West Potomac vs Bishop Ireton

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where in the process are you? Middle school? Or younger? Is your child in the AAP Center? Or one of the Catholic elementary schools? Any kind of IEP?

Generally, the parochial schools are a good escape from “gen pop”, so FCPS AAP>parochial school>FCPS Gen Ed.

If your child is in AAP, and will likely track in the AP classes/advanced diploma at FCPS, put them at West Po. If not, or if marginal on AP, send to BI.

This is a good response.

OP - 3rd grade daughter did not get chosen for AAP in her FCPS school. She has improved tremendously this year and we think we could probably apply again and she would get in but who knows. Not sure when they determine Level IV or not.

If I'm understanding correctly, your daughter is in 3rd now and will be going in to 4th next year? You've already missed the deadline to apply for Level IV AAP next year so you've got another year of non-AAP to go. If you want to try for AAP in 5th, you need to have your parent referral in by...December? Or January? I can't remember the deadline but it's always posted on the FCPS site. In the meantime, if you're serious about AAP, since you missed the deadline to apply for Level IV for next year, you can still refer for Level III. That is handled by the school and a referral can happen anytime. If you have Local Level IV at your school, they sometimes mix in the Level III kids so yours could end up with Level IV services despite not being labeled as such.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where in the process are you? Middle school? Or younger? Is your child in the AAP Center? Or one of the Catholic elementary schools? Any kind of IEP?

Generally, the parochial schools are a good escape from “gen pop”, so FCPS AAP>parochial school>FCPS Gen Ed.

If your child is in AAP, and will likely track in the AP classes/advanced diploma at FCPS, put them at West Po. If not, or if marginal on AP, send to BI.

I think this is correct for the most part. Having had the same Ireton/Westpo discussion in our family and knowing other families who have had it, the one exception seems to be writing. We stuck with West Potomac because Sandburg's writing expectations are not the same as St Louis or St Mary's. We know kids who have had their GPA ruined by the adjustment period. On the flip side, I think the math instruction at Sandburg forces the kids to be better learners. If a kid can do well in geometry, including the SOL, then they will be fine at Ireton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where in the process are you? Middle school? Or younger? Is your child in the AAP Center? Or one of the Catholic elementary schools? Any kind of IEP?

Generally, the parochial schools are a good escape from “gen pop”, so FCPS AAP>parochial school>FCPS Gen Ed.

If your child is in AAP, and will likely track in the AP classes/advanced diploma at FCPS, put them at West Po. If not, or if marginal on AP, send to BI.

I think this is correct for the most part. Having had the same Ireton/Westpo discussion in our family and knowing other families who have had it, the one exception seems to be writing. We stuck with West Potomac because Sandburg's writing expectations are not the same as St Louis or St Mary's. We know kids who have had their GPA ruined by the adjustment period. On the flip side, I think the math instruction at Sandburg forces the kids to be better learners. If a kid can do well in geometry, including the SOL, then they will be fine at Ireton.

OP - sorry could you elaborate on this? What do you mean the exception seems to be writing and adjusted GPA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where in the process are you? Middle school? Or younger? Is your child in the AAP Center? Or one of the Catholic elementary schools? Any kind of IEP?

Generally, the parochial schools are a good escape from “gen pop”, so FCPS AAP>parochial school>FCPS Gen Ed.

If your child is in AAP, and will likely track in the AP classes/advanced diploma at FCPS, put them at West Po. If not, or if marginal on AP, send to BI.

This is a good response.

OP - 3rd grade daughter did not get chosen for AAP in her FCPS school. She has improved tremendously this year and we think we could probably apply again and she would get in but who knows. Not sure when they determine Level IV or not.

If I'm understanding correctly, your daughter is in 3rd now and will be going in to 4th next year? You've already missed the deadline to apply for Level IV AAP next year so you've got another year of non-AAP to go. If you want to try for AAP in 5th, you need to have your parent referral in by...December? Or January? I can't remember the deadline but it's always posted on the FCPS site. In the meantime, if you're serious about AAP, since you missed the deadline to apply for Level IV for next year, you can still refer for Level III. That is handled by the school and a referral can happen anytime. If you have Local Level IV at your school, they sometimes mix in the Level III kids so yours could end up with Level IV services despite not being labeled as such.

OP - thanks yes I do know we missed for applying for 4th grade. We weren't sure how her grades would be this year so didn't apply. We got her a tutor and she has been doing much much better and I think she would get in for AAP.

How do you determine Level III?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where in the process are you? Middle school? Or younger? Is your child in the AAP Center? Or one of the Catholic elementary schools? Any kind of IEP?

Generally, the parochial schools are a good escape from “gen pop”, so FCPS AAP>parochial school>FCPS Gen Ed.

If your child is in AAP, and will likely track in the AP classes/advanced diploma at FCPS, put them at West Po. If not, or if marginal on AP, send to BI.

This is a good response.

OP - 3rd grade daughter did not get chosen for AAP in her FCPS school. She has improved tremendously this year and we think we could probably apply again and she would get in but who knows. Not sure when they determine Level IV or not.

If I'm understanding correctly, your daughter is in 3rd now and will be going in to 4th next year? You've already missed the deadline to apply for Level IV AAP next year so you've got another year of non-AAP to go. If you want to try for AAP in 5th, you need to have your parent referral in by...December? Or January? I can't remember the deadline but it's always posted on the FCPS site. In the meantime, if you're serious about AAP, since you missed the deadline to apply for Level IV for next year, you can still refer for Level III. That is handled by the school and a referral can happen anytime. If you have Local Level IV at your school, they sometimes mix in the Level III kids so yours could end up with Level IV services despite not being labeled as such.

OP - thanks yes I do know we missed for applying for 4th grade. We weren't sure how her grades would be this year so didn't apply. We got her a tutor and she has been doing much much better and I think she would get in for AAP.

How do you determine Level III?

The school decides it. You can apply at any time and the school needs to decide within 1 month of your application. At our school they also screen every kid in May, probably a week or two from now. That said, level III means different things at each ES and may not do much for your child. Advanced math is a more concrete placement that will get her on a more accelerated track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where in the process are you? Middle school? Or younger? Is your child in the AAP Center? Or one of the Catholic elementary schools? Any kind of IEP?

Generally, the parochial schools are a good escape from “gen pop”, so FCPS AAP>parochial school>FCPS Gen Ed.

If your child is in AAP, and will likely track in the AP classes/advanced diploma at FCPS, put them at West Po. If not, or if marginal on AP, send to BI.

I think this is correct for the most part. Having had the same Ireton/Westpo discussion in our family and knowing other families who have had it, the one exception seems to be writing. We stuck with West Potomac because Sandburg's writing expectations are not the same as St Louis or St Mary's. We know kids who have had their GPA ruined by the adjustment period. On the flip side, I think the math instruction at Sandburg forces the kids to be better learners. If a kid can do well in geometry, including the SOL, then they will be fine at Ireton.

OP - sorry could you elaborate on this? What do you mean the exception seems to be writing and adjusted GPA?

Sandburg does not teach essay writing. The expectations are near zero for writing. Grammar is taught through lexia. The kids we know who went to Ireton had an adjustment period where they had to relearn how to write. They started off with bad grades in writing heavy classes which will make getting a high GPA impossible. If you are going to jump to catholic, do it before freshman year so that the kids can learn what the expectations are without destroying their high school GPA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where in the process are you? Middle school? Or younger? Is your child in the AAP Center? Or one of the Catholic elementary schools? Any kind of IEP?

Generally, the parochial schools are a good escape from “gen pop”, so FCPS AAP>parochial school>FCPS Gen Ed.

If your child is in AAP, and will likely track in the AP classes/advanced diploma at FCPS, put them at West Po. If not, or if marginal on AP, send to BI.

I think this is correct for the most part. Having had the same Ireton/Westpo discussion in our family and knowing other families who have had it, the one exception seems to be writing. We stuck with West Potomac because Sandburg's writing expectations are not the same as St Louis or St Mary's. We know kids who have had their GPA ruined by the adjustment period. On the flip side, I think the math instruction at Sandburg forces the kids to be better learners. If a kid can do well in geometry, including the SOL, then they will be fine at Ireton.

OP - sorry could you elaborate on this? What do you mean the exception seems to be writing and adjusted GPA?

Sandburg does not teach essay writing. The expectations are near zero for writing. Grammar is taught through lexia. The kids we know who went to Ireton had an adjustment period where they had to relearn how to write. They started off with bad grades in writing heavy classes which will make getting a high GPA impossible. If you are going to jump to catholic, do it before freshman year so that the kids can learn what the expectations are without destroying their high school GPA

Op - ahhh thank you! I appreciate the follow up. Yes we would move before middle school to St. Louis most likely.

DH is a grammar fiend. He would never stand for bad writing in our kids education. He cringes sometimes when he gets emails from our kids teachers with blatant grammatical errors. But he writes for a living.

[Anonymous]

In your situation, OP, I would go St Louis to BI. It sounds like your child would thrive in that environment.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where in the process are you? Middle school? Or younger? Is your child in the AAP Center? Or one of the Catholic elementary schools? Any kind of IEP?

Generally, the parochial schools are a good escape from “gen pop”, so FCPS AAP>parochial school>FCPS Gen Ed.

If your child is in AAP, and will likely track in the AP classes/advanced diploma at FCPS, put them at West Po. If not, or if marginal on AP, send to BI.

I think this is correct for the most part. Having had the same Ireton/Westpo discussion in our family and knowing other families who have had it, the one exception seems to be writing. We stuck with West Potomac because Sandburg's writing expectations are not the same as St Louis or St Mary's. We know kids who have had their GPA ruined by the adjustment period. On the flip side, I think the math instruction at Sandburg forces the kids to be better learners. If a kid can do well in geometry, including the SOL, then they will be fine at Ireton.

OP - sorry could you elaborate on this? What do you mean the exception seems to be writing and adjusted GPA?

Sandburg does not teach essay writing. The expectations are near zero for writing. Grammar is taught through lexia. The kids we know who went to Ireton had an adjustment period where they had to relearn how to write. They started off with bad grades in writing heavy classes which will make getting a high GPA impossible. If you are going to jump to catholic, do it before freshman year so that the kids can learn what the expectations are without destroying their high school GPA

Op - ahhh thank you! I appreciate the follow up. Yes we would move before middle school to St. Louis most likely.

DH is a grammar fiend. He would never stand for bad writing in our kids education. He cringes sometimes when he gets emails from our kids teachers with blatant grammatical errors. But he writes for a living.

I would look very hard at St Marys too

[Anonymous]

Are you in public or catholic now?

[Anonymous]

I can’t agree with the Kathleen McNutt endorsement. The math instruction is going to be much better at a public school than at BI. The pay at BI is so poor compared to public school that they have trouble getting and keeping really good teachers, especially in math and science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t agree with the Kathleen McNutt endorsement. The math instruction is going to be much better at a public school than at BI. The pay at BI is so poor compared to public school that they have trouble getting and keeping really good teachers, especially in math and science.

DP. My understanding is the teachers who stick at privates do it not for the pay, but for the environment. There have been many comments on this board when teachers are talking about leaving public to that effect. That especially works for teachers who have a high earning spouse.

[Anonymous]

If you’re zoned for WP and considering maki g your kid go al the way to BI, then you’re robbing them of something you can’t get back: time to be a kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where in the process are you? Middle school? Or younger? Is your child in the AAP Center? Or one of the Catholic elementary schools? Any kind of IEP?

Generally, the parochial schools are a good escape from “gen pop”, so FCPS AAP>parochial school>FCPS Gen Ed.

If your child is in AAP, and will likely track in the AP classes/advanced diploma at FCPS, put them at West Po. If not, or if marginal on AP, send to BI.

I think this is correct for the most part. Having had the same Ireton/Westpo discussion in our family and knowing other families who have had it, the one exception seems to be writing. We stuck with West Potomac because Sandburg's writing expectations are not the same as St Louis or St Mary's. We know kids who have had their GPA ruined by the adjustment period. On the flip side, I think the math instruction at Sandburg forces the kids to be better learners. If a kid can do well in geometry, including the SOL, then they will be fine at Ireton.

OP - sorry could you elaborate on this? What do you mean the exception seems to be writing and adjusted GPA?

Sandburg does not teach essay writing. The expectations are near zero for writing. Grammar is taught through lexia. The kids we know who went to Ireton had an adjustment period where they had to relearn how to write. They started off with bad grades in writing heavy classes which will make getting a high GPA impossible. If you are going to jump to catholic, do it before freshman year so that the kids can learn what the expectations are without destroying their high school GPA

Op - ahhh thank you! I appreciate the follow up. Yes we would move before middle school to St. Louis most likely.

DH is a grammar fiend. He would never stand for bad writing in our kids education. He cringes sometimes when he gets emails from our kids teachers with blatant grammatical errors. But he writes for a living.

He sounds like kind of a jerk. What is he doing to help your kids’ writing?

[Anonymous]

BI has gotten very popular. You’ll have a better chance of admission from a Catholic K-8 than public. If that’s the path you want to go I would move for middle school.

The Catholic K-8s are intentional about how they teach writing. They learn how to do research papers (short ones!) in middle school. I’ve been impressed with how the lessons build from year to year.