AAP In Pool Letters - What Schools Have You Received Them From?

[Anonymous]

This is awful! My DC is only 6 in second grade and her score on the CogAT was only 96th percentile. Did they norm for age this year? I am thinking she would have been 99th percentile if they normed for age. i certainly hope that this does not affect her chances at AAP.... Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Seriously, you are all focusing on the age. The fact that FCPS "locally normed" the test was not based on age. What they have done is grouped the schools based on heterogenous factors and then set up a percentile ranking based on that group of students. So, if your child is in a high-performing school, your child's percentile will drop. The net effect of this is that every school will provide the same percentage of kids into the pool. The reason that you're not getting a raw score is because FCPS doesn't want you to know that your child's score of "132" is judged as lower than a "122" in another school because your locally normed 95% is "134" while the other school's locally normed 95% is "120". It's a mean to expand the pool of candidates, adjusting for socio-economic factors - not age!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, you are all focusing on the age. The fact that FCPS "locally normed" the test was not based on age. What they have done is grouped the schools based on heterogenous factors and then set up a percentile ranking based on that group of students. So, if your child is in a high-performing school, your child's percentile will drop. The net effect of this is that every school will provide the same percentage of kids into the pool. The reason that you're not getting a raw score is because FCPS doesn't want you to know that your child's score of "132" is judged as lower than a "122" in another school because your locally normed 95% is "134" while the other school's locally normed 95% is "120". It's a mean to expand the pool of candidates, adjusting for socio-economic factors - not age!

This is new. How did you get this information? Is it confirmed?
Just curious. I don't have kid pending AAP decision here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, you are all focusing on the age. The fact that FCPS "locally normed" the test was not based on age. What they have done is grouped the schools based on heterogenous factors and then set up a percentile ranking based on that group of students. So, if your child is in a high-performing school, your child's percentile will drop. The net effect of this is that every school will provide the same percentage of kids into the pool. The reason that you're not getting a raw score is because FCPS doesn't want you to know that your child's score of "132" is judged as lower than a "122" in another school because your locally normed 95% is "134" while the other school's locally normed 95% is "120". It's a mean to expand the pool of candidates, adjusting for socio-economic factors - not age!

This is pure rubbish! FCPS wrote clearly that percentile is county wide and not the tibuktu school wide. Stop spreading false rumors.

[Anonymous]

I think it could be true based on what the principal said how many kids would "make it" at our school...

[Anonymous]

Interesting. I know this won't be a popular argument here, but I could see the argument that "marginal" kids from lower performing schools need AAP more than "marginal" kids from high performing schools.

For example, take a kid who scores 130. A kid at a school where 130 is one of the highest scores in the school is probably not going to be challenged at the base school, whereas a kid who scores 130 and there are 20 kids who scored higher (and presumably a bunch right around 130 and just below that probably wouldn't go either), probably will be challenged because he will have more of a cohort at the base school.

I could see FCPS, as a policy matter, deciding that they will give an advantage to kids from the lower performing school because they don't have as much opportunity at their home school. In lower income schools, the PTA doesn't raise as much money so they won't have as many of the extras, etc.

Like I said, I'm sure people here would hate the idea, but I could see it happening.

[Anonymous]

It would explain a lot, but is GROSSLY unfair if so, and ultimately won't benefit the lower ranked kids when they can't keep up with everyone else!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. I know this won't be a popular argument here, but I could see the argument that "marginal" kids from lower performing schools need AAP more than "marginal" kids from high performing schools.

For example, take a kid who scores 130. A kid at a school where 130 is one of the highest scores in the school is probably not going to be challenged at the base school, whereas a kid who scores 130 and there are 20 kids who scored higher (and presumably a bunch right around 130 and just below that probably wouldn't go either), probably will be challenged because he will have more of a cohort at the base school.

I could see FCPS, as a policy matter, deciding that they will give an advantage to kids from the lower performing school because they don't have as much opportunity at their home school. In lower income schools, the PTA doesn't raise as much money so they won't have as many of the extras, etc.

Like I said, I'm sure people here would hate the idea, but I could see it happening.

A back door quota system. Can't get the "marginal" demographic kids in fairly, so they come up with a new gamed system to shaft those who score higher. It kills the liberals running this program that they have not found an arguably equitable way to cram those disadvantaged kids into the program. They have tried for years to up the percentages, but apparently the only way to make it happen is to force them in over others more deserving (if this is true).

If this is indeed the case, and I would like to know where the poster that advanced this "theory" got the information. I would not be surprised as it is always a game of cat and mouse with FF County on how the admissions "black box" works. They give up no information easily as that would force them to justify the process in a transparent manner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, you are all focusing on the age. The fact that FCPS "locally normed" the test was not based on age. What they have done is grouped the schools based on heterogenous factors and then set up a percentile ranking based on that group of students. So, if your child is in a high-performing school, your child's percentile will drop. The net effect of this is that every school will provide the same percentage of kids into the pool. The reason that you're not getting a raw score is because FCPS doesn't want you to know that your child's score of "132" is judged as lower than a "122" in another school because your locally normed 95% is "134" while the other school's locally normed 95% is "120". It's a mean to expand the pool of candidates, adjusting for socio-economic factors - not age!

LOL. Nice troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, you are all focusing on the age. The fact that FCPS "locally normed" the test was not based on age. What they have done is grouped the schools based on heterogenous factors and then set up a percentile ranking based on that group of students. So, if your child is in a high-performing school, your child's percentile will drop. The net effect of this is that every school will provide the same percentage of kids into the pool. The reason that you're not getting a raw score is because FCPS doesn't want you to know that your child's score of "132" is judged as lower than a "122" in another school because your locally normed 95% is "134" while the other school's locally normed 95% is "120". It's a mean to expand the pool of candidates, adjusting for socio-economic factors - not age!

LOL. Nice troll.

Agreed. Too dramatic, even for FF County.

[Anonymous]

"It kills the liberals running this program that they have not found an arguably equitable way to cram those disadvantaged kids into the program."

Nice work. As if AAP is not devisive enough, let's inject liberal/conservative politics into the matter.

[Anonymous]

Why not? We all know Janie Strauss doesn't mind overcrowding the Cluster 1 schools in favor of the "disadvantaged" FCPS because the parents won't let their kid "slip through the cracks"-never mind that we pay triple or more the property taxes to live in the school district to begin with.....liberals love that one!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not? We all know Janie Strauss doesn't mind overcrowding the Cluster 1 schools in favor of the "disadvantaged" FCPS because the parents won't let their kid "slip through the cracks"-never mind that we pay triple or more the property taxes to live in the school district to begin with.....liberals love that one!

Last time I checked the tax rate was the same throughout the county.

Get over it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"It kills the liberals running this program that they have not found an arguably equitable way to cram those disadvantaged kids into the program."

Nice work. As if AAP is not devisive enough, let's inject liberal/conservative politics into the matter.

Sorry for stating the obvious.

[Anonymous]

PP, it is spelled divisive not devisive (not a typo as the e and i keys are far apart). Were you a product of an FCPS AAP program? As an AART in FCPS we are looking for the brighter more inquisitive kids who apply themselves and need something more. Many of your DCs score high and do very little in class. Please don't tell me that they need to be challenged to perform. They are lazy thanks to you telling them what brilliant/gifted kids they have become or are. These kids do not need to be in AAP. Gifted kids who apply themselves and marginal kids who work hard are the ones who are successful in AAP.