Applying to AAP from Out of State

[Anonymous]

Hello, we will be moving to FCPS from out of state this summer. My 3rd grader is in the gifted program and accelerated math (1.5 years above grade level) at her current public school. We plan to apply for AAP over the summer. I've read what the FCPS website says about the process, but I have a couple of questions:

First, there appears to be no "packet" to complete for out of state applicants. Aside from report cards and Cogat/WISCV, the website just says we can submit other test results and work samples. Can/should we submit additional documents like teacher recommendations, parent letter, anything else?

Second, we'll likely do testing at GMU. Is there usually any difference in the results for Cogat/group testing vs. private? My child is better at math than reading, if one test is a better fit for that profile.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Contact the school when you have signed a lease or bought a house and are registering. Ask them what you need to do to be considered. The school will tell you.

[Anonymous]

My family moved to FCPS from out of state last summer. In May, I contacted our future elementary school and completed its new student registration packet (this packet is completely separate from AAP application), which resulted in assignment of a FCPS student ID#. I was told by the school that a student ID# was needed to request the Level IV placement (full-time AAP services).

In early July, I submitted a Level IV summer placement email to the FCPS AAP program with various attachments that I compiled (report cards, WISC-V, NNAT3, CogAT, math placement tests from home school district, work samples). There was no AAP "packet" to complete. About 3 weeks later I was notified that she was admitted to the Level IV program.

My daughter was a couple of years accelerated in math in her prior district, which tested her math ability in the spring of 5th grade and placed her in an accelerated Algebra I Honors class for 6th grade. I shared those test results and placement with FCPS AAP, but my daughter still ended up in pre-algebra (Level IV 6th grade math). I share that only to say that you should not expect an individualized math assessment/ placement. In my experience, the options were Level IV math or not Level IV math, rather than individual evaluation of appropriate math placement. That was a difference from our prior school district (and disappointing for my daughter who loves math).

Good luck with your move!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My family moved to FCPS from out of state last summer. In May, I contacted our future elementary school and completed its new student registration packet (this packet is completely separate from AAP application), which resulted in assignment of a FCPS student ID#. I was told by the school that a student ID# was needed to request the Level IV placement (full-time AAP services).

In early July, I submitted a Level IV summer placement email to the FCPS AAP program with various attachments that I compiled (report cards, WISC-V, NNAT3, CogAT, math placement tests from home school district, work samples). There was no AAP "packet" to complete. About 3 weeks later I was notified that she was admitted to the Level IV program.

My daughter was a couple of years accelerated in math in her prior district, which tested her math ability in the spring of 5th grade and placed her in an accelerated Algebra I Honors class for 6th grade. I shared those test results and placement with FCPS AAP, but my daughter still ended up in pre-algebra (Level IV 6th grade math). I share that only to say that you should not expect an individualized math assessment/ placement. In my experience, the options were Level IV math or not Level IV math, rather than individual evaluation of appropriate math placement. That was a difference from our prior school district (and disappointing for my daughter who loves math).

Good luck with your move!

This is very helpful- thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello, we will be moving to FCPS from out of state this summer. My 3rd grader is in the gifted program and accelerated math (1.5 years above grade level) at her current public school. We plan to apply for AAP over the summer. I've read what the FCPS website says about the process, but I have a couple of questions:

First, there appears to be no "packet" to complete for out of state applicants. Aside from report cards and Cogat/WISCV, the website just says we can submit other test results and work samples. Can/should we submit additional documents like teacher recommendations, parent letter, anything else?

Second, we'll likely do testing at GMU. Is there usually any difference in the results for Cogat/group testing vs. private? My child is better at math than reading, if one test is a better fit for that profile.

Thanks!

GMU has regular administrations of the COGAT. The test is the same as what you would take in FCPS. The only difference is that it's one ~3 hour sitting rather than three, 1-hour sittings in FCPS. FCPS has kids take the COGAT in one hour increments over three days.

[Anonymous]

We moved here from another states few years back, it was an easy process. Aside from the regular new student application pricess, we also submitted GIEP (Gifted IEP, our previous school categorizes gifted as special education). The doc shows that my kids already served gifted in previous schools and the test used at previous school to determine the eligibility also happened to be accepted in here. We didn’t do any packets, no new or additional test.

[Anonymous]

NP here. Interesting that it seems easier to get in based on history with the services in the prior district than it does as a FCPS kid. No need to demonstrate "compassion," "sensitivity to large issues of human concern," etc. And some districts may have a lower academic threshold to boot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. Interesting that it seems easier to get in based on history with the services in the prior district than it does as a FCPS kid. No need to demonstrate "compassion," "sensitivity to large issues of human concern," etc. And some districts may have a lower academic threshold to boot.

Most districts don't admit about 20% of the school population to the gifted program, unlike FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. Interesting that it seems easier to get in based on history with the services in the prior district than it does as a FCPS kid. No need to demonstrate "compassion," "sensitivity to large issues of human concern," etc. And some districts may have a lower academic threshold to boot.

Most districts don't admit about 20% of the school population to the gifted program, unlike FCPS.

what FCPS calls gifted program is just an accelerated academic program for most other districts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. Interesting that it seems easier to get in based on history with the services in the prior district than it does as a FCPS kid. No need to demonstrate "compassion," "sensitivity to large issues of human concern," etc. And some districts may have a lower academic threshold to boot.

Not always the case. I am the PP from out of state that you refer too. In my kid previous school, out of 100 kids in his grade, only 2 kids that screened as gifted, this is more like the real representation of 2%. And the evaluation also thorough. My kid got pull out service and he felt alone. One of the reason we move here is to seek for bigger crowds and cohort. Contrary of what you said, What I see is actually his most AAP friends is not even in 10%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. Interesting that it seems easier to get in based on history with the services in the prior district than it does as a FCPS kid. No need to demonstrate "compassion," "sensitivity to large issues of human concern," etc. And some districts may have a lower academic threshold to boot.

Not always the case. I am the PP from out of state that you refer too. In my kid previous school, out of 100 kids in his grade, only 2 kids that screened as gifted, this is more like the real representation of 2%. And the evaluation also thorough. My kid got pull out service and he felt alone. One of the reason we move here is to seek for bigger crowds and cohort. Contrary of what you said, What I see is actually his most AAP friends is not even in 10%.

Perhaps, it's because there are many more high-fliers here than in places like Alabama.