GATE & School for Advanced Studies

Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)

The Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program works to ensure that students who demonstrate outstanding ability or potential are helped to make the most of their unique talents and capabilities.  The GATE program provides differentiated instruction to students with exceptional intellectual ability, high achievement ability, specific academic ability, leadership, creativity, and visual and performing arts abilities. Instructional programs are planned and organized as an integrated experience throughout the regular school day, supplemented with other differentiated activities related to the core curriculum.  For more information, visit our District's GATE Programs website.  

The GATE Families page has information on: 

  • Parent Workshops, Meetings, and Upcoming Events
  • Assessment and Identification
  • GATE/SAS Parent Newsletters - quarterly newsletters focus on information relevant to parents of gifted/talented learners.  Topics vary and may include information about gifted identification, strategies for differentiated instruction, characteristics of gifted students, and more.

What is Schools for Advanced Studies (SAS)?

Schools for Advanced Studies (SAS) demonstration sites receive the SAS designation for their exemplary Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) implementation. By providing high-quality differentiated instruction with an emphasis on depth, complexity, acceleration and novelty, SAS sites offer high-level academic opportunities that meet the unique educational needs of K–12 gifted learners identified in the Intellectual Ability, High Achievement Ability, Specific Academic Ability, Creative Ability and Leadership Ability categories or verified based on critical thinking/achievement. School choice is not the primary purpose of SAS, rather, the goal of SAS is to recognize and nurture model demonstration sites at resident schools to share innovative, equitable and effective GATE practices Districtwide. Resident schools must undergo a rigorous application process every five years to obtain/maintain SAS designation. SAS sites exemplify the District’s expectations for high-quality GATE implementation at all K-12 schools. SAS teachers and administrators are required to participate annually in professional development specifically tailored to address the unique academic and social-emotional needs of gifted/talented learners. Currently there are 133 SAS sites located throughout L.A. Unified. (Independent charter schools, Magnet programs, and Dual Language Education programs are not eligible for the SAS designation.)

 

Who can apply to Schools for Advanced Studies (SAS)?

K-12 applicants must reside within the boundaries of the Los Angeles Unified School District and meet specific eligibility requirements. Applicants must meet one of three eligibility criteria:

  • Student is identified as gifted by an L.A. Unified designated GATE psychologist in the Intellectual Ability, High Achievement Ability, Specific Academic Ability, Creative Ability or Leadership Ability category. OR
  • Student received total national percentile scores of 85 or above on a District-approved standardized achievement test in 2021, if applicable. Note: Due to the elimination of the 2020-2021 Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), this criterion has been modified for this year only. OR
  • Student is verified as meeting ALL FOUR critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

For more information on SAS, CLICK HERE.

For information about eChoices, CLICK HERE.