NUMATS, or Northwestern University Midwest Academic Talent Search

What is NUMATS?

By Kit Olson, Valley View Gifted Education Resource Teacher

Our district has had some elementary parent inquiries about above-grade-level tests for gifted students. Some families find it helpful, and others feel it is not for their child.

NUMATS, or Northwestern University Midwest Academic Talent Search, is a program of the Center for Talent Development (CTD) which is associated with Northwestern University in Illinois. NUMATS has been serving students in the Midwest and beyond since 1981. The EXPLORE test is used to gain perspective on the abilities of 3rd-8th graders. At 8th grade, all Edina students take the EXPLORE test to help them understand their abilities and plan for the future.

Online registration begins in late September and ends between December and February depending on the test being taken and the date it’s given. Students receive scores starting in March, and follow-up interpretive material comes approximately one month later. Scores taken through the NUMATS program do NOT become a part of your child’s school record or college admission data.

When registering, parents must select a reporting agency where the scores will be sent. Highlands school code is #8300966. Selecting the child’s school ensures data privacy: scores are sent to the school’s gifted education resource teacher, who uses them for advisement purposes.

Detailed information about eligibility, registration, test dates, and deadlines on CTD’s website, http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/numats/

Please keep in mind that these results are not used for specific school purposes, but rather are an optional testing opportunity for parents interested in knowing more about their child’s educational strengths and how best to develop them.