Where to move for better school district, AAP/GT program?

[Anonymous]

so what is wrong with the AAP? Prefer the OP to answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for the Chapel Hill and MN info. MN, was that experience quite recent?

Experience was last year at the highly gifted middle school. They are expanding it to elementary school this year. The highly gifted criteria are different from the gifted criteria.

http://www.rochester.k12.mn.us/page/3225

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:so what is wrong with the AAP? Prefer the OP to answer.

OP here. Right, I wasn't very clear. It's not necessarily a specifically AAP thing, it just that's the only experience I'm having (just one kid). First of all, the class seems so disorderly. A lot of talking and goofing around. It seems like 50% of the day is wasted that way. Relatively little actual instruction time. Lots of unproductive group or small group work where kids are not focused. Second, I don't think expectations are very high. When an assignment is given, if DC doesn't follow through, there's little consequence from the teacher. The teachers have been good in other ways, but I wish they pushed a bit more and expected more of the students. More maturity, responsibility. I feel like DS is learning that you don't have to take school very seriously.

I think I'm comparing DS's 3-6th grade with my own elementary school experience. I wasn't even in a GT/AAP program, and I think I got a better education. It was in the midwest. But probably more significantly, it was 30 years ago. Guess I'm hoping that kind of school might still exist somewhere. Lots of schools and districts *sound* great (ahem, FCPS) but the reality is so disappointing. I hoped to hear from people with first-hand, recent experiences of great schools, and DS would like to stay in an AAP type program.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for the Chapel Hill and MN info. MN, was that experience quite recent?

Experience was last year at the highly gifted middle school. They are expanding it to elementary school this year. The highly gifted criteria are different from the gifted criteria.

http://www.rochester.k12.mn.us/page/3225

Criteria listed at the link provided for the Highly Gifted Program sound similar to what's needed for AAP!

2013-2014 Criteria

Students and families considering this option must meet ONE of the following criteria:
1. CogAT composite score of 132 or higher; or
2. NWEA test total in Reading = 97 NPR or higher AND NWEA test total in Math 97 NPR or higher AND a CogAT composite score of 128 or higher; or
3. A portfolio of exemplary work may be submitted.

[Anonymous]

The nice thing about AAP is that a child can stay close to home and still attend these schools with other neighboring kids. I do believe the AAP and the GE program could be better, but am also not sure where this is offered at more than just a highly gifted magnet. Maybe I'm wrong, but these highly gifted magnet schools don't seem close by and seem to pull from a wide area of kids. Why not just move to MD if you prefer a magnet school? Montgomery County is a much closer jump than moving to MN or NC.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for this suggestion, you have a good point. I could listen and learn from the MD board for awhile to see how things work over there and how happy people are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for the Chapel Hill and MN info. MN, was that experience quite recent?

Experience was last year at the highly gifted middle school. They are expanding it to elementary school this year. The highly gifted criteria are different from the gifted criteria.

http://www.rochester.k12.mn.us/page/3225

Criteria listed at the link provided for the Highly Gifted Program sound similar to what's needed for AAP!

2013-2014 Criteria

Students and families considering this option must meet ONE of the following criteria:
1. CogAT composite score of 132 or higher; or
2. NWEA test total in Reading = 97 NPR or higher AND NWEA test total in Math 97 NPR or higher AND a CogAT composite score of 128 or higher; or
3. A portfolio of exemplary work may be submitted.

In FCPS, any subsection can be 132 or higher, they don't require the composite score to be 132 anymore. Perhaps this is why the current AAP is no longer a "gifted" program. Some of these kids are advanced in one area, but not at all in others. In my opinion, they don't "need" a special program unless they are advanced in all areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for the Chapel Hill and MN info. MN, was that experience quite recent?

Experience was last year at the highly gifted middle school. They are expanding it to elementary school this year. The highly gifted criteria are different from the gifted criteria.

http://www.rochester.k12.mn.us/page/3225

Criteria listed at the link provided for the Highly Gifted Program sound similar to what's needed for AAP!

2013-2014 Criteria

Students and families considering this option must meet ONE of the following criteria:
1. CogAT composite score of 132 or higher; or
2. NWEA test total in Reading = 97 NPR or higher AND NWEA test total in Math 97 NPR or higher AND a CogAT composite score of 128 or higher; or
3. A portfolio of exemplary work may be submitted.

In FCPS, any subsection can be 132 or higher, they don't require the composite score to be 132 anymore. Perhaps this is why the current AAP is no longer a "gifted" program. Some of these kids are advanced in one area, but not at all in others. In my opinion, they don't "need" a special program unless they are advanced in all areas.

No, it is the opposite. A few years ago kids used to be able to qualify with 132 on any subsection, but more recently a composite of 132 was required. That was 2 years ago. One year ago a percentile rather than a number was given, with the new FxAT. A composite of 95th percentile was required. This was 95th percentile within the FCPS population, not nationally. National gifted identification standards do support considering subsection rather than composite scores at least for the WISC.

[Anonymous]

^ Composite of 95th percentile on FxAT was required to be in-pool based on that score, not for AAP eligibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ Composite of 95th percentile on FxAT was required to be in-pool based on that score, not for AAP eligibility.

What's the difference between being in pool and being eligible for AAP? Isn't this the same?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Composite of 95th percentile on FxAT was required to be in-pool based on that score, not for AAP eligibility.

What's the difference between being in pool and being eligible for AAP? Isn't this the same?

No

In pool means that a screening file is prepared by the local school. It is then evaluated by a central screening committee. There are many students that are in pool that are ultimately not found center-eligible.

[Anonymous]

You can also parent refer and a screening file will be prepared for your child, just as for the in-pool children. You don't need to be in-pool to be considered for AAP.

[Anonymous]

OP, You better make sure your kid can get into the gifted program before you sell your house, quit your job & move to Minnesota!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the great advice, 17:13.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chapel Hill has more stringent requirements; friends that moved there could not get the kid into AAP, after two years in FCPS AAP

My daughter was in the gifted program in NC. It was amazing! She was in a gifted classroom at her home school but once a week she was bussed off campus to the "highly gifted center". It was just the coolest program I've ever seen and she's been in AAP programs in four different states.

This sounds really stupid, at least as you've described it.