Westmount Charter Application Deadlines

For Kindergarten through Grade 4 students, the application deadline for the 2025-2026 school year is November 29, 2024 at 12:00 Noon. It is recommended that you schedule your assessment between August and mid-November to ensure the assessment report can be completed prior to the application deadline.

For students entering Grades 5 through 12, the application deadline for the 2025-2026 school year is January 31, 2025 at 4:00pm. It is recommended that you schedule your assessment between October and mid-January to ensure the assessment and report can be completed prior to the application deadline.

Are you wondering if your child is Gifted? Gifted testing can be used to access enrichments in your child’s current classroom to help further progress their learning, meet their unique needs and help them reach their full potential. It can also be used to access specialized programs that tailor to their needs, including Westmount Charter School or the GATE program within CBE.

What does it mean to be Gifted?

“Students are gifted when they perform, or show potential for performing, remarkably high levels of accomplishment in learning rate, depth of knowledge, and reasoning and problem-solving abilities when compared to others of their age, experience, and environment.” (Alberta Education)

Gifted individuals demonstrate exceptional abilities or aptitude in one or more areas of life. They learn more quickly and understand concepts at a greater depth than their same-aged peers. They may excel in academic subjects, demonstrate impressive problem-solving skills, and think critically, and hold themselves to a higher standard of achievement.

How do you determine Giftedness?

Standardized test measures are used to determine if their intellectual functioning (IQ) and reasoning skills meet the criteria of an IQ of 130+. Only ~2% of the world meets the criteria to be gifted. Various test measures can be used depending on the student’s age, but some school programs will only accept specific test measures:

Westmount Charter will only accept WPPSI -IV (ages 2-7), WISC-V (ages 6-16), or Stanford Binet-5 (ages 2-85). A full scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) and general ability index (GAI) must be included in the report.

CBE GATE Program is available for students in grade 4-12: the WISC-V & WIAT-III are used.

Fees & Process

Westmount Charter: $1200 total ($720 assessment + $480 report)

* If the student is not found to meet the criteria for giftedness following testing, parents have the option to discontinue the assessment process and opt out of the report for a reduced fee

An application to Westmount Charter School must include recent cognitive testing (within 1 year) and a report of the results

Step 1: Interview with Parents/ Guardians

Step 2: A 2 hour cognitive testing session OR 2 half sessions (1 hour each) ; beneficial for younger children or those with shorter attention spans.

Step 3: Feedback meeting to review the results

• If chosen, a report is provided for your application submission

GATE Program (with CBE): $1920 ($720 intellectual testing, $720 academic testing + $480 report) * If the student is not found to meet the criteria for giftedness following testing, parents have the option to discontinue the assessment process and opt out of the report for a reduced fee

An application to the GATE Program with CBE must include recent cognitive testing, as well as academic testing and a comprehensive report. A gifted assessment customized to the GATE Program includes the following:

Step 1: Interview with parents / guardians (Choose an intake meeting in-person OR online)

Step 2: 2 hour cognitive testing session

Step 3: 2 hour academic testing session

Step 4: Feedback meeting to review the results

• If chosen, a report is provided for your application submission