Well, her GBRS is 14- but if what you are suggesting about the FxAT is true - that will be her weak link- as everything else is high (good).

P.S. Anonymous, and a bad speller.

The most important things in the file are the FAT and the GBRS. And no, I don't think the committee is going to do a whole hell of a lot to appease the "late birthday" folk. My impression is that they are trying to go back to the "old days" when less than 10% of the county kids got into AAP. This has come up at the public meetings, folks have been advocating for cutting down the numbers. I think half as many kids will get acceptance letters this year. I also think that if your kid's FAT score is not pool-worthy, you are in trouble unless you have a good WISC and/or a very high (13+) GBRS. That said, I am just an anonomous poster with no real knowledge (except that I've followed this pretty closely the past few years as my kids flow through the system). We are all just reading tea leaves here, given that FAT has no history.

OP here, do you think if the FxAT is the only issue - GBRS, NNAT, work samples, report cards- all great: would they consider the late birthdays and that the FxAT wasn't normed for age this year? Also, Does FxAT trump everything in file (other than WISC)?

I don't mean that the parent whose child scored 97 on the FAT should prepare to appeal. Your kid is in with those scores and GBRS. I meant that parents whose kids did very well on NNAT but not the FAT should prepare to appeal.

NNAT was introduced to "sweep in" children (mostly non-English speakers) who have potential but might not show it on the language-laden CogAT. So, if your kid is ESOL and scores high on the NNAT but low on the CogAT (now the FxAT or, as I like, the FAT), then your kid has a good chance. Native English (NE) speakers are expected to kick it on the CogAT. So a lot of NE kids who score high on the NNAT but low on the FAT are not going to get in this year (that was the trend when the CogAT was used). Be prepared to appeal.

Anonymous wrote:How good are theses chances, 126 NNAT, 97 VQN FAT, 12 GBRS?

Looks great to me! From all that I've read the CogAT (recast this year as FxAT) seems to count more than the NNAT, probably because the CogAT is a more extensive test (longer plus broader subject matter). Also the NNAT is from a previous year. So being slightly under the benchmark for the NNAT doesn't seem like a big deal. The FxAT score is excellent! I would think that this one would be a yes.

FxAT 97% + GBRS 12 should help your DC get in.

As good as the other posters. Really comes down to who is in the cmte that reviews the file. A lot like getting into college, it is hot or miss with no rationale.

How good are theses chances, 126 NNAT, 97 VQN FAT, 12 GBRS?

I agree, the 14:06's case is very strong.

HIS potential (just re-read it was a he!).

Anonymous wrote:14:06 poster here...

Thanks for your responses.
I know Verbal 63 is low.

DC's AAP file says -
Reading and Math "Above Grade level " Checked. He is receiving level 2 services at base school.
DC had DRA = 28 at the end of first grade I think. I just hope it helps him to offset low verbal scores.

14:06, I think the other info you mention definitely offsets the lower verbal score! I believe that DRA 28 is the benchmark for the end of second grade, so at the end of first grade your child was at least a year ahead (which was probably the max that was tested). So to me at least this is not a child with skills in math only but rather a child strong in all areas who would be a good fit for the program. One random fluke with verbal on new FxAT should not hold your child back from having his/her potential fully nurtured, in my opinion.

14:06 poster here...

Thanks for your responses.
I know Verbal 63 is low.

DC's AAP file says -
Reading and Math "Above Grade level " Checked. He is receiving level 2 services at base school.
DC had DRA = 28 at the end of first grade I think. I just hope it helps him to offset low verbal scores.

Nonexpert here again. I too think the chances are good for 14:06's DC because the NNAT and the FxAT Quantitive score consistently point to a gifted quant kid, and the GBRS is good.

The only thing where I am not totally sure: I have heard that AAP emphasizes verbal a lot (reading, writing), and I have heard some kids at level IV schools can get put in AAP for math only but not qualify for level IV overall. Do others know if whether the base school is level IV or not would affect the admission chances? Maybe not since math only (considered level III?) would be a decision for the base school and not the level IV selection committee? Sorry, I just do not know enough about whether the committee looks at all at what other options there are for a child at his/her base school.

Perhaps if there are strong grades in language arts and strong DRA that would help to round out the picture of the 14:06 DC as fully qualified for level IV? And a late birthday could not hurt in evaluation of the FXAT scores. My thoughts for whatever they are worth!