Magnet School or AG?

[TinkaMcKirk]

Originally Posted by lamishra

The application process is the same for both magnet and AG and unfortunately even if your kids do test into AG, they are not guaranteed a seat in an AG program. They are just as hard, if not harder to get into. :-(
You can nominate your child for AG at any grade level, but in my experience, they rarely allow kids into the full program until
4th grade, primarily because of space and lack of resources.

WCPSS: AG Identification

As usual (with most things in WCPSS), I think this must vary by school. At my dds' school, kids are regularly pulled out for "enrichment" with the AG teacher prior to 4th grade, without parental nomination, and often without parental knowledge (which I find annoying). There is no "application" process for AG, and from what I've seen, if you meet the qualifications, you get in. But I've also heard that not all schools have the same resources (i.e., do all schools have a full-time AG teacher?), so it probably varies depending on the school.

[lamishra]

Yes, some kids get pulled out for enrichment prior to 4th grade (mine did too) but that is not the same as the actual AG program, even with the AG teacher. There is a very specific procedure and qualification process for the AG program, which is the same at every school unless it is an AG school in Wake County. It's not an application. although parents can request testing and assessment for their child. All schools have an AG teacher, although I have no idea if they are all FT, PT or a combination. They've always been FT at all of the schools my children have attended.

[raleighjayne]

In third grade, they pull some kids out for the "Explorer's" program. Kind of like an unofficial pre-ag program.

You [b]can[b] ask for your child to be tested for AG earlier like we did, but it's sort of a crap shoot as to whether or not your school will do it. I think it really depends on your child's teacher, the admin and the AG teacher. I've heard of some people asking for early testing and not being approved. I think you can also have your child tested privately but it is expensive and there is no guarantee that WCPSS will give your child any AG services before 4th grade (or 3rd for the explorer's program) anyway.

Try for the magnet program. There are no consequences for applying to a magnet. You don't give up an 'AG spot' in your base school if you apply for a magnet. If your child is IDed as AG by WCPSS then s/he will get AG services no matter which school s/he attends.

[TinkaMcKirk]

Originally Posted by lamishra

Yes, some kids get pulled out for enrichment prior to 4th grade (mine did too) but that is not the same as the actual AG program, even with the AG teacher. There is a very specific procedure and qualification process for the AG program, which is the same at every school unless it is an AG school in Wake County. It's not an application. although parents can request testing and assessment for their child. All schools have an AG teacher, although I have no idea if they are all FT, PT or a combination. They've always been FT at all of the schools my children have attended.

I think I misunderstood what you were saying earlier. I thought you meant that you weren't guaranteed a spot in the AG program at your base school if you qualified, which I've never seen happen. Re-reading your comment, did you mean a spot at an AG magnet?

[lamishra]

Yes, that's what I meant, sorry! I think some people think that if their child qualifies for AG, they can automatically go to an AG school! (not you or the OP, I've just read that before)