Stratford Landing AAP?
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Anonymous
| My DC (2nd grade) was just found eligible for Full-time AAP. We have the choice of staying at our base for local services (Fort Hunt ES). DC could continue Spanish immersion and stay with a younger sibling. Are there good reasons to choose Stratford instead? |
Anonymous
|
1. Current 2nd grade class had the option for a local full time AAP program next year, which older grades in Fort Hunt don’t have. It will be the first year it’s offered, so no experience on how it will be run. Many other schools principal place some students who qualify for part time AAP into local full time programs, so they may not go as in depth as center schools.
2. Think through your kid and what their needs are. Are they bored in class right now? Are they asking for a more challenging curriculum? Are they enjoying Spanish immersion or asking to end? |
Anonymous
|
OP here. DD loves Spanish and would be sad to leave it. She also loves the school, but she is an adaptable, social kid so I am not super worried about a change for social reasons.
She doesn't say she is bored in school. I think/observe she could use more of a challenge but she is not complaining. She is have been lucky - she has good teachers who seem to go out of the way to differentiate. I don't want to pass up a "better" opportunity for her but we are leaning toward staying. |
Anonymous
| I'd stay. You can always take the option later if she needs a change, but I'd give her base school a chance. |
Anonymous
Thank you! Would love other feedback, especially from people in the same pyramid or with experience with immersion and AAP. |
Anonymous
|
Fort Hunt is our base school and older kid went through K-6th (immersion 1st - 6th, since it only started in 1st then). It was a great community and part-time AAP with Spanish Immersion immersion kept it challenging enough for their needs. If you are thinking ahead to after elementary, the Sandburg Spanish 1 and 2 for immersion students (7th and 8th grade, respectively) lets kids who finish immersion at Fort Hunt to take a HS level class each year of MS, and have one class of kids they know. That helps when going from a smaller elementary school to the larger MS setting.
Kid #2 has been complaining of being bored and of needing more of a challenge in a few core subject areas for a few years. Teachers have confirmed that they need more in depth instruction as well. They aren't too interested in the Spanish. Just got in to Full Time AAP at Stratford for next year (but older than 2nd grade, so local full time option is not an option at Fort Hunt next year). Kid #2 will be to Stratford for next year. They have some friends already there, which helps the decision too. It's where they need to go for the challenge they need. |
Anonymous
This is super helpful - thank you! |
Anonymous
| Our base school is Belle View and we elected to stay there for level IV rather than send to Stratford. So far so good. My kid preferred the small neighborhood school over the crowded center school vibe and he seems to be appropriately challenged. That said, I know people at Stratford who are very happy. |
Anonymous
| Years ago, we kept our DC at Fort Hunt for immersion and the peer group. Started AAP in middle school. So worth it. DC is in college now, enjoying a semester abroad in Spain, and more confident in Spanish speaking skills than peers. And, DC had scheduling conflicts and only did 2 years of Spanish at WestPo (plus the 2 years from middle school). Still close to Fort Hunt friends. No regrets. |
Anonymous
| OP here - thank you both for the posts! |
Anonymous
| This is a no brainer—stay at Fort Hunt. Your other kid is there, Spanish immersion is great, and it’s smaller (550 vs 700). |
Anonymous
| Also making this decision! |