How do we get in
Calgary charter schools that require an assessment
Westmount Charter Elementary and Westmount Charter Mid-High campuses do not run a lottery or a waitlist. They admit gifted learners on the evidence of a private cognitive assessment that you book and pay for yourself (typically covered through work benefits).
The application deadline is November 28, and it is hard: there are no late applications and there is no waitlist to fall back on.
Verified 2026-09-11 2027 entry 2 of 15 campuses
What the assessment route involves
| Campus | Requirement | Deadline | Waitlist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westmount Charter Elementary Elementary | Private cognitive assessment (WPPSI/WISC) you book yourself; price varies and typically covered through work benefits. | None — reapply next year | |
| Westmount Charter Mid-High Mid-High | Private cognitive assessment; most seats go to students continuing from the elementary campus. | None — reapply next year |
Compared with CBE’s gifted route (GATE)
The Calgary Board of Education runs its own gifted program, GATE, with a published benchmark around a General Ability Index of 130 or above. Westmount works to a comparable but separate standard — a Full Scale IQ around 125 or above on a WPPSI or WISC assessment.
The routes differ in who arranges the testing and who admits. GATE admission runs through the CBE, by zone and internal referral. Westmount admits city-wide on an assessment you commission privately, which means you carry both the cost and the scheduling risk.
Seats at the Mid-High campus are especially limited for outside applicants, because most are taken by students continuing up from Westmount Elementary. Applying at the elementary entry point is the realistic route in.
Questions about assessment admission
What kind of assessment does Westmount require?
A private cognitive assessment — a WPPSI or WISC administered by a registered psychologist — which you arrange and pay for yourself. Westmount’s benchmark is a Full Scale IQ of roughly 125 or above. The school does not administer the test and does not arrange it for you.
Can I use a school-board assessment instead?
No. The school requires a specific assessment - a WPPSI or WISC administered by a registered psychologist.
What happens if my child is not accepted?
You reapply the following year — Westmount keeps no waitlist at either campus. That makes this the least forgiving of the three admission routes in Calgary: there is no queue position to accumulate and no carry-over.