MIDDLE SCHOOL HONORS
MIDDLE SCHOOL HONORS
Middle School Honors Program Overview
The Honors program, aligned with national standards for gifted and talented education, is for students who have demonstrated high achievement in a specific area of academic strength. The program uses a county-developed middle school curriculum that extends the Fairfax County Program of Studies (POS) in depth and complexity. The curriculum is based on the Parallel Model, a nationally endorsed model of curriculum for high-ability learners. Download our brochure (pdf).
The following diagram highlights the major similarities and differences between the Gifted and Talented Center and the Honors Program in the middle school (see pdf).
![]() How Students Are Selected for Middle School Honors. See timeline |
English, Science, and Social Studies
Students are placed in Honors English, Science, and Social Studies by successfully completing a comprehensive screening to include:
- Ability test data, such as
- Naglieri Nonverbal Ability
Test [NNAT].
- Cognitive Abilities Test
[CogAT].
- Otis Lennon School Ability
[OLSAT].
- Naglieri Nonverbal Ability
Test [NNAT].
- Achievement testing, such as
- Stanford 9.
- Developmental Reading Assessment
[DRA].
- State Standards of Learning
Scores [SOLs].
- Stanford 9.
- Grades in the core subject areas.
- Gifted Behavior Rating Scale
[GBRS].
- Recommendation.
Rising 7th grade gifted and talented (GT) center students who choose to leave the GT center qualify for Honors English, Social Studies, and Science courses.
Students who decide to attend their local middle school should notify the Director of Student Services at the middle school and the GT Programs office at (703) 846-8778
Students enrolled in the 7th grade Honors program carry over their placement into 8th grade unless there is a question regarding the placement. In such cases, the principal at the middle school reviews the information and makes a decision.
Mathematics
Students are placed in Math 7 Honors by completing one of the following three items:
- Mathematics 6 Compacted.
- A yearlong accelerated program.
- Successfully completing a comprehensive
screening to include:
- Teacher recommendation.
- Standardized screening test
for mathematics.
- Additional testing information
- Gifted Behaviors Rating Scale
With Commentary (GBRS).
- Grades in mathematics.
- Teacher recommendation.
Rising 7th grade students will be
placed in Algebra Honors based on all
the following:
- Successfully completing Mathematics
6 Compacted or a yearlong accelerated
program.
- A score at or above the 92th percentile
on the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test.
- A score at or above 500 on the Virginia Standards of Learning grade 8 mathematics test.
Honors Placement Timeline
JANUARY |
FEBRUARY-MARCH |
APRIL-MAY |
JUNE-JULY |
Information
letters are sent from Elementary School
Principals to parents of 6th graders. |
Elementary
Schools and Middle Schools share information
in cumulative files. |
Middle School
selection committees meet and make placement
decisions. |
Placement decisions are mailed to parents. |
No action on your part is required for
your child to be considered for Honors
classes. After the initial placement
process has been completed, middle
school principals will send notification
letters to parents. At that time,
you will have the opportunity to request a
re-consideration for specific Honors classes
if you have additional information to provide
that was not previously considered and
would support placement in Honors classes.
* Parent Information Nights
October 2008
* Gifted Students With Learning Challenges (Twice Exceptional).
FCPS - International Baccalaureate Program. Check the updated website (October 2008).


