Anonymous
Post 05/22/2023 13:19     Subject: APS - Are all students identified as gifted?
Anonymous wrote:No, but it varies by school. You can see how
Many gifted kids there are at each using the APS student demographics dashboard. It’s under summary numbers.

https://analytics.apsva.us/public/equity/aps_membership.html


This is helpful. At our elementary, if you assumed only grades 3-5 are identified, then only 50% of those kids are "gifted"

That's hardly "all" students, but yeah, 50% is a lot.
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2023 10:02     Subject: APS - Are all students identified as gifted?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:APS initially does gifted based off one test. There are children gifted in many other areas.


No that's not true. While there are screening tests, that's just to see who they look at. It's a holistic process, not just based on that test. Parents can nominate too.

Yes, precisely why it’s meaningless in APS! At pretty much every back to school night You have a line of parents trying to get in a word with the gifted resource teacher. At discovery a couple years ago, over half of the kids were identified because of because of the pushy parents.

We have a ton of bright kids in Arlington. No doubt. Many Parents also have the resources to help kids not fall behind. AND This part seems a little nuts that parents are actually having their kids take practice tests and second grade so they score High enough to be identified.

Truly intellectually gifted kids do not stay in Arlington schools, they go to specialized schools that help further develop their talents.


At Discovery the designation is probably meaningless. If you go to a school with high FARMS and a lot of English learners it can be the difference between having a decent size cluster of on grade level peers in your class or not.
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2023 09:23     Subject: Re:APS - Are all students identified as gifted?
It makes more sense when you realize that APS isn't using "gifted" to mean intellectually gifted, as the term is used elsewhere. It really just means students who need more challenge or are working above grade level. I think it's about 1/3 of kids. It's not that different from tagging the kids who need extra help. Just a way to help sort kids as they move forward through APS.
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2023 09:13     Subject: APS - Are all students identified as gifted?
I found that the " gifted" content was really just some stuff above grade level and more quantity of work. It was just more of a slog really.
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2023 09:02     Subject: APS - Are all students identified as gifted?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:APS initially does gifted based off one test. There are children gifted in many other areas.


No that's not true. While there are screening tests, that's just to see who they look at. It's a holistic process, not just based on that test. Parents can nominate too.

Yes, precisely why it’s meaningless in APS! At pretty much every back to school night You have a line of parents trying to get in a word with the gifted resource teacher. At discovery a couple years ago, over half of the kids were identified because of because of the pushy parents.

We have a ton of bright kids in Arlington. No doubt. Many Parents also have the resources to help kids not fall behind. AND This part seems a little nuts that parents are actually having their kids take practice tests and second grade so they score High enough to be identified.

Truly intellectually gifted kids do not stay in Arlington schools, they go to specialized schools that help further develop their talents.
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2023 08:59     Subject: APS - Are all students identified as gifted?
No, but it varies by school. You can see how
Many gifted kids there are at each using the APS student demographics dashboard. It’s under summary numbers.

https://analytics.apsva.us/public/equity/aps_membership.html
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2023 08:56     Subject: APS - Are all students identified as gifted?
Anonymous wrote:You can be identified as gifted in one area but not another. DD2 is gifted in math but nothing else. DD1 is gifted in every single category. Who cares really? Out of all thing to hate about APS this isn’t one of them.


I found that it did matter. DD was bored in elem school. But she's quiet so she was quietly sitting there bored and I guess they didn't notice her capabilities. Prior to being ID'ed gifted, I would ask for more challenging content and they would blow me off, saying oh things will get more challenging next year, blah blah blah. After a few years of this, I nominated her for gifted identification, they identified her and even the principal admitted they had totally missed her.

After that, when I said she needed more challenging material, they never blew me off again. Teachers are guided by these labels.
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2023 08:52     Subject: APS - Are all students identified as gifted?
Anonymous wrote:APS initially does gifted based off one test. There are children gifted in many other areas.


No that's not true. While there are screening tests, that's just to see who they look at. It's a holistic process, not just based on that test. Parents can nominate too.
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2023 08:40     Subject: APS - Are all students identified as gifted?
Anonymous wrote:You can be identified as gifted in one area but not another. DD2 is gifted in math but nothing else. DD1 is gifted in every single category. Who cares really? Out of all thing to hate about APS this isn’t one of them.


I agree the label in APS means nothing, other than your kid is not behind. The main reason to obtain the identification, however, is to enforce more challenging material, or as you go into middle and high school, placement in higher level classes. Still won't ensure an appropriate level of challenge for your child in every subject/class; but it can be helpful when arguing - I mean advocating - for your kid when it really matters.
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2023 08:35     Subject: APS - Are all students identified as gifted?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is this a thing that you guys talk about with other parents? We're an APS family and really have no idea who is who among the "gifted"


You figure it out as they group classes with the gifted kids together. There’s not enough staff resources to go into each individual class for enrichment.

Not all the kids in the gifted cluster are gifted
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2023 08:26     Subject: APS - Are all students identified as gifted?
You can be identified as gifted in one area but not another. DD2 is gifted in math but nothing else. DD1 is gifted in every single category. Who cares really? Out of all thing to hate about APS this isn’t one of them.
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2023 08:11     Subject: APS - Are all students identified as gifted?
Anonymous wrote:Is this a thing that you guys talk about with other parents? We're an APS family and really have no idea who is who among the "gifted"


You figure it out as they group classes with the gifted kids together. There’s not enough staff resources to go into each individual class for enrichment.
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2023 08:08     Subject: APS - Are all students identified as gifted?
Is this a thing that you guys talk about with other parents? We're an APS family and really have no idea who is who among the "gifted"
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2023 08:07     Subject: APS - Are all students identified as gifted?
APS initially does gifted based off one test. There are children gifted in many other areas.
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2023 08:05     Subject: APS - Are all students identified as gifted?
In APS does gifted really mean average - there doesn't seem to be a specific hurdle. All of the parents we know have children gifted in something - almost like a participation trophy.