Should I use this WISC for AAP appeal?

[Anonymous]

DD was rejected earlier this week. She was in pool, but barely. NNAT 118. Cogat -- 122 verbal, 135 Q, 122 nonverbal, 131 VQN. GBRS 3C, 1F with very good commentary.

I scheduled the WISC for mid March to avoid the April rush (given that she was barely in pool, I knew there was a decent chance she would not get in). Overall, the WISC score is lower than the cogat, but the verbal score is higher than her cogat verbal score. FSIQ 122 (verbal comprehension 127, visual spatial 114, fluid reasoning 109, working memory 120, processing speed 116).

My gut is that we shouldn't include this WISC in our appeal, but I was wondering if others have successfully used a generally lower WISC where one of the sub scores was higher than the cogat.

We did not submit work samples or the parent questionnaire with the initial application and plan to that with the appeal.

Thanks in advance for the help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD was rejected earlier this week. She was in pool, but barely. NNAT 118. Cogat -- 122 verbal, 135 Q, 122 nonverbal, 131 VQN. GBRS 3C, 1F with very good commentary.

I scheduled the WISC for mid March to avoid the April rush (given that she was barely in pool, I knew there was a decent chance she would not get in). Overall, the WISC score is lower than the cogat, but the verbal score is higher than her cogat verbal score. FSIQ 122 (verbal comprehension 127, visual spatial 114, fluid reasoning 109, working memory 120, processing speed 116).

My gut is that we shouldn't include this WISC in our appeal, but I was wondering if others have successfully used a generally lower WISC where one of the sub scores was higher than the cogat.

We did not submit work samples or the parent questionnaire with the initial application and plan to that with the appeal.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Don't include the WISC. The biggest issue with the WISC is that it tells a completely different story than the CogAT with respect to abilities. The CogAT says that your kid is gifted in math, and that would be one of the more compelling reasons to let your DD in. The WISC says that your kid is average or slightly above in math and doesn't need advanced math services. Also, the CogAT verbal isn't so low as to preclude services, and the WISC verbal isn't high enough to suggest a need for services.

Your GBRS is great. I would do a letter and work samples, with a focus on how the teachers at your DD's school think that she belongs in AAP. De-emphasize the test scores, and instead focus on the traits your DD displays from the GBRS and parent questionnaire forms.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think a 122 gets her in.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP--don't submit the WISC. Focus on addressing deficiencies through the work samples and parent questionnaire. Your test scores are high enough as is if accompanied by good supporting materials.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with PP--don't submit the WISC. Focus on addressing deficiencies through the work samples and parent questionnaire. Your test scores are high enough as is if accompanied by good supporting materials.

Meant to say that I agree with the poster at 17:48. If you peruse the acceptance thread there are a number of admits with lower verbal scores than 122. You need a good writing sample though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with PP--don't submit the WISC. Focus on addressing deficiencies through the work samples and parent questionnaire. Your test scores are high enough as is if accompanied by good supporting materials.

Meant to say that I agree with the poster at 17:48. If you peruse the acceptance thread there are a number of admits with lower verbal scores than 122. You need a good writing sample though.

I'm having a really hard time differentiating good second grade writing from average . . . . I'm going to talk to our AART next week.

Thanks to everyone who has replied!

[Anonymous]

Do not use that WISC. It screams average bright kid on FCPS.

[Anonymous]

No. Fluid reasoning of 109 is automatic disqualifying score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD was rejected earlier this week. She was in pool, but barely. NNAT 118. Cogat -- 122 verbal, 135 Q, 122 nonverbal, 131 VQN. GBRS 3C, 1F with very good commentary.

I scheduled the WISC for mid March to avoid the April rush (given that she was barely in pool, I knew there was a decent chance she would not get in). Overall, the WISC score is lower than the cogat, but the verbal score is higher than her cogat verbal score. FSIQ 122 (verbal comprehension 127, visual spatial 114, fluid reasoning 109, working memory 120, processing speed 116).

My gut is that we shouldn't include this WISC in our appeal, but I was wondering if others have successfully used a generally lower WISC where one of the sub scores was higher than the cogat.

We did not submit work samples or the parent questionnaire with the initial application and plan to that with the appeal.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Why do you think DD needs AAP?

[Anonymous]

DP. A kid who is a solid student with a high GBRS and a 120-ish IQ would be very average within AAP, and the kid would fit perfectly into the program. No, the DD doesn’t “need AAP,” but she’s no different than the majority of bright kids who get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DP. A kid who is a solid student with a high GBRS and a 120-ish IQ would be very average within AAP, and the kid would fit perfectly into the program. No, the DD doesn’t “need AAP,” but she’s no different than the majority of bright kids who get in.

I think it’s a reasonable question to ask to focus OPs appeal. Make the case for why your DD “needs aap.” It’s not the WISC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD was rejected earlier this week. She was in pool, but barely. NNAT 118. Cogat -- 122 verbal, 135 Q, 122 nonverbal, 131 VQN. GBRS 3C, 1F with very good commentary.

I scheduled the WISC for mid March to avoid the April rush (given that she was barely in pool, I knew there was a decent chance she would not get in). Overall, the WISC score is lower than the cogat, but the verbal score is higher than her cogat verbal score. FSIQ 122 (verbal comprehension 127, visual spatial 114, fluid reasoning 109, working memory 120, processing speed 116).

My gut is that we shouldn't include this WISC in our appeal, but I was wondering if others have successfully used a generally lower WISC where one of the sub scores was higher than the cogat.

We did not submit work samples or the parent questionnaire with the initial application and plan to that with the appeal.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Why do you think DD needs AAP?

Op here. I don't necessarily think she "needs" it. When I got the denial I wasn't sure whether or not I was going to appeal and decided to base the decision on the GBRS (which I got after the denial). They look really good so here we are. 22:14 pp pretty much said it perfectly. She is more than smart enough to do well in AAP even if she doesn't meet the definition of gifted. It won't be the end of the world if the appeal is rejected. My oldest DD went through AAP and my middle DD is currently in Gen Ed so I'm familiar with both programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. A kid who is a solid student with a high GBRS and a 120-ish IQ would be very average within AAP, and the kid would fit perfectly into the program. No, the DD doesn’t “need AAP,” but she’s no different than the majority of bright kids who get in.

I think it’s a reasonable question to ask to focus OPs appeal. Make the case for why your DD “needs aap.” It’s not the WISC.

OP again, I agree it's a reasonable question and that will be the focus in the appeal.

[Anonymous]

use this time at home to generate some really great work samples, and write a letter. do not use the WISC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. A kid who is a solid student with a high GBRS and a 120-ish IQ would be very average within AAP, and the kid would fit perfectly into the program. No, the DD doesn’t “need AAP,” but she’s no different than the majority of bright kids who get in.

I think it’s a reasonable question to ask to focus OPs appeal. Make the case for why your DD “needs aap.” It’s not the WISC.

NP. This is not going to be a popular answer, but if you are at a Title I or close to Title I base school, you need to make the case that your above-average kid is not being served in the Gen Ed classroom. Pull stats on the base school and if there are a significant number of kids who are not meeting benchmarks, you need to hit hard in the appeal that your child is not getting their needs met. If there's no advanced math offered at the base until 5th grade, and Level III pullouts are only an hour a week, point that out, too. I know two families who did this when appealing for their kids who scored in the 120s and it worked.