How do I apply?

Pre-K – 8 | Choice (In-District Charter)

The Grand Prairie School for the Highly Gifted caters to the unique needs of highly gifted students by providing each student with an individualized instructional plan designed to appropriately challenge students academically while nurturing their passion for learning and their responsibility to bring positive change to the world.

How to know Grand Prairie School for the Highly Gifted is right for your child:

1. Your child craves an environment where they are encouraged to achieve to their maximum potential, both academically and social-emotionally.
2. Your child needs services specific to highly gifted students (based on cognitive scores in the top two percent of the population) in order to grow and thrive.
3. Your child would benefit from highly qualified instruction and teachers specifically trained to understand and work with highly gifted learners.

Unique ways your child can learn and grow here:

• Unique, 21st century learning environment
• Self-regulation and independent learning paths available for each student
• Flexible scheduling allowing for passion projects/teams within the school day
• Multi-age learning experiences
• Student-centered Genius Hour
• Individualized learning plans
• Entrepreneurship program for middle school

Contact Us

2990 S. Highway 161, Grand Prairie, TX 75052 (Google Map link)

Phone: 972-343-7864

Visit our school website

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Application Overview

Online Application Guide for the 2022-2023 School Year.

Applications will be accepted for students currently in grades K-7th during the application window for the School for the Highly Gifted.  Kindergarten students must be at least five years old to apply. The School for the Highly Gifted online application is available on this link

All interested applicants (in-district and out-of-district) must apply online between November 8-December 17, 2021.  Applicants will be placed on waiting list after the application window closes

Who are the Highly Gifted? Parent Presentation

Students must meet specific criteria for placement in the Grand Prairie School for the Highly Gifted (SHG).  Admission to SHG is a three-tiered process that involves assessments:

• Pre-Screening (2 sub-scores of 130 on a comparable cognitive exam) 
• Final Screening scores (2 sub-scores of 135 on IQ test)
• Achievement scores of 80 or above in reading and math

IN-DISTRICT APPLICANTS (GPISD students not enrolled in the GT program)

In-district students not currently receiving gifted services:

• Compete the online application for SHG as nomination for gifted testing. Testing will occur on your child’s campus.
• GT students who meet pre-screening benchmarks will automatically advance to final screening
•  Identified GT students who meet pre-screening criteria may apply for the SHG to advance to final screening
• The parents of students who meet pre-screening criteria through their GT testing will be contacted in the second semester with scheduled testing dates/times.
• No fees will be charged for SHG admissions testing GPISD students.

IN-DISTRICT APPLICANTS (Identified GT Students)

• Identified GT students who meet pre-screening benchmarks will automatically advance to final screening
• Identified GT students who did not meet pre-screening benchmarks must be reassessed
• GPISD parents of GT students must apply for SHG during the application window
• Applicants will be contacted to schedule testing
• No fees will be charged for testing GPISD students

IMPORTANT:

• Students may apply for the SHG every two years.  
• For Example, students tested in the spring of 2019 would be eligible for screening in the spring of 2021. 
• Note: GT scores must have been administered within two calendar years of the application date to be accepted for pre-screening purposes.

OUT-OF-DISTRICT APPLICANTS

• Applications will be accepted for students currently in grades K-7th during the application window for the School for the Highly Gifted.  Kindergarten students must be at least five years old to apply.
• All interested applicants (in-district and out-of-district) must apply online between November 8-December 17, 2021.  Applicants will be placed on waiting list after December 17, 2021.
• The School for the Highly Gifted online application is available at Schools of Choice link
• All out-of-district students will be charged a non-refundable fee of $100 to cover the cost of test materials and proctors for screening.  Payment due by January 28, 2022.
  • Applicants will be emailed instructions on how to pay online
  • In-person payment can be scheduled by appointment by contacting the Advanced Academics Department-see contact information below.     
• Prior Testing Submissions for final screening advancement:
  • Option 1:  is to submit qualifying pre-screening scores of 130 or higher on two subtests and/or composite scores on an approved nationally normed aptitude test conducted by an accredited district or private school. 
    • Scores must be in the form of an official score report or emailed directly from the prior school to be considered. 
    • Scores must have been administered within two calendar years of the application date to be accepted.
  • Prior GT testing documents may be submitted by the following:
    • Uploaded into the online application platform
    • Emailed to emailed to Tina Moore, Executive Director of Advanced Academics at shgadmissions@gpisd.org
•  All GT testing documentation (and any Special Program support documentation) and fees must be submitted no later than January 28, 2022. 
• Only students who meet pre-screening benchmarks (two subtest and/or composite scores of 130 or higher on an approved cognitive test) will advance to final testing.
• Parents will be contacted to schedule Saturday testing

IMPORTANT

• Students may apply for the SHG every two years. 
• For Example, students tested in the spring of 2019 would be eligible for screening in the spring of 2021. 
• Note:  GT scores must have been administered within two calendar years of the application date to be accepted for pre-screening purposes.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR BOTH IN-DISTRICT AND OUT-OF-DISTRICT APPLICANTS

While outside test scores may be used to meet pre-screening benchmarks, only testing conducted in Grand Prairie ISD by a licensed district diagnostician or psychologist will be accepted for final placement.       

QUESTIONS?

Contact Tina Moore, Executive Director of Advanced Academics

shgadmissions@gpisd.org

Office phone number: 972-237-4032 

Curriculum Offerings

School of Choice/GT

Advanced Courses/CTE Offerings

Extracurricular Opportunities

• FLL Robotics
• Destination Imagination
• SkillsUSA
• Math Pentathlon

Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)

Beginning in 6th grade, students take different NFTE courses as an elective that ignite the entrepreneurial mindset with unique learning experiences that serve to empower students through flexible, project-based learning with relevant and engaging real-life experiences.