Moving to FFX County and question about GT classes in ES

[Anonymous]

My family will most likely be moving to FFX County by the end of the year. I've just started reading these boards and I have a question about the gifted programs in the county. Are there self-contained elementary schools that only house these gifted programs? In our county, there might be 1 or 2 GT classes per grade for math and reading but there aren't entirely different schools or centers for gifted students.

[Anonymous]

See the FAQ on the FCPS website:

http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/gt/faqs.html

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the area! The Cliffs Notes answer is that there are a number GT Centers placed throughout the county. Kids who score high enough are invited to join them. Elementary schools have full-time GT programming, with 100% GT classmates, but are within schools that also contain non-GT classrooms (called "base.") The ratio of GT/base students varies by school. Middle schools have 100% GT classes for the core classes but mix with base students for the non-academic classes.

GT centers are assigned based on one's neighborhood elementary school, and most probably aren't too far away from the neighborhood school, though busing is provided. The full-time GT centers are for grades 3-8 (elementary and middle school). The middle schools might be further away. In our case, there are two middle schools closer to us than our GT center (including one other GT center).

There is a relatively new option to the GT centers. Some neighborhood schools that don't have GT centers are offering what is called "local level IV." This is supposed to be the complete GT center curriculum at a base school. However, actual mileage may vary. Usually, not all the classmates will be GT eligible, and the actual makeup of the classroom is subject to principal discretion.

In theory, FFX County offers four levels of GT programming (which, BTW, is now supposed to be called AAP, for Advanced Academic Programming, but the name change hasn't caught on yet). Levels I-III have to do with relatively minor levels of differentiation and enrichment at the base (neighborhood) schools. Level IV is either the GT Center or Local Level IV (in the base school). The main distinctions, though, are between base/local level IV/and GT center.

One last thing - I don't know if you mean you're moving here at the end of the calendar year, or at the end of the school year. There are different GT application procedures for current FFX county residents vs. those moving from out of county, and the process for those moving from outside is MUCH easier and quicker (easier in the sense of simplicity, not in the sense of easy to get admitted). However, you need to have all your paperwork ready to go when you get here - test results and any supporting documents you think you might need. Otherwise, your child will be put in a base classroom while you deal with the application process, then have to change classrooms and maybe even schools once s/he is accepted. If you need details on both application processes, let me know.

For more information, you can join the Fairfax County Association of the Gifted, which has a Yahoo group and a very helpful listserv. Also ask here and I'll try to answer!

[Anonymous]

PP, can you list some of the GT centers in FFX county?

[Anonymous]

There is a list at the link posted above. Select "centers" on the to bar.

[Anonymous]

Thanks a lot PPs. I found the FAQ and it was actually full of good info unlike most FAQs.