Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)

The Orange Unified School District offers qualitatively differentiated programs for students possessing the capacity for excellence beyond that of their chronological peers. The curriculum is differentiated to provide a variety of instructional strategies structured so that individual student experiences and activities can vary in acceleration, depth, complexity or degree of novelty. These programs are available at all levels of the District's curriculum for the purpose of challenging and developing the academic and creative abilities of identified advanced learners.

Gifted students generally demonstrate extraordinary talent or ability in the areas of academics, visual and performing arts, intellectual capacity, or leadership. The characteristics of an individual gifted student may include the following:

• Observant - notice changes around them
• Curious - they investigate discrepancies or happenings
• Questioning - they want to know “Why”?
• Logical - they see cause and effect relationships and connections
• Expressive - they use advanced vocabulary and are quite articulate
• Inventive - they reason in clever, unique ways to find original solutions to problems
• Versatile - they may participate in lots of activities and adapt readily to new situations
• Persistent - they stay with a task and become intensely focused
• Sensitive - they are very empathetic to others
• Perceptive - they see the essence of a situation

Grades 3 – 6
The vast majority of GATE Identified students in grades 3-6 are served within the general education classroom. Students receive grade-level appropriate differentiated instruction targeted to meet their needs. Other GATE identified students attend special day classes at one of five GATE Program magnets. The program provides an integrated and in-depth approach to the academic studies in Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics. All core content is taught by teacher specialists through a departmentalized format.

A GATE magnet Program is located at the following schools. Click on a school name to visit its website.

Crescent Elementary
5001 Gerda Drive
Anaheim, CA 92807
Principal: Randi Leach
Feeder Schools: Anaheim Hills, Canyon Rim, Crescent, Imperial, Running Springs

La Veta Elementary
2800 East La Veta Avenue
Orange, CA 92869
Principal: Lydia Roach
Feeder Schools: Chapman Hills, Esplanade, Jordan, La Veta, Linda Vista, Panorama, Prospect

Nohl Canyon Elementary
4100 Nohl Canyon Road
Anaheim, CA 92807
Principal: Amy Hitt
Feeder Schools: Fletcher, Nohl Canyon, Olive, Serrano, Taft, Villa Park

Palmyra Elementary
1325 E. Palmyra Avenue
Orange, CA 92869
Principal: Brenna Godsey
Feeder Schools: California, Cambridge, Fairhaven, Handy, Lampson, Palmyra, Sycamore, West Orange

Students qualify for GATE identification both in ability and in performance.

For students in grades 2-6 (entering grades 3-7)

There are two categories of identification in these grades as outlined in the State approved GATE Plan.

The first is the “High Intellectual.” For a student to be identified in this category, he or she must meet the following criteria:

• A score in the 95th percentile or higher on a school ability exam ~ Orange Unified currently uses the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) for 4th-6th grade and the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) for 2nd-3rd grade
• Student achievement records that exhibit high levels of performance
• Lexile Score in the Advanced or High Proficient Range (determined by either Scholastic Reading Inventory or Accelerated Reader)
• Quantile Score in the Advanced or High Proficient Range as determined by the Scholastic Math Inventory
• A strong recommendation from the student’s current classroom teacher as indicated by the Student Profile of Gifted Characteristics

*Students who qualify for “High Intellectual” are given priority for enrollment in the GATE Magnet classrooms.

The second is the “High Achievement.” For a student to be identified in this category, a review of the following criteria is evaluated for qualification:

• Score on a Orange Unified administered school ability exam ~ Orange Unified currently uses the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) for 4th-6th grade and the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) for 2nd-3rd grade
• Student achievement records that exhibit strong levels of performance
• Recommendation from the student’s current classroom teacher as indicated by the Student Profile of Gifted Characteristics
• Lexile Score in the High Proficient Range as determined by either Scholastic Reading Inventory or Accelerated Reader
• Quantile score in the High Proficient Range as determined by the Scholastic Math Inventory

*Please note that students qualifying in grades 5 and 6 will be waitlisted for GATE Magnet classrooms due to lack of seats in the GATE Magnets.

For elementary age students coming from outside the Orange Unified School District

Students enrolled in private schools and are residents within the boundaries of Orange USD are eligible to be screened for the GATE Program. Students will be required to meet the same identified criteria as noted above. Testing of private school students in facilitated on two Saturday mornings in February/March and there is a fee of $25.00 that is charged.

For a student who has been identified as a GATE student in another California public school district, a record of the school ability test results must be sent to the GATE Office to be reviewed by the Administrative Director of Curriculum and Instruction prior to enrollment. Students are expected to meet the same rigorous criteria noted above. Orange USD does not accept out of state GATE identification of students or results from a private clinical or licensed educational psychologist.

Honors Classes in English, Social Studies, Mathematics, and Science are offered at each middle school. Students are provided cluster group enrichment and accelerated learning activities.

Cerro Villa Middle School
17852 Serrano Avenue
Villa Park, CA 92861
Principal: Lisa Ogan

El Rancho Charter Middle School
181 S. Del Giorgio Drive
Anaheim, CA 92808
Principals: John Besta and Michele Walker

Portola Middle School
270 N. Palm Drive
Orange, CA 92868
Principal: Jill Katevas

Santiago Charter Middle School
515 N. Rancho Santiago Boulevard
Orange, CA 92869
(714) 997-6366
Principal: James D’Agostino

Yorba Middle School
935 N. Cambridge Street
Orange, CA 92867
Principal: Tracy Knibb

Each high school offers Honors classes in English, History, Science and Mathematics. Advanced Placement (AP) courses include: English Literature and Composition, English Language and Composition, U.S. History, American Government and Politics, Economics, European History, Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Art History, Studio Art, Psychology, French, German, Spanish and Statistics. Course offerings vary among schools based upon student interest. Independent Study is also available upon agreement by the teacher and student. The International Baccalaureate Program is available at Canyon High and is open to all qualified students in the district.

The emphasis of the High School Honors/Advanced Placement Program are: (1) in depth coverage of subject matter; (2) critical analysis and related higher level thinking skills; and (3) fostering student’s responsibility for self-learning and independent study.

Canyon High School
220 S. Imperial Highway
Anaheim, CA 92807
Principal: Dr. Kim Fricker

El Modena High School
3920 Spring Street
Orange, CA 92869
Principal: Dr. Dustin Saxton

Orange High School
525 N. Shaffer Street
Orange, CA 92867
Principal: Ernest Gonzalez

Villa Park High School
18042 Taft Avenue
Villa Park, CA 92861
Principal: Ed Howard

For further information regarding the GATE Program, please contact:

Cathleen Corella
[email protected]
Administrative Director, K-12 Curriculum & Instruction

 Laura Kresl  
     [email protected]
     Coordinator, 21st Century Innovation & Instructional Design

GATE Office
250 S. Yorba Street, Orange, CA 92869
GATE Office: (714) 628-5451

Doreen Kearns
[email protected]
Senior Secretary, GATE & CTE