Hilliard City Schools gifted testing and NNAT® guide.

Hilliard City Schools identifies gifted students using a mix of universal, whole-grade screening and referral-based small-group testing. The NNAT3, the third edition of the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test, is one of several instruments the district uses; CogAT is used as well, alongside STAR for academic giftedness in reading and math and iReady for 2nd grade reading.

This guide focuses on the piece with the nearest deadline: universal 4th grade NNAT3 cognitive testing, confirmed for October 5-9, 2026. If your child is in a different grade, the district's referral pathway is covered below.

What Hilliard says about its fall 2026 testing windows

Hilliard's gifted identification page lists a specific fall 2026 schedule: STAR reading and math screening runs September 1-18 and again December 1-18 for all students. NNAT3 cognitive testing is universal for 4th grade during October 5-9. A separate small-group referral window for cognitive testing in grades 1, 3, and 5 runs November 9-20, with a referral deadline of October 23 to be included.

That structure means a 4th grader does not need a referral or a parent request to be tested; the district screens the entire grade during that week. Families of students in grades 1, 3, or 5 who want cognitive testing need to submit a referral by October 23 to make the November window.

At 4th grade, the NNAT3 uses Level D, the level used for grades 3 and 4. It carries the same four question families as the earlier Level C but with more answer choices and finer visual distinctions. Our guide to NNAT® Level C vs Level D walks through what actually changes between the two.

Why families of younger siblings should note the October 23 deadline now

The 4th grade window is universal, so there is nothing for those families to sign up for. But a family with a child in 1st, 3rd, or 5th grade has a real action item: the referral for the November 9-20 window closes October 23, roughly two and a half weeks after the 4th grade window opens. That is easy to miss if a family is only watching for the 4th grade date.

If your child is in one of those referral-eligible grades and you want them considered for cognitive testing this fall, the referral needs to go in before October 23, not after the November window has already started.

Questions Hilliard parents should ask

1. Is my 4th grader automatically included in the October 5-9 NNAT3 window, or does anything need to be returned first?
2. If my child is in 1st, 3rd, or 5th grade, how do we submit a referral before the October 23 deadline?
3. When will October testing results be shared with families?
4. If my child does not qualify this round, what is the next testing opportunity?
5. What gifted services are available at our school for an identified student?
6. Does Hilliard use NNAT3, CogAT, or both for my child's grade this year?

Our broader questions to ask your school guide can help you turn those into one clear conversation with the office or program contact.

How to prepare without adding pressure

The best preparation for a 4th grader is short, consistent, and calm. Start with format familiarity: show the child the kinds of visual tasks they might see, then talk through the thinking after each question. A useful explanation should name the rule, not just reveal the answer.

If your child has not seen the NNAT® before, start with a short session rather than a full-length test. Then add complete timed practice only after the format feels familiar. Our guide to how to prepare for the NNAT® gives a simple structure for that progression.