Houston ISD Gifted and Talented and NGAT guide.

Houston Independent School District identifies Gifted and Talented (G/T) students with the Naglieri General Ability Tests (NGAT) in grades PK4 through 8, and the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) in grades 9 through 12. The NGAT has three parts: verbal, nonverbal and quantitative. It is not the same test as the NNAT®.

G/T identification matters in Houston because it is required to apply to Vanguard campuses.

What HISD says about identification

Any enrolled student from PK4 through 12th grade can be tested if referred by a teacher, a parent, the student, or a district-generated roster. When someone other than the parent makes the referral, the parent must give consent. The district also tests some students on its own: all 2nd graders, plus 5th and 8th graders who score above the 80th percentile on MAP in math or reading.

Scores are converted into points on the HISD G/T Identification Matrix, which uses three or more criteria. There are two matrices: one for entering kindergarten and one for grades K-12. HISD does not publish the point cutoffs on its testing page. K-12 students can qualify in both reading and math, reading only, or math only. To apply to a Vanguard magnet program, a student must qualify in both.

Entering kindergarten families: check the birthdate rule

Children not yet enrolled can be tested if they will enter HISD kindergarten in 2027-28, were born between September 2, 2021 and September 1, 2022, and live in a home zoned to HISD. They test at their zoned campus in small groups of five or fewer. Results must be picked up at the testing campus by January 15, 2027, and they only count if the child enrolls in HISD kindergarten for 2027-28.

Results, retesting and appeals

Enrolled students' results are sent home and posted in the HISD Parent Portal in December, timed to the School Choice application window. A student who does not qualify can be reassessed after one calendar school year. Parents can file a Level I appeal with the campus G/T coordinator within 15 district days of the notification letter, and a Level II appeal to the district after that. Level II decisions are final.

What HISD says about preparation

HISD asks families to avoid any form of test preparation, including study guides and practice materials, and says prep can inflate scores and hide a child's true ability. That is the district's stated position and parents should know it. Students take the test on a computer or tablet with animated, language-free directions.

If you decide to do anything, keep it light: make sure your child is comfortable using a tablet or laptop, gets good sleep, and knows the test is a normal school activity. Families who practice for other gifted tests typically use 10 to 15 minutes a day plus at least two full timed practice tests; for HISD, weigh that against the district's request. 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. See our guide on preparing a young child for a gifted test.

Questions HISD parents should ask

1. Did our ParentSquare request go through before September 25, and which days will our campus test?
2. Is my 2nd grader already on the district testing list, or do I still need to submit a request?
3. When will the G/T Identification Matrix for this year be available?
4. Which matrix criteria besides the NGAT apply to my child?
5. If my child qualifies in only reading or only math, what services and schools are open to us?
6. What is the appeal deadline counted from, and who is our campus G/T coordinator?

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