Updated September 2026. This article was rewritten from the Irvine Unified School District’s current application rules (Overview of IUSD APAAS Application Process, Rev. 9/2025). Host schools, criteria, and dates reflect the 2026-27 school year.
APAAS (Alternative Program for Academically Advanced Students) is a full-day gifted program run by the Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) for grades 4 to 6. Admitted students leave their neighborhood school for a designated host school, where each grade forms its own self-contained class for three years. Parents apply in grade 3, and the district ranks applicants by the total of four criteria until every seat is filled.
What APAAS is
- Grades: 4 to 6, designed as a three-year option. Students apply in grade 3, enter in grade 4, and are not re-evaluated each year.
- Classroom model: admitted students from across the district are grouped at host schools, one class per grade. Instruction follows the California Common Core standards, with more depth, open-ended tasks, and written expression.
- GATE not required: the district states that a student does not need to be GATE-identified (Gifted and Talented Education) to apply.
- After grade 6: students return to their zoned middle school.
- Transportation: no bus service; parents are responsible.
- Attendance: missing more than 10% of the school year may result in removal from the program.
Who may apply
- Primary applicants: grade 3 students living within IUSD boundaries at the time of application, applying for grade 4.
- Private school students: Irvine residents attending private school may apply for grade 4. Proof of residency is required, and the district may request information from the current school.
- Grade 5 and 6 openings: very limited, and only current IUSD students may apply.
- No changes or late applications are accepted after the deadline.
How the four criteria are scored
All four criteria carry equal weight, and every test is given in person.
| Criterion | What it is | Scoring |
|---|---|---|
| NNAT (Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test) | Non-verbal, culturally neutral reasoning test given once to all grade 3 students | NAI index: 90 to 110 average, 111 to 120 high average, 121 to 130 superior, 131 and above very superior |
| STAR Reading | Computer-adaptive reading test, scale 600 to 1400 | Higher of the fall and winter scores |
| STAR Math | Computer-adaptive math test, scale 600 to 1400 | Higher of the fall and winter scores |
| Writing sample | A creative story on a set prompt, given only to APAAS applicants | Scored by IUSD staff on use of language, divergent thought, and idea development, 4-point rubric, total 1 to 8 |
Two points matter for families:
- NNAT and STAR are routine district assessments for every grade 3 student. The writing sample is the only test specific to applicants.
- There is no fixed cutoff. Scores are combined, ranked from highest to lowest, and seats are offered in order until classes are full. According to data compiled by weirvine.org, roughly 1,000 students apply each year for about 200 grade 4 seats.
Grade 5 and 6 applicants are evaluated on different criteria: the average report card proficiency across reading, writing, math, science, and social science; STAR Reading and Math (higher of fall or winter); and the previous year’s CAASPP (California state test) scores in English and math, all equally weighted.
Host schools in 2026-27
Seven elementary schools host APAAS in 2026-27. The program at Turtle Rock is moving to Bonita Canyon one grade at a time.
| School | Grades in 2026-27 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bonita Canyon Elementary School | 4 and 5 | Replacing Turtle Rock; full grades 4 to 6 from 2027-28 |
| Brywood Elementary School | 4 to 6 | |
| Deerfield Elementary School | 4 to 6 | |
| Eastshore Elementary School | 4 to 6 | |
| Santiago Hills Elementary School | 4 to 6 | |
| Westpark Elementary School | 4 to 6 | Year-round calendar |
| Turtle Rock Elementary School | 6 only | Final cohort in 2026-27 |
From 2027-28, the six host schools are Bonita Canyon, Brywood, Deerfield, Eastshore, Santiago Hills, and Westpark, all serving grades 4 to 6.
Next application timeline
For students now in grade 3 who would enter grade 4 in fall 2027.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Fall and winter 2026 | STAR Reading and Math given at school; NNAT given once in grade 3 |
| January 4, 2027, 9:00 am | Online application opens on the IUSD website |
| February 12, 2027, 4:00 pm | Application closes; no late submissions |
| February to April 2027 | Applicants complete the writing sample at school; the district compiles and ranks scores |
| May 2027 | Placement offers sent by email; parents must confirm by email |
| August to September 2027 | If seats open, offers continue from the waitlist for the first six weeks of school |
GATE versus APAAS
| GATE | APAAS | |
|---|---|---|
| Classroom | Cluster group inside a general education class at the home school | Self-contained class at a host school |
| Entry | Automatic district screening of all grade 3 to 5 students; no application | Parent application during the January window |
| Criteria | CAASPP, STAR, NNAT (grade 3), writing (grade 3); grades 4 and 5 add trimester grades | Grade 3: NNAT, STAR Reading, STAR Math, writing sample, equally weighted |
| Selection | Roughly the top 20% of the grade level | Ranked by total score until seats fill; no fixed cutoff |
| Notification | End of the school year, by early July | May, by email |
| Duration | Identification carries through middle school | Grades 4 to 6 |
| Appeals | None | No changes or late applications |
EDUBUS’s view
Each point below follows from the district rules above.
- Writing is the one criterion that can move in the short term. NNAT is given once and STAR is a routine assessment, so three of the four scores are largely set before the application opens. The writing sample is scored on language, divergent thought, and idea development, and preparation shows directly in the 1 to 8 range.
- The fall STAR administration counts. Because the higher of fall and winter is used, reading and math work over the summer and at the start of grade 3 feeds directly into a usable score.
- With equal weights and rank ordering, the weakest area decides. One clearly low score pulls the total out of range; balance across all four matters more than one standout.
- Irvine residents in private school are eligible. The grade 4 entry is open to them, but grades 5 and 6 are not, so grade 3 is the only full window.
EDUBUS APAAS preparation
EDUBUS runs APAAS preparation in Irvine for grades 2 and 3, covering reading, math and logic, creative writing, and NNAT, with official STAR testing on site.
- APAAS Prep and Grade 3 Sprint: grade 2 foundation in three subjects, then a grade 3 sprint across all four criteria.
- APAAS Summer Sprint (rising grade 3): full-day small-group summer program with weekly STAR testing.
Sources
- Irvine Unified School District, Advanced Learning and Differentiation department page (2026-27)
- Overview of IUSD APAAS Application Process, Rev. 9/2025
- weirvine.org, Irvine APAAS guide (September 2026)
