I'm not against prepping; I'm definitely for it. However, I often see people argue that prepping is awful and that those kids will suffer later on. I understand that perspective as well. But are we completely ignoring how smart a child can be? I can prep an average kid to get above-average grades, and I can prep a really bright kid (who understands concepts quickly and can retain what they've learned) to be in the top 1% of their class. My kids are the latter, but they certainly need support at home. How do you expect them to learn anything new or advanced without it? That's where I don't understand the hate for "prepping." We are prepping the right kids who are thriving and doing exceptionally well in AAP year after year. Will my kids learn advanced math concepts on their own? NO. Would my child get near-perfect scores in NNAT/CoGAT? Maybe? I don't know... but why take that chance when I know my kids are capable of it and I can "prep" them by doing some worksheets at home. Why this much hate against "prepping"? Prep your kids if you know they will thrive and certainly don't if you don't think full-time AAP is the right fit for your child. If you are landing somewhere in the middle, you can request a conf with your school and see if they accommodate advanced math.

Anonymous wrote:Current Grade: 2nd
NNAT: 128
CoGAT: 142
In Pool (Yes/No): YES
iReady Math Percentile: 88
iReady Reading Percentile: ?
HOPE (good/bad/etc, # of exceptional subjects): was not requested

Pyramid: SL

In/not in: NOT IN

Also question - I will be appealing and looking into getting the WISC. If it's not done in time, could it be submitted next year as new data with referral packet for 3rd grade?

Yes you can include the wisc in third grade too in the initial application. However if you get the wisc done at gmu they are really good about fitting you in and getting the results to you in time. They know when the appeal deadline is. Also if you weren’t already going to, I would definitely request the packet from the aart so you can address it in the appeal.

Current Grade: 2nd
NNAT: 128
CoGAT: 142
In Pool (Yes/No): YES
iReady Math Percentile: 88
iReady Reading Percentile: ?
HOPE (good/bad/etc, # of exceptional subjects): was not requested

Pyramid: SL

In/not in: NOT IN

Also question - I will be appealing and looking into getting the WISC. If it's not done in time, could it be submitted next year as new data with referral packet for 3rd grade?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Still haven’t received an e-mail with eligibility determination. Mid-alphabet. Anyone else?

Same. Mid alphabet in the WSHS pyramid.

I dont know about you guys but my spouse's email is normally the one in the system but, for some reasons, I am the one who received the AAP decision email.

I had him check too. Nothing. My DC is an older elementary kiddo since we just returned to FCPS after living abroad for a couple of years. I wonder if that has something to do with it?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Still haven’t received an e-mail with eligibility determination. Mid-alphabet. Anyone else?

Same. Mid alphabet in the WSHS pyramid.

I dont know about you guys but my spouse's email is normally the one in the system but, for some reasons, I am the one who received the AAP decision email.

Anonymous wrote:Still haven’t received an e-mail with eligibility determination. Mid-alphabet. Anyone else?

Same. Mid alphabet in the WSHS pyramid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Still haven’t received an e-mail with eligibility determination. Mid-alphabet. Anyone else?

You should have received it at 5 like everyone else. Have you checked your spam folder? If it’s not there then I would call the AAP office once they open.

Nothing in spam folder. Guess we will have to call on Monday.

I am so sorry! I'd be so frustrated. Are you the enrolling parent in SIS?

+1 Be sure you are checking the email of the parent who enrolled.

Yes, I’m the enrolling parent. Email address is correct in ParentVue.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Still haven’t received an e-mail with eligibility determination. Mid-alphabet. Anyone else?

You should have received it at 5 like everyone else. Have you checked your spam folder? If it’s not there then I would call the AAP office once they open.

Nothing in spam folder. Guess we will have to call on Monday.

I am so sorry! I'd be so frustrated. Are you the enrolling parent in SIS?

+1 Be sure you are checking the email of the parent who enrolled.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My real question is … how many of these parents prepared their kids for Cogat or NNAT? Like workbooks and sample items, coaching how to take a test?

How many kids just straight-up performed well without ANY guidance or tutoring?

So many kids don’t have that “parent prep” background.

I’m not sour grapes since we applied because of a teacher recommendation (not in and not appealing).
I definitely think if I coached my kid about how to test that would’ve bumped them over the edge and would be in.

After seeing this process I’m against parent referrals at all. I’ve been an educator for a long time and this is actually pretty sad. I can’t imagine middle, high school, and college admissions… eek.

We didn’t parent prep, my kid was in pool for both tests, but didn’t get accepted to full-time. I understand why the schools can’t trust the tests because of all this prepping, but it’s insanely frustrating to have a legit gifted kid not get into the program. We will appeal, but I already somewhat defeated because I don’t know what we could possibly do to change the outcome.

Don't give up! Put together great samples and consider taking your dc for cog testing at GMU (they are great). I got the WISC already thinking I would need it but I didn't. I think my referral was strong because I provided written examples from many subject areas. I took my time to collect examples. Work samples from home were more thoughtful and creative than those from school.

Anonymous wrote:My real question is … how many of these parents prepared their kids for Cogat or NNAT? Like workbooks and sample items, coaching how to take a test?

How many kids just straight-up performed well without ANY guidance or tutoring?

So many kids don’t have that “parent prep” background.

I’m not sour grapes since we applied because of a teacher recommendation (not in and not appealing).
I definitely think if I coached my kid about how to test that would’ve bumped them over the edge and would be in.

After seeing this process I’m against parent referrals at all. I’ve been an educator for a long time and this is actually pretty sad. I can’t imagine middle, high school, and college admissions… eek.

To me it seems obvious that people are so determined to get their kids in that they will heavily prep, hence the more holistic process. I don't think parent referral is the enemy here because this is where any parent who cares and has a bit of time can provide the additional info and context that may not otherwise be apparent. And there is teacher referral for the children whose parents can't help. The committee presumably has the experience to discern who needs services and who doesn't in most cases but of course will make errors.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Still haven’t received an e-mail with eligibility determination. Mid-alphabet. Anyone else?

You should have received it at 5 like everyone else. Have you checked your spam folder? If it’s not there then I would call the AAP office once they open.

Nothing in spam folder. Guess we will have to call on Monday.

I am so sorry! I'd be so frustrated. Are you the enrolling parent in SIS?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Still haven’t received an e-mail with eligibility determination. Mid-alphabet. Anyone else?

You should have received it at 5 like everyone else. Have you checked your spam folder? If it’s not there then I would call the AAP office once they open.

Nothing in spam folder. Guess we will have to call on Monday.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know from past experience when the orientation emails come out/roughly when orientation happen? My kids are unsure about leaving thier friends at thier base school so I think seeing the new school would help with thier choice. (Springfield estates)

Your DC is in 2nd grade. You can prepare them for going to a new school, the way you would for any other move. But this isn't their decision. This is the parents' decision.

Our center has already advertised it. It's the last week in April.

Anonymous wrote:quick question for the pros: how are some kids with a 125 CoGAT "in pool" VS a 135/138 is not in pool in some case. I was told that "in pool" was based on CoGAT scores... are parents being honest here on the forum?

Being in pool is determined by the Cogat AND the nnat. I believe the person with the 125 cogat also had a high nnat. Also it’s the top 10 percent at each school (like others mentioned already )

Anonymous wrote:Still haven’t received an e-mail with eligibility determination. Mid-alphabet. Anyone else?

You should have received it at 5 like everyone else. Have you checked your spam folder? If it’s not there then I would call the AAP office once they open.