Does FCPS GT use race/affirmative action? My child got in and is minority...

[Anonymous]

I am debating sending my child to the AP center. She got in. She has off the chart scores on reading/verbal but math is so-so.

Her dad is hispanic, and so is she (as far as the school paperwork is concerned). English is her first and only language. I am wondering if she may have made the final cut in part because she is minority.

I don't want to send my child into a program if she is not totally ready for it. I have read that GT can be very high pressure, competitive, etc. I'd rather my child be an excellent reader in regular ES than struggle in a GT program. I don't want to send her to the AP center if she's just a way for FCPS to improve their "stats".

Google sheds no light on this - does FCPS use race in determining admissions? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

What the heck? So if you find out they do take ethnicity into consideration, you'll assume that's the reason she got in and keep her out because of that? Why did you apply if you have all these reservations about the program and your daughter's abilities?

Why don't you have a bit more faith in your daughter? I'd be really sad if my mother attributed all of my achievements in life to handouts for being not white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What the heck? So if you find out they do take ethnicity into consideration, you'll assume that's the reason she got in and keep her out because of that? Why did you apply if you have all these reservations about the program and your daughter's abilities?

Why don't you have a bit more faith in your daughter? I'd be really sad if my mother attributed all of my achievements in life to handouts for being not white.

Well, as I said, her math scores are not great.

I want to know if anyone KNOWS for SURE that FCPS uses this in their admissions, or not. It's really a simple question. Not quite sure why it's so offensive to you.

I'd feel more comfortable if FCPS AP does NOT use race as a factor, because then I'd know for sure that it was just based on the numbers. Somehow I don't think if I ask the folks at the school that they are going to be honest with me.

I don't expect FCPS to really care about my child. They care about their numbers. It's my job to care about my child and I don't want to hurt her by putting her into a program and finding that it's too hard for her. Honestly I did not think we'd get in because of the math score and the GRBS which was not great. So now we're in and I have to wrestle with this decision.

I am not attributing all of her achievments in life to anything. Exaggerate much? As I said her reading/verbal is off the charts.

If you don't have anything HELPFUL to share why don't you go away?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
If you don't have anything HELPFUL to share why don't you go away?

This is a discussion forum, ma'am. Not a question-and-answer board. When you start a thread, you run the risk of people answering as they like. A shame, I know.

If you cannot handle the way discussion boards work, perhaps you should go away.

[Anonymous]

Hello PP. I am mystified by the prior poster's response. Sounds like a disgruntled parent. For what it's worth, I know that the cover sheet that the local school sends to the county committee includes an "Ethnic Code" (I am looking at my DC's sheet, which lists "White"), so I am sure that your child's ethnicity was noted there. That said, my DC's psychologist told me that this process is completely a "numbers game" and that the committee probably doesn't even read the additional materials. They look at the test scores, the GBRS, and the grades. Your child would not have gotten accepted if she didn't meet the high standards set by the committee. It is very common for a gifted child to have high scores in one area and lower scores in another. I hope this helps, and I'm sure your child will thrive whatever you ultimately decide to do.

[Anonymous]

Thank you 9:43.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is very common for a gifted child to have high scores in one area and lower scores in another. I hope this helps, and I'm sure your child will thrive whatever you ultimately decide to do.

Exactly.

My daughter (now in 4th grade at AAP Center) had very high verbal and not so high but still above average math scores when she was considered for AAP placement. Math was her relative weakness in the first part of the year in 3rd grade at the AAP Center, but she worked at it and now she is doing great in math as well.

And no, FCPS does not use race in determining admissions for AAP Center eligibility.

[Anonymous]

OP, I am unsure about the ethnicity portion of the question. My thought is, her test scores were very high in at least one area, for her to be eligible for the pool. If the GBRS her school submitted reflected this, as well as they work sample they put in her file, this may have been enough for her to coast into AAP. I am certain that not all students in AAP are strong in all areas. The bottom line question should be, do you feel that her needs (even if just in language/verbal) are able to be met in a regular classroom? I know that at many schools, the AAP teacher who pulls kids out for differentiation is only there 2 days, for an entire school. I have had mixed experience with classroom teachers providing adequate differentiation. Some class sizes are enormous, which makes this difficult. Does your school have local Level IV? If so, this would be a good option if you are unsure, your daughter could stay at her base school with the advanced curriculum, so that if you really find it is too much for her, you could move her to a regular classroom. If faced with keeping her at her home school, or sending to s center, I understand why that decision is harder.

Does she do well in math in class? Or are you referring to her math scores on the CogAt/Naglieri being "OK"

My advice is to ask for a copy of the AAP file from the AAP teacher at her school (most schools have email addresses listed on their website). Look closely at her work samples, and the GBRS to see what you think may have influenced their decision. You could also ask the AAP teacher to sit down with you, or at least exchange emails about your concerns.

Bottom line, you can always change your mind. You could accept the center placement now, and if after doing some research you find you think it is not the best choice, you can move back to your home school. I would say, if you think you will send her, and she is a rising 3rd grader, this is a good time to start. I have a son who will be in AAP starting in 4th, so though he is a very strong student in math, he has not had the advanced curriculum this year, so will have some catching up to do.

[Anonymous]

I am certain that not all students in AAP are strong in all areas.

This is very true. My DD is in 4th grade at our center. Some kids are strong in both reading/writing, some are more math/science and some are strong in both. I don't think kids are expected to be equally strong in all areas. I know in our center they have "levels" for math within the center classes.

If your DD does OK with math now, then she will likely be fine in the center. FWIW, this was a common question at the orientation ("what if my kid is not that great at math"). I also think that parents don't necessarily have a great perspective on what it means to be really struggling in math. JMO.

And if you decide the center is too much for her, you can always go back to your base school. And you can change your mind later again if you like.

[Anonymous]

The committee doesn't look at race. They look at the scores and determined that your dd has the potential to handle the AAP program.

BTW, my child is white...and to AAP she is a minority group. I've seen the AAP classes at my center school, and my child will probably be one of maybe three kids in her entire class that are white. Do I worry that they may have taken her because she's white? Heck no, because I know my kid can handle learning whatever she doesn't know. If she can't, we can't say that we didn't give her the chance to try.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, this is helpful. I don't have my child's scores with me (at work). I read all these posts on here about people who didn't get in and wonder how my math hater did it. Wanted to be sure the schools don't snap up borderline kids who fit their numbers needs/affirmative action goals, without thinking through the possible consequences for the child.

I think her needs are not being met in regular school - she is bored a lot. But I also don't want to make her hate school, have homework take over her childhood and become a bone of contention, etc. Math is already not "fun" for her - if it became hateful to her it would make life miserable. Good to know they can differentiate within the AP program as far as levels of math.

My inclination is to try it and see how it goes. Thank you for the input.

[Anonymous]

I think they do. Its called the "Young Scholars" Program and there's a box on the school submitted "screening summary sheet." This alerts the Committee that the child is in a special program to promote minority representation.

[Anonymous]

Your welcome. Good luck with everything and I hope all goes well. I think it will.

As for math not being fun for her....sounds like it could be a factor of how it's being taught. 2nd grade math is a lot of boring repetition.

Let us know how things turned out, okay?

[Anonymous]

Hi,
Don't have time to read all the replies but ask you to keep in mind that many kids that get in have really high scores in one area but not the other and that's expected whether or not race plays a factor (on that I have no idea).

They pre-test the kids for each math unit in AAP. DD who is like your child - high on the verbal side - is always in the "slower" group but does well by test time, gets As in math and scores pass advanced. They teach to many levels in AAP.

Good luck with your decision.

[Anonymous]

re: Young Scholars. Are parents notified if their child is deemed a "Young Scholar"?