Who and which grades
Published coverageGrades 2-8 districtwide gifted schools; separate high-school choice academy
Elizabeth Public Schools parent navigator Official local sources · reviewed 2026-09-08
Gifted and Talented Program,
made navigable.
Elizabeth's 2026-27 application window ran February 25-April 10 through PowerSchool. Selected Grades 2-8 students attend one of two districtwide gifted schools, with transportation and academic, arts, athletics, and accelerated-mathematics opportunities.
Independent from Elizabeth Public Schools. Official district instructions always control.
What the official record confirms
Know the program.
Know the route.
Applicable school year: 2026-27. Bloomfield separates official requirements from our preparation guidance.
How students are considered
Published processFamilies apply in PowerSchool. A school-based committee of teachers, specialists, and district representatives reviews multiple measures including academic achievement, specialized talents, and behavior; some Grade 4-and-older applicants may be interviewed. The high-school Cicarell route requires at least a B average and passing standardized scores and follows a separate choice-school process.
What service can look like
Published modelTerence C. Reilly School No. 7 and William F. Halloran School No. 22 serve eligible Grades 2-8 students from across Elizabeth. Their four strands are academics, performing arts, visual arts, and physical education; Grades 4-8 are departmentalized and mathematics accelerates through high-school geometry in Grade 8. Cicarell Academy is a separate high-school choice program with Honors, AP, and AP Capstone coursework.
Your starting checklist
Turn the published process into clear next steps.
Confirm current instructions with the district before submitting. Bloomfield does not predict placement or reproduce protected assessments.
01Watch for the next annual PowerSchool application notice well before late February; the 2026 window closed April 10.
02Confirm which entering grades may apply and keep the student's district ID available for the online form.
03Organize evidence across academics, specialized talents, behavior, and the child's strongest program strand.
04For Grade 4 or above, prepare the child to discuss interests and work authentically if the committee requests an interview.
05Ask whether the offer is for Reilly, Halloran, or the separate Cicarell high-school route and confirm transportation and maintenance requirements.
06For noncompliance concerns, seek a written local answer first, then use the district's published Board complaint route.
Primary sources
Read the published language yourself.
01Gifted and Talented Program ↗02Brochure and Application Process ↗03Continuum of Services ↗04Complaint Process ↗
Last reviewed 2026-09-08. Program rules can change; verify the current school year with Elizabeth Public Schools before acting.