Madison Gifted Kindergarten Program

To be eligible for the Madison Gifted Kindergarten program, a student must meet all of the following:

1. Be five years old on or before September 1, 2026.
2. Have been screened for gifted services between the ages of four and five years old.
3. Meet either of the following criteria:

• Gifted qualification at the 95th percentile or higher in any of these areas: Verbal, Nonverbal, and Quantitative.
• An IQ of 128 or higher.

Students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans will need approval by the Student Services department prior to enrollment to ensure the availability of necessary resources and services.

Please visit our Transportation page for information on bus routes and transportation.

While the program is designed for gifted learners, the following readiness skills are recommended for a successful start:

• Literacy
  • Know upper- and lower-case letters by name.
  • Know basic letter sounds.
  • Know 30 sight words.
  • Write their first and last name.
• Math
  • Know numbers 1–20 and be able to count objects 1–20.
  • Add and subtract small numbers 1–10 with manipulatives.
• General
  • Recognize and name basic shapes: circle, square, rectangle, triangle, diamond.
  • Know basic color words: red, blue, green, yellow, white, black, brown, purple, orange.
  • Hold a pencil with a standard grip.
     

Screening will be offered on February 3rd and 6th, 2026 at the Madison District Office from 9:15am-11:15am.

Parents must register at this link. Results will be sent to parents via email within 14 days of screening.

Parents are encouraged to remain on campus during the testing session and attend a gifted Q&A session.

Parents/Guardians may seek outside/private testing for gifted identification if they choose. If you feel your child would benefit from outside, one-on-one testing, you may have your child tested by a private, licensed psychologist.

If you choose to pursue private testing, please ensure that:

• The psychologist is licensed.
• The test used is approved by the state of Arizona (see list below).
• The test results show your child’s normed percentile score in all three areas: Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal.

Financial Responsibility: All fees associated with private testing are the responsibility of the student’s family. Madison School District is not responsible for and does not cover private testing fees. 

Accepted State-Approved Tests

Madison will accept scores from the following state-approved tests:

• Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV)
  • Key Measures Assessed: Verbal Comprehension, Visual Spatial, Fluid Reasoning, Working Memory, and Processing Speed.
• Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)
  • Key Measures Assessed: The three areas required by the state of Arizona for gifted identification: Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal. Measures abstract thinking and reasoning.
• Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Fifth Edition (SB5)
  • Key Measures Assessed: Five key cognitive factors: Fluid Reasoning, Knowledge, Quantitative Reasoning, Visual-Spatial Processing, and Working Memory (in both verbal and nonverbal formats).