Referral and Identification
Student referral opportunities will be available during designated referral windows each school year. The general Identification Process Timeline is provided below along with specific referral deadlines for the current school year, 2026-27. Parents and staff members can refer students for GT testing. The referral link will open approximately one month before the official deadline. Students not referred by the assigned window are asked to wait until the following school year.
Identification Process Timeline
| Step | Kinder | 2nd | 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th | 5th-to-6th | Middle School | High School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Referral, checklist, and permission to test | December | September | By end of 2nd week of school | January | Before February | Before March |
| Assessment for achievement and ability | January | September–October | September | February–March | March | March–April |
| Data collected for student profile | January | October | September–October | March | March–April | April |
| Placement committees | February | October–November | October | April | April | April–May |
| Notification letters | February | November | October–November | April–May | May | May |
Referral Deadlines for 2026-2027
Please note that referral periods vary for each grade. The online referral link will not allow you to submit outside the listed referral window deadline. The link will open one month before the deadline. Newly enrolled students should wait at least 24 hours to complete the referral form so that student information systems have time to sync student records.
Refer Your Child for GT Testing
Deadlines for Traditional Calendar Campuses (K-12):
- August 21: 6th-12th New-To-District Parent Referrals Due 11:59 PM
- September 2: 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th Grades Parent Referrals Due 11:59 PM
- October 18: 2nd Grade Parent Referrals Due 11:59 PM
- December 16: *Kindergarten Parent Referrals Due 11:59 PM
- February 7: 5th-to-6th Parent Referrals for GT Math and/or GT ELAR Due 11:59 PM
- February 7: Middle School Parent Referrals for current 6th-8th Due 11:59 PM
- March 3: High School Parent Referrals for current 9th-12th Due 11:59 PM
Deadlines for Castle Hills Elementary School (K-5):
- August 7: 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th Grades Parent Referrals Due 11:59 PM
- September 29: 2nd Grade Parent Referrals Due 11:59 PM
- December 16: *Kindergarten Parent Referrals Due 11:59 PM
- February 7: Middle School Parent Referrals for current 6th-8th Due 11:59 PM
*Kindergarten referrals will open in November. Please contact your campus GT teacher to learn more about the campus Parent Awareness Meeting.
Assessment for GT Services
To determine a need for GT services, NEISD uses an assessment process that collects both qualitative and quantitative data through three (3) or more measures that can include test scores and input from school personnel. For more information about assessment, access the K-12 GT Program Guide on the GT homepage.