If you are considering Westmount Charter School for your child, you may be wondering whether they need a gifted assessment, what the assessment involves, and when it should be completed.
Westmount Charter School is a specialized K–12 school for intellectually gifted students. As part of its admissions process, the school requires information from an individually administered intelligence assessment.
Planning the assessment early can help ensure that you have the necessary information before the application deadline.
A gifted assessment can also provide valuable information about your child’s cognitive strengths and learning needs, regardless of which school or program you ultimately choose.
What Is a Gifted Assessment?
A gifted assessment is a psychological assessment designed to better understand a child’s cognitive abilities and learning profile. It typically includes standardized measures of intellectual functioning that compare a child’s performance with that of other children of the same age.
Some children who may benefit from a gifted assessment learn new concepts very quickly, make advanced connections between ideas, demonstrate strong reasoning or problem-solving abilities, or show an unusual depth of knowledge in areas that interest them.
However, giftedness can look different from child to child. A child does not necessarily need to be achieving at the top of every subject or consistently demonstrating high academic performance to have advanced cognitive abilities.
A formal assessment provides more information than observations alone and can help parents and professionals understand a child’s individual pattern of strengths.
Considering a gifted assessment for your child?Learn more about gifted assessment at Rocky Mountain Psychological Services.
Gifted Education Options in Calgary: Westmount, CBE GATE and IPP in the Regular Classroom
Westmount Charter School is one option for families seeking specialized programming for gifted learners in Calgary. Another option is the Calgary Board of Education’s Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program.
The CBE describes gifted learners as students who demonstrate exceptional performance or potential in areas such as learning rate, depth of knowledge, reasoning, and problem-solving. Formal identification of giftedness is based on a psychological-educational assessment using an individually administered intelligence test, with a Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) and/or General Ability Index (GAI) at or above the 98th percentile.
Another option for some students is to remain in a regular classroom with an Individualized Program Plan (IPP). An IPP can provide individualized goals, strategies, supports, and learning opportunities based on a student’s specific strengths and needs. For a gifted student, this may include opportunities for greater depth or complexity, enrichment, or an increased level of challenge within the regular classroom. The type and extent of individualized programming will depend on the student’s needs and the resources available in their school.
However, gifted identification and placement in a GATE program are not necessarily the same thing. The CBE describes GATE placement as a collaborative referral process that considers the student’s individual learning needs and whether specialized programming is appropriate.
For families considering different educational options, a gifted assessment can therefore provide useful information about a child’s cognitive profile while helping parents understand what type of programming may be appropriate.
What Assessment Does Westmount Charter School Require?
Westmount Charter School identifies gifted students using results from an individually administered intelligence test. The school describes gifted identification as an FSIQ and/or GAI at or above the 98th percentile, measured through an individually administered intelligence assessment.
Because admissions requirements can change, parents should always review Westmount’s current application information before arranging an assessment.
The goal of the assessment is not simply to produce a single score. A psychological assessment can also provide information about how a child approaches different types of reasoning and problem-solving tasks and can help place test results within the context of the child’s broader learning profile.
2027–2028 Westmount Application Deadline
For the 2027–2028 school year, the Westmount Charter School application deadline for the Kindergarten-Grade 4 application is 9:00 a.m. on November 27, 2026. Families should check Westmount’s official admissions page for additional information.
If your child needs an assessment for the application, it is important to plan ahead. You will need to allow time for scheduling, completing the assessment, interpreting the results, and preparing the final report.
Waiting until shortly before the deadline can leave less time to address questions or obtain any additional information that may be needed.
Not sure when to schedule your child’s assessment? The RMPS team can help you understand the assessment process and your options.Contact us for more information.
How Does the RMPS Gifted Assessment Process Work?
At Rocky Mountain Psychological Services, gifted assessments are individualized to the child. Depending on the child’s age and circumstances, a psychologist may use standardized measures such as the WISC-V, WPPSI-IV, or Stanford-Binet-5.
The assessment process generally includes:
1. Parent interview and history
The psychologist gathers information about your child’s development, learning, school experience, strengths, and areas of concern.
2. Assessment planning
The psychologist determines which measures are appropriate based on your child’s age, history, and the reason for the assessment.
3. Individual testing
Your child completes standardized cognitive measures with the psychologist. The assessment looks at different aspects of cognitive functioning rather than relying on a single observation or classroom performance.
4. Interpretation and written report/letter
The psychologist reviews the results and considers them in the context of your child’s history and learning profile. A written report explains the findings and may include recommendations. Some parents opt for a written letter outlining results in the event their child does not meet admission criteria. Ask your psychologist for details about this option.
5. Feedback
Parents have an opportunity to discuss the results, ask questions, and better understand what the assessment means for their child.
Depending on the child’s needs and the purpose of the assessment, additional testing may sometimes be recommended.
Why Is the Interpretation of the Assessment Important?
A gifted assessment is more than an IQ score.
Two children can have similar overall scores while demonstrating very different patterns of strengths and weaknesses. Looking at the individual results can help provide a more complete picture of how a child thinks and learns.
For parents, this information may help with educational planning, communication with teachers, and decisions about appropriate programming.
For a Westmount application, the assessment also needs to clearly document the information required by the school.
When Should You Schedule a Gifted Assessment?
Ideally, families should begin the process well before the school application deadline.
Starting early provides time for:
- Finding an assessment appointment that works for your family
- Completing the testing process
- Reviewing and interpreting the results
- Preparing the written report or letter
- Asking questions about the findings
- Addressing any additional assessment needs if they arise
For families applying to Westmount for the 2027–2028 school year, planning the assessment well before the November 27, 2026 deadline can provide more flexibility.
If you are already considering Westmount, it can be helpful to review the school’s current admissions requirements and discuss assessment timing with a psychologist before scheduling.
What If My Child Is Not Accepted to Westmount?
A gifted assessment can still provide useful information even if your child does not attend Westmount.
Understanding a child’s cognitive profile may help parents and educators think about appropriate levels of challenge, learning strategies, and educational supports.
The assessment may also help clarify whether a child’s strengths or learning needs are contributing to difficulties at school or what kind of education placement might be a good fit for your child. It can also suggest ways to challenge your child, strategies to try, or ideas to help with parenting.
For some families, the assessment is therefore useful not only for an application, but also as part of a broader understanding of their child’s learning needs.
Why Choose Rocky Mountain Psychological Services for a Gifted Assessment?
At RMPS, the assessment process is intended to provide more than a test score.
The psychologist considers your child’s developmental and educational history alongside the assessment results. This can help provide a more individualized interpretation of your child’s cognitive profile and, where appropriate, recommendations that relate to their learning needs.
For families considering Westmount or other gifted programming, this information can help you make more informed educational decisions.
Considering a Gifted Assessment?
A gifted assessment can be an important step when considering Westmount Charter School, CBE GATE, or other educational options for a child who may have advanced cognitive abilities.
It can also provide parents with a better understanding of their child’s strengths, learning profile, and educational needs.
If you are considering a gifted assessment for your child, learning more about the assessment process can be a helpful first step. Explore our gifted assessment services or contact the RMPS team with any questions.
Frequent Asked Questions
1. Does Westmount Charter School require a gifted assessment?
Yes. Westmount’s admissions information indicates that gifted identification is based on results from an individually administered intelligence test, with an FSIQ and/or GAI at or above the 98th percentile. Parents should review the school’s current admissions requirements before arranging an assessment.
2. What type of assessment is used for Westmount?
Westmount identifies gifted students using an individually administered intelligence assessment. Depending on the child’s age and circumstances, assessments may use standardized measures such as the WISC-V, WPPSI-IV, or Stanford-Binet-5.
3. When should my child have a gifted assessment for Westmount?
It is best to schedule the assessment well before the application deadline. For the 2027–2028 school year, Westmount’s application deadline is 9:00 a.m. on November 27, 2026. Allow enough time for testing, interpretation, report preparation, and any questions you may have about the results.
4. Is a gifted assessment also used for the CBE GATE program?
The CBE uses psychological-educational assessment as part of formal gifted identification, with an individually administered intelligence test showing an FSIQ and/or GAI at or above the 98th percentile. However, identification does not by itself guarantee GATE placement. The CBE describes placement as a collaborative referral process that considers the student’s individual learning needs and whether specialized programming is appropriate.
5. Can RMPS provide a gifted assessment for my child?
Rocky Mountain Psychological Services provides psychological assessment services for children and adolescents, including gifted assessments. If you are considering an assessment, the RMPS team can help you understand the process and determine what may be appropriate for your child.
