AAP for middle school—help a newbie?

[Anonymous]

Hello, can someone hold my hand as a newbie here? My husband is starting a job in McLean in January. We are currently out of state. My son is a current 6th grader in a gifted school (skipped 4th grade, skipped 6th grade math). He wants a gifted program again for 7th next year. We will likely finish this school year here and start in VA in Fall 2025.

Is there a GPA/cognitive score cut-off for a full time gifted program? Does this vary based on what school you apply to? Would he have a better chance at one location over another? Should we move next to a AAP center when we come from out of state?

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

AAP is not a gifted program but there are gifted kids in the program. Your child can select Honors classes for Social Studies, Science, and English. He might be placed in the AAP class depending on what program he is in at school right now. What math is he doing this year? Algebra 1 H is an option in 7th grade, there is a test in process for kids in FCPS. You might be able to request he be placed in Algebra 1 H as a 7th grader.

[Anonymous]

[AAP is not a gifted program but there are gifted kids in the program. Your child can select Honors classes for Social Studies, Science, and English. He might be placed in the AAP class depending on what program he is in at school right now. What math is he doing this year? Algebra 1 H is an option in 7th grade, there is a test in process for kids in FCPS. You might be able to request he be placed in Algebra 1 H as a 7th grader.]

Thank you! He’s in 7th grade math right now. The current school will place him into 8th or Algebra I as a 7th grader. It’s an accelerated class, so I think they’re just seeing how far the group gets. He doesn’t want *more* work, but he enjoys the project-based learning, deep content dives, and accelerated pace he’s getting now. He has also made a bunch of eclectic/quirky friends, which is his jam. He’s never had an inner perfectionist drive—but he learns quickly. I’m assuming AAP is the closest fit to what he has now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[AAP is not a gifted program but there are gifted kids in the program. Your child can select Honors classes for Social Studies, Science, and English. He might be placed in the AAP class depending on what program he is in at school right now. What math is he doing this year? Algebra 1 H is an option in 7th grade, there is a test in process for kids in FCPS. You might be able to request he be placed in Algebra 1 H as a 7th grader.]

Thank you! He’s in 7th grade math right now. The current school will place him into 8th or Algebra I as a 7th grader. It’s an accelerated class, so I think they’re just seeing how far the group gets. He doesn’t want *more* work, but he enjoys the project-based learning, deep content dives, and accelerated pace he’s getting now. He has also made a bunch of eclectic/quirky friends, which is his jam. He’s never had an inner perfectionist drive—but he learns quickly. I’m assuming AAP is the closest fit to what he has now?

That is correct. The only one that might be tricky is Algebra 1. It sounds like the right fit but you might need to push the MS to place him there. There is a test in process in FCPS and some MS are more reluctant to allow parents to place their kids into Algebra 1 without the test in. Hopefully it is not an issue for you but it is better to be warned.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP!

7th grader = middle school (“Junior High”) here in McLean, which is part of FCPS.

AAP technically ends in 6th grade. In middle school, there are “honors” classes. If he takes honors classes, he will be in class with former AAP kids.

His MS will likely be Longfellow MS. It’s a great school. It used to draw from 10 feeder elementary schools; one or two were a little rough; most were excellent.

The other MS for McLean would likely be Cooper MS. Also excellent. Cooper feeds into Langley HS, while Longfellow feeds into McLean HS; these are the #3 and #2 high schools in the state.

Both Longfellow and Cooper send many kids to Thomas Jefferson HS - which was previously the #1 HS in the United States.

Your son will be fine at either Longfellow or Cooper. Make sure he is signed up for honors classes.

[Anonymous]

Forgot to mention: if they don’t have a high enough math for him in MS, they will just have him take math at McLean HS.

There is a 10 year-old taking multivariable calculus at McLean HS this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP!

7th grader = middle school (“Junior High”) here in McLean, which is part of FCPS.

AAP technically ends in 6th grade. In middle school, there are “honors” classes. If he takes honors classes, he will be in class with former AAP kids.

His MS will likely be Longfellow MS. It’s a great school. It used to draw from 10 feeder elementary schools; one or two were a little rough; most were excellent.

The other MS for McLean would likely be Cooper MS. Also excellent. Cooper feeds into Langley HS, while Longfellow feeds into McLean HS; these are the #3 and #2 high schools in the state.

Both Longfellow and Cooper send many kids to Thomas Jefferson HS - which was previously the #1 HS in the United States.

Your son will be fine at either Longfellow or Cooper. Make sure he is signed up for honors classes.

You are incorrect. AAP continues into 8th grade. Some MS have Honors classes and AAP classes (Carson shows them as AA on the Grade Book) Only committee placed kids are in the AAP classes while Honors is open enrollment. Cooper and Longfellow are both MS AAP Centers and have AAP classes. Some people will tell you that AAP and Honors are the same, some will tell you that they are different. No idea what it is like at Longfellow or Cooper but AAP is supposed to be more in-depth then Honors at Carson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[AAP is not a gifted program but there are gifted kids in the program. Your child can select Honors classes for Social Studies, Science, and English. He might be placed in the AAP class depending on what program he is in at school right now. What math is he doing this year? Algebra 1 H is an option in 7th grade, there is a test in process for kids in FCPS. You might be able to request he be placed in Algebra 1 H as a 7th grader.]

Thank you! He’s in 7th grade math right now. The current school will place him into 8th or Algebra I as a 7th grader. It’s an accelerated class, so I think they’re just seeing how far the group gets. He doesn’t want *more* work, but he enjoys the project-based learning, deep content dives, and accelerated pace he’s getting now. He has also made a bunch of eclectic/quirky friends, which is his jam. He’s never had an inner perfectionist drive—but he learns quickly. I’m assuming AAP is the closest fit to what he has now?

That is correct. The only one that might be tricky is Algebra 1. It sounds like the right fit but you might need to push the MS to place him there. There is a test in process in FCPS and some MS are more reluctant to allow parents to place their kids into Algebra 1 without the test in. Hopefully it is not an issue for you but it is better to be warned.

You can take those tests over the summer when you move here. A friend’s kid did that. I’d apply for AAP, too. A lot of people will say honors and AAP are the same in MS but that was not our experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[AAP is not a gifted program but there are gifted kids in the program. Your child can select Honors classes for Social Studies, Science, and English. He might be placed in the AAP class depending on what program he is in at school right now. What math is he doing this year? Algebra 1 H is an option in 7th grade, there is a test in process for kids in FCPS. You might be able to request he be placed in Algebra 1 H as a 7th grader.]

Thank you! He’s in 7th grade math right now. The current school will place him into 8th or Algebra I as a 7th grader. It’s an accelerated class, so I think they’re just seeing how far the group gets. He doesn’t want *more* work, but he enjoys the project-based learning, deep content dives, and accelerated pace he’s getting now. He has also made a bunch of eclectic/quirky friends, which is his jam. He’s never had an inner perfectionist drive—but he learns quickly. I’m assuming AAP is the closest fit to what he has now?

That is correct. The only one that might be tricky is Algebra 1. It sounds like the right fit but you might need to push the MS to place him there. There is a test in process in FCPS and some MS are more reluctant to allow parents to place their kids into Algebra 1 without the test in. Hopefully it is not an issue for you but it is better to be warned.

You can take those tests over the summer when you move here. A friend’s kid did that. I’d apply for AAP, too. A lot of people will say honors and AAP are the same in MS but that was not our experience.

The bolded may be very school dependent. I had one in AAP and one in regular honors classes at our MS (not one of the ones named in this thread) and other than a couple of extra projects for the AAP kid, the curriculum was basically the same.

[Anonymous]

OP here—thank you all!

If we apply over the summer, it says online to register kiddo in school first then apply for AAP. Since we plan to buy a home, should we buy next to a AAP Center school? If we are accepted, is there a chance they’ll say “you’re accepted BUT drive to this other location” or do they put you wherever is closest? We are currently driving 30 minutes each way with four 6th grade gifted/2E boys in my carpool right now and it’s… a lot. Would love to avoid!!

Does your “zoned” middle school have any bearing on the application decision? For example, do they limit class sizes so a popular location ends up being harder to get into?

Is there information about score cut-offs to get in somewhere?

Thank you again!

[Anonymous]

If your child is in AAP they will have the choice to attend their base school or the AAP Center, if it is not the base school.

For example, our child’s base school is the AAP Center so we did not have an option. Our child is in an after achoola ctivity with kids who could be attending a different MS but choose our sons MS because they were in AAP.

If you choose the Center, the county will provide transportation.

[Anonymous]

The two middle schools in McLean both have AAP so if your budget allows living here it doesn’t matter where you are within McLean. Kids who can’t walk get a bus.
The county is huge, though, and other schools do not have AAP. My nerdy kid is at Longfellow in AAP and has lots of similar friends. It’s been a good place for her and the teachers have been pretty outstanding (with an exception here or there.)