APS Middle School Honors Program and Academic Over All

[Anonymous]

Spouse and I are in an argument. DD is enrolled in private school, but he is unhappy with the STEM resources they have. He thinks it’s worth going back to APS for the advanced math, robotics and maker clubs, and overall science education. I’m concerned that APS doesn’t have a strong literary program — I’ve heard they barely are assigned 1 novel to read and discuss in 6th grade? And overall I don’t think above average kids are a priority at APS.

DH claims Middle Schools are getting honors classes this year or next, but unsure if they are opt in, test in, or what.

Anyone who has some experience with APS middle schools, how rigorous is academics, both STEM and otherwise? We are currently at Langley for comparison.

[Anonymous]

APS is getting more intensified classes this year or next, but they are opt-in and not test-in, although I think that it will be similar to math where a recommendation is made.

My child is going into 6th, so no experience yet. If you think you’ll go private for HS, I’d just stay at Langley and supplement where you see holes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:APS is getting more intensified classes this year or next, but they are opt-in and not test-in, although I think that it will be similar to math where a recommendation is made.

My child is going into 6th, so no experience yet. If you think you’ll go private for HS, I’d just stay at Langley and supplement where you see holes.

No we aren’t committed to private for HS, will depend on MS experience.

Also curious about middle school sports, seems like many are cut sports? What if a kid just wants to try something like tennis?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS is getting more intensified classes this year or next, but they are opt-in and not test-in, although I think that it will be similar to math where a recommendation is made.

My child is going into 6th, so no experience yet. If you think you’ll go private for HS, I’d just stay at Langley and supplement where you see holes.

No we aren’t committed to private for HS, will depend on MS experience.

Also curious about middle school sports, seems like many are cut sports? What if a kid just wants to try something like tennis?

Middle school Track in the spring is no cut. Ultimate Frisbee is a new no cut sport for APS but I’m not sure how that figures into the middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS is getting more intensified classes this year or next, but they are opt-in and not test-in, although I think that it will be similar to math where a recommendation is made.

My child is going into 6th, so no experience yet. If you think you’ll go private for HS, I’d just stay at Langley and supplement where you see holes.

No we aren’t committed to private for HS, will depend on MS experience.

Also curious about middle school sports, seems like many are cut sports? What if a kid just wants to try something like tennis?

Middle school Track in the spring is no cut. Ultimate Frisbee is a new no cut sport for APS but I’m not sure how that figures into the middle schools.

Looking for a little different sport that track or frisbee? Is that really it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS is getting more intensified classes this year or next, but they are opt-in and not test-in, although I think that it will be similar to math where a recommendation is made.

My child is going into 6th, so no experience yet. If you think you’ll go private for HS, I’d just stay at Langley and supplement where you see holes.

No we aren’t committed to private for HS, will depend on MS experience.

Also curious about middle school sports, seems like many are cut sports? What if a kid just wants to try something like tennis?

Middle school Track in the spring is no cut. Ultimate Frisbee is a new no cut sport for APS but I’m not sure how that figures into the middle schools.

Looking for a little different sport that track or frisbee? Is that really it?

About half of the sports offered are no cut: swim/dive, track, there’s also one in the fall but I don’t remember what it is. I think other than soccer and basketball, most kids make the team unless they are completely new to the sport. Eighth graders can do the sports offered at their local highschool (crew, cross country, etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS is getting more intensified classes this year or next, but they are opt-in and not test-in, although I think that it will be similar to math where a recommendation is made.

My child is going into 6th, so no experience yet. If you think you’ll go private for HS, I’d just stay at Langley and supplement where you see holes.

No we aren’t committed to private for HS, will depend on MS experience.

Also curious about middle school sports, seems like many are cut sports? What if a kid just wants to try something like tennis?

Then you sign him up for a rec program. MS sports are unique to APS- as FCPS doesnt have them. APS sports are competitive, including tennis.

[Anonymous]

Personally I would never pick APS for the academics but it’s always hard to tell what is going to be the best for your kid. Can your child really not take intensified algebra in 7th? Also you could do a robotics thing as an after school enrichment program, right? You’d have to pay for it which would be a bummer, though, since you’re already paying for private. I wonder if Arlington tech would be a good option for high school?

I wouldn’t say APS makes advanced kids a priority but you can get really lucky with teachers. I don’t understand the details but DD is a rising eight grader and she will be taking senior literature classes next year because a teacher suggested it. She has also done independent advanced assignments instead of the regular class assignments. Elementary school was painfully boring but middle has been much better.

But good luck with your choice! It’s hard when you disagree with your spouse about things like this. I would try to remember that it’s more important for a kid to have parents who get along and disagree respectfully than it is for them to get the most ideal education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS is getting more intensified classes this year or next, but they are opt-in and not test-in, although I think that it will be similar to math where a recommendation is made.

My child is going into 6th, so no experience yet. If you think you’ll go private for HS, I’d just stay at Langley and supplement where you see holes.

No we aren’t committed to private for HS, will depend on MS experience.

Also curious about middle school sports, seems like many are cut sports? What if a kid just wants to try something like tennis?

Then you sign him up for a rec program. MS sports are unique to APS- as FCPS doesnt have them. APS sports are competitive, including tennis.

What? My middle school had all sorts of sports program to let people try things before competition of high school

[Anonymous]

APS spreads out the under performance students across all classes to allow teachers to not be overwhelmed and allow the on track students to serve as in class mentors for those behind.

They jeopardize this model with honors class at middle school level, so will be curious how they implement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS is getting more intensified classes this year or next, but they are opt-in and not test-in, although I think that it will be similar to math where a recommendation is made.

My child is going into 6th, so no experience yet. If you think you’ll go private for HS, I’d just stay at Langley and supplement where you see holes.

No we aren’t committed to private for HS, will depend on MS experience.

Also curious about middle school sports, seems like many are cut sports? What if a kid just wants to try something like tennis?

Then you sign him up for a rec program. MS sports are unique to APS- as FCPS doesnt have them. APS sports are competitive, including tennis.

What? My middle school had all sorts of sports program to let people try things before competition of high school

Your middle school like 30 years ago? Or your kids current APS middle? APS MS soccer, basketball, tennis and wrestling are all tryout teams. There are intramurals to play for fun. Or frisbee, track, dive are no cut. There is no MS baseball, football, field hockey or volleyball.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS is getting more intensified classes this year or next, but they are opt-in and not test-in, although I think that it will be similar to math where a recommendation is made.

My child is going into 6th, so no experience yet. If you think you’ll go private for HS, I’d just stay at Langley and supplement where you see holes.

No we aren’t committed to private for HS, will depend on MS experience.

Also curious about middle school sports, seems like many are cut sports? What if a kid just wants to try something like tennis?

Then you sign him up for a rec program. MS sports are unique to APS- as FCPS doesnt have them. APS sports are competitive, including tennis.

What? My middle school had all sorts of sports program to let people try things before competition of high school

Your middle school like 30 years ago? Or your kids current APS middle? APS MS soccer, basketball, tennis and wrestling are all tryout teams. There are intramurals to play for fun. Or frisbee, track, dive are no cut. There is no MS baseball, football, field hockey or volleyball.

What intramurals, we didn’t have them at DHMS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS is getting more intensified classes this year or next, but they are opt-in and not test-in, although I think that it will be similar to math where a recommendation is made.

My child is going into 6th, so no experience yet. If you think you’ll go private for HS, I’d just stay at Langley and supplement where you see holes.

No we aren’t committed to private for HS, will depend on MS experience.

Also curious about middle school sports, seems like many are cut sports? What if a kid just wants to try something like tennis?

Then you sign him up for a rec program. MS sports are unique to APS- as FCPS doesnt have them. APS sports are competitive, including tennis.

What? My middle school had all sorts of sports program to let people try things before competition of high school

Your middle school like 30 years ago? Or your kids current APS middle? APS MS soccer, basketball, tennis and wrestling are all tryout teams. There are intramurals to play for fun. Or frisbee, track, dive are no cut. There is no MS baseball, football, field hockey or volleyball.

What intramurals, we didn’t have them at DHMS.

WMS has them 3x week. They vary.

https://williamsburg.apsva.us/virtual-clubs/intramurals/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS is getting more intensified classes this year or next, but they are opt-in and not test-in, although I think that it will be similar to math where a recommendation is made.

My child is going into 6th, so no experience yet. If you think you’ll go private for HS, I’d just stay at Langley and supplement where you see holes.

No we aren’t committed to private for HS, will depend on MS experience.

Also curious about middle school sports, seems like many are cut sports? What if a kid just wants to try something like tennis?

Then you sign him up for a rec program. MS sports are unique to APS- as FCPS doesnt have them. APS sports are competitive, including tennis.

What? My middle school had all sorts of sports program to let people try things before competition of high school

Your middle school like 30 years ago? Or your kids current APS middle? APS MS soccer, basketball, tennis and wrestling are all tryout teams. There are intramurals to play for fun. Or frisbee, track, dive are no cut. There is no MS baseball, football, field hockey or volleyball.

Over 30 years ago Arlington had junior high football teams. But few if any middle schools in the country have such programs nowadays. Arlington is lucky in that it has both cut and no cut middle school sports, including the option for 8th graders who can join no cut high schools sports like cross country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS is getting more intensified classes this year or next, but they are opt-in and not test-in, although I think that it will be similar to math where a recommendation is made.

My child is going into 6th, so no experience yet. If you think you’ll go private for HS, I’d just stay at Langley and supplement where you see holes.

No we aren’t committed to private for HS, will depend on MS experience.

Also curious about middle school sports, seems like many are cut sports? What if a kid just wants to try something like tennis?

Then you sign him up for a rec program. MS sports are unique to APS- as FCPS doesnt have them. APS sports are competitive, including tennis.

What? My middle school had all sorts of sports program to let people try things before competition of high school

Your middle school like 30 years ago? Or your kids current APS middle? APS MS soccer, basketball, tennis and wrestling are all tryout teams. There are intramurals to play for fun. Or frisbee, track, dive are no cut. There is no MS baseball, football, field hockey or volleyball.

What intramurals, we didn’t have them at DHMS.

WMS has them 3x week. They vary.

https://williamsburg.apsva.us/virtual-clubs/intramurals/

Why don’t all middles schools have intramurals?