Gifted Services
Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) offers a continuum of gifted services designed to meet the unique academic and affective needs of gifted learners.
Through differentiated instruction, enrichment, and acceleration, students are supported in reaching their full potential. Gifted services are available at all SUSD schools, and identification is based on Arizona state guidelines.
Learn more at: www.susd.org/gifted
Comprehensive Gifted Program (CGP)
The Comprehensive Gifted Program (CGP) serves highly gifted students in grades K-8 and is designed for students who have extraordinary academic needs, ability, and intellectual potential.
This program allows students to engage in learning that is, at minimum, 1-2 years beyond their current grade level, and encourages collaboration with intellectual peers. The CGP program is founded on thematic interdisciplinary studies, academic rigor, critical and creative thinking. It is the goal of the CGP to provide a comprehensive and specialized learning environment designed to cater to the unique needs of highly gifted learners.
CGP Information
Elementary
The Elementary CGP in offers a continuum-based, multiage learning environment where students of different ages learn together in two-year groupings: K/1, 2/3, and 4/5. This model fosters a dynamic and responsive setting that supports the unique academic and social needs of highly gifted learners. Through thematic and project-based instruction, students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning and engage deeply with meaningful content.
Because of the unique nature of the CGP, it is application-based, requiring eligible scores plus demonstrated accelerated learning needs.
Kindergarten
Eligibility Criteria:
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Gifted qualification at 97 percentile (national age-normed scores ) or higher (verbal, non-verbal, or quantitative) on a state-approved test such as the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT3) or
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Demonstrate a Full-Scale IQ of 130+ or higher on an intelligence test such as: Wechsler Intelligence Scale V (WISC-V) or the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test given by a licensed psychologist or 97%ile or higher in one of the three content areas (verbal, quantitative or non-verbal) and
Additional Requirements:
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Demonstrate accelerated learning needs at least one year beyond grade level.
1-8 Grade
Eligibility Criteria:
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Scores of 97% or higher on a state-approved gifted test in two of three areas (Verbal, Quantitative, Nonverbal), with the third score being 90% or higher; or
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An IQ of 135 or higher; or
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A total score of 284 from Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal assessments and
Additional Requirements:
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Demonstrate accelerated learning needs at least one year beyond grade level.
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State standardized test results and/or academic benchmark data must meet or exceed grade-level standards for grades 3-8.
The application's required components include:
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Cognitive abilities
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Advanced academic achievement measured by District or state assessments in both English Language Arts and Mathematics
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Recent Report Card
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Strong teacher recommendation as indicated by a teacher completing and submitting a gifted characteristic profile. This information is confidential and should be submitted directly to the Gifted Department using the CGP Teacher Recommendation (2025-2026 School Year) or CGP Teacher Recommendation (2026-2027 School Year). Other factors may be considered, such as principal recommendations or other impact factors.
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Handwritten Student response to prompted questions (questions will be included within the application).
Work with your home school’s Gifted Specialist to gather and complete the application components. The application will be submitted online directly to the Gifted Learning Team.
Cluster Grouping
In The Cluster Grouping Model, gifted students are clustered into a mixed-ability classrooms at each grade level. The teacher is trained in understanding, planning for, and instructing gifted students. Gifted Specialists assist cluster teachers with scheduling, provide professional development in gifted education, and facilitate with the planning and implementation of differentiated curriculum. In this model, gifted students receive differentiated curriculum and instruction in all content areas on a daily basis.
Classroom compositions are carefully structured with two main goals: to ensure that there is a balance throughout the grade level, and to reduce the learning range found in any given classroom. This system provides opportunities for teachers to more readily respond to the needs of all their students.
Gifted cluster teachers plan appropriately challenging instruction for their gifted students. This may involve acceleration, enrichment, and various extended learning opportunities targeted to develop the following skills through learning in the content areas:
- Logical thinking
- Reasoning skills
- Critical and creative thinking
- Problem-solving
Gifted students receive instruction that is differentiated in content, process, product, learning environment and assessment:
- Content — Complex, abstract ideas presented in a variety of disciplines, including interdisciplinary curriculum
- Process — Higher-level thinking through Bloom’s Taxonomy and the Multiple Intelligences
- Products — Alternative methods of demonstrating mastery with a range of complexity
- Learning environment — Student-centered, flexible grouping based on readiness, interests, and abilities
- Assessment — Pre-assessment and testing out-of-grade level curriculum
Students qualify for gifted services at SUSD by obtaining a score at or above the 97th percentile in verbal, quantitative, and/or nonverbal areas and/or a Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) of 128 or above.
Content Replacement
Content replacement in Mathematics through the Accelerated Math program is available to students in grades 3-5 at each elementary school. Starting in 4th grade gifted learners also participate in Integrated Reading.
Curriculum in these classes offers both acceleration and enrichment to provide an appropriately challenging level of educational rigor. SUSD gifted specialists are state certified and have specific certification and training to work with gifted students. District Gifted Coaches provide support to cluster teachers and gifted specialists. Additional enrichments and integrated learning opportunities are provided across the grade levels by the cluster teachers.
Curriculum in Accelerated Math and Integrated Reading includes:
- Socratic Seminars
- Junior Great Books
- Classic and Contemporary literature
- Project Based Learning
- Integrated curriculum
- Advanced problem-solving instruction
- Math Olympiad & Continental Math competitions
- Grammar and vocabulary instruction using the work of Michael Clay Thompson
- As well as extensive thematic units developed by teachers in the district