Gifted Program
Program Overview
The Queen Creek Enhanced Learning Program (ELP) is designed to meet the educational needs of students in K-12 who have been identified as gifted, or scoring 97% or above on aptitude tests. This program strives to:
- Reflect unique abilities, interests, and talents of each child
- Develop higher order thinking skills
- Increase growth of the entire child
- Refine critical and divergent thinking skills
Testing and Program Admittance
While students can be identified as early as kindergarten, it is highly recommended that initial testing for gifted is done in second grade. Primary students often find the assessment daunting as they are not acclimated to standardized testing. Additionally, primary grades are when students develop core foundational and social skills. These skills ensure a student’s future academic success. Second through fifth grade students can be tested during one of the three testing windows.
- Testing Window 1: Fall
- Testing Window 2: Winter
- Testing Window 3: Spring
Referral forms are available at each elementary school. For additional ELP/Gifted testing information, please contact the school counselor.
To inquire about having your child tested for the Gifted Program or to get more information, please email the staff at the school your child attends.
Gifted Teachers
Dr. Seth Kaesler
Desert Mountain Elementary/Queen Creek Elementary
skaesler@qcusd.org
Jamie Glen
Frances Brandon Pickett Elementary/Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary
jglen@qcusd.org
Kalle Cushing
Gateway Polytechnic Academy
kcushing@qcusd.org
Bailey Nafziger
Jack Barnes Elementary/Silver Valley Elementary
bnafziger@qcusd.org