cutoff scores for Fairfax County GT centers for this year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:that is a low score at our school (122). my child got 30 pts higher than that. Good luck

The ceiling for CogAT is 150. So good luck with that 122+30.

122 is not "low."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:that is a low score at our school (122). my child got 30 pts higher than that. Good luck

The ceiling for CogAT is 150. So good luck with that 122+30.

122 is not "low."

I think he/she meant NNAT. Ceiling for NNAT2 is 160. 122 is still decent though.

[Anonymous]

I've been enjoying reading this thread and learning from all the other parents who have experience. I'm sure every parent posting wants the best for his/her child, but this thread makes me wonder what's so bad about a child (your child) being in a regular school (non-AA)? I'm dismayed by the intensity of some parents in push, push, pushing to get their child into the AA program. I just don't get it. If my child is in the pool, great! If my child isn't, it's still just fine b/c I know she's doing well for the regular school. I don't need her to be in something if she doesn't test into it based on whatever standards the school sets. I can't imagine paying hundreds of dollars to test my child and pushing to get her into the AA program. In my view, a child can actually have a successful life and learning experience in a regular Ffx Cty school.

I congratulate those whose children are in the pool and/or who recieve an invitation; but not being AA is really o.k. too!

[Anonymous]

I've been enjoying reading this thread and learning from all the other parents who have experience. I'm sure every parent posting wants the best for his/her child, but this thread makes me wonder what's so bad about a child (your child) being in a regular school (non-AA)? I'm dismayed by the intensity of some parents in push, push, pushing to get their child into the AA program. I just don't get it. If my child is in the pool, great! If my child isn't, it's still just fine b/c I know she's doing well for the regular school. I don't need her to be in something if she doesn't test into it based on whatever standards the school sets. I can't imagine paying hundreds of dollars to test my child and pushing to get her into the AA program. In my view, a child can actually have a successful life and learning experience in a regular Ffx Cty school.

I congratulate those whose children are in the pool and/or who recieve an invitation; but not being AA is really o.k. too!

Well, that's a wonderful sentiment, but your description of the selection process isn't accurate.

This issue has been discussed many times on this thread & elsewhere on the forum

There is a reason for the parent referral process: some qualified kids do not test into the automatic screening pool but they belong in the AAP Center nonetheless. By your logic, every parent who refers a child is "push, push, pushing," the child into AAP when the child doesn't belong. And that's just not true. Some are pushing kids who are borderline, and some have children who clearly belong in the Center but are not in the screening pool.

I totally agree that there's nothing wrong with the base school, but if your child belongs in the Center, you should avail yourself of the referral process - there is nothing wrong with that either.

Also, you don't "test into" the AAP Center. Test scores are only one component of the screening file.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:that is a low score at our school (122). my child got 30 pts higher than that. Good luck

Well, aren't you special!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been enjoying reading this thread and learning from all the other parents who have experience. I'm sure every parent posting wants the best for his/her child, but this thread makes me wonder what's so bad about a child (your child) being in a regular school (non-AA)? I'm dismayed by the intensity of some parents in push, push, pushing to get their child into the AA program. I just don't get it. If my child is in the pool, great! If my child isn't, it's still just fine b/c I know she's doing well for the regular school. I don't need her to be in something if she doesn't test into it based on whatever standards the school sets. I can't imagine paying hundreds of dollars to test my child and pushing to get her into the AA program. In my view, a child can actually have a successful life and learning experience in a regular Ffx Cty school.

I congratulate those whose children are in the pool and/or who recieve an invitation; but not being AA is really o.k. too!

ITA. My kid is right on the cusp - could go either way. I'd rather have her be a solid performer in regular classes than unhappy in GT. I am going to do my due diligence to help her pass the GT test (parent packet), but if the committee feels she doesn't belong there, so be it.

[Anonymous]

We got a letter that our 2d grade daughter in the screening pool. We are still waiting for her score. The benchmark is 130.
Does it mean that her score is 130 or higher?

[Anonymous]

For all the talk about getting into AAP - is it really worth it?

I keep hearing folks whose kids go to private - that GT curriculum is pretty weak and not all that what it is hyped up to be in these forums.

Or is it just lesser of the 2 evils. In my opinion, the biggest advantage of GT is the peer group - rather than the actual education.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Can a child get in the pool based on the score solely if NNAT and both Cogats scres are below 130 benchmark?

[Anonymous]

"I keep hearing folks whose kids go to private - that GT curriculum is pretty weak and not all that what it is hyped up to be in these forums."

First off whether one goes to the best public school, private or AAP/Magnet school, its not going to make your child any smarter or less intellegent for that matter. For some reason I think many on this site have lost sight of this. For the quote above, it sounds like someone is trying to justify their tuition payment to the private school. The average SAT over at Langley High is 1200 for the Math/Verbal combination. Without seeing the numbers, I doubt the privates average significantly much better and there is no way the majority of these Langley kids came up through the gifted program. The balance of the Fairfax Schools are lower but still even most average above 1100 on SATs which is demonstrating there are a lot of kids worthy of college. One might say they are speaking of Elementary Education which does not really matter. The same kids going through high school in Fairfax county went through the Fairfax County Public Educatinoal System as well.
Remember TJ is a public school. I assume we would be in agreement that TJ is worthy of praise and the best school in the DC metro area, public or private. It would be amazing that Fairfax could get TJ right but not the Elementary GT programs. So for those you are speaking with that actually believe there is justification for to go to a private school over a public GT program, it almost sounds like their kids were not selected for the public gifted program and you are hearing sour grapes. It would be helpful if you could go back to the "folks" you are speaking with and ask them to better justify their position of why the GT curriculum is pretty weak compared to a private school and report back to us. Many would like to see if there is a marginal 15K-20K benefit for their kids to attend a private school
Thanks,

[Anonymous]

TJ is the best high school in the country
http://education.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/education/high-schools/articles/2009/12/09/americas-best-high-schools-gold-medal-list

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I keep hearing folks whose kids go to private - that GT curriculum is pretty weak and not all that what it is hyped up to be in these forums."

First off whether one goes to the best public school, private or AAP/Magnet school, its not going to make your child any smarter or less intellegent for that matter. For some reason I think many on this site have lost sight of this. For the quote above, it sounds like someone is trying to justify their tuition payment to the private school. The average SAT over at Langley High is 1200 for the Math/Verbal combination. Without seeing the numbers, I doubt the privates average significantly much better and there is no way the majority of these Langley kids came up through the gifted program. The balance of the Fairfax Schools are lower but still even most average above 1100 on SATs which is demonstrating there are a lot of kids worthy of college. One might say they are speaking of Elementary Education which does not really matter. The same kids going through high school in Fairfax county went through the Fairfax County Public Educatinoal System as well.
Remember TJ is a public school. I assume we would be in agreement that TJ is worthy of praise and the best school in the DC metro area, public or private. It would be amazing that Fairfax could get TJ right but not the Elementary GT programs. So for those you are speaking with that actually believe there is justification for to go to a private school over a public GT program, it almost sounds like their kids were not selected for the public gifted program and you are hearing sour grapes. It would be helpful if you could go back to the "folks" you are speaking with and ask them to better justify their position of why the GT curriculum is pretty weak compared to a private school and report back to us. Many would like to see if there is a marginal 15K-20K benefit for their kids to attend a private school
Thanks,

This doesn't really answer the GT curriculum-is-weak question. The GT program is from grades 3-8; so langley's SAT scores and TJ's accomplishments are only indirect measures. And SAT scores are not good measures of curriculum - just math and reading - not science, arts, languages, etc... - so the question remains, what do folks think about the content of the GT curriculum and how would you compare it with the (good) private schools around here - especially for grades 3-8?

[Anonymous]

I am not sure that FCPS GT/AAP and a private school would be a comparison (unless it was Nysmith or Edlin which are private schools for gifted kids).

A child who is bright and learns quickly would do well in a private school or in a program where academics are ahead of the norm...but a child who is actually gifted needs more. Many private schools do not have enough kids in any particular grade level to group children by ability. They may claim that their curriculum is advanced, but a gifted child would still be ready to move on before the rest of the class.
Gifted children are not just ahead of the game, they are deep thinkers, and deep feelers. Of course, they learn quickly and can handle an advanced curriculum, but they may be light years ahead in one area and behind in another, or they may be light years ahead in all areas, but need help reigning it in because their brain moves too quickly. It helps a lot to have teachers that are equipped and experienced in sorting kids like this out and providing both challenge and support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can a child get in the pool based on the score solely if NNAT and both Cogats scres are below 130 benchmark?

No. But the pool is just a first cut selection of students TO BE CONSIDERED for AAP Center placement. Being in the pool or a student being referred ends up with the same thing -- CONSIDERATION for AAP Center placement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:so the question remains, what do folks think about the content of the GT curriculum and how would you compare it with the (good) private schools around here - especially for grades 3-8?

As a parent of a 4th grader in an AAP Center -- we looked at several private schools in the area (including several mentioned in this thread) and we feel that the AAP Center curriculum COMBINED with the peer group are better for our DC. It's not just the content of the curriculum. The peer group makes such an incredible difference.