My summary on the AAP admissions process
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Anonymous
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The purpose of this is to present how I think things work -- opinions are mine.
The process for AAP admission is covered at FCPS's AAP website: http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/ The process is designed to be consistent with Virginia State Law on Gifted Education. The law requires evaluation to include testing as well as other criteria, and requires the concept of parental referrals. With that as the basis, if your child scores above the benchmark on the FxAT or NNAT, the child is "in pool". The benchmark varies from year to year, last year it was 95% on the FxAT, and 132 on the NNAT. I suspect it will be the same this year, but we do not know yet. --> what this means for you? if you know the child scored about 132 (135 to be safe), the child is in pool. If you are waiting for the FxAT results, the safest thing to do is to assume the child did not meet the in-pool benchmark. --> what does it mean to be in pool? Very little, actually. It means that the school will produce a GBRS, and forward the file to the county (theoretically, they do not have to forward the file, but I have never heard of a case where that does not happen. In addition, if they don't forward the file, the parent can ask for the file to be forwarded, and it is, so they tend to forward all files.). --> My kid is not in pool, what to I do? Parental referral. One simple form, which takes about 5 minutes to fill out. --> What else can I do? 1) Fill out the parental questionnaire, and obtain recommendations. I am not sure if it matters, but it does show that you care, and it can't hurt. 2) Talk to the AAP resource teacher and the second grade teacher. Get their opinions....low scores and a meh from them means you are dealing with an uphill battle. But, if the AAP resource teacher thinks your kid belongs, the child will probably get a good GBRS, which will overcome the test scores. --> Should I test prep my kid? I am defining prep as using the the test prep classes and booklets. It is too late for that for 2013-2014 school year. There are long threads about this issue. My opinion is that it does not matter that much....prep may improve the score, but I do not think it significantly improves the chance to get in to AAP. I think the time is better spent with other enrichment activities...nature walks, creative play, etc. That will grow the kids mind, making them a more rounded individual If you want to debate this, do it in another thread, please. What is the likelihood my child will get in with .... There are too many variables. I know of kids with 117 CogAT composite that got in (16 GBRS), and I have seen reports of 135 CogAT not admitted. Unfortunately, I do not have the statistics other than overall numbers. I do not know how many kids in pool were admitted or not in pool that were admitted. However, in the mid to late 2000's FCPS did put out a power point slide with the information for that year. I have lost the link to that. It showed that 60% of in-pool, and 50% of referrals were admitted. What about WISC or other individual tests? The individually administered test is the most reliable indicator of successful admission. Almost all kids with WISC's over 128-130 are admitted (on appeal, based on reports here). Is AAP worth it? I do not know. |
Anonymous
| On an anonymous forum, we do not have the benefit of knowing who you are. Thus it would be critical to provide your position: are you a parent of an AAP child, an FCPS second grade teacher, an FCPS administrator, an AART in FCPS? |
Anonymous
| OP here: Parent of a child in AAP. She was a parental referral. |
Anonymous
..But, the average parent with only average intelligence can prep their child without "test prep classes and booklets". Your definition of test prep is very restrictive and assumes parents do not speak English and are from another land. It seems ludicrous to think an educated adult or child can only prep a kid with "test prep classes and booklets". Just my opinion. |
Anonymous
| Weird post. |
Anonymous
..But, the average parent with only average intelligence can prep their child without "test prep classes and booklets". Your definition of test prep is very restrictive and assumes parents do not speak English and are from another land. It seems ludicrous to think an educated adult or child can only prep a kid with "test prep classes and booklets". Just my opinion.
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Anonymous
| I am saying they type of prep that I was talking about is the booklets. Perhaps a better way would be to say test prep whose primary purpose is to increase the score on the CogAT/FXaT or NNAT test. As opposed to overall learning. |
Anonymous
| OP, you stated you don't know if AAP is worth it- what grade is your child in and are they attending an AAP center? |
Anonymous
| 6th grade at a center. |
Anonymous
| We are thinking of moving to Fairfax county for the AAP...but it's a gamble since DD may not get in. She is receiving GT services in another district currently but FFX has its own criteria and the child must live in FFX to be tested (which makes sense). It would be unfortunate if we bought a new house for this purpose and then DD didn't get into AAP. What should we do? Can we do private testing and get a sense of what chances of admission are before moving? Does FXX take into account that child has been receiving GT services elsewhere? Any advice? |
Anonymous
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I definitely think that parents should complete the Parent Questionnaire. I know of a child who was denied admission and then the parents appealed and the only new info they submitted was the Questionnaire (the didn't submit it the first time). The child was admitted on appeal.
I also think that recommendation letters are worthless. |
Anonymous
Which center? |
Anonymous
I would call the AAP office and pose your questions directly to staff. http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/directory.shtml Dr. Carol V. Horn K-12 Program Coordinator Carol.Horn@fcps.edu FAIRFAX RIDGE BUILDING 3877 Fairfax Ridge Rd - 3rd Floor Fairfax, VA 22030 (571) 423-4740 (703) 279-5208 (Fax) |
Anonymous
If you get a WISC, rule of thumb: 132 or above on the overall score, you are in, 125 and below, maybe not. In the middle, other factors matter. |
Anonymous
I won't get that specific, but it is one of the bigger ones. |