2018 AAP Admission Thread
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Anonymous
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In
NNAT 143 4 work samples great letters Music awards Will stay with private school for another year or two. Too many low acceptance scores. Level IV is being watered down, to appease the masses. |
Anonymous
Different poster here: My second grader also gets level III service. I don't remember if she got level II during first grade though. I am not versed in all those tests and programs as some of you seem to be, but she gets level III service for writing. She was accepted to level IV, which was a big surprise since her CoGART was 127 and NNAT2 was nothing special (don't remember the exact number). I have no idea of her GBRS or DRA (I don't even know what that is!), but I have asked the AART for the AAP package and will post here once I get it. |
Anonymous
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0% change the above poster has no idea what a dra is. First, she’s posting on these boards where dras are mentioned a lot. Second, the first answer on a google search of “dra” pulls up the answer.
Stop with the feigned dumb everyone- please. |
Anonymous
I really don't! And I found the AAP board TONIGHT (to be clear, not DCUM)! I am new to all this and get confused with all these tests and names. For instance, when my daughter did the NNAT in 1st grade I did not know it would/could play a role on AAP - I remember checking it but have no idea where I put it. So, when I went to the AAP information day at our school in Dec., I felt like I was hearing about it for the first time. So after leaving, I went down to the office to ask for a copy to see if her score was anything special and If I should apply based on that (since I didn't have the CoGat results yet). I remember thinking her score was nothing special, but decided to apply anyway because a)I know my child is smart and can handle a more demanding curriculum; b) and, most importantly, she writes VERY well! When I wrote above, I truly had no idea of a DRA was... but after writing that, I went back to reading the posts here and someone explained that a DRA of 28 means a child is at the level of what is expected to be by the end of the academic year. So, now I know what DRA means and I do remember that my child got a result like that from a test she had in September, so I am assuming, her DRA was around that. I will know for sure when I get the package from the AART (which I do not know what it stands for, but I assume is the counselor responsible for all these AAP things in our school and who I have talked to before). But I do not keep track of all these tests and acronyms out there. English is not my first language so that may play a role. Besides, there are so many different tests.... I wish when I child gets in K, they would give parents a package informing them of what to expect throughout ES, when to expect, what what is the point of this of that test. It may seem to you that we (her parents) are not focused on her school life / academics, but that is not true at all. We might not be hardcore but I think we prioritize it a lot - I support her teacher and the PTA. Promptly reply and address any concern or problem she has in school. She does not have homework (which I think it is great), but she does have to read AT LEAST 20 min/day. She got a 3 on math so I got her some math work books and she had to sit down and work on that 10 min/day - the next report card went up to 4. She goes to the library every other week and comes home with a bunch of books to read; books are a big present at Christmas, birthday and we always get all her wish list during book fairs. She does not have a huge interest in math but I keep trying to foster it anyway: I always enroll her in some of those PTA sponsored before/after school activities that involves STEM or music (and fun stuff like hip hop too). I always try to buy some toys that I think have educational value: magnatiles, legos, strategy games, robot kits, science kits, and even those cubelets which were super expensive and incidentally, she does not play with! My point is: her education is a priority to us, but I will be the first to admit that I do not keep track of all these tests and what they are for (besides report cards, that is). |
Anonymous
| I have friends who don’t know anything about AAP, all the testing, DRA, etc. They are involved parents, but essentially go by whatever the teacher tells them, which is not a lot. When DD was in first grade, her teacher never mentioned DRA (for instance), until I specifically asked. If I were not the type of person that does my own research and asked specific questions, I would know what’s in a report card, and not a whole lot more. |
Anonymous
Why don't you just stay in private until college, if you can afford it? |
Anonymous
I assume that you're referring to scores of students in your private school, because the scores on this year's acceptance threads aren't low or dumbed down. |
Anonymous
| NP here, looking for "cutoff" scores for the various tests. Found 132+ for Cog on this thread. Please post other cutoffs, if known, for the other tests. Also, are these official cutoffs or just based on reported "in" scores. DD is still in 1st grade so doing research for next year. Thanks. |
Anonymous
There are no "cutoff" scores, but each year there is a cutoff for scores to be in pool, which means they are automatically considered without parent input. This year that was 132 on the NNAT or the Cogat composite score. If your DC is not in pool, you can refer. |
Anonymous
School doesn't go to high school, and the Private High Schools around here are insanely high in cost, although some of the Catholic schools are pretty good. It's troubling that parents of average kids feel the need to push their kids into something that is beyond them. Yes all kids are special, isn't that what Mr. Rogers said? But to keep retesting and appealing to get your child into a program that will likely be difficult for them really isn't fair to them or the kids in the class. But it's not really about the kids is it? |
Anonymous
Thing is, AAP is not for profoundly gifted children, and kids who are bright and hard working will do just fine. Which would be most of the kids in AAP. So, even if it takes a pushy parent to get them in, the kids are unlikely to have significant trouble. |
Anonymous
The average kid in this county is probably bright and hardworking. For those that like to be challenged there is Level II/III. But Level IV should be nearly impossible for the average bright kid. It was originally designed for truly gifted and over the years has been immensely watered down. Look at how many Centers there are! Then most schools want their own Level IV program, so as to retain their brightest, but the school then has to find other "hardworking and bright" kids" to fill the class. Now of 3 third grade classes in a school 1 is for Level IV? So one third of the kids are in the top 5%. That's a real joke. |
Anonymous
Surely if you're smart enough to know everything about each and every one of the kids that get into the program and whether or not they are qualified (as well as the motivations and efforts of all of their parents), you must be smart enough to find a job that pays enough money to send your child to private school for eternity. |
Anonymous
I agree with you, but your anger and frustration are misdirected. Right now, AAP is for the average bright kid, so of course parents want their bright kids to be in, too. You should blame FCPS for allowing the program to evolve into its current state, rather than blaming parents for simply advocating for their children. |
Anonymous
What should be, and what is, are two separate things. The AAP, in its current form, does not seek to identify profoundly gifted children (nor am I convinced school systems are equipped to handle those children who are at that end of the scale; we know one, and he's home schooled). Most children in AAP will do just fine. We're in a private to public situation ourselves, and in going through the third and fourth grade curriculum posted on FCPS website, I can see that my second grader will likely not be challenged. She will probably have some gaps that need filling in, but not a significant amount. She is VERY internally motivated, smart, and hard working, with decent executive functioning skills for her age. She is not some sort of child prodigy, nor are the other children I know that are in AAP. All have educated parents that are vested in their children, that provide an enriched home environment, and seek to support their children's interests. If those are the children that can be served in Gen Ed (they currently are not), and not AAP, then that's a failing of the school system, not the parents. |