ACCS+GT+Program - ACCS Programming for Gifted and Talented Students - CogAT Frequently Asked Questions

Oct 5, 2026

Atlantic Community Charter School outlines gifted and talented programming for eligible students across grades K-8, describing enrichment structures and instructional strategies such as differentiated instruction, cluster grouping, enrichment programs, curriculum compacting, accelerated learning, and independent study. The document also explains the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) using a detailed FAQ covering what the test is, who is eligible, how results are used for placement, what it measures, and the scoring and reporting process.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

ACCS Programming for Eligible Students

Grades K-3 Creativity and Critical Thinking

Grades 4-5 Gifted and Talented: Academic Challenge & Enrichment [ACEs]

Grades 6-8 Academic Challenge and Enrichment Courses [ACEs]

Additional Resources Supporting Gifted Education

Criteria for Entrance into Gifted Education

Cognitive Abilities Test [CogAT] Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CogAT?

Which students are eligible to take the CogAT?

How does ACCS use the CogAT?

What does the CogAT measure?

What is the CogAT scoring process?

Mission: The Atlantic Community Charter School believes that every child possesses special gifts and talents, and it is our mission to provide our students with a variety of learning experiences that cultivate their gifts and talents. These unique learning experiences can vary in nature and are delivered using multiple instructional strategies including differentiated instruction, cluster grouping, enrichment programs, curriculum compacting, accelerated learning, and independent study. ACCS Programming for eligible students includes: Grades K-3 Creativity and Critical Thinking Each K-3 classroom is equipped with resources for teachers to use with students during their enrichment period who exhibit advanced levels of achievement in creative and critical thinking. These students will receive the enrichment activities based on careful consideration and evaluation by the classroom teacher in consultation with the Gifted and Talented teacher. Grades 4-5 Gifted and Talented-Academic Challenge & Enrichment [ACEs] Those students who qualify for the ACES program meet with the Gifted and Talented teacher twice weekly for instruction. The ACES program focuses on providing instruction designed to appropriately differentiate activities and address individual strengths, learning styles, interests, creativity, and critical thinking to meet the unique needs of gifted learners. Grades 6-8 Academic Challenge and Enrichment Courses [ACEs] Students are re-screened in the Spring of Grade 5 for participation in the middle school Gifted and Talented Program ACES program. Those who qualify are scheduled into one daily ACES course during their enrichment period each year. Instruction specific to the needs of gifted learners is integrated within the core disciplines of English Language Arts (grade 6), Science (grade 7), and Social Studies (grade 8) through a compacted curriculum. Typically, students engage in experiences designed specifically for the gifted learner two periods per week. They engage in discipline-specific learning in the content areas the remainder of the week. Additional Resources Supporting Gifted Education The National Association for Gifted Children provides a great deal of information identification of giftedness and programming for gifted students. The National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented from the University of Connecticut provides current research on what works for gifted students. Prufrock Press website on Parenting Gifted Children provides information and resources for parents of the gifted. The criteria for entrance into Gifted Education The Atlantic Community Charter School and Talented Program in Grades K-8, utilizes measures of Student Achievement and an assessment of learned reasoning abilities to identify gifted students. The full text of the ACCS Board of Education-approved criteria can be accessed via the link below. Additionally, please see below for FAQs about the CogAT. Cognitive Abilities Test [CogAT] Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is the CogAT? The Cognitive Abilities Test, or CogAT is a nationally-normed test published by Riverside Insights that measures students’ learned reasoning abilities in the three areas most linked to academic success in school: Verbal, Quantitative and Nonverbal. It is NOT an assessment of grade level content and skills like the NJSLA standardized achievement tests. The CogAT is typically administered in a group setting, proctored by the student’s teacher. 2. Which students are eligible to take the CogAT? All students in grades 3 and 5 are provided the opportunity to be assessed via the CogAT during the course of the school year. Official communiqués regarding CogAT testing dates will be provided in advance of the coordinated testing dates and placed on the ACCS web site’s calendar. Additionally, students new to the School in grades 4 and above are also provided the opportunity to take the CogAT during the summer [FAMS]/ at the beg

FAQs

What is the CogAT?

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is a nationally-normed test published by Riverside Insights that measures students’ learned reasoning abilities in Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal areas. It is not an assessment of grade-level content and skills like standardized achievement tests.

Which students are eligible to take the CogAT?

All students in grades 3 and 5 are given the opportunity to be assessed during the school year. Students new to the school in grades 4 and above also have the opportunity to take the CogAT during the summer or at the beginning of the new academic year.

How does ACCS use CogAT results?

CogAT results guide efforts to adapt instruction to students’ needs and provide a measure of cognitive development not typically shown in report cards. Results are used as one of several data points for placements, including middle school math programming and ACEs in grades 4–8.

What does the CogAT measure and how is it scored?

The CogAT assesses learned reasoning abilities through Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal test batteries focused on reasoning, patterns and relations, and spatial/figural content. ACCS uses the publisher’s scoring service, and once reports are returned, individual score reports are mailed home via U.S. Postal Service.

Oct 5, 2026

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