’s district-issued device at school under teacher supervision.
How long is the NNAT3?
The NNAT3 has 48 questions and takes about 30 minutes.
When are Corona-Norco GATE results expected?
Families should check the district or school timeline. Corona-Norco’s GATE page notes that specific dates are set by each school and results are sent after the testing window.
Start with a calm first look.
GateBuddy’s free NNAT® practice introduces the question styles and explains how to think through them.
Try five questions free