scores for local level III/IV vs Center level IV

[Anonymous]

So in the old days kids from our neighborhood public went off to the "GT Center." Now I hear our neighborhood school has 2 of 5 classrooms full of "AAP." I'm hearing some of the terminology (local level III, IV, center level IV) but what I really want to know is what WISC IV score would we be hoping for so DS could go to neighborhood AAP class (and curious what it would have to be to go to the center, but we're not interested in that). DS is in Catholic school now.

[Anonymous]

If your child is accepted into a Level 4 AA program, he decides if he's going to go to the AAP at a center or a Local Level IV at his base school (if it has one). He can go to either one. And if he chooses the center one year and it's not a good fit, he can go back to the Local Level IV at his base school or vice versa.

If your child is not accepted into the Level 4 AA program, but is considered Level 3 at his base school. And if that base school has a Local Level 4 program, it's possible that your child can be pushed into the Local Level 4 program at your base school if there is room. He is still not considered Level 4, but he is in that classroom.

So you are either Level 4 or you're not. If you are Level 4 you can go to a center or a base school level 4 program if your school has one. There is no such thing as qualifying only as a Level 4 at your base school but not the center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your child is accepted into a Level 4 AA program, he decides if he's going to go to the AAP at a center or a Local Level IV at his base school (if it has one). He can go to either one. And if he chooses the center one year and it's not a good fit, he can go back to the Local Level IV at his base school or vice versa.

If your child is not accepted into the Level 4 AA program, but is considered Level 3 at his base school. And if that base school has a Local Level 4 program, it's possible that your child can be pushed into the Local Level 4 program at your base school if there is room. He is still not considered Level 4, but he is in that classroom.

So you are either Level 4 or you're not. If you are Level 4 you can go to a center or a base school level 4 program if your school has one. There is no such thing as qualifying only as a Level 4 at your base school but not the center.

Ok, I must not be asking the question right. I doubt my son is Level 4 and we're not interested in sending him to the Level 4 AAP at a center. I thought I learned recently that our local school has levelsl 3 and 4 (which is why 2 of the 5 classrooms per grade 3 and up are AAP, from what I'm told). While I wasn't interested in him trying for the center level 4, it seems he has a pretty decent shot at qualifying for the neighborhood AAP (as a level 3, I presume). So I'm trying to get a sense of what he'd need to score on the WISC IV to get into the neighborhood school before we go through the application process.

[Anonymous]

There really isn't an application. The school finds out how many Level 4 students are staying out the base school and then it is up to the principal to fill up the remainder of the spaces available in the Local Level 4 classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There really isn't an application. The school finds out how many Level 4 students are staying out the base school and then it is up to the principal to fill up the remainder of the spaces available in the Local Level 4 classes.

Ok, then I guess it makes it hard for someone coming to the school from outside to get one of the non Level 4 spots in a Local Level 4 classroom. Anyone been successful doing this or have any insight into being accepted when there's no application?

[Anonymous]

I'm confused.
If you don't think your son is level 4 material, then why are you so concerned about getting him into a level 4 classroom? Local level 4 classrooms are meant to be mostly level 4 kids with a few that just missed eligibility rounding out the rest of the spots. There is no level 3 classroom program. Level 3 consists of pull out programs by the AAP resource teacher at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There really isn't an application. The school finds out how many Level 4 students are staying out the base school and then it is up to the principal to fill up the remainder of the spaces available in the Local Level 4 classes.

Ok, then I guess it makes it hard for someone coming to the school from outside to get one of the non Level 4 spots in a Local Level 4 classroom. Anyone been successful doing this or have any insight into being accepted when there's no application?

I suggest contacting the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher at your local school. Many FCPS elementary schools with Local Level 4 do have an application form for parents to refer their students, and since you are coming from private school, the AART could advise you on testing requirements, deadlines, etc. I am fairly certain to get a non-Center spot your child would still need to be referred and considered for Center-placement.

[Anonymous]

In general above 130 in WISC would be safe cutoff line for Level IV.
High 120 often get in, too.

Have your kid take WISC and start from there.
(You have to spend about $400)

If your kid gets above 120, it might be a good evidence for local level III/IV candidacy
So discuss it with AART of the school.

However it depends on space availability in each year.
If there are 26 Level IV students staying at the local school in a give year for a given grade.
They'll just have one Level IV class for those 26 students and not much room for Level III.

So if your kid gets above 130, then you get all the options in hand.

[Anonymous]

Thanks 6:00 and 7:20. That really helps.

[Anonymous]

Just to clarify one point: 07:20 suggested that level III is empty slots in level IV. That is not necessarily the case. Level III is pull out for one or more areas. Emerson in a LLIV class would qualify, but you can get level III services without level IV at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just to clarify one point: 07:20 suggested that level III is empty slots in level IV. That is not necessarily the case. Level III is pull out for one or more areas. Emerson in a LLIV class would qualify, but you can get level III services without level IV at the school.

Yes, level III is its own service - part time pull out based.

If space happens to be available in the level IV classroom(s), some of them can get 'upgraded' to the level IV classroom.

If not, they'll get the level III pull out service.

By the way, I heard that there's this particular level IV center that has very poor reputation. So many parents choose to stay at local level IV school in that area.
OP's school is probably the case.

[Anonymous]

How can we find out which Level IV's are good and which are bad?

[Anonymous]

What are the criteria you personally have in mind to distinguish good from bad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the criteria you personally have in mind to distinguish good from bad?

+1

[Anonymous]

Maybe it's because we're at a Center school, but I didn't think many kids were actually getting any "Level 3" pull-out services. Many parents would love to see more of it, but I wouldn't plan your child's education based on it or switch schools counting on Level 3 services. Seems to be generally all (Level 4/center program) or nothing.