Criteria & Testing
Intellectual Curiosity and Giftedness
Ideaventions Academy is designed for gifted learners who are passionate about learning and ready for the rigor and depth of our courses. Students who love a good challenge and have a growth mindset are ideal fits. We review applicants holistically; as such, no single element determines admission. Due to our commitment to small classes, we are selective, with an admission rate under 35%.
We evaluate student applications through a combination of factors, including:
We evaluate student applications through a combination of factors, including:
- Cognitive and academic ability assessments (typically students with an IQ of 130+. Testing may take several weeks for results. Please see below for more information.)
- Report cards and grades.
- Attendance history (including absences and tardies.)
- Teacher recommendations, addressing motivation, kindness, empathy, intellectual curiosity, maturity, commitment to learning, and engagement in their current school community.
- Individual Learning Plan (if applicable): While our program is designed for gifted learners, students with an IEP, 504 Plan, or individualized learning plan must include the full testing and plan at the time of application. We have limited capacity to accommodate specific learning differences.
- Student Visit and Observation (by invitation only. May include math and writing assessments).
- Parent Interview (by invitation only).
Standardized Testing
Accepted Assessments
To ensure we have current information about each applicant’s abilities, all tests must be within 36 months of application.
Preferred Assessments:
Scheduling an Assessment
Setting up a testing appointment and receiving results may take several weeks, depending on the provider. While we do not endorse any particular practice, the following local psychologists administer the WISC, WPPSI, or SB-5. Please note that each psychologist sets their own fee schedule.
To ensure we have current information about each applicant’s abilities, all tests must be within 36 months of application.
Preferred Assessments:
- Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fifth Edition (WISC-V) (age 6 and older)
- Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence – Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV) (age 6 and under)
- Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Fifth Edition
- Differential Abilities Scale (DAS)
- Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)
- SAT or ACT (for applicants entering 6th grade and above)
- PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT
- Previously administered CogAT or NNAT (If more than 36 months old, please submit supporting standardized achievement test scores from the prior two years, e.g., Iowa Assessments, SOLs, Algebra Readiness, etc.)
- SCAT (for Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth [CTY] admissions)
Scheduling an Assessment
Setting up a testing appointment and receiving results may take several weeks, depending on the provider. While we do not endorse any particular practice, the following local psychologists administer the WISC, WPPSI, or SB-5. Please note that each psychologist sets their own fee schedule.
Resources on Giftedness
We've spent decades learning about teaching gifted students. Here are a few helpful resources:
- Daimon Institute for the Highly Gifted
- Davidson Institute Programs and Support for the Profoundly Gifted
- Gifted Development Center
- Hoagies' Gifted
- Institute for Educational Advancement: Defining Gifted
- Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth
- National Association for Gifted Children
- Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted
- Virginia Association for the Gifted
- Fairfax County Association for the Gifted
Nondiscrimination Statement
Ideaventions Academy admits students of any race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Consistent with its obligations under the law, Ideaventions Academy prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Ideaventions Academy also prohibits unlawful harassment including sexual harassment and sexual violence.
