Anonymous wrote:My ds goes to a school where roughly 50% of the third graders are in the LLIV AAP classes (two classes out of four). Fortunately the AAP teacher did not "dumb down" the curricula in any way. At the close of the year I have a few observations about the non-center eligible students (i.e. principal designated students) in my child's class. The very bright but not "gifted" had to work a little harder to keep up, and in a few months fared just as well as the "truly gifted" ones. The bright but average child struggled to keep up, some had extra help at home and/or after school, and wound up doing ok at the end. The average to slow child (yes, there were a few whose parents insisted be designated) appeared so lost in class and miserable during lessons. But they were happy to get the "gifted" tag nonetheless.
I call bullshit on this post. I don't believe that you actually know who got in, versus who got in on appeal, versus who was principal designated. I think people see kids struggling and presumtiously ASSUME that those are the kids who were principal designated. Because it serves their own inflated egos.
My son got in on the first round (he was in pool), but I wouldn't be suprised if he struggled some next yesr for a variety of reasons. I know a kid who is SUPER bright, but somehow only got in on appeal last year (despite the high numbers).
And I know a couple who got in on the first round this year, who seem to me to be very average students.
The system is pretty good, but its not pwrfect. It let's in some kids who are not so bright, and sometimes keeps really smart kids out. From what I've observed, the "principal designated" kids do just fine, and frequnetly better than the "selected kids."
Let's keep it real.