What’s the big fuss about AAP?

[Anonymous]

I have a solution- how about we bring back remedial classes? Our elementary school has 4 classes. 1 can be AAP, 2 can be on target, 1 can be remedial. Remedial could also address language difficulties as many kids don't speak English or just arrived here. It's a lot to just plunk them in a class and expect for them to understand what's going on. Specialized language classes would be ideal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better peer group. That's the big deal. That's the only deal.

I'm not even 100% sure that's true. At our center, the aap kids got cell phones younger. Definitely glad we didn't start the peer pressure on that stuff so young.
My Gen Ed kid wanted to be there, and recommends it for younger sibling....and it comes down to that the Gen Ed teachers have too many levels/groups in a classroom so the kids who are ahead just spend most of their time without much to do.

This. The queen-bee mean girl types are usually bright with strong social skills and involved parents. Those kids are also getting into AAP. My DD was mocked in 2nd grade for the clothing brands she was wearing by girls who left for the AAP center the following year.

I agree that the gen ed teachers will ignore the kids who are advanced. If an advanced gen ed kid is self motivated and has reasonably high executive function, the lack of teacher attention won't matter that much. My DD spent tons of free time reading through the school library and working independently on various projects. One of the sad ironies about AAP admissions is that the kids who are above grade level but with lower GBRS/HOPE scores are the ones who likely need the structure, expectations, and prodding from AAP the most. The kids who have the high teacher ratings and thus are the most likely to be admitted into AAP are going to bloom wherever they're planted.

Unfortunately that is true too, but in the long run isn't that better than chair throwers and kids with Derek Zoolander level reading skills? I say pick your poison.

I don't know where you live, but these kids do not exist at our FCPS elementary school.

lol. We have elementary schools where 1 in 4 can’t even speak English. And others where there are entire classes dddicated for mainstreaming and get an extra aid.

Yes well, you chose to live where you live.

Your attitude is even worse.

All kids regardless of income level should have the chance at a quality education. Chair throwers have proven that they don't deserve it and need to be in remedial. Why should poor, smart kids not get a good education?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a solution- how about we bring back remedial classes? Our elementary school has 4 classes. 1 can be AAP, 2 can be on target, 1 can be remedial. Remedial could also address language difficulties as many kids don't speak English or just arrived here. It's a lot to just plunk them in a class and expect for them to understand what's going on. Specialized language classes would be ideal.

There are remedial classes, it's just not stated so officially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better peer group. That's the big deal. That's the only deal.

I'm not even 100% sure that's true. At our center, the aap kids got cell phones younger. Definitely glad we didn't start the peer pressure on that stuff so young.
My Gen Ed kid wanted to be there, and recommends it for younger sibling....and it comes down to that the Gen Ed teachers have too many levels/groups in a classroom so the kids who are ahead just spend most of their time without much to do.

This. The queen-bee mean girl types are usually bright with strong social skills and involved parents. Those kids are also getting into AAP. My DD was mocked in 2nd grade for the clothing brands she was wearing by girls who left for the AAP center the following year.

I agree that the gen ed teachers will ignore the kids who are advanced. If an advanced gen ed kid is self motivated and has reasonably high executive function, the lack of teacher attention won't matter that much. My DD spent tons of free time reading through the school library and working independently on various projects. One of the sad ironies about AAP admissions is that the kids who are above grade level but with lower GBRS/HOPE scores are the ones who likely need the structure, expectations, and prodding from AAP the most. The kids who have the high teacher ratings and thus are the most likely to be admitted into AAP are going to bloom wherever they're planted.

Unfortunately that is true too, but in the long run isn't that better than chair throwers and kids with Derek Zoolander level reading skills? I say pick your poison.

I don't know where you live, but these kids do not exist at our FCPS elementary school.

lol. We have elementary schools where 1 in 4 can’t even speak English. And others where there are entire classes dddicated for mainstreaming and get an extra aid.

Yes well, you chose to live where you live.

And AAP centers are great.

Not so great when your base school is a center. The segregation is weird and causes weird issues. Although I think some of the families are more humbled now in middle school....

You choose to live where you live.

Unfortunately when we moved here our base wasn't a center yet....so it's not what we chose but it's what we got stuck with

The ESL population that has tripled over the last decade.

Again, you could always move and still can.

AAP centers works for me.

A lot of aap kids struggle, and end up in classes in MS with Gen Ed kids. A lot of aap parents were the ones asking the most questions about test retakes in honor math at back to school night. My lowly Gen Ed kid has no reason to need to request a retake yet. So stay on your high horse, but in the end the cream always rises.

For us, it’s about getting the best education for our kids.

I’m sorry you are feeling this way and I hope you find happiness in what you say above. Seems like both our families will be just fine.

It's not the best education for the kids that are struggling in aap and don't really belong. That environment can have lasting damage.

Everyone else will be ok.

And those parents should choose what’s appropriate for their kids. We are very happy with our AAP center experience.

The problem is there is no reset for kids chosen in 2nd grade...by 5th or 6th or 7th or 8th things might have changed. They're stuck there thinking they should be smart but struggling. What looks like the best choice now might look different next year....There are opportunities to opt in, but none to opt out.

Of course there's an option to opt out - you just decline AAP services the following year. There's not a way for the school to force a struggling student out - that's different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better peer group. That's the big deal. That's the only deal.

I'm not even 100% sure that's true. At our center, the aap kids got cell phones younger. Definitely glad we didn't start the peer pressure on that stuff so young.
My Gen Ed kid wanted to be there, and recommends it for younger sibling....and it comes down to that the Gen Ed teachers have too many levels/groups in a classroom so the kids who are ahead just spend most of their time without much to do.

This. The queen-bee mean girl types are usually bright with strong social skills and involved parents. Those kids are also getting into AAP. My DD was mocked in 2nd grade for the clothing brands she was wearing by girls who left for the AAP center the following year.

I agree that the gen ed teachers will ignore the kids who are advanced. If an advanced gen ed kid is self motivated and has reasonably high executive function, the lack of teacher attention won't matter that much. My DD spent tons of free time reading through the school library and working independently on various projects. One of the sad ironies about AAP admissions is that the kids who are above grade level but with lower GBRS/HOPE scores are the ones who likely need the structure, expectations, and prodding from AAP the most. The kids who have the high teacher ratings and thus are the most likely to be admitted into AAP are going to bloom wherever they're planted.

Unfortunately that is true too, but in the long run isn't that better than chair throwers and kids with Derek Zoolander level reading skills? I say pick your poison.

I don't know where you live, but these kids do not exist at our FCPS elementary school.

lol. We have elementary schools where 1 in 4 can’t even speak English. And others where there are entire classes dddicated for mainstreaming and get an extra aid.

Yes well, you chose to live where you live.

And AAP centers are great.

Not so great when your base school is a center. The segregation is weird and causes weird issues. Although I think some of the families are more humbled now in middle school....

You choose to live where you live.

Unfortunately when we moved here our base wasn't a center yet....so it's not what we chose but it's what we got stuck with

The ESL population that has tripled over the last decade.

Again, you could always move and still can.

AAP centers works for me.

A lot of aap kids struggle, and end up in classes in MS with Gen Ed kids. A lot of aap parents were the ones asking the most questions about test retakes in honor math at back to school night. My lowly Gen Ed kid has no reason to need to request a retake yet. So stay on your high horse, but in the end the cream always rises.

For us, it’s about getting the best education for our kids.

I’m sorry you are feeling this way and I hope you find happiness in what you say above. Seems like both our families will be just fine.

It's not the best education for the kids that are struggling in aap and don't really belong. That environment can have lasting damage.

Everyone else will be ok.

And those parents should choose what’s appropriate for their kids. We are very happy with our AAP center experience.

The problem is there is no reset for kids chosen in 2nd grade...by 5th or 6th or 7th or 8th things might have changed. They're stuck there thinking they should be smart but struggling. What looks like the best choice now might look different next year....There are opportunities to opt in, but none to opt out.

Of course there's an option to opt out - you just decline AAP services the following year. There's not a way for the school to force a struggling student out - that's different.

Once you accept it you're in, there are not new opt in forms every year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better peer group. That's the big deal. That's the only deal.

I'm not even 100% sure that's true. At our center, the aap kids got cell phones younger. Definitely glad we didn't start the peer pressure on that stuff so young.
My Gen Ed kid wanted to be there, and recommends it for younger sibling....and it comes down to that the Gen Ed teachers have too many levels/groups in a classroom so the kids who are ahead just spend most of their time without much to do.

This. The queen-bee mean girl types are usually bright with strong social skills and involved parents. Those kids are also getting into AAP. My DD was mocked in 2nd grade for the clothing brands she was wearing by girls who left for the AAP center the following year.

I agree that the gen ed teachers will ignore the kids who are advanced. If an advanced gen ed kid is self motivated and has reasonably high executive function, the lack of teacher attention won't matter that much. My DD spent tons of free time reading through the school library and working independently on various projects. One of the sad ironies about AAP admissions is that the kids who are above grade level but with lower GBRS/HOPE scores are the ones who likely need the structure, expectations, and prodding from AAP the most. The kids who have the high teacher ratings and thus are the most likely to be admitted into AAP are going to bloom wherever they're planted.

Unfortunately that is true too, but in the long run isn't that better than chair throwers and kids with Derek Zoolander level reading skills? I say pick your poison.

I don't know where you live, but these kids do not exist at our FCPS elementary school.

lol. We have elementary schools where 1 in 4 can’t even speak English. And others where there are entire classes dddicated for mainstreaming and get an extra aid.

Yes well, you chose to live where you live.

And AAP centers are great.

Not so great when your base school is a center. The segregation is weird and causes weird issues. Although I think some of the families are more humbled now in middle school....

You choose to live where you live.

Unfortunately when we moved here our base wasn't a center yet....so it's not what we chose but it's what we got stuck with

The ESL population that has tripled over the last decade.

Again, you could always move and still can.

AAP centers works for me.

A lot of aap kids struggle, and end up in classes in MS with Gen Ed kids. A lot of aap parents were the ones asking the most questions about test retakes in honor math at back to school night. My lowly Gen Ed kid has no reason to need to request a retake yet. So stay on your high horse, but in the end the cream always rises.

For us, it’s about getting the best education for our kids.

I’m sorry you are feeling this way and I hope you find happiness in what you say above. Seems like both our families will be just fine.

It's not the best education for the kids that are struggling in aap and don't really belong. That environment can have lasting damage.

Everyone else will be ok.

And those parents should choose what’s appropriate for their kids. We are very happy with our AAP center experience.

The problem is there is no reset for kids chosen in 2nd grade...by 5th or 6th or 7th or 8th things might have changed. They're stuck there thinking they should be smart but struggling. What looks like the best choice now might look different next year....There are opportunities to opt in, but none to opt out.

Of course there's an option to opt out - you just decline AAP services the following year. There's not a way for the school to force a struggling student out - that's different.

Once you accept it you're in, there are not new opt in forms every year

Be an adult and a parent - contact the school and opt out. This is not hard.

If you're at the Center it's a one year commitment - it's explicit that you can choose to return to the base school after that year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better peer group. That's the big deal. That's the only deal.

I'm not even 100% sure that's true. At our center, the aap kids got cell phones younger. Definitely glad we didn't start the peer pressure on that stuff so young.
My Gen Ed kid wanted to be there, and recommends it for younger sibling....and it comes down to that the Gen Ed teachers have too many levels/groups in a classroom so the kids who are ahead just spend most of their time without much to do.

This. The queen-bee mean girl types are usually bright with strong social skills and involved parents. Those kids are also getting into AAP. My DD was mocked in 2nd grade for the clothing brands she was wearing by girls who left for the AAP center the following year.

I agree that the gen ed teachers will ignore the kids who are advanced. If an advanced gen ed kid is self motivated and has reasonably high executive function, the lack of teacher attention won't matter that much. My DD spent tons of free time reading through the school library and working independently on various projects. One of the sad ironies about AAP admissions is that the kids who are above grade level but with lower GBRS/HOPE scores are the ones who likely need the structure, expectations, and prodding from AAP the most. The kids who have the high teacher ratings and thus are the most likely to be admitted into AAP are going to bloom wherever they're planted.

Unfortunately that is true too, but in the long run isn't that better than chair throwers and kids with Derek Zoolander level reading skills? I say pick your poison.

I don't know where you live, but these kids do not exist at our FCPS elementary school.

lol. We have elementary schools where 1 in 4 can’t even speak English. And others where there are entire classes dddicated for mainstreaming and get an extra aid.

Yes well, you chose to live where you live.

And AAP centers are great.

Not so great when your base school is a center. The segregation is weird and causes weird issues. Although I think some of the families are more humbled now in middle school....

You choose to live where you live.

Unfortunately when we moved here our base wasn't a center yet....so it's not what we chose but it's what we got stuck with

The ESL population that has tripled over the last decade.

Again, you could always move and still can.

AAP centers works for me.

A lot of aap kids struggle, and end up in classes in MS with Gen Ed kids. A lot of aap parents were the ones asking the most questions about test retakes in honor math at back to school night. My lowly Gen Ed kid has no reason to need to request a retake yet. So stay on your high horse, but in the end the cream always rises.

For us, it’s about getting the best education for our kids.

I’m sorry you are feeling this way and I hope you find happiness in what you say above. Seems like both our families will be just fine.

It's not the best education for the kids that are struggling in aap and don't really belong. That environment can have lasting damage.

Everyone else will be ok.

And those parents should choose what’s appropriate for their kids. We are very happy with our AAP center experience.

The problem is there is no reset for kids chosen in 2nd grade...by 5th or 6th or 7th or 8th things might have changed. They're stuck there thinking they should be smart but struggling. What looks like the best choice now might look different next year....There are opportunities to opt in, but none to opt out.

Of course there's an option to opt out - you just decline AAP services the following year. There's not a way for the school to force a struggling student out - that's different.

Once you accept it you're in, there are not new opt in forms every year

Be an adult and a parent - contact the school and opt out. This is not hard.

If you're at the Center it's a one year commitment - it's explicit that you can choose to return to the base school after that year.

Hmm, base school is a center. Never seen anyone leave, but do hear a lot of complaints about the kids who struggle holding everyone back

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better peer group. That's the big deal. That's the only deal.

I'm not even 100% sure that's true. At our center, the aap kids got cell phones younger. Definitely glad we didn't start the peer pressure on that stuff so young.
My Gen Ed kid wanted to be there, and recommends it for younger sibling....and it comes down to that the Gen Ed teachers have too many levels/groups in a classroom so the kids who are ahead just spend most of their time without much to do.

This. The queen-bee mean girl types are usually bright with strong social skills and involved parents. Those kids are also getting into AAP. My DD was mocked in 2nd grade for the clothing brands she was wearing by girls who left for the AAP center the following year.

I agree that the gen ed teachers will ignore the kids who are advanced. If an advanced gen ed kid is self motivated and has reasonably high executive function, the lack of teacher attention won't matter that much. My DD spent tons of free time reading through the school library and working independently on various projects. One of the sad ironies about AAP admissions is that the kids who are above grade level but with lower GBRS/HOPE scores are the ones who likely need the structure, expectations, and prodding from AAP the most. The kids who have the high teacher ratings and thus are the most likely to be admitted into AAP are going to bloom wherever they're planted.

Unfortunately that is true too, but in the long run isn't that better than chair throwers and kids with Derek Zoolander level reading skills? I say pick your poison.

I don't know where you live, but these kids do not exist at our FCPS elementary school.

lol. We have elementary schools where 1 in 4 can’t even speak English. And others where there are entire classes dddicated for mainstreaming and get an extra aid.

Yes well, you chose to live where you live.

And AAP centers are great.

Not so great when your base school is a center. The segregation is weird and causes weird issues. Although I think some of the families are more humbled now in middle school....

You choose to live where you live.

Unfortunately when we moved here our base wasn't a center yet....so it's not what we chose but it's what we got stuck with

The ESL population that has tripled over the last decade.

Again, you could always move and still can.

AAP centers works for me.

A lot of aap kids struggle, and end up in classes in MS with Gen Ed kids. A lot of aap parents were the ones asking the most questions about test retakes in honor math at back to school night. My lowly Gen Ed kid has no reason to need to request a retake yet. So stay on your high horse, but in the end the cream always rises.

+1 my genEd ES kid took algebra 1 honors in 8th (gasp!). They got a 100 in the class and a perfect SOL score. Many of the 7th graders in the class, the ES AAP kids, struggled to maintain a decent grade. Similarly, some of the ES AAP kids struggled to keep up with some genEd kids in the other MS honors classes. AAP might provide a stronger peer group in ES, but once courses are open enrollment, it doesn’t really lead to better academic outcomes. Bottom line, admittance to AAP is subjective for a decent number of the kids. It might provide a better experience for those chosen, but it certainly doesn’t mean that the chosen ones are inherently intellectually superior to their genEd peers, nor will it guarantee better outcomes. Not dismissing it’s a valuable opportunity for ES students - particularly those in low SES schools - but please be reassured that it’s not a leg up past ES.

[Anonymous]

Some of you are just pointing out outliers (yes some kids struggle! What a concept!) for the reason AAP centers aren’t working. Give me a break, you don’t give a shit if some kids struggle. You’re just salty your kid didn’t get in and want to ruin it for the rest of us talking nonsense about CeNtErS dOnT wOrK!!!!

Then you’re going as far as making up shit like only the AAP parents needed the math test re-takes. Only Aap kids struggle in math classes. I don’t even know how you would even know if it was an Aap parent/kid in middle school. None of us wear a sticker that says “we’re from the center!”

It’s just ridiculous. Leave centers alone. Yes I wish things were more equitable but I don’t know what to do about that and my kid doesn’t either. All he wants is what the center school experience is providing: greater challenges and higher quality peer group.

On behalf of center folks, we are sorry your kid didn’t get in. You can still apply every year and hopefully the screening committee gods will bless you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better peer group. That's the big deal. That's the only deal.

I'm not even 100% sure that's true. At our center, the aap kids got cell phones younger. Definitely glad we didn't start the peer pressure on that stuff so young.
My Gen Ed kid wanted to be there, and recommends it for younger sibling....and it comes down to that the Gen Ed teachers have too many levels/groups in a classroom so the kids who are ahead just spend most of their time without much to do.

This. The queen-bee mean girl types are usually bright with strong social skills and involved parents. Those kids are also getting into AAP. My DD was mocked in 2nd grade for the clothing brands she was wearing by girls who left for the AAP center the following year.

I agree that the gen ed teachers will ignore the kids who are advanced. If an advanced gen ed kid is self motivated and has reasonably high executive function, the lack of teacher attention won't matter that much. My DD spent tons of free time reading through the school library and working independently on various projects. One of the sad ironies about AAP admissions is that the kids who are above grade level but with lower GBRS/HOPE scores are the ones who likely need the structure, expectations, and prodding from AAP the most. The kids who have the high teacher ratings and thus are the most likely to be admitted into AAP are going to bloom wherever they're planted.

Unfortunately that is true too, but in the long run isn't that better than chair throwers and kids with Derek Zoolander level reading skills? I say pick your poison.

I don't know where you live, but these kids do not exist at our FCPS elementary school.

lol. We have elementary schools where 1 in 4 can’t even speak English. And others where there are entire classes dddicated for mainstreaming and get an extra aid.

Yes well, you chose to live where you live.

And AAP centers are great.

Not so great when your base school is a center. The segregation is weird and causes weird issues. Although I think some of the families are more humbled now in middle school....

You choose to live where you live.

Unfortunately when we moved here our base wasn't a center yet....so it's not what we chose but it's what we got stuck with

The ESL population that has tripled over the last decade.

Again, you could always move and still can.

AAP centers works for me.

A lot of aap kids struggle, and end up in classes in MS with Gen Ed kids. A lot of aap parents were the ones asking the most questions about test retakes in honor math at back to school night. My lowly Gen Ed kid has no reason to need to request a retake yet. So stay on your high horse, but in the end the cream always rises.

+1 my genEd ES kid took algebra 1 honors in 8th (gasp!). They got a 100 in the class and a perfect SOL score. Many of the 7th graders in the class, the ES AAP kids, struggled to maintain a decent grade. Similarly, some of the ES AAP kids struggled to keep up with some genEd kids in the other MS honors classes. AAP might provide a stronger peer group in ES, but once courses are open enrollment, it doesn’t really lead to better academic outcomes. Bottom line, admittance to AAP is subjective for a decent number of the kids. It might provide a better experience for those chosen, but it certainly doesn’t mean that the chosen ones are inherently intellectually superior to their genEd peers, nor will it guarantee better outcomes. Not dismissing it’s a valuable opportunity for ES students - particularly those in low SES schools - but please be reassured that it’s not a leg up past ES.

75% of the county takes Algebra 1 by 8th grade, so I am not sure why you think it is surprising that your kid took A1H in 8th grade. And I don’t know why you are surprised that he did well in it, kids should be taking math classes at a pace that allows them to excel. I am glad that your kid did well.

I am guessing that you are at a MS that is not one of the four feeders. At Carson the 7th graders are in their own Algebra classes, they don’t mix 7th and 8th graders in classes. I would guess that there are some 7th graders who struggle with A1H, it is a faster pace and some kids are going to struggle. That is why some kids drop to M7H or expunge the grade and retake it. I know kids who got Bs in 7th grade A1H but they are fine with that grade.

We come from a school that didn’t have LLIV and the kids came out of advanced math. My kid and some of his friends joined AAP in MS and fit in just fine. Some of his friends joined the honors classes and did just fine. The AAP battles are kind of crazy to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are just pointing out outliers (yes some kids struggle! What a concept!) for the reason AAP centers aren’t working. Give me a break, you don’t give a shit if some kids struggle. You’re just salty your kid didn’t get in and want to ruin it for the rest of us talking nonsense about CeNtErS dOnT wOrK!!!!

Then you’re going as far as making up shit like only the AAP parents needed the math test re-takes. Only Aap kids struggle in math classes. I don’t even know how you would even know if it was an Aap parent/kid in middle school. None of us wear a sticker that says “we’re from the center!”

It’s just ridiculous. Leave centers alone. Yes I wish things were more equitable but I don’t know what to do about that and my kid doesn’t either. All he wants is what the center school experience is providing: greater challenges and higher quality peer group.

On behalf of center folks, we are sorry your kid didn’t get in. You can still apply every year and hopefully the screening committee gods will bless you.

Ummm, when your base school is the center school you know which kids were in the center aap classroom from third to sixth grade. You hear about their struggles from the ways kids complain. And honestly, I dgaf about in aap or not in aap, I never applied. I do gaf that we had teachers tell me that my kid needed advanced math but there was nothing they could do ( spaces full, not enough resources, can't swap kids during math time based on ability).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better peer group. That's the big deal. That's the only deal.

I'm not even 100% sure that's true. At our center, the aap kids got cell phones younger. Definitely glad we didn't start the peer pressure on that stuff so young.
My Gen Ed kid wanted to be there, and recommends it for younger sibling....and it comes down to that the Gen Ed teachers have too many levels/groups in a classroom so the kids who are ahead just spend most of their time without much to do.

This. The queen-bee mean girl types are usually bright with strong social skills and involved parents. Those kids are also getting into AAP. My DD was mocked in 2nd grade for the clothing brands she was wearing by girls who left for the AAP center the following year.

I agree that the gen ed teachers will ignore the kids who are advanced. If an advanced gen ed kid is self motivated and has reasonably high executive function, the lack of teacher attention won't matter that much. My DD spent tons of free time reading through the school library and working independently on various projects. One of the sad ironies about AAP admissions is that the kids who are above grade level but with lower GBRS/HOPE scores are the ones who likely need the structure, expectations, and prodding from AAP the most. The kids who have the high teacher ratings and thus are the most likely to be admitted into AAP are going to bloom wherever they're planted.

Unfortunately that is true too, but in the long run isn't that better than chair throwers and kids with Derek Zoolander level reading skills? I say pick your poison.

I don't know where you live, but these kids do not exist at our FCPS elementary school.

lol. We have elementary schools where 1 in 4 can’t even speak English. And others where there are entire classes dddicated for mainstreaming and get an extra aid.

Yes well, you chose to live where you live.

And AAP centers are great.

Not so great when your base school is a center. The segregation is weird and causes weird issues. Although I think some of the families are more humbled now in middle school....

You choose to live where you live.

Unfortunately when we moved here our base wasn't a center yet....so it's not what we chose but it's what we got stuck with

The ESL population that has tripled over the last decade.

Again, you could always move and still can.

AAP centers works for me.

A lot of aap kids struggle, and end up in classes in MS with Gen Ed kids. A lot of aap parents were the ones asking the most questions about test retakes in honor math at back to school night. My lowly Gen Ed kid has no reason to need to request a retake yet. So stay on your high horse, but in the end the cream always rises.

+1 my genEd ES kid took algebra 1 honors in 8th (gasp!). They got a 100 in the class and a perfect SOL score. Many of the 7th graders in the class, the ES AAP kids, struggled to maintain a decent grade. Similarly, some of the ES AAP kids struggled to keep up with some genEd kids in the other MS honors classes. AAP might provide a stronger peer group in ES, but once courses are open enrollment, it doesn’t really lead to better academic outcomes. Bottom line, admittance to AAP is subjective for a decent number of the kids. It might provide a better experience for those chosen, but it certainly doesn’t mean that the chosen ones are inherently intellectually superior to their genEd peers, nor will it guarantee better outcomes. Not dismissing it’s a valuable opportunity for ES students - particularly those in low SES schools - but please be reassured that it’s not a leg up past ES.

75% of the county takes Algebra 1 by 8th grade, so I am not sure why you think it is surprising that your kid took A1H in 8th grade. And I don’t know why you are surprised that he did well in it, kids should be taking math classes at a pace that allows them to excel. I am glad that your kid did well.

I am guessing that you are at a MS that is not one of the four feeders. At Carson the 7th graders are in their own Algebra classes, they don’t mix 7th and 8th graders in classes. I would guess that there are some 7th graders who struggle with A1H, it is a faster pace and some kids are going to struggle. That is why some kids drop to M7H or expunge the grade and retake it. I know kids who got Bs in 7th grade A1H but they are fine with that grade.

We come from a school that didn’t have LLIV and the kids came out of advanced math. My kid and some of his friends joined AAP in MS and fit in just fine. Some of his friends joined the honors classes and did just fine. The AAP battles are kind of crazy to me.

I think my sarcasm was lost on you. The “gasp” was that my DC was one of the low lifes that didn’t take it until 8th. I was trying to be funny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are just pointing out outliers (yes some kids struggle! What a concept!) for the reason AAP centers aren’t working. Give me a break, you don’t give a shit if some kids struggle. You’re just salty your kid didn’t get in and want to ruin it for the rest of us talking nonsense about CeNtErS dOnT wOrK!!!!

Then you’re going as far as making up shit like only the AAP parents needed the math test re-takes. Only Aap kids struggle in math classes. I don’t even know how you would even know if it was an Aap parent/kid in middle school. None of us wear a sticker that says “we’re from the center!”

It’s just ridiculous. Leave centers alone. Yes I wish things were more equitable but I don’t know what to do about that and my kid doesn’t either. All he wants is what the center school experience is providing: greater challenges and higher quality peer group.

On behalf of center folks, we are sorry your kid didn’t get in. You can still apply every year and hopefully the screening committee gods will bless you.

You are gross. You should check yourself. You wrote that you want a ‘higher quality peer group.’ Your view and perception of non-AAP kids is exactly why the program should be abolished. You are showing and writing your prejudice right here. The sad thing is that you walk through life this way placing kids in boxes and groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are just pointing out outliers (yes some kids struggle! What a concept!) for the reason AAP centers aren’t working. Give me a break, you don’t give a shit if some kids struggle. You’re just salty your kid didn’t get in and want to ruin it for the rest of us talking nonsense about CeNtErS dOnT wOrK!!!!

Then you’re going as far as making up shit like only the AAP parents needed the math test re-takes. Only Aap kids struggle in math classes. I don’t even know how you would even know if it was an Aap parent/kid in middle school. None of us wear a sticker that says “we’re from the center!”

It’s just ridiculous. Leave centers alone. Yes I wish things were more equitable but I don’t know what to do about that and my kid doesn’t either. All he wants is what the center school experience is providing: greater challenges and higher quality peer group.

On behalf of center folks, we are sorry your kid didn’t get in. You can still apply every year and hopefully the screening committee gods will bless you.

You are gross. You should check yourself. You wrote that you want a ‘higher quality peer group.’ Your view and perception of non-AAP kids is exactly why the program should be abolished. You are showing and writing your prejudice right here. The sad thing is that you walk through life this way placing kids in boxes and groups.

We do want a high quality peer group. If you say you don’t, you are lying or completely clueless on what goes on. Non-AAP kids absolutely have high qualities too but there are fewer of them than in the Center. I’m sorry I don’t subscribe to platitudes that all kids are equally amazing. They are not but i’m glad you think so, the chair throwers need friends like your kid and their morally superior parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are just pointing out outliers (yes some kids struggle! What a concept!) for the reason AAP centers aren’t working. Give me a break, you don’t give a shit if some kids struggle. You’re just salty your kid didn’t get in and want to ruin it for the rest of us talking nonsense about CeNtErS dOnT wOrK!!!!

Then you’re going as far as making up shit like only the AAP parents needed the math test re-takes. Only Aap kids struggle in math classes. I don’t even know how you would even know if it was an Aap parent/kid in middle school. None of us wear a sticker that says “we’re from the center!”

It’s just ridiculous. Leave centers alone. Yes I wish things were more equitable but I don’t know what to do about that and my kid doesn’t either. All he wants is what the center school experience is providing: greater challenges and higher quality peer group.

On behalf of center folks, we are sorry your kid didn’t get in. You can still apply every year and hopefully the screening committee gods will bless you.

Actually, on behalf of center folks you can gtfo. We don’t want people like you speaking on our behalf with your vile rhetoric. Go away.