Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)

Matt Huiras
GATE Coordinator
Connie Simpfenderfer
Administrative Secretary

The purpose of the Gifted and Talented Education Program (GATE) is to meet the intellectual needs of identified gifted children within Lodi USD.

GATE begins in 4th grade, providing program choices to best meet the individual needs of students.

Students are offered the option to stay at their current school in a GATE cluster class or to be part of a lottery for a spot in a self-contained, all-GATE class (offered at John Muir Elementary, Vinewood Elementary, or Elkhorn School).

Gifted instructional strategies include:
  • Differentiated instruction that provides additional rigor and depth.
  • Cooperative learning groups that work together to solve complex problems.
  • Compacted and accelerated curriculum with pacing that meets the needs of gifted learners.

Project and problem-based learning is a key component in GATE classrooms. Students are expected to be active participants in the learning process, both individually and as a team member.


Qualification Criteria

3rd Grade

NNAT3 Score of 84th percentile or higher and at least one of the following:

  • Qualifying Lexile score of 650 on the Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) given at the end of the 1st quarter
  • A score of 70% or higher on the Second Grade GATE Math Assessment

Title I sites where less than 5% of the population qualify may review students earning one advanced score and qualify up to 5% of those students.

4th Grade

Exceeding Standards score in both Math and ELA on the most recent state standardized test – must be within the last 2 years.

FAQs