AAP - Moving for 6th

[Anonymous]

We are moving to FCPS for 6th grade and think our child belongs in AAP but aren't really sure how placement works. We're coming from a county with a really-hard-to-get-into GT cohort, and our child has been participating in it already so I suppose that's good. I know that FCPS will assess new students at any time so I am not concerned about missing a date (at least that's what they said when I called...they just said we have to have moved before initiating the process), just wondering where we might fall.

On the 5th grade CogAT our child was in the 99th percentile for the national age and grade norm for their composite score. Is this typically of Level IV placement? Or is it a really common score for lots of FCPS kids. I do not know the actual #, but I did some online research and it looks to be between 135-145 based on some graphs I can find of where the 99th percentile falls, I just didn't get it in the report.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you'll probably get in. They consider current GT status at your current school, as one factor. But you may need to get the actual report to give to FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Your kid has a good shot. Most likely IN.

I would just think carefully about whether it makes sense to do AAP, depending on which elementary school your kid is in, which MS AAP center they would be assigned to, and whether either of those is "out of pyramid" -- meaning your kid might go to 6th grade AAP, then have to start all over with new kids in a MS/HS that is out of your assigned pyramid.

In some cases, it might make sense to not do AAP in 6th grade and just get on with a social group that will stay with your kid through the years. Some schools are high performing even though they are not "AAP" -- so your kid will be just fine.

It really does vary a LOT. And really, once they are in 7th grade and higher, they can do honors... any kid is going to get a good education with honors.

If you know the assigned school for the place you will live, this board can give you a good rec on whether it is worth doing AAP -- or what any pros/cons might be.

[Anonymous]

When are you moving OP?

If it is this spring I would either pick a school zone that has a local level IV program at it or would skip it for 6th. This is to avoid your kid bouncing around too much.

If it would be over the summer check this out for directions:
https://www.fcps.edu/registration/advanced-academics-identification-and-placement/students-new-fcps