Reply to New to DC, looking for a school for my "gifted" son (Kindergarten)

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[quote=Anonymous]How high is high?

In this area, there is a very high concentration of kids who test at or above national standard levels for gifted identification, both in the gifted or AAP program and in the general ed population.

The standards for gifted placement are much higher than in the rest of the country.

For example, one of my children scored 97% nationally on the qualifying tests for the AAP program.  This score, which would have placed her in any other gifted program in the country, was too low for Fairfax County and more than a few points below the cut off.  When the scores were separated for just Fairfax county, the same 97% national scores were below 90% in Fairfax County.  My child is one of many kids who did not qualify for gifted services here, in spite of scores that would have been a lock in other states.

That will give you an idea of the level of achievement in this area.  It might be dramatically different than the state where you are coming from.  The skills you describe seem typical for many kids in this area.  It sounds trite, but it is true.  Given the limited description you included, your child will very likely have a decent sized peer group starting on time, and quite possibly a bit behind if he starts early.

My other child qualified for gifted services in two other states before coming to this area.  In the other states, even starting school a week after turning five, this child was heads and shoulders above other kids in the same grade, and often receiving independent work or was just grouped with one or two other kids.

This kid has test scores in the upper 99% range.

In Fairfax County, my kid who was an anomaly in all other schools attended, has a definite peer group of many kids who are around the same level of achievement.  There is also a smaller yet reasonable group of kids performing above my kid.  In Fairfax County, this kid who was alone or one of two throughout all other school years, is at what I would consider the bottom of the top here.

I think that unless your kid is a real intellectual freak/savant type learner, then waiting to enroll in kindergarten on time will not be a waste for him.  He will have a definite intellectual peer group if you are in any of the 10 or so high achieving pyramids.  He will have the opportunity to learn and grow.  He is more likely to have a positive experience starting on time than he will starting as a 4 year old with kids who are almost 6 or going to turn 7 by the end of the summer.

You need to research the average test scores for this area and compare them to your son's.  Likely, he is not an outlier but fairly typical.

You also might consider that test scores on a four year old are often very fluid and unreliable.  You would hate to set up his entire school career based off scores that may or may not remain stable as he continues in school.

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