2021 AAP Admissions Thread
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Anonymous
I’m a working parent. When I first came on this board I had those same feelings. I felt horrible knowing I had not done 90% of what’s being talked about here - talking to AART/Principal etc beck I didn’t even know the AARTs name. But I’ve taken it all in the right stride. While I’m not requesting the GBRS or constantly checking in with the teachers .. I am a more involved parent thanks to the tips of other parents on this forum. They will never know who they are but some of these anonymous people have helped me become a better parent. My child notices this and that is everything |
Anonymous
My experience is this - my son didn't get in 2nd grade, did WISC that year, and appealed - didn't help. He re-took COGAT the following year (scores were OK but not great), and got a great GBRS from school at that time - he got in. So, thought GBRS did the trick. Btw, he is in 7th grade now and doing great in the AAP. However, my experience this year with my daughter is different - NNAT was 122, but school gave highest GBRS and comments recommending for Level IV. She did NOT get in though. So, looks like low NNAT score was a determining factor regardless of school's recommendation. I read posts from parents here with similar or lower scores, and their kids got it. So, I came to conclusion that it all depends on who looks at the file and the # of kids applying from a particular school in that particular year. Not sure what to do next for my daughter. |
Anonymous
Possible! You might consider a bit of the chicken or the egg. Also - correlation does not equal causation. |
Anonymous
You're correct. Your DD's file was reviewed by a harsher panel than many of the others. A lot of getting accepted is a random luck of the draw. What you should do is appeal with a letter and new work samples. Emphasize that your DD's teachers who've worked with her all year strongly believe that she belongs in AAP. It should be easier for you to articulate why your DD needs to be in AAP, since you already have a kid there. Describe some of the things your son has done in AAP and how your DD needs access to those same opportunities. The main thing you're hoping for with an appeal is that you'll have a different panel reviewing your child's file. |
Anonymous
Stop gaming the system. Too many people cheat with wisc. |
Anonymous
Maybe. But this year there was no Cogat test scores, only the NNAT which is a quirky test that the equity report recommended abandoning. So a WISC is a real data point. |
Anonymous
I submitted WISC of 149 last year. Didn't help overcome 4FO. Cogat was 141, high-quality work samples, recommendation letters, mostly 4s and adv reading. |
Anonymous
How so? There aren't many psychologists who would risk their license to give someone an inflated IQ score. Also, PP could get a WISC at GMU, which isn't going to be cheating. I'm not at all worried about letting kids into AAP who have gifted level WISC scores. WISC is more accurate than any other assessments used. I'm much more worried about the many kids already in AAP who wouldn't test even close to a WISC of 130 if they actually had been tested. |
Anonymous
DP. What is considered a “good” or reasonable WISC for a kid who would be appropriate for and successful in AAP? Really just curious what the consensus on this is (so thoughts from multiple people here with AAP knowledge and experience very welcome). My second grader is in for next year, and had a WISC, but not because we sought one - it was part of his special education qualification 3 year re-evaluation and was given by the school psychologist last year. I *think* his overall score was 131, with some sections higher and then a section that was crazy low - like in the 70s or 80s. His strong suits are math and reading and he has the vocabulary of an adult. I know he’s a bright kid, but he definitely has challenges (has had an IEP in FFX since age 3 and attended one of the county special Ed preschool programs), and I am wondering how AAP is going to work out for him. I do trust that his school knows what environment is the best one for him though (they know him pretty well). |
Anonymous
My DD got a 121 WISC, but we didn't include it in the AAP application. She took the WISC for her ADHD evaluation. She's a middle-of-the-pack AAP student. AAP takes around 20% of all kids. A 120 WISC is the 90th percentile. Many kids succeeding in AAP would test between 110 and 125 if they were given a WISC. |
Anonymous
I should add: My DD had a 16th percentile score in Digit Span and has very poor auditory processing. She had 98th percentile in picture span/visual processing. This deficit hasn't at all been an issue in AAP, since most materials are presented both orally and visually. AAP can be a mixed bag with 2E kids. Some teachers are very well trained for 2E issues, and others aren't. Sometimes, the classroom environment can be more engaging and help with ADHD. Other classrooms are a madhouse with too many distractions. I'd certainly give it a try in your case. In the best case, your child will be more engaged and will have a teacher who is better equipped to handle his issues. In the worst case, you can always drop back to the regular classroom. |
Anonymous
Yes, this is what's unfortunate. 90th percentile is not "gifted" by any means. It's above average, sure. There is a self-reinforcing cycle of kids with lower IQs accepted => determines AAP quality => determines success of kids with lower IQ => leads to reasoning that lower IQ kids should be admitted. So the question "What is a reasonable WISC for AAP?" really is not informative since AAP has been admitting too many lower IQ kids for many years and thus the program is not geared to the gifted, even though it should be. |
Anonymous
PP with the 121 WISC DD. I agree. It's the obvious consequence of expanding AAP from 5% of the students to 20%. It is now the "Above Average Program." My other kid with a WISC > 140 thought AAP was very slow and not at all challenging. I'd happily give up AAP for my non-gifted child if my gifted one could then have a real gifted program. I don't blame parents for pushing their above average kids into AAP, though. There's no reason to keep a kid like that out of AAP when the majority of kids in AAP are also merely above average. |
Anonymous
DP - +1. I am also a working parent and have come to appreciate the comments/insights on this forum. Yes, some of it is silly, not helpful and, in some cases, downright confrontational/hostile. But there are those who are genuinely trying to share information, thoughts and concerns to be helpful. |
Anonymous
We are in the same boat. |