Gifted Education
Tolleson Elementary School District provides gifted education services to students with demonstrated advanced learning ability who will benefit from learning experiences beyond what is taught in the traditional classroom.
What Does Gifted Mean?
For consideration in the gifted program, a student must receive a referral from a teacher, a parent, or self for evaluation. The evaluation process consists of a review of state-mandated assessments, a teacher rating scale, and the CogAT.
Tolleson ESD identifies a gifted student as one who has demonstrated advanced cognitive abilities by scoring 95% or higher on the state-approved CogAt in the area(s) of verbal, nonverbal, or/and quantitative skills. The CogAT measures the level and pattern of cognitive development of a student compared to their peers. These general reasoning abilities, which start developing at birth and continue through early adulthood, are influenced by experiences gained both in and out of school.
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What Are Gifted Programs Services?
Our gifted program delivers higher-level learning opportunities by
- clustering gifted students;
- providing differentiated instruction in the classroom;
- integrating gifted standards with grade-level standards; and
- providing a one-hour per week pull-out program per group
What Are Gifted Instructional Strategies?
- Project-based assignments requiring analytical problem solving, creativity, and complex/critical thinking
- Social and emotional development activities
- Collaborative activities that allow students to draw on their strengths and work through challenges
Gifted Student Program Awards
- Arizona Desert Odyssey of the Mind (Team 1) 1st Place - To State 2022
- Arizona Desert Odyssey of the Mind (Team 2) 3rd Place - To State 2022
- Arizona Desert Odyssey of the Mind (Team 3) 3rd Place - To State 2022
- Sheely Farms Odyssey of the Mind (Team 1) 2nd Place - To State 2022
- Arizona State Gifted Grant 2020
- Desert Oasis Odyssey of the Mind 4th Place - 2020
- Arizona Desert Odyssey of the Mind 5th Place - 2020
- Fiesta Bowl Grant Recipient ($1,000) - 2020
- Westside Impact Grant Recipient ($800) - 2020
