Districts / FL

Gifted testing in Pasco County Schools

Pasco screens all its second graders for gifted potential; in December 2023 the district told its school board that this had raised the number of identified gifted students by 20%. Pasco eSchool's sign-up form describes its second-grade screener as a shortened CogAT with about 14 verbal, quantitative and nonverbal questions each. Gifted students are served through consultation, inclusion classes with a gifted-endorsed teacher, or a full-time Center for Gifted Studies, which families apply to through the Pasco Pathways school choice application.

Gifted education, grades K-12

Dates and requirements change. Always confirm with Pasco County Schools directly. Last checked: Nov 3, 2026 · Source: district website

The test: CogAT; Also: Gifted screener for all second graders, Individual IQ test Source
Testing window: On campus in October (sign-up form); CogAT, grade 2 Source
Published cutoff: 98th percentile; See how a child qualifies below Source

The school year, in order

Each line links to the district document it comes from.

On campus in October (sign-up form)Grade 2: CogAT, pasco eSchool second graders whose families sign up. Source
Not publishedGrade 2: Gifted screener for all second graders, every student. Source
Not publishedGrades K, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5: Individual IQ test, students referred after screening. Source
Center for Gifted Studies applicationFamilies apply for a Center for Gifted Studies seat through the Pasco Pathways school choice application; students zoned to the program's pathway get lottery preference. Source

How a child qualifies

The screener score that leads to a full evaluation is not published. Source
Plan A: an IQ of 130 or more (two standard deviations above the mean, about the 98th percentile) on an individually given IQ test, plus a majority of gifted characteristics and a need for the program. Source

Get ready for Pasco County Schools' test

Start with a free readiness check. Pick Pasco County Schools during setup and the report shows how your child's estimate compares with the published cutoff.

Start a free readiness check

Sources

Our Gifted Program Team (Pasco County Schools) (checked Nov 3, 2026)
Center for Gifted Studies (Pasco County Schools school choice catalog) (checked Nov 3, 2026)
CogAT Gifted Screener sign-up form (Pasco eSchool) (checked Nov 3, 2026)
Pasco County Schools is identifying more gifted students (Laker/Lutz News, December 2023) (checked Nov 3, 2026)
NCES Common Core of Data, 2023-24 district and school directories (district list and school ZIP codes) (checked Nov 3, 2026)

District information is compiled from public sources and may be incomplete, out of date or wrong. GiftedCub is not affiliated with Pasco County Schools. Confirm testing windows, deadlines, eligibility criteria and cutoffs directly with the district or school before relying on them. GiftedCub is not responsible for missed deadlines or decisions based on this information.