I requested DC's Packet and Here's what I found

[Anonymous]

Hi! I have gained so much from the forum so I would love to give back based on what I know about AAP Application now.

BG & Timelines: DC is a transfer in 4th grade. We moved to Fairfax County this summer. DC got identified in part-time AAP in September for both Math and ELA. DC completed both Iready and CogAT tests in fall. We applied for full-time AAP in October via parent referral. We got in FT AAP in December and decided to defer the placement until 5th grade.

DC's application packet (I requested it from school AART) is as follows ---

1)Documents include: Q1 report card from current school, 3rd grade report card from previous school, universal testing from both current school and previous school, Parent Referral form and 2 work samples, 4 work samples completed at school (each sample has an objective short note explaining the skills shown), HOPE form completed by school committee.

2) HOPE: DC got 7 Always and 1 Almost Always out of 11 Areas, didn't score well in things such as Compassion and Leadership. DC shows exceptional talent in 5 subjects out of 8, didn't get checked on Social Studies and Science. The comment box was left blank. -- I have zero idea whether this is a strong HOPE or a weak one.

3) Work Samples: Most of DC's samples are ELA. The remaining is Math or Critical Thinking. There's nothing on Science or Social Studies.

4) Report Cards and Testing Scores: DC has strong scores from Iready and CogAT for both Math and ELA (all 99 percentile). Report Cards show most 4s and some 3s.

In my opinion, DC's package shows a strong case in Math and ELA (as her strengths), BUT not so much for Science or Social Studies (as her weaknesses). She got in mainly due to strong scores as well as strong work samples from school, probably with OKish HOPE.

How parents can help build a stronger case ---

1) Communicate with the AART to get some tips and understand the process

2) Communicate with other teachers. I was also told by AART to tell them we were applying for AAP, probably in order to get better scores? (not sure about this one, didn't do so). But parents can for sure discuss some of the work sample selection, I guess.

3) Carefully select your work samples. Parent got to pick two work samples outside of school. If I needed do it again, I would pick something related to Science and Social Studies to complete the puzzle. One thing I did well was to have DC translated the Math question from her mother tongue and illustrated a little bit to show creativity and world language skills as the same time.

4) Fill out the the comments boxes from the parent referral forms including questionnaire. Details can help your student to be recognized.

5) Request the Packet and make sure all the info is correct. If something is incorrect, or your case gets mixed with others, you can ask AART to update it with the committee.


I hope this is helpful and Good luck to ALL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi! I have gained so much from the forum so I would love to give back based on what I know about AAP Application now.

BG & Timelines: DC is a transfer in 4th grade. We moved to Fairfax County this summer. DC got identified in part-time AAP in September for both Math and ELA. DC completed both Iready and CogAT tests in fall. We applied for full-time AAP in October via parent referral. We got in FT AAP in December and decided to defer the placement until 5th grade.

DC's application packet (I requested it from school AART) is as follows ---

1)Documents include: Q1 report card from current school, 3rd grade report card from previous school, universal testing from both current school and previous school, Parent Referral form and 2 work samples, 4 work samples completed at school (each sample has an objective short note explaining the skills shown), HOPE form completed by school committee.

2) HOPE: DC got 7 Always and 1 Almost Always out of 11 Areas, didn't score well in things such as Compassion and Leadership. DC shows exceptional talent in 5 subjects out of 8, didn't get checked on Social Studies and Science. The comment box was left blank. -- I have zero idea whether this is a strong HOPE or a weak one.

3) Work Samples: Most of DC's samples are ELA. The remaining is Math or Critical Thinking. There's nothing on Science or Social Studies.

4) Report Cards and Testing Scores: DC has strong scores from Iready and CogAT for both Math and ELA (all 99 percentile). Report Cards show most 4s and some 3s.

In my opinion, DC's package shows a strong case in Math and ELA (as her strengths), BUT not so much for Science or Social Studies (as her weaknesses). She got in mainly due to strong scores as well as strong work samples from school, probably with OKish HOPE.

How parents can help build a stronger case ---

1) Communicate with the AART to get some tips and understand the process

2) Communicate with other teachers. I was also told by AART to tell them we were applying for AAP, probably in order to get better scores? (not sure about this one, didn't do so). But parents can for sure discuss some of the work sample selection, I guess.

3) Carefully select your work samples. Parent got to pick two work samples outside of school. If I needed do it again, I would pick something related to Science and Social Studies to complete the puzzle. One thing I did well was to have DC translated the Math question from her mother tongue and illustrated a little bit to show creativity and world language skills as the same time.

4) Fill out the the comments boxes from the parent referral forms including questionnaire. Details can help your student to be recognized.

5) Request the Packet and make sure all the info is correct. If something is incorrect, or your case gets mixed with others, you can ask AART to update it with the committee.


I hope this is helpful and Good luck to ALL!

Thank you so much!
My older one also got accepted by FCPS AAP program in 4th grade as we moved to Fairfax from somewhere else.
We submitted
1. two work sample, each one includes drawing and writing about science topic.
2. school reports from the old school. The teachers at his old school wrote a whole page of comment about DS's school achievement, strengths and personalities in the year-end report.
We didn't request a packet. Cogat was not as strong as reported by many posts here, only 97% overall, as I remember.

[Anonymous]

I applied for immediate placement in August before 4th grade coming from a DoDEA school overseas. I submitted 2nd and 3rd grade report cards, CogAT scores from 1st grade (99th percentile), and all the advanced academics information from DoDEA (part-time only). The AART at the DoDEA school wrote a letter of recommendation, which I submitted along with some work samples she gave me. I received an email 3 days later saying he was eligible. My advice: Students transferring in to FCPS should apply for placement over the summer. No need to wait until school starts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I applied for immediate placement in August before 4th grade coming from a DoDEA school overseas. I submitted 2nd and 3rd grade report cards, CogAT scores from 1st grade (99th percentile), and all the advanced academics information from DoDEA (part-time only). The AART at the DoDEA school wrote a letter of recommendation, which I submitted along with some work samples she gave me. I received an email 3 days later saying he was eligible. My advice: Students transferring in to FCPS should apply for placement over the summer. No need to wait until school starts.

We missed the window so we'll have to apply during the fall. One good thing is that DC actually fits well in the non-AAP class. DC has been in gifted class since 1st grade, so I was worried at the beginning. But I now feel it's good to step out and meet some different kids - for a while.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I applied for immediate placement in August before 4th grade coming from a DoDEA school overseas. I submitted 2nd and 3rd grade report cards, CogAT scores from 1st grade (99th percentile), and all the advanced academics information from DoDEA (part-time only). The AART at the DoDEA school wrote a letter of recommendation, which I submitted along with some work samples she gave me. I received an email 3 days later saying he was eligible. My advice: Students transferring in to FCPS should apply for placement over the summer. No need to wait until school starts.

We missed the window so we'll have to apply during the fall. One good thing is that DC actually fits well in the non-AAP class. DC has been in gifted class since 1st grade, so I was worried at the beginning. But I now feel it's good to step out and meet some different kids - for a while.

NP. This is important to point out. Many parents feel that their 2nd grader is not being challenged so they want AAP for them - but 3rd grade is a big step up and the start of "real" school (and 4th grade is really the start of real school) and many kids will fit in well in the GE 3rd class that were not challenged in 2nd grade.

[Anonymous]

NP. This is important to point out. Many parents feel that their 2nd grader is not being challenged so they want AAP for them - but 3rd grade is a big step up and the start of "real" school (and 4th grade is really the start of real school) and many kids will fit in well in the GE 3rd class that were not challenged in 2nd grade.

I meant more like fitting in socially, not academically. DC is a transfer so our current focus is actually DC's mental health. 4th grade is an important year, and DC is for sure not being challenged enough. But we are all fine with that. Study is not everything.

[Anonymous]

I happened on this thread from Recent Topics, and have no direct interest in this thing, but wow, kudos to OP for being so diligent and helpful. Such a nice change from other threads where people tear each other down.