Loudoun County FUTURA decisions

[Anonymous]

I asked my LCPS DC the difference between honors and regular classes. They said: they go through material at a faster pace, they do more projects, a lot more writing assignments, tests ask more detail answers, and outside reading assignments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As for Honors classes, my kids are in all honors classes so I cannot tell you the difference between regular and honors. But from what my kids tell me, regular classes can be a jungle. Most kids in honors are more concerned about their grades (not all, but most). So you have more effective use of class time vs regular where there are more kids who don't care about school.

I have a kid in a Loudoun MS (8th grade) and I can tell you that this is not true. The majority of kids are in "honors" classes, for some reason, maybe because most parents couldn't stand the fact that their kid might be average academically. My DD tells me her "honors" classes are disruptive, chaotic and not very challenging.

Bring on AP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I asked my LCPS DC the difference between honors and regular classes. They said: they go through material at a faster pace, they do more projects, a lot more writing assignments, tests ask more detail answers, and outside reading assignments.

Your DC is feeding you a line of bull. "Honors" classes in Loudoun County may be marginally more challenging than academic, but not much.

This is one area where other districts (like Fairfax & Alexandria) do a better job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I asked my LCPS DC the difference between honors and regular classes. They said: they go through material at a faster pace, they do more projects, a lot more writing assignments, tests ask more detail answers, and outside reading assignments.

Your DC is feeding you a line of bull. "Honors" classes in Loudoun County may be marginally more challenging than academic, but not much.

This is one area where other districts (like Fairfax & Alexandria) do a better job.

I asked my DC if they were feeding me bull and they said, "No". But they wanted to know, "who hurt you as a child?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I asked my LCPS DC the difference between honors and regular classes. They said: they go through material at a faster pace, they do more projects, a lot more writing assignments, tests ask more detail answers, and outside reading assignments.

Your DC is feeding you a line of bull. "Honors" classes in Loudoun County may be marginally more challenging than academic, but not much.

This is one area where other districts (like Fairfax & Alexandria) do a better job.

I asked my DC if they were feeding me bull and they said, "No". But they wanted to know, "who hurt you as a child?"

No one "hurt me as a child". I know firsthand that the "honors" classes in LCPS middle schools are a joke. What do you expect when more than half the students are in "honors" classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I asked my LCPS DC the difference between honors and regular classes. They said: they go through material at a faster pace, they do more projects, a lot more writing assignments, tests ask more detail answers, and outside reading assignments.

Your DC is feeding you a line of bull. "Honors" classes in Loudoun County may be marginally more challenging than academic, but not much.

This is one area where other districts (like Fairfax & Alexandria) do a better job.

I asked my DC if they were feeding me bull and they said, "No". But they wanted to know, "who hurt you as a child?"

No one "hurt me as a child". I know firsthand that the "honors" classes in LCPS middle schools are a joke. What do you expect when more than half the students are in "honors" classes?

Let's work on reading comprehension. Stated experiences of LCPS honors classes are:

1. Material are introduced at a faster pace then non-honors
2. Writing and projects are assigned more often then non-honors
3. Required outside reading expected more often versus non-honors
4. More detailed tests versus non-honors
5. Statistically kids enrolled side more of the academically conscious then non-honors
6. Parents push their kids into honors regardless of merit
7. Honors classes are marginally more challenging then non-honors
8. Roughly 2/3 of the student body are enrolled in honors classes

All of the above can be true. One does not dismiss the other.
If you find LCPS honors classes do not meet your expectations then that is an opinion we can discuss. But you accuse my DC of "feeding me bull" is insulting; as if my household hold any interest in deceiving people on an open forum. I'm sorry your DD is not enjoying her experience; but if we can be imaginative, just maybe, there are some kids who are truly enjoying and earnestly benefiting from the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone answer why LCPS only has a 1 day/week program? And have any of you had success convincing the base school to group all the FUTURA kids into one classroom and allowing them to be around like-minded peers the rest of the days of the week? How do other schools organize their FUTURA kids? (My son's school disperses the kids among the different classes) AND once they move on to Middle School how is the quality of the Honors courses? Are they challenging?

We were new to LCPS last year and both my kids (DS in ES and DD in MS) were admitted into Futura (ES) and Spectrum (MS). They explained to us that ES kids are bused to the closest school that has Futura. I think that is why it is only 1 day/wk because all the kids have to be bused from their base ES to an ES that has space. As for MS, Spectrum is at the school and is during the kids Resource classes (study hall). This is when most kids opt out of Spectrum because they rather have 45 mins to do homework, meet with teachers, take tests, etc. Both kids are now in MS and love their Spectrum classes. They have no problem finishing hw. When you are in 8th grade, Resource is 90 mins instead of 45 mins so you have Spectrum for 45 mins and Resource the other 45 mins. LCPS follows the alternating schedule so you have classes/resources/spectrum every other day.

As for Honors classes, my kids are in all honors classes so I cannot tell you the difference between regular and honors. But from what my kids tell me, regular classes can be a jungle. Most kids in honors are more concerned about their grades (not all, but most). So you have more effective use of class time vs regular where there are more kids who don't care about school.

Can you tell me more about the Spectrum classes in middle school?

[Anonymous]

Spectrum is Futura in MS. The classes are much smaller sizes and held every other day. My DC do more group projects and critical thinking problem solving. Some examples: In 8th grade, they go on a field trip; 7th grade they have a science project; and 6th grade create a business. There is very little (actually zero) reading assignments or homework. It's just creative and critical thinking. They do give out math exams and science exams in Spectrum that do help the kids in Mathletes and Science Olympiad.

[Anonymous]

Screening process for loudoun county FUTURA is a big joke.
I did not know they look for so many things in a kid. Identifying giftedness or exceptional ability should be in one or two areas not in many areas.
We got a letter that says my son in ineligible for FUTURA.
About my son
1-Cogat: 99
NNAT2: 99
In the pool
Has all A grades.He is highly exceptional in language arts,math,science .He won top places in science,math and spelling bee contests
2-Not supported by class teacher
3-Not supported by Search work

I was surprised teacher did not recommend him. She always gave very words about him in report card like he is excellent and a grade above in these 3 are
as.
SEARCH teacher showed me the SIGS score in each area. He got very high in science,math and language arts and missed by one point in social,General intellectual and creativity.He is 10 points behind in leadership.
One need to pass in 4 out these 7 areas
to get in to FUTURA program.
How can you except a kid to be gifted in 4 areas? They didnt even consider the composite score for all 7 areas.They go by individual score.
Also he already took math/verbal/nonverbal test and scored 99.
Why again looking for math and language arts ?
Why looking at academics perspective..
Fairfax county looks at 4 general areas from teacher
1- Exceptional ability to learn
2- Exceptional application of knowledge
3- Exceptional/creative productive thinking
4- Exceptional motivation to succeed
This is how it should be.I like Fairfax county's selection process.
Total 3 kids got selected from his class.

[Anonymous]

Are you appealing?
And to appeal,do you need again teacher's recomendation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you appealing?
And to appeal,do you need again teacher's recomendation?

SEARCH teacher told me my son is a good case for appealing. She told me different teachers view the kids in different ways . If he could not get in this year he could get in next year. She asked to attach few photos of him winning contests and receiving tropies. Write about the contests he won. Mention how many attended the contests.
I think they didn't even bother about parents SIGS form.Nowhere it is in the list of criteria for selection.
I am planning to appeal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the time class teacher give good recommendations to room moms' kids.My son's class teacher was very rude when I asked her why a child with 99 percentile abilities test score didn't get in.

You asked about another child that wasn't yours? I'd be rude to you too since you were incredibly out of line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the time class teacher give good recommendations to room moms' kids.My son's class teacher was very rude when I asked her why a child with 99 percentile abilities test score didn't get in.

You asked about another child that wasn't yours? I'd be rude to you too since you were incredibly out of line.

Looks like she did not ask the teacher about other child . She might have got that information when she was in conversation with other moms. They usually share information about their kids like how they are performing at school, what grades they are receiving, do they need extra coaching outside shcool, where do they send them,how is the teacher etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree wholeheartedly with the comment above. I can't fathom that the SIGS questionnaire and "unbiased" parental input could be weighed heavily in the decision. Makes me wonder about brilliant children who don't have strong parental advocates because of their own personal, financial, or other issues. I would hope a child who tested off the charts would be accepted to the program despite not having brilliantly crafted portfolios created by their parents. I, for one, will not be scoring my child with all 4's on this questionnaire. I mean, rate how my child "Seeks to understand why people, cultures, or groups act the way they do" and "Desires to develop solutions to social problems." Really? He's 8. He gets upset when I make him go to sleep at bedtime or when I limit his Xbox time. I just don't think 8 year-olds are contemplating solutions to the problems in Syria, for example.
I'm not trying to be snarky here, I just don't get this SIGS form.

Could not agree with you more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone answer why LCPS only has a 1 day/week program? And have any of you had success convincing the base school to group all the FUTURA kids into one classroom and allowing them to be around like-minded peers the rest of the days of the week? How do other schools organize their FUTURA kids? (My son's school disperses the kids among the different classes) AND once they move on to Middle School how is the quality of the Honors courses? Are they challenging?

We were new to LCPS last year and both my kids (DS in ES and DD in MS) were admitted into Futura (ES) and Spectrum (MS). They explained to us that ES kids are bused to the closest school that has Futura. I think that is why it is only 1 day/wk because all the kids have to be bused from their base ES to an ES that has space. As for MS, Spectrum is at the school and is during the kids Resource classes (study hall). This is when most kids opt out of Spectrum because they rather have 45 mins to do homework, meet with teachers, take tests, etc. Both kids are now in MS and love their Spectrum classes. They have no problem finishing hw. When you are in 8th grade, Resource is 90 mins instead of 45 mins so you have Spectrum for 45 mins and Resource the other 45 mins. LCPS follows the alternating schedule so you have classes/resources/spectrum every other day.

As for Honors classes, my kids are in all honors classes so I cannot tell you the difference between regular and honors. But from what my kids tell me, regular classes can be a jungle. Most kids in honors are more concerned about their grades (not all, but most). So you have more effective use of class time vs regular where there are more kids who don't care about school.

On the positive side homes in Loudoun are relatively "cheaper"