What is Giftedness?

“Giftedness is exceptional potential and/or performance across a wide range of abilities in one or more of the following areas: general intelligence, specific academic, creative thinking, social, musical, artistic, and kinesthetic.” ~ Alberta Education

A Gifted Assessment is done as part of the process for having your child considered for admission to a Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program or acceptance to Westmount Charter School. Typically, this assessment examines the cognitive processes that underlie your child’s learning:

• Language processing

• Phonological processing

• Working memory

• Visual-spatial process, etc.

Various Calgary-area schools offer GATE programs:

• Louis Riel ​School​ | Grade 4 - 9

• Hillhurst School | Grade 4 - 6

• Queen Elizabeth High School | Grade 7 - 12

• Henry Wise Wood High School | Grade 10 - 12​​​

Some GATE programs may require an academic skills assessment to evaluate reading, writing, math and language skills. Find out which assessments you need to apply to your preferred GATE program(s).

Wesmount Charter School is another option for gifted education in Calgary. The school serves approximately 1,200 students who represent a broad range of diversity, including race, sex, gender identity, gender expression, English as an Additional Language (EAL), special education needs (twice exceptional), underachievement, and high achievement.

Gifted Assessment

Duration

• 2-4 weeks from Intake to Debrief session

Process

• Initial Intake with parents (1 hour)

• One assessment session with your child (up to 3 hours)

  • If your child also requires academic testing, we will need an additional session.

  • Though sessions are usually during the school day, the assessment benefits outweigh missed class time

• Debrief session (2 hours)

Cost

• Our fees should not be a barrier to your child getting help.
  Contact Tanya to discuss your options

  • NOTE: Many private and employer benefit plans provide coverage for psychological services. We recommend you speak with your insurer to determine coverage for these services. You may be able to claim costs for psychoeducational assessments, counselling, or consultation not covered by insurance as a medical expense on your income tax.