Rick'S Center For Gifted Children

Ricks Center emphasizes a rigorous, engaging, whole-child approach for gifted learners, using a low student-to-teacher ratio and differentiated instruction aligned to standards while also reflecting students’ abilities and interests. Learning is designed to push students beyond their comfort zones through depth, complexity, challenge, and enrichment—delivered with hands-on/experiential methods and regular time for exploration and “passion pursuits,” including play-based learning in early childhood. (morgridge.du.edu)

Ricks Center accepts applications for the 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 school years and reviews them on a rolling basis as space is available; families submit an application plus a $75 fee (electronically to amy.jacobs@du.edu, or by mail/in person to the school). (morgridge.du.edu) For Preschool applicants, children must be age 3 and potty-trained before school starts, and the application steps generally include the form, fee, (if applicable) a teacher recommendation, and a play-based visit or at-home activity; no testing is required for Preschool/Pre-K and Kindergarten (though families can submit existing testing for K). (morgridge.du.edu) For Grades 1–2, families submit test results (or the school can provide onsite testing), any prior gifted identification documentation, a transcript/report card, a current teacher recommendation, and schedule a shadow day; for Grades 3–8, an educational needs assessment is required, including both an ability measure (e.g., WISC/DAS/CogAT/NNAT) and an achievement measure completed within the past two years. (morgridge.du.edu) Key dates listed on the website include application deadlines of January 16, 2026 (Primary & Middle School), January 23, 2026 (Early Childhood), and February 6, 2026 (Financial Aid)—all of which are in the past as of March 2, 2026. (morgridge.du.edu) The website notes limited space but does not spell out a formal waitlist or priority categories; however, a 2015–2016 Ricks family handbook states that applications received after the stated deadline are considered for “wait list/space-available” status and that Ricks does not have a sibling preference policy (so no sibling priority is described there). (paperzz.com)