Gifted Overview
CUSD Gifted Program Mission:
The mission of the Chandler Academically Talented Students (CATS) program is to foster excellence and develop talent among our gifted students by providing a comprehensive curriculum and a dedicated staff to meet their academic, social, and emotional needs.
The mission of the Chandler Academically Talented Students (CATS) program is to foster excellence and develop talent among our gifted students by providing a comprehensive curriculum and a dedicated staff to meet their academic, social, and emotional needs.
Definition of a Gifted Student:
The Chandler Unified School District, in accordance with the AZ State Mandate for Gifted Education defines gifted students as those children of lawful school age who due to superior intellect or advanced learning ability, or both, is not afforded an opportunity for otherwise attainable progress and development in regular classroom instruction and who needs comprehensive gifted education services, to achieve at levels commensurate with the child's intellect and ability. Gifted education services are offered to all students who score at or above the 97th percentile on a verbal, quantitative, and/or nonverbal battery, or a composite score at or above the 95th percentile of a test included on the Arizona State-Approved Gifted Test List.
Definition of Gifted Education:
CUSD defines gifted education as services and coursework that provide extended learning opportunities focused on the cognitive and affective needs of students identified as gifted. The Chandler Unified School District offers gifted services for students Kindergarten through high school. The delivery model varies slightly by grade level group and allows for flexibility in services. Gifted Education services in CUSD are integrated, differentiated learning experiences provided during the regular school day. The gifted education services in CUSD incorporates and addresses one or more of the following:
- Accelerated curriculum
- Differentiated learning environment
- Complexity and organization of content to be mastered
- Critical and creative thinking and problem solving
- Interaction with academically gifted peers
- Social and emotional needs of gifted students
Testing
CUSD offers Cognitive Abilities Testing (CogAT) multiple times throughout the school year. For more information please visit the Gifted Testing information page.
2025-2026 Self-Contained Sites
Gifted Parents Presentation
Here is a presentation for newly-qualified gifted students at CUSD.
CATS Academy for Parents
CATS Academy for Parents (CAP) is a series of workshops designed to provide CATS parents with tips and tools that will help in parenting gifted children.
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