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There are very few AC spots at Lane and WY. Lane has about 100 and WY around 150. 30% of offers go to the top scores with the remaining 70% split between the 4 tiers.
So at LTAC, for example, depending on how many from a tier are in that top 30%, there are only between 17-47 kids from the whole city who get offers per tier.
In comparison, Lane is ”easier” to get into for high school. The cut scores for tier 4 were equivalent to getting 91st percentiles for both math and reading plus straight A’s in 7th grade.
CPS doesn’t provide percentiles, but the RGC/AC test is closest to an IQ test. Someone on a different thread posted this calculator for IQ score distribution, with 100 being the 50th percentile. The RGC composite score out of 160 is the one to use:
https://www.gigacalculator.com/calculators/iq-percentile-calculator.php
As far as prep materials, there are several postings on this site about what others have used including CogAT, OLSAT, Testingmom.com and Chicago Test Prep.
We had the kids do some informal prep with CogAT materials, and their scores moved up a little, but not much. Maybe more intensive prep would have moved them more, but not sure it would be worth the time trade off.
According to the website calculator above, my younger child’s composite score of 135 is 99th percentile. However, we’re Tier 4, and Tier 4 cut scores for Lane Tech and Whitney Young ACs have been at/above the 99.9th percentile (AC point totals in the 560-570 range. Subtracting 300 points for straight A’s leaves RGC point total 260-270 which converts to RGC composite scores of 144-148)
I was just thinking about this because my oldest child took the RCG/AC test for 7th grade entry after not taking it since Kindergarten entry.
I’ll use the RGC Composite scores because results from years ago only provided those numbers.
For K entry her RGC composite was 120. Seven years later for 7th grade entry her score was..122
(RGC Point total was 205/300 for an AC point total of 505/600 with straight A’s in 5th grade)I was surprised at the point consistency because in those seven years between tests she has been diagnosed with a learning disability. With interventions and tutoring, her iReady math/reading scores have increased from the 45-55th percentiles to the 80-90th.
But the RGC/AC test is very different than typical standardized tests. It is also age-adjusted so you don’t see point increases over time like with iReady.
I have another child who has taken the RGC exam more frequently and also has very consistent RGC Composite scores.
K entry 132
4th grade entry 134
5th grade entry 135
(That final score corresponds to a RGC point total of 237.5/300)My kids only took the Classical Test for K entry, but their percentiles were very similar to the iReady scores from around the same time. (45-55th for one, 95-99th for the other)
This is the link to the cut scores
My child has a 504 and when they took the Regional Gifted exam, it was in a different building, there were only 5-6 kids in each group, everyone there had an IEP or 504, and they had 15 minutes to complete each section vs. the usual 10.
I’ll share a tidbit of info I got from the CPS Office for Students with Disabilities, since it’s not spelled out in the above link.
While students with IEPs are in a separate pool for Selective Enrollment schools, students with 504 plans are in the general pool.
And as stated, both can receive testing accommodations as per their plans.
My kids both use Beast Academy. They enjoy it and it helps deepen their understanding of math topics in school.
It covers 1st-5th grade level topics and is available both as books and an online program. (Beyond that it turns into The Art of Problem Solving with virtual classes for pre-algebra on up.)
