Gifted Testing?

[HLAuburn]

For those of you who have experience with gifted testing, particularly in public school at the elementary level, I'm curious to know how it works in your area.

What score is required to be considered "gifted" in your program? Also, does your school accept private testing scores from an outside source?

Thanks!

 

[KimR]

Here we go again....

 

[abdmom]

I'm familiar with requirements in a couple of states and one province. The required level to be considered gifted can range from the 90th percentile (IQ=120) to the 99th percentile (IQ=135). Testing by outside educational psychologists are accepted.

 

[lizabu]

Where I live they don't do testing for gifted programs. They only offer gifted programs in high school. Kids who take those classes are selected by their grade 8 teachers. Usually it's a child the teacher has identified as being bored with the grade level curriculum. The teachers get to know the kids pretty well. They try to give the kids the same teacher for Grade 7 and 8. Parents of Grade 8s are always asking how they can get their kids into the Gifted program but they just go back to saying that kids are selected by the teachers. If they have some kind of criteria given to the school board they don't reveal what it is.

 

[Christine]

My son was identified as possibly gifted by his 1st grade teacher. Whatever she saw in the classroom indicated something to her. She referred him over to the gifted counselor in the school and they administered some sort of test. I have no idea what the test was like, what he scored, or what their cutoffs were. I just know that his was enough to put him into the program.

Our county school (at the first grade level) would accept IQ tests done as part of another assessment (such as for ADHD) as a means for identifying a gifted student, but that student still had to take something that the school used for everyone.

 

[HLAuburn]

Here we go again....

Wow, sorry.

I didn't mean to start anything. The questions I asked weren't even opinions...just trying to gather some facts about how the process works in different places.

Thanks to those who've posted helpful replies.

 

[KimR]

Wow, sorry.

I didn't mean to start anything. The questions I asked weren't even opinions...just trying to gather some facts about how the process works in different places.

Thanks to those who've posted helpful replies.

I'm sorry, that wasn't directed towards you. Your questions were valid and I'm glad you received helpful responses. I was only referring to the fact that these types threads have a tendency to turn ugly.

 

[mnrose]

Our children were tested in first grade. They were selected for testing by their teachers, although any parent could request that their child be tested. My son "passed" the test, and was one of 10 kids identified in his class (over 250) as "gifted." I do not know what the test was, nor do I know the cut off. My daughter did very poorly on the exam, which was a shock to her teachers. We had her privately tested, WECHs IQ test (I could have that acronym wrong), and used that to get accepted into a program for the highly gifted (which they both started in 3rd grade).

We are now 5 years into the program, and I will just say that I wish I hadn't been so anxious to get them into a specialized program. Yes, they are learning interesting things, and my quirky kids have been socially accepted (something they were not in traditional school). However, they haven't learned good study skills, and they refuse to do much prep work for any exam because they believe themselves to be "gifted." Sigh.

It's a hard decision to make. In retrospect, I think I may have been better off in a regular, run of the mill, Minnesota school.

 

[NotUrsula]

In our district the baseline for admission to the lottery is 125 on the IQ test, and a score of 90 or better on the age-appropriate academic skills test. (In our district we have three all-gifted schools, rather than pull-out classes in conventional schools, thus the need for a lottery.)

They do not accept private test scores for the lottery, but anyone can ask to be tested. They allow one test per academic year.

The gifted programs are offered PK - 8th grade only. Many of the kids in the program do qualify for the lottery for the premier challenge high school program, but the school has only about 70 slots per year, so the odds of getting in are slim. (That high school does not require an IQ test, but if you haven't been doing serious work for some time, you are not going to pass the lottery pool exam; it is the best selective high school in the state, and the bar is set VERY high.)

 

[mrsv98]

DD was identified in 2nd grade based on her MAP scores. In 3rd, she was given the CoGats and based on that moved into the "Differentiated Learning" program...yes, I had a chuckle at that name.

At the end of 5th grade, all the kids were given placement tests and DD qualified for the reading/writing program and just missed on the math (which was fine with me, it is a double accelerated program and not really for her). She stays in that program throughout middle school and then goes through placement testing again for high school in 8th.

I like the fact that they test all the kids. Children change and just because they don't "qualify" for a program at age 11 doesn't mean they won't mature and learn enough to be accepted later.

Even with the testing and accelerated program, we have enriched her education outside school since she was little. We have an excellent Center for Gifted in our area that has programs and we have encouraged her passion for acting. Most of all, we want her to be well adjusted and happy, that is more important than any label.

 

[tefrench]

We just had our son tested in 7th grade. His IQ score wasn't high enough (taken in 3rd grade), but they also take into account other factors, including an evaluation by myself, his teachers, and a test given to him (reading, writing, math, etc.)

He was 3 points shy of being admitted to the gifted program, but the gifted teacher (who is also one of his regular teachers) has already talked about linking me up to resources to keep him motivated. Math is his definite strength, especially replicating 3D model type things.

Because of his scoring, he is sure to be included in Algebra I and Spanish next year, and they encouraged even taking college level classes while he is still in high school.

I just wanted to give him options as he goes forward with school, and now we have been affirmed a direction.
HTH!
The school was very helpful for us.

 

[stsomewhere]

We just had our son (14and in 9th grade) tested for ADD, inattentive. He was smart and bored since 7th grade. Straight A in k-6th, but since then A's on tests and E's for classwork/homework. Somehow he would talk his teachers into giving him extra credit and pulled off 3.8 gpa.

He had to go to a psychologist for tests and interviews, etc.
He had to take an IQ test as part of it. He scored a 130. He is in the 94th percentile.

When we went for his follow up with his pediatrician, she asked what we were going to do about his schooling since he bored and extremely gifted.

She offered some schools for us to look into. When I looked into them, the schools range from $15,000- $26,000 a year. (paid upfront)

They required a specific IQ test and wanted you to go to one of their recommended psychologist. The student has to score a certain number . Plus. there were interviews with student and parents. You could be turned down due to parent interview.

Needless to say, we are not sending him there. He will be staying at his highschool and planning on dual enrollment fro Jr and senior year.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

In our district, children are eligible for AIG ( academically and/or intellectually gifted ) services in 4th - 8th grade, in Language Arts and/or Math. Children are first identified by their end of grade testing from the 3rd grade. Parents of children who score over a certain percentile will have to agree to additional testing. Children then take what is basically an IQ test and if the percentages of the EOG and IQ test combined are 183 or over, the child qualifies for services.

For the record, both of my children are identified as AIG for Math and Language Arts and I DO NOT consider them Gifted!!! They do well in school but there is only one of dd's classmates who I would consider truly gifted.

 

[okeydokey]

In FL you must score 130 or better on an IQ test. I believe you can use your own tester if you clear it with the school district first.

 

[ez]

My experience in Florida is, it is a 130 but there is a 3% standard deviation or something so your kids can get in with a 127. If you qualify for reduced price lunch it is a 115. I knew a rich family who owned a successful local business and had just finished building a mansion, but somehow they qualified for reduced price lunched and their son got in with a 115. They actually told me this themselves This was back when my daughter was going into first grade and she is in college now so idk if anything has changed. We had her privately tested because the school didnt want to test her yet. Her brother who is 10 years older got put in gifted by the school after second grade when they tested him, because he had done really well on some sort of screening test. With her I didnt see the need to wait that long.

 

[princesspiglet]

In our school district testing does not start until 3rd grade and you have to have a minimum average IQ score of 130 to be "gifted". There are three tests given, one in math, one in reading and another in generalized questions. If you get 150 in math but only 100 in reading, you won't qualify. It has to be an average of 130 for all 3.

Our school only accepts testing from the school, no outside testing allowed.

 

[ez]

I see you live in Ponte Vedra if you wanted to drive to Ormond Dr. Jo Ellen Rogers tested my daughter I highly recommend her.

 

[KerriSue]

You should move to TX. Half the kids in my daughters school were in the gifted program.

 

[Hardy]

In my kids school system, all second graders are given the olsat test which identifies possible kids. My son scored at the 99th percentile but then in whatever the next test was, did not get in. He was later put in due to teacher recommendation in 5th grade. I will add he is at least as smart as my daughter, but at the time struggled with communicating with people he didn't know and that's why he likely bombed the test.

My daughter was identified in kindergarten by her teacher as exceptionally gifted. She went through a lot more testing which included iq testing. We also did the Iowa acceleration scale with her and she ended up skipping first grade as well as being in the gifted program. Her iq is considered to be genius level. She does just the same as any other gifted program kid though, just extra enrichment type stuff, and a few get togethers mostly.

 

[Hardy]

I forgot to add, the school requires and pays for its own testing. And like I said, there is no set score required since my son got in on teacher recommendation alone.