Montgomery County Public Schools gifted and talented CogAT guide.

Gifted and Talented, or GT, is Montgomery County Public Schools' identification process for advanced learning services. CogAT stands for Cognitive Abilities Test, a reasoning assessment built around three batteries: Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal.

This guide is written for MCPS parents in Rockville and across the county who want to understand the screening window, who gets tested, and how the CogAT result fits into a larger identification picture.

What MCPS says about GT screening

MCPS screens all 2nd graders district-wide with the CogAT during the December 1 to January 16 window, alongside 4th and 7th graders who are new to MCPS or who have not previously received a gifted and talented designation. Screening is universal by default; a family that wants to decline returns an opt-out form, but no action is required to take part.

MCPS is explicit that the CogAT is one of several criteria used for GT designation, not the sole determinant. The district's own identification process document, referenced from school-level GT pages, describes additional criteria beyond the test score, though the specific weighting is not published on the general policy page. Families should ask their school's Accelerated and Enriched Instruction (AEI) contact for the current year's full criteria.

The CogAT's three batteries measure different kinds of reasoning: Verbal (word relationships and vocabulary-based logic), Quantitative (number relationships and math reasoning), and Nonverbal (visual pattern and spatial reasoning, similar in spirit to the NNAT® format). A 2nd grader typically sees all three, not just one.

Why the December-January window catches families off guard

The window opens right after winter break planning is already underway, and because it is automatic rather than something a family signs up for, it is easy for a 2nd grader to be tested without much advance notice at home. Since the CogAT is one of several criteria rather than a single pass-fail moment, there is no single date to circle so much as a six-week window to know is coming.

For families of 4th or 7th graders new to MCPS, the same window applies, but participation is not automatic in the same way, confirm with your school whether your child is included this year.

Questions MCPS parents should ask

1. Has my child's CogAT testing happened yet within the December 1-January 16 window?
2. What other criteria besides the CogAT factor into GT designation this year?
3. If my 4th or 7th grader is new to MCPS, are they included in this year's screening?
4. When will families be notified of results?
5. What GT or AEI services are available at our school for an identified student?
6. If my child is not identified this round, is there a later referral or re-screening path?

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