Comments on: Answers to some comments/questions

By: cpsobsessed

cpsobsessed — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:03:31 +0000

Newintown – The “what is on the test” is the biggest mystery in Chicago (well, among the top 10.) The test does something to test logic and critical thinking skills without using reading and math. The best guess is that it is asking kids to tell what happens next, use logic to figure out how things rank (Sally is older than Bob and Bob is older the Joe — who is youngest?) and things of that nature. I’m going to post some stuff this week about it and about early elem test prep.

By: Newintown

Newintown — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:58:36 +0000

We are new in town, living in Old Town right now, but working on either getting our oldest into a GEAP, or else moving to a good neighborhood district. This site was a great one to stumble upon.

Our 4 year old is very guidable (extremely obedient – to us – but does not show off or perform on command) – and is able to do most of the “gifted” behaviors, etc.

Given his reticence to show off, I want to guid him on how we expect him to test.

Who can tell me what is on the Kindergarten gifted tests?

By: CPS parent

CPS parent — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 22:00:29 +0000

In response to the Q & A . Decatur is actually harder to get into than Edison. However, the years when there are double classes at Decatur you have better odds. The fall 2009 school year there will be two 2nd, 3rd and 6th grade classes. Fall 2010 there will be two 1st, 3rd and 4th grade classes. In double years pretty much all the top scoring kids go to Decatur over Edison. Which is also probably why the school scores #1 in the state year after year.

My child went to Edison for K and moved to Decatur from 1st grade on. My child scored 99.9% for both Classical and Gifted testing both times the tests were taken.

For what it is worth I would choose Coonley or Skinner(west) over Edison. Edisons new location though state of the art is shared with a middle school called Albany Park Multicultural Academy. Which is roughly 450 7th and 8th grade children. Mostly a hispanic population. This is not an academically advanced school. Also the school does not have any green space and is a concrete jungle. It does have a new playground in a very small path of green at the Southern end of the school. Recess is held in the street. Coonley and Skinner both have green space.

I have maintained a friendships with many of the Edison parents who are not very happy there. But this may also be because they attended the old Edison. To any new families coming in you have no comparison of old Edison to new edison. So you may be very happy there.

By: CLACLC

CLACLC — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:17:27 +0000

Anyone else at the Skinner North open house yesterday? If so, what are your thoughts about sending your child there? We are probably not going to primarily because of the safety concern of it being located at Schiller. We are also very skeptical of the Board of Ed in that they want us to confirm attendance by 4/17 but they cannot show us Schiller School or make a firm decision about Skinner North’s location unitl 4/22. So much for transparency. As a lay person I find it concerning that no staff has been hired and the extra curriculars seem to be lacking.

By: another local

another local — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:21:01 +0000

Like it or not, the smarties are not necessarily more socially mature than their age.

Speaking as someone who skipped 7th grade… I think a much better answer is something like the gifted programs, where they teach at a higher level but kids are still with their age group.

By: JB

JB — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 02:18:31 +0000

Need your good advice – for what its worth… My sister and I were both born in December, and my parents started her a year early and me on time. You could push ahead early back then. My mom also taught high school for many years. She always said that she felt like all she accomplished by pushing my sister ahead a year was taking away a year of childhood from her. A year earlier in high school, in college, a year earlier in the work force, and always the youngest of the bunch. She did fine in school, but that really struck me – what does it really accomplish?

For what its worth, my oldest was born in October and is now finishing her third year of pre-K. Not sure where she’ll end up next year, but she did get into Skinner North.

By: PR

PR — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:06:33 +0000

Thrilled that son got into Edison. But WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER’s letter?????? !!!! I’m sure there are many of us still waiting……….

By: cpsobsessed

cpsobsessed — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:44:46 +0000

NW Side Mom – hmmm… I have to say that is the first time I’ve heard of someone trying to get into their 2nd choice! For that I’d say give GEAP a call to see what they can do. And let us know!

By: cpsobsessed

cpsobsessed — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:40:53 +0000

Need Your Good Advice – I don’t totally understand that bill. Does it mean the date changes for all kids or that some kids could now start early?
In any case, the way GEAP explained the scoring to me was that each child is scored based on their actual birth date. So older kids in a grade don’t actually have any advantage on the test (in theory.) So that shouldn’t affect your child’s score (again, in theory.)

As for 1st graders getting into Edison or Decatur, it is only to replace the number who drop out which varies year to year. Kids move to suburbs, they move schools, parents may not like a school, sibling doesn’t test in, etc. so probably a couple spaces open each year, but you need to test pretty darn well to get a spot. And be the proper white/minority status that is needed. Also, those spots are usually given out either late in the school year or even the end of summer/begining of year as the school figures out who is leaving. So to summarize – some spots open but it’s much harder to get one.

By: Need your Good Advice

Need your Good Advice — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:56:55 +0000

Since so many seem so well versed in the statistics, maybe someone can help me make this decision. Against what seems to be prevailing wisdom, I was really hoping to get my seemingly smarter than the average bear Sept. born child into kindergarten this year. Of course, was not allowed to apply for GEAP testing. Had resigned myself to a third year of pre-K, and perhaps improved odds at brilliance for next year’s test. Here is the rub:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=16&GAID=10&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=39899&SessionID=76&GA=96
Provided the bill passes, if we go to K at our neighborhood school next year, will we completely eliminate the already slim odds of getting into Edison or Decatur by applying as a 1st grader? Was encouraged that the only other kid in her pre-K that is reading got into Skinner. Hoped that meant she might have 1/2 a chance at getting one of those 10 spots in one of those schools next year. So, I guess my question is, do any 1st graders get into Edison or Decatur? I know we will have the additional options of Bell and Beaubien, but I was wondering if anyone has any insight.

Thanks!