Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS) has announced the referral windows for its gifted education program for the 2025–2026 academic year. The school district emphasized that all referrals must be submitted by the specified deadlines.
According to CCPS, the referral deadlines for gifted education services are October 3, 2025, for students in grades 2–12 and February 27, 2026, for students in grades K–1. Referrals must be submitted using an online form; verbal or email requests will not be accepted. Students can be referred by parents, guardians, teachers, peers, or other professionals. Evaluations occur annually during designated times. After the referral period closes, families receive notifications and information about services and instructions for completing evaluations, including an option to opt out.
Gifted learners are identified as those demonstrating advanced thinking, creativity, and achievement compared to their peers of similar age and background. Programs are designed to support both cognitive strengths and socio-emotional needs. Each school has a facilitator dedicated to gifted education to address concerns. The School Board approves a comprehensive plan explaining how Virginia’s regulations for gifted education are implemented.
New students moving into Chesterfield who were previously identified as gifted must provide documentation from their previous schools, including eligibility letters and assessment scores. These students receive provisional placement in similar services and are evaluated according to CCPS criteria. Non-CCPS residents in grades 2–12 may also undergo assessment through a fall referral process; parents are responsible for transporting these students to testing sessions and submitting necessary records from their current schools.
Chesterfield County Public Schools serves over 64,000 students across 67 schools with a $1 billion budget and full accreditation. The district reports a 91% on-time graduation rate with approximately 4,700 graduates annually and millions in scholarship awards. It includes seven National Blue Ribbon Schools and eight National ESEA Distinguished Schools among others. Each year, buses travel nine million miles while over nine million meals are served. Governed by a five-member School Board, CCPS follows the strategic plan “Imagine Beyond Tomorrow” aimed at promoting lifelong learning and personal growth.
