Gifted testing in Virginia: how identification works

Virginia requires every school division to find and serve gifted students, but no single test score decides. Divisions use at least three measures, and most of the big Northern Virginia divisions screen whole grades with an ability test. This guide explains the state rule and what the divisions we researched actually do.

What the state requires

Under Virginia's regulation (8VAC20-40-40), every school division must screen, refer, identify and serve gifted students in grades K–12. Teachers review current assessment data on every student each year, anyone may refer a child, and eligibility uses at least three measures, so no single criterion decides. Tests and cutoffs are set in each division's local plan.

What the divisions we researched use

• Fairfax County now uses the Naglieri General Ability Tests, replacing the CogAT and NNAT3. All 2nd graders take it in October. Families can refer any student in grades 2–7 for Full-Time AAP screening, and a central committee decides. No cutoff is published. See our FCPS NGAT guide and Naglieri practice guide.
• Loudoun County gives every 2nd grader the CogAT, usually in February. Every 3rd grader is then evaluated in the spring with no form needed, using the CogAT, MAP scores and a portfolio of classroom work.
• Arlington gives the NNAT3 to all 1st graders and the CogAT to all 2nd graders. Children who reach a benchmark are screened automatically unless parents opt out.
• Prince William County gives the NNAT in grades 2, 6 and 9 and the CogAT in grade 3, and uses multiple criteria.
• Henrico County screens all 2nd graders in the fall, but a child still needs a referral during the window to enter identification.
• Chesterfield County evaluates referred students with a thinking and reasoning test, a creative thinking assessment and inventories.

What this means for parents

Because no single score decides, a high test score helps but is not the whole story. Classroom work samples, teacher observations and achievement data all go into the file. Two things are worth doing:

1. Know your division's screening grade and test, and make the format familiar a few weeks before. For the CogAT in 2nd grade, see our 2nd grade guide; for the Naglieri tests and NNAT, see our test comparison and NNAT practice guide.
2. Watch the referral window. If your child isn't flagged by screening, you can refer them yourself, but only during the division's window.

Find your division

Virginia has more than 130 school divisions. Our district pages show the screening grade, test and sources for each one we have researched, and the state rules for the rest.

Free ways to practice

• The free sample quiz has original practice questions in the style of the CogAT, NNAT, OLSAT and Naglieri tests.
• Our printables include free CogAT-style and NNAT-style packs to do on paper.
• A free readiness check shows which question types are new or harder for your child. It is a practice estimate, not a screening result.

CogAT® is a registered trademark of Riverside Assessments, LLC. NNAT® is a trademark of Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. OLSAT® is a registered trademark and Naglieri General Ability Tests™ a trademark of Multi-Health Systems Inc. (MHS). These owners are not affiliated with and do not endorse GiftedCub. Test names are used only to describe the formats our original practice material is designed to resemble.