G.A.T.E.

How are Students Selected for GATE?

Students must be nominated (referred) for the GATE Program, and they must be determined to be eligible for the GATE Program.
Nominations (Referrals) are made by teachers, principals and parents. Nominations may be made at any grade level at or above 3rd grade. Most nominations, however, are made at the end of the third grade. Multiple criteria information is included in the nomination process. The multiple criteria include the California Achievement Test: "CAT/6" (which recently replaced the Stanford Achievement Test: "SAT9") scores in Total Mathematics and Total Reading/Language Arts and a score on the Otis Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT). The Otis Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) is administered in the spring to all nominated students. Parent permission is obtained prior to testing.

Eligibility for GATE placement is determined by members of the GATE Placement Committee. For each nomination, the committee reviews a student profile which includes the following multiple criteria.

Ability test data (OLSAT – Otis Lennon School Ability Test)
Achievement test data (California Achievement Test – CAT/6)
Referral from teachers, principals, parents
Consideration of other factors including challenging socioeconomic or linguistic factors
Students previously identified as G.A.T.E. who transfer from other districts can automatically transfer into the Dixie district G.A.T.E. program