Gifted Programs & REACH

Gifted Programs Across Madison

Madison Elementary School District offers three Gifted Programs: 

1. Schoolwide Cluster Grouping Model (Grades K-4)

The Schoolwide Cluster Grouping Model (SCGM) serves students in grades K-4. In this program, identified students are clustered to focus on enrichment and/or acceleration using compacting and differentiation as appropriate. This program focuses on logic, creativity, nonverbal reasoning, critical thinking in all areas. To qualify for the SCGM program students must score in the 97th percentile any state approved state tests. SCGM is available at Madison Camelview, Madison Rose Lane, Madison Heights, and Madison Simis.

2. Honors/Advanced (Grades 5-8)

The Honors program serves students in grades 5-8. This program utilizes either the cluster and/or the pullout replacement model for math and/or language arts. This program provides enrichment and one year acceleration. It focuses on acceleration, critical thinking, verbal reasoning and creativity in subject specific domains. To qualify for the Honors program students must score in the 97th percentile on any approved state tests. Honors is available at Madison No. 1, Madison Park, and Madison Meadows.

3. REACH – Profoundly Gifted (Grades 1-8)

The Madison School district provides a self-contained accelerated program for those students who are profoundly gifted known as REACH (Rigorous, Enriched, Accelerated Curriculum for the Highly Gifted).

The REACH program for students in grades 1-4 is located at Madison Heights Elementary, grades 5-7 at Madison Park, and for 8th-grade students at Madison No. 1 Middle School.

REACH students receive curriculum two grade levels ahead and may earn one year of High School Foreign Language credit.

This program provides highly gifted students in grades 1-8 the opportunity to function at an academic level that is commensurate with their abilities, while having the opportunity to interact socially with students who have similar interests and academic needs.

Students receive a daily Spanish class, develop a differentiated educational plan (DEP) in an area of interest that is researched and reported on in both oral and written presentations, and take a class field trip such as to Catalina Island Marine Institute, AstroCamp, Pali Institute, etc.

REACH classes are taught by highly qualified appropriately certified teachers who have or are working on their gifted endorsement.

To qualify for the REACH program, students must meet one of the following criteria:

1. Composite of 99th percentile on the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). The CogAT consists of three different batteries, Verbal, Quantitative and Nonverbal. None of the three scores can be below 90th percentile.
2. Full scale score of 139 or higher on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC)
3. Full scale score of 142 or higher on the Stanford Binet.

Additionally, potential REACH students are now required to be assessed in reading and math using the District’s internal benchmark program, Northwest Evaluation Association/Measures of Academic Progress® (MAP®). Students must achieve the following MAP® scores:

• Grades 1 and 2- Reading: A passing score on the district’s reading assessment.
• Grades 3 – 8 Math: 80th percentile or higher; Reading 80th percentile or higher.

Screening Dates

Gifted Screening Schedule

View upcoming gifted screening opportunities.

To register your child for the next available session of gifted screening, please complete and submit the Gifted Screening Registration Form.

To view the Gifted Scope and Sequence handbook, click here. 

For more information regarding the Gifted Program and/or CogAT Screening, please contact Debra Wheeler.

For information regarding The REACH Program or to connect with the program manager, please contact Heidi Conevera.