s/o "if you kid doesn't go to AAP 3-8 is he doomed?" - what is the point of AAP?

[Anonymous]

I am a parent o a k student and immigrant to boot - so not familiar with the education system here. Given the answers on that thread saying that AAP doesn't matter for later success and HS is the great equalizer, my question is: What is the point of AAP? Doesn't' it require more effort, time and commitment from the student? So why put young children through that if there is no benefit for later success? Honest question since we will be dealing with this in a few years.

Tia.

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of parents on this board who are trying to make themselves feel ok about the fact that their kids were not accepted into AAP. The fact is that the AAP curriculum is superior (which I why non-AAP parents keep saying their kids sHould have access to it), the peer group is stronger academically and more motivated, without ESOL kids, etc being pushed in and the strongest teachers tend to get AAp certified. The vast majority of the kids accepted to TJ, the NMSFs, etc. will be kids coming out of the AAP centers. Can you get a good education in FCPS in GE? Of course. But in most schools, the education is better in AAP-- just ask parents whose kids were GE until AAP selection in 3rd-- it's a huge difference.

[Anonymous]

What is AAP and what does it have to do with real estate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is AAP and what does it have to do with real estate?

Advanced Academic Programs are a continuum of services provided in Fairfax County Public Schools.

AAP Level IV Centers are arguably a feeder to TJ. So some Level IV Centers are considered superior to other Loevel IV Centers partially due to the number of graduating students ultimately accepted to TJ.

So a so-called strong Level IV Center like Haycock (ES) will contribute to higher real estate values than a so-called weak Level IV Center like Riverside (ES).

[Anonymous]

If you put a bunch of gifted kids in one place, school ratings will increase, so real estate values will increase.

[Anonymous]

AAP is not about success in high school, it is about addressing the needs of very high IQ students in the younger grades to keep them engaged, rather than have them check out or disrupt classes from boredom. By high school, they have matured enough, and can take honors or AP or IB classes, that AAP is no longer needed.

It's also about providing those students with a peer group, do that they are not isolated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of parents on this board who are trying to make themselves feel ok about the fact that their kids were not accepted into AAP. The fact is that the AAP curriculum is superior (which I why non-AAP parents keep saying their kids sHould have access to it), the peer group is stronger academically and more motivated, without ESOL kids, etc being pushed in and the strongest teachers tend to get AAp certified. The vast majority of the kids accepted to TJ, the NMSFs, etc. will be kids coming out of the AAP centers. Can you get a good education in FCPS in GE? Of course. But in most schools, the education is better in AAP-- just ask parents whose kids were GE until AAP selection in 3rd-- it's a huge difference.

I completely disagree. I see a lot of parents on this board trying to justify the existence of AAP by telling themselves and anyone gullible enough to believe them that the AAP curriculum is "superior," that the peer group is "more motivated" (??), that kids are more prepared in high school if they've been in AAP, and that the strongest teachers tend to be AAP certified. None of this has been true in our experience. Yes, most TJ accepted kids come from the AAP crowd, but then TJ isn't the goal for many of us - not by a long shot. As a parent with both AAP and GE kids, the only notable difference I've observed is the amount of homework and silly projects my AAP kid had. My GE kids learned exactly the same things as the one in AAP, but had a much less stressful time doing it and enjoyed school far more.

I think the many parents advocating for the AAP curriculum to be the "regular" curriculum (for all) do so because it's widely known that AAP can be done by the majority of students, whether or not they're AAP-identified, and the vast majority of AAP-identified kids are indistinguishable from the vast majority of GE kids - so why have a different curriculum in the first place. The fact is, this curriculum isn't especially difficult, as parents of highly gifted children have been saying. They're the ones asking for a far more challenging curriculum than AAP for their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of parents on this board who are trying to make themselves feel ok about the fact that their kids were not accepted into AAP. The fact is that the AAP curriculum is superior (which I why non-AAP parents keep saying their kids sHould have access to it), the peer group is stronger academically and more motivated, without ESOL kids, etc being pushed in and the strongest teachers tend to get AAp certified. The vast majority of the kids accepted to TJ, the NMSFs, etc. will be kids coming out of the AAP centers. Can you get a good education in FCPS in GE? Of course. But in most schools, the education is better in AAP-- just ask parents whose kids were GE until AAP selection in 3rd-- it's a huge difference.

I completely disagree. I see a lot of parents on this board trying to justify the existence of AAP by telling themselves and anyone gullible enough to believe them that the AAP curriculum is "superior," that the peer group is "more motivated" (??), that kids are more prepared in high school if they've been in AAP, and that the strongest teachers tend to be AAP certified. None of this has been true in our experience. Yes, most TJ accepted kids come from the AAP crowd, but then TJ isn't the goal for many of us - not by a long shot. As a parent with both AAP and GE kids, the only notable difference I've observed is the amount of homework and silly projects my AAP kid had. My GE kids learned exactly the same things as the one in AAP, but had a much less stressful time doing it and enjoyed school far more.

I think the many parents advocating for the AAP curriculum to be the "regular" curriculum (for all) do so because it's widely known that AAP can be done by the majority of students, whether or not they're AAP-identified, and the vast majority of AAP-identified kids are indistinguishable from the vast majority of GE kids - so why have a different curriculum in the first place. The fact is, this curriculum isn't especially difficult, as parents of highly gifted children have been saying. They're the ones asking for a far more challenging curriculum than AAP for their kids.

Then why don't you pull you DC out of AAP, if you are getting silly projects and no value added? For us, 3rd grade AAP was a night and day difference, and the teachers have been top notch. For the first time, DC became engaged in school and stopped getting bored and acting out. He could certainly handle an even more rigorous curriculum, but AAP is certainly a step up from GE. But I'm sure different school implement differently.

[Anonymous]

Objectively I think it's hard to disagree AAP is more rigorous and more accelerated. But that doesn't make it "superior." Just like not everyone is college material, not everyone belongs in AAP.

The controversy around AAP is rooted in efforts by people whose high-achieving kids are on the bubble for inclusion in the program and so therefore contort themselves for admission. Then the kids get in and struggle, diluting the program's original intent. These people can't accept that their bright kids would be just fine in Gen Ed where they would excel -- instead they feel like they're being denied something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is AAP and what does it have to do with real estate?

Considering that you entered the category that says, "AAP" after what the acronym stands for, you're post is a believable question. Not.

[Anonymous]

Not the OP, but I think this thread was moved from real estate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I completely disagree. I see a lot of parents on this board trying to justify the existence of AAP by telling themselves and anyone gullible enough to believe them that the AAP curriculum is "superior," that the peer group is "more motivated" (??), that kids are more prepared in high school if they've been in AAP, and that the strongest teachers tend to be AAP certified. None of this has been true in our experience.

My kids (2E) have absolutely been more/better prepared for high school thanks to AAP. Just our family's experience, though.

[Anonymous]

My kids (2E) have absolutely been more/better prepared for high school thanks to AAP. Just our family's experience, though.

How do you know?

[Anonymous]

But in most schools, the education is better in AAP-- just ask parents whose kids were GE until AAP selection in 3rd-- it's a huge difference.

The jump from second to third is the biggest in Gened, as well. That is part of the problem. AAP parents think it is the jump to AAP--it's not. The jump from second to third is always a huge jump.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AAP is not about success in high school, it is about addressing the needs of very high IQ students in the younger grades to keep them engaged, rather than have them check out or disrupt classes from boredom. By high school, they have matured enough, and can take honors or AP or IB classes, that AAP is no longer needed.

It's also about providing those students with a peer group, do that they are not isolated.

Having gone through AAP myself, I completely agree with this. Spent some time in gen ed, and was often bored. The pace was slower than I needed, the work was not as challenging, and there wasn't as much time for more indepth learning or exploring because the teacher had to spend time making sure everyone had mastered the essentials. It can be painful to sit through an additional 20 minutes of instruction for something that you understood in the first 2.

Had I stayed in gen ed, I don't think it would have mattered long term as far as success or achievement. But if I had the choice to be a "star" in gen ed, versus run of the mill in AAP, I would choose the AAP experience. Also had easier and deeper friendships with AAP classmates.