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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My seven year old, who has consistently been above 99th percentile, recently tested at end of sixth grade level for reading and math. Any advice? There is no gifted program where we live.[/quote]

OP- first, those are great scores. You DC is obviously exceptionally intelligent. The test (I didn't read through the entire thread) is not an "above grade level test." Those kinds of tests are rare and usually administered for a specific reason for special programming. Even highly gifted kids rarely score higher than the 80th percentile on an above grade level test, two years ahead. They just haven't been exposed to enough academic material yet.

You DC likely took an standardized test against national norms. What "end of 6th grade level reading and math" means in that context is that your DC scored as well as a typical end of 6th grade, public school student on the same test. Your DC's results are quite meaningful, but not as meaningful as if your DC had been tested on end of 6th grade material (in which case, an average 6th grader would likely have scored much better than even a highly gifted kindergartner). Elementary school students who score 3-5 years ahead on above grade level tests are typically profoundly gifted.

Again, none of this is to say that those scores aren't rare or great-- but they may not indicate giftedness unless accompanied by some IQ data (132 or higher). [/quote]

PP here- I want to edit-- those scores are a good indicator that your child is academically advanced and may be gifted. An IQ test might be in order within the next year or so--my DS showed signs of extreme giftedness and we took him for an IQ test. It helped us plan a for the academic needs of a gifted child vs. an exceptionally capable/bright child who tests well. You are the best judge- signs of giftedness in the early years are feats of abstract reasoning, advanced problem solving, and the ability to apply learning to new situations. You know it when you see it, although there will be plenty of naysayers.[/quote]

OP said her child took MAP which is an adaptive test. Different grades take the same test but are expected to score at different levels. So to score in the range for 6th grade math the child needs to be familiar with the material. [/quote]

PP here- I see. My son doesn't take the MAP. I looked up the scoring and it sounds like the Woodcock Johnson where the questions become progressively more difficult until the student scores below a certain number/percentage.  It's not technically an above grade level test (like a 7th grader taking the ACT) but can provide a strong argument for acceleration. [/quote]

OP- pp here- I am going to suggest the Davidson forum. It's a forum for parents with gifted children and/or parents who are wondering about their child's abilities but haven't done any testing- there are a number of topics, including testing/assessment, learning environments, etc. The parents there are knowledgeable- they can provide practical educational advice and won't likely judge if your child is "truly gifted." They might however become a resource if you choose to explore further testing. It's a cordial and overwhelmingly non-judgmental group.
My DS tested extremely high on the Woodcock Johnson at age seven. His math scores were so astronomically high that I thought I might get a book deal (just kidding). He did end up being exceptionally gifted via an IQ test, but his achievement scores decreased (still extremely high and advanced) as other children gained more academic knowledge. It's not an "evening out" so much as a gifted child might assimilate academic material a lot earlier than typical kids- it can cause an extremely inflated score in earlier tests. This is my personal experience- and yes, there is that rare child who just keeps soaring. 
Good luck.[/quote]

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