Relocation Help/Elementary AAP

[ikornika]

We're relocating to the DMV area in June 2018 and have decided on Virginia as our target residence; where exactly will depend on schools.

My daughter is currently in gifted here in Florida. She's in first grade now and will be entering into second grade (captain obvious here) once we're there.

I've read the Virginia DOE's FAQ page about needing a referral to get into TAG programs. What exactly does that entail?

I have her intellectual evaluation that was performed by our school district's psychologist and her WISC-V scores (full scale: 136, verbal 133, and fluid 134 with all scaled scores above 13).

Also, how is elementary school gifted done? Is it once a week or fully immersive or ...? Here, it's once weekly and if she didn't already attend the school where the gifted program was offered, she'd be bussed in on that one day.

Do y'all have a recommendation for best school district for us to live in if we wish to pursue public schools? We've sort of set our hearts on Alexandria, but only because we don't know what else is nearby.

Hubs will work downtown DC, near N Street, and I will seek employment later based on where we land. We'd like to be within a 30-45 minute commute (whether by car or rail) and we'd like to avoid Maryland as we've read there's a local income tax there in addition to state and federal.

Any advice or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

This is the wrong board for advice on what district to move into.

Go to Fairfax County Public Schools website to read about how elementary gifted services work. It’s all there.

[ikornika]

Thank you for that point in the right direction. I hadn't even thought to search Fairfax County's site as I was so stuck on Alexandria, which, I think is in Arlington County.

So is the best way to search for information going to be based on counties? We're In Jacksonville which encompasses all of Duval County, so searching by county isn't even top of mind.

[Anonymous]

In Virginia, and also in Maryland, school districts are by county or by city (cities are separate from counties, they are not one inside of the other). That means that Arlington County is a school district, Fairfax County is a school district, and Alexandria City is a school district. All of the Virginia school districts are discussed in the VA Schools forum.

[ikornika]

I checked out FCPS's page. It appears second graders would qualify for differentiated learning. Once she qualifies, does this level 2 learning take place at whatever school she attends or will she be bussed to a different school to do It?

This is my biggest concern. We would rather she not have to travel since we have the option of moving into the neighborhood of whatever school she needs to be at in order to avoid any bussing.

[Anonymous]

In FCPS, there are GT magnet schools called centers. If a student is found eligible for Level IV (which your DD probably will be) in 3rd grade, then if she attends a base school, she will be bussed to a center school. If she attends a center school, then she just continues going there.

In 2nd grade, different schools may do push in or pull out for Level II.

[ikornika]

Anonymous wrote:In FCPS, there are GT magnet schools called centers. If a student is found eligible for Level IV (which your DD probably will be) in 3rd grade, then if she attends a base school, she will be bussed to a center school. If she attends a center school, then she just continues going there.

In 2nd grade, different schools may do push in or pull out for Level II.

Thank you so much! This is so helpful! Do you know how I would determine which schools are centers? I'm going to search FCPS's site now!

ETA: I found this https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/elementary-magnet-schools ... It appears there's only two magnet schools in FC. Is this correct or am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the wrong board for advice on what district to move into.

Go to Fairfax County Public Schools website to read about how elementary gifted services work. It’s all there.

No.

It belongs in AAP.

The entire AAP board was created for fcps gifted services.

Quit messing with OP and wasting her time.

[Anonymous]

ikornika wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In FCPS, there are GT magnet schools called centers. If a student is found eligible for Level IV (which your DD probably will be) in 3rd grade, then if she attends a base school, she will be bussed to a center school. If she attends a center school, then she just continues going there.

In 2nd grade, different schools may do push in or pull out for Level II.

Thank you so much! This is so helpful! Do you know how I would determine which schools are centers? I'm going to search FCPS's site now!

ETA: I found this https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/elementary-magnet-schools ... It appears there's only two magnet schools in FC. Is this correct or am I missing something?

You're looking for center schools. There are center schools and what are called Local Level IV schools which are base schools that also have one or two Level IV classes, so that students have the option of staying at that school or going to center school.

https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/advanced-academics/advanced-academic-level-iv-center

[Anonymous]

--likely the Wisc is of no use here. It seems to have been given before its of any clinical significance

--schools are like much, much harder here then there. I have a family member in the gifted program in fl. I also previously taught a year in fl and for many in fairfax. The difference is astounding.

I'm not saying your child doesn't belong in the program here. I'm saying if you have a Wisc that was likely done on a kindergartener, it won't be much help here. I'm also saying the aap program is far more advanced than the two gifted programs I know about in fl and we often discussed at school meetings issues with our county's gifted services.

Good luck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In Virginia, and also in Maryland, school districts are by county or by city (cities are separate from counties, they are not one inside of the other). That means that Arlington County is a school district, Fairfax County is a school district, and Alexandria City is a school district. All of the Virginia school districts are discussed in the VA Schools forum.

Here's a listing of Northern Virginia school systems (districts):

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/directories/schools/school_info_by_regions.shtml#region4

Obviously commute is a big factor re: which district to choose.

[Anonymous]

Avoid Alexandria. For the best AAP centers, look into McLean schools or the elementary schools feeding into Carson middle school, although the commute will be much longer than 45 minutes to DC. Elementary schools have level IV (gifted and/or advanced kids are mixed with regular class) and centers (separate classes). Our DC has been at the center since K and got separate teaching since 1st grade for math until he started AAP in 3rd grade. Kids take a test in 1st grade (nnat) and 2nd grade (cogat) that determine eligibility for 3rd grade AAP. A score of 132 + pretty much guarantees entrance.

[Anonymous]

Also -- a map of the area:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:--likely the Wisc is of no use here. It seems to have been given before its of any clinical significance

--schools are like much, much harder here then there. I have a family member in the gifted program in fl. I also previously taught a year in fl and for many in fairfax. The difference is astounding.

I'm not saying your child doesn't belong in the program here. I'm saying if you have a Wisc that was likely done on a kindergartener, it won't be much help here. I'm also saying the aap program is far more advanced than the two gifted programs I know about in fl and we often discussed at school meetings issues with our county's gifted services.

Good luck

The minimum age for the WISC is 6 years old. It will probably still be valid in mid 2nd grade. Also, a 136 FSIQ is well above the level of the majority of the kids in AAP.

To the OP: FCPS does a full-time classroom, but it won't start until 3rd grade. In second, there will be in-class differentiation and possibly some pull outs. Loudoun does a one day per week program, starting in 4th. I'm not sure how Arlington or Alexandria handle gifted services.

[Anonymous]

Link to gifted services page in Arlington County Public Schools:

https://www.apsva.us/gifted-services/