Anonymous wrote:As somone who has moved around the world and lives in Vienna, I will apologize for the snarky comments here. It is hard enough to move to a new place without opinions like this. You can apply to the AAP program and we know many who have come here from out-of-state and other countries via the application process. Louise Archer is one of the elementary schools in Vienna with an AAP center and Luther Jackson is the middle school for that same program. I would come with test scores in hand, report cards and letters of recommendation just in case.

I promise that most people in this area are not this rude.

Welcome to the US!

Thank you. I was looking for a post exactly like this and some of the others above which provides me with information and not opinion. I can see that the "gifted" label has certainly stirred up a wide range of emotions. I deliberately do not talk about my kids being in a gifted programme in NZ for this very reason. I thought the USA was less like this but hey, people are people and it certainly creates a robust debate.

I appreciate the information and warm welcome guys.

As somone who has moved around the world and lives in Vienna, I will apologize for the snarky comments here. It is hard enough to move to a new place without opinions like this. You can apply to the AAP program and we know many who have come here from out-of-state and other countries via the application process. Louise Archer is one of the elementary schools in Vienna with an AAP center and Luther Jackson is the middle school for that same program. I would come with test scores in hand, report cards and letters of recommendation just in case.

I promise that most people in this area are not this rude.

Welcome to the US!

Anonymous wrote:This is a new concept in NZ and I am still getting my head around it by not falling into our cultural "tall poppy syndrome".

If there is something we could use around here it's "tall poppy syndrome." Or something to deflate all the big heads.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Welcome to DC but please don't buy into the whole "how gifted is my child" hype so rampant around here. My kids are intelligent and social, but I have no interest in the gifted hype. In my opinion, around here "gifted" means "ADHD little sh*t whose parents never told them 'no' and whose differences need to be celebrated.'" Very annoying.

Please ignore posters like these who are just trying to stir up trouble. Some parents whose children were recently found ineligible for the AAP program are still very upset and are trying to discredit the entire program to make themselves feel better.

Yes, ignore anyone who doesn't buy into your agenda! I never understand comments like "oh just ignore." Because they don't agree with you? I too find the giftedness hyping around here to be crazy. For God's sake there is a recent thread asking "what happens to the kids who weren't accepted??"

"Trying to stir up trouble"....I am LOL!! The whole world doesn't operate under your perceived sense of superiority. Get over it. Just because there are some parents who are taking the AAP program (in which I have nothing personally invested) to task does not make them bitter or make you superior.

The GT center for most of Vienna is Louise Archer. There are other GT centers that serve small parts of vienna, but LA only serves Vienna. LA is in the NW side of Vienna. Several schools have local level IV services, but I have heard mixed comments from parents.

Truth in advertising: DD is attending AAP at Louise Archer, which is also our base school.

Wow, thank you so much for all this information and warm welcome. I really appreciate your advice.

My kids have been tested as gifted and attend a programme once a week at another school. This is a new concept in NZ and I am still getting my head around it by not falling into our cultural "tall poppy syndrome". I will get the reports and go through the FCPS process.

I wanted to get a low down on the local schools as we then have to rent a place within their zone. A bit of a chicken and egg situation.

I have linked Sir Ken Robinsons TED talk link illustrated by the RSA to address the ADHD remark...he has an interesting view on this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U

Anonymous wrote:Welcome to DC but please don't buy into the whole "how gifted is my child" hype so rampant around here. My kids are intelligent and social, but I have no interest in the gifted hype. In my opinion, around here "gifted" means "ADHD little sh*t whose parents never told them 'no' and whose differences need to be celebrated.'" Very annoying.

Please ignore posters like these who are just trying to stir up trouble. Some parents whose children were recently found ineligible for the AAP program are still very upset and are trying to discredit the entire program to make themselves feel better.

Freedom Hill has local level IV AAP and a number of English, Irish, and Aussie ex-pat families who attend (amongst the rest of the diverse demographics of the school). Haven't talked to any families yet from NZ but I may have missed someone.

Definitely follow the advice of providing all of your testing from NZ. We have found FCPS administrators react better when they have information in advance.

Welcome to DC but please don't buy into the whole "how gifted is my child" hype so rampant around here. My kids are intelligent and social, but I have no interest in the gifted hype. In my opinion, around here "gifted" means "ADHD little sh*t whose parents never told them 'no' and whose differences need to be celebrated.'" Very annoying.

If your children were given an IQ test as part of their gifted identification, bring the results with you to help expedite the process. You will read a lot of drama on these boards about kids being accepted/denied from the AAP (gifted) program, but most kids who are in the 98th percentile and up are accepted.

Some, not all, of the sports teams such as Vienna Little League have boundaries as well which you might want to check out if you are looking around the outskirts of the area and want to have your kids participate on teams.

These links were posted just recently which may help you. Vienna addresses include several AAP Center and Local Level IV schools. AAP Centers would include Colvin Run, Louise Archer, Sunrise Valley, and Mosby Woods depending on where you live in Vienna. All children living within the center boundaries (see map below) who qualify can attend these schools starting in 3rd grade. Local Level IV schools include Freedom Hill, Wolftrap, Flint Hill, Marshall Road, and Oakton. If you live within the boundary of a Local Level IV school you can choose to attend either the center or the Local Level IV program. AAP continues through middle school and the two Vienna AAP middle schools are Kilmer and Luther Jackson. Thoreau offers honors classes. There are several privates nearby which have gifted type programs. Edlin, Merritt Academy, Pinnacle Academy, and Flint Hill School come to mind, but I'm sure there are more.

http://www.fcps.edu/fts/planning/maps/aap2011-2012/elementary.pdf

http://www.fcps.edu/fts/planning/maps/aap2011-2012/middle.pdf

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/designations.shtml

To learn more about the Fairfax County "gifted program" check out http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/packet/ParentInformationPacketFCPS.pdf. If your child is eligible, you will have access to the program, regardless of where you live in the county.

I'd suggest talking to a real estate agent about rentals and looking at Lakevale and Oakton Glen. They are family oriented neighborhoods that are zoned for Flint Hill elementary and feed into the Louise Archer gifted program. Finding a good rental can be a matter of good timing.

Good luck!

Good luck and welcome.

See everyone! It's not just us. Even those from NZ think their children are gifted!

NZMUM - regardless of which Fairfax County school your children end up in, there are gifted programs. They will be tested soon after they arrive to see if they qualify for a Level IV program. If so, they'll be referred to the appropriate (based on location) school that has that program. If I were you, I'd get your housing settled first and send them to the neighborhood school. If your children are gifted, it will become apparent and any school in this area will help you get your children on track. Good luck and welcome!

Hi,

We are moving from NZ to Washington DC in June and we are hoping to settle in Vienna. Both of my children aged 9 and 11, have been assessed by their own school and by the NZ gifted kids programme and have clear strengths in the areas of mathematics and literacy. Through a mutual friend, I have been recommended the Louise Archer Elementary School as it has a gifted programme.

Are there other schools in Vienna that have a gifted kids programme in its curriculum and do these programmes continue into junior high school?

Also looking for 3 br (furnished) accommodation in Vienna but may start another thread for that enquiry.

Your ideas would be most welcome.