Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy Opinions on NNAT2 & NWEA testing please.

My DS5 was recently labeled as "gifted" by my school system. They do a mandatory series of tests in Kindergarten to help identify children that are behind as well as the advanced learners. He scored a 90 on his NNAT2 Naglieri and on his NWEA tests he scored a 99 in Reading and a 98 in Math. Our school district has a special G/T exclusive school that he has been invited to attend next year. We will certainly take advantage of that wonderful opportunity.

I'm curious, however, about what this set of scores actually mean. I know that they are not a true measure of IQ and honestly have no idea of what his IQ is. I also know that there are levels of giftedness. Again, I don't know how gifted he is, but based on the descriptions I've read I'd guess that he is "mildly gifted". But who knows, maybe I'm selling him short.

Does anyone have any insight or opinions on this set of tests and his scores? I'm just trying to better understand him, really.

The NWEA scores are probably the most helpful. The NNAT2 is meant to be a cognitive test, but it's not an IQ test (similar to the CogAT).. it's fairly short, it focuses entirely on non-verbal and meant to be an "inclusive" test that can be given to ESL students. I'm assuming the "90" is 90th percentile.

Yes, the 90 on the NNAT2 is a percentile. So, the NWEA are more valuable scores? Can these be helpful in interpreting his IQ? Thanks for the info Amy, great to hear from a fellow Texan.

NWEA uses95th percentile as their gifted cut score. Other then that there is no relation to NWEA MAP and IQ.

Thanks again. Do you thing there is any significant reason to have him IQ tested?

Unless you feel his needs aren't being met in school, I probably would't pay the (rather high) cost of having him tested. It's likely the school will retest him again in a few years with a more thorough test (like the WJ-III or the Kaufman tests). At age 5 there's not a whole lot of options for good/reliable IQ testing.


ETA: I say the NWEA scores are the most helpful because they show the school, in black and white WHAT HE ACTUALLY KNOWS. That's the most helpful in getting him to the right place in school.

Well, he will finish out Kindergarten at his regular school and start the G/T school next year, but I expect him to be properly challenged there so not a major concern.

Thanks, I appreciate all your help.