Gifted and Talented Education

Gifted and Talented Education - GATE 

GATE Services are Provided For Students in Grades K-8

Metro Nashville Public Schools strives to ensure appropriate academic services are available to students who are academically gifted and talented. Students who are academically gifted and talented perform or have the capability to perform at higher academic levels compared to others of the same age. two students looking a bees through magnifying glass

Academically Gifted and Talented students require sufficient access to appropriate learning opportunities to realize their full potential. The Office of Gifted and Talented Education along with MNPS Gifted & Talented Teachers work in collaboration with school leaders, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders to ensure academically gifted and talented students are afforded opportunities to participate in engaging and rigorous differentiated classes that are designed to encourage academic achievement and growth.

GATE Mission, Vision and Guiding Principles

The MNPS Gifted and Talented program is committed to enriching the educational journey of academically gifted and talented students. Our mission is to deliver equitable and tailored instruction that challenges, cultivates, and nurtures the unique potential of each gifted and talented student within MNPS.

The vision of the MNPS Gifted and Talented Program is to excel in advanced academics by offering outstanding critical and creative learning opportunities that address and enhance the academic, social, and emotional needs of our students.

Our Guiding Principles
  • Equitable Access – creating systems in which MNPS K-8 students have equitable access to gifted and talented educational services.
  • Develop, maintain, and communicate GATE service delivery options for K-8 students to support schools.
  • Develop and implement curriculum that is aligned to TN content standards and National gifted standards, and is engaging, rigorous, worthy of student time, and includes assessments.
  • Use data to inform all decisions that impact gifted and talented students in MNPS.

Spring 2025 GATE Testing

District-wide testing to determine eligibility for GATE services for the 25-26 school year will be scheduled in March and April, 2025. Both quantitative and qualitative data are considered when determining eligibility for GATE testing.

Teachers in K-7 will complete the district's "Universal Consideration Tool" to recommend students for testing consideration.  Consideration factors include parent recommendations, teacher recommendations, and district and/or state assessment scores.

Parents can contact their child's school to ask for testing consideration for their child(ren).
Testing results from the Spring 2025 testing administration will be emailed to parents during the summer, 2025.

Gifted and Talented Curriculum

GATE classes provide opportunities for gifted and talented students in grades K to 8 to participate in classes designed specifically for academically gifted and talented learners. The curriculum is hands-on, interactive, and problem-based with a focus on developing students' critical and creative thinking abilities.  The GATE curriculum is interdisciplinary, supports Tennessee content standards, and is differentiated from curriculum taught in the general education classroom.

GATE classes meet weekly at each K to 8 school.

Fall 2024 Curriculum

 

Pre-K GATE Classes at Robertson Academy


The GATE program offers classes for 3-and 4-year-old academically gifted and talented students. Classes are offered Monday-Thursday at Robertson Academy.

4-year-olds may attend a full day class, which is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., one day per week. In lieu of a full day class, families may opt for their 4-year-old to attend a three-hour class on Wednesday afternoons. 3-year-olds may attend a three-hour class on Wednesday mornings.

To learn more about the criteria to attend classes at Robertson Academy during the 2024-2025 school year, please contact The Office of Gifted and Talented Education.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions?
If you have questions about the GATE program, please contact The Office of Gifted and Talented Education.