Level IV in middle school after ES deferral

[Anonymous]

DD was identified as eligible for Level IV back in ES, but we chose to defer it so that she could continue attending language immersion program.
Now going into 7th and eligible for level IV but she does not want to do level IV because all of her friends will be taking honors classes. Another close friend of hers is not in level IV but is also likely to take Algebra in 7th.
Dd is pretty motivated academically.
Even if she signs up for Honors, she’s not necessarily going to be in the same classes with her friends, right?
Should I make her sign up for AAP?
We are not considering TJ.

[Anonymous]

I don't think there's enough of a difference between honors and AAP that would make separating her from her friends worthwhile.

My kid is in AAP (Local LIV) but we will go to our base school for middle school and just take honors. No interest in my daughter attending a non base middle school and then returning to her base high school, especially since we're at a secondary school.

[Anonymous]

Honors and aap classes in middle school are 100% the same classes, but they are socially separated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honors and aap classes in middle school are 100% the same classes, but they are socially separated.

This is not true across the board. I teach both an AAP and an honors section of the same class--wildly different in my pace, presentation, structure. Honors is a lot more "here is the formula, let's use it on complicated problems". AAP is "let's derive the formula...and then use it on complicated problems". But I'm sure for some classes it is very similar. Honors is open enrollment, so depending who else enrolls in the class it can feel like a clone of AAP, a clone of Gen Ed, or somewhere in the middle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honors and aap classes in middle school are 100% the same classes, but they are socially separated.

This is not true across the board. I teach both an AAP and an honors section of the same class--wildly different in my pace, presentation, structure. Honors is a lot more "here is the formula, let's use it on complicated problems". AAP is "let's derive the formula...and then use it on complicated problems". But I'm sure for some classes it is very similar. Honors is open enrollment, so depending who else enrolls in the class it can feel like a clone of AAP, a clone of Gen Ed, or somewhere in the middle.

Even for schools that teach it the same way a difference would be that AAP is a more homogeneous group since anyone that wants to can sign up for honors.

[Anonymous]

There will be a lot of Honors sections, so there's a good chance that your DD wouldn't be in class with her friends anyway. Plus, AAP is only for the 3 core classes, so there's a chance she would be with her friends in math, electives, and PE.

[Anonymous]

We deferred but will place DS in AAP classes in MS. He will know kids in those classes because their parents deferred AAP as well. We are in a Language Immersion program so deferral is pretty common.

[Anonymous]

Opposite situation, but my kid did AAP elem and is doing honors in middle school (as that’s what’s offered—Robinson). Zero concerns about Honors classes not being rigorous enough.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think there’s a huge difference between AAP and Honors in MS. I do think you should consider the friend piece. Maybe decide to do AAP anyway but the friend piece is a real consideration.

[Anonymous]

My son said that all classes are honors (not sure if this is true) and basically AAP is the same with honors, except math. He is in well regarded AAP MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son said that all classes are honors (not sure if this is true) and basically AAP is the same with honors, except math. He is in well regarded AAP MS.

At the night for incoming 7th grade parents at our not so well regarded MS, the presentation indicated that AAP classes went deeper and used harder source material.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son said that all classes are honors (not sure if this is true) and basically AAP is the same with honors, except math. He is in well regarded AAP MS.

Some middle schools have made the choice to not offer non-honors courses. But most do offer non-honors courses.

AAP classes go at a quicker pace and get cover the material in more depth than the traditional honors courses. I’m sure some teachers teach the classes the same, but that is not the intent.

In OPs situation, I would just stick with honors. No harm either way at this point. Might as well give the child a chance to have some friends in class.