APEX Reach - Interest Form?

[Anonymous]

The school has indicated that it will provide updated information for Rising 9th graders on January 15, 2026.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With Woodward opening soon they are getting rid of APEX because not all of the incoming freshman in Fall 2026 will stay at Walter Johnson. Some will get moved to Woodward and thus won’t be able to complete the APEX program, since it’s a WJ only program and it’s a four year program.

If this were true for next year, wouldn't they have announced it by now? Could it be that the program is changing in 2027 but will be the same for next year's 9th graders?

My current APEX kid said they were told no APEX next year for incoming 9th graders. I don’t know if it’s true. I hope if they do get rid of it, they replace it with a comprable cohorted program for the 9th and 10th English classes at least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With Woodward opening soon they are getting rid of APEX because not all of the incoming freshman in Fall 2026 will stay at Walter Johnson. Some will get moved to Woodward and thus won’t be able to complete the APEX program, since it’s a WJ only program and it’s a four year program.

How do you know this? My child is planning to apply to APEX for next year and I haven't seen any announcement about terminating this program. Why would they cancel it just as they start a regional model that is trying to attract students to the various regional schools. Parents have waited years for their kids to be a part of this program at WJ.

It is mostly a fake program to let Bethesda parents think even more highly of their snowflakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With Woodward opening soon they are getting rid of APEX because not all of the incoming freshman in Fall 2026 will stay at Walter Johnson. Some will get moved to Woodward and thus won’t be able to complete the APEX program, since it’s a WJ only program and it’s a four year program.

How do you know this? My child is planning to apply to APEX for next year and I haven't seen any announcement about terminating this program. Why would they cancel it just as they start a regional model that is trying to attract students to the various regional schools. Parents have waited years for their kids to be a part of this program at WJ.

It is mostly a fake program to let Bethesda parents think even more highly of their snowflakes.

I know you’re just trying to troll but it’s now basically a non-selective (just minimum GPA req) program for admission so I don’t think anyone thinks that way, unless they’re ill informed. It provides true Honors English instead of MCPS Honors for All English. Higher level books and writing assignments and discussions. That’s why people care. Colleges don’t care about it for admission. You can take the same APs without it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With Woodward opening soon they are getting rid of APEX because not all of the incoming freshman in Fall 2026 will stay at Walter Johnson. Some will get moved to Woodward and thus won’t be able to complete the APEX program, since it’s a WJ only program and it’s a four year program.

How do you know this? My child is planning to apply to APEX for next year and I haven't seen any announcement about terminating this program. Why would they cancel it just as they start a regional model that is trying to attract students to the various regional schools. Parents have waited years for their kids to be a part of this program at WJ.

It is mostly a fake program to let Bethesda parents think even more highly of their snowflakes.

I know you’re just trying to troll but it’s now basically a non-selective (just minimum GPA req) program for admission so I don’t think anyone thinks that way, unless they’re ill informed. It provides true Honors English instead of MCPS Honors for All English. Higher level books and writing assignments and discussions. That’s why people care. Colleges don’t care about it for admission. You can take the same APs without it.

So a loophole around MCPS policy against cohorting Grade 9-10 English. Ideally the policy would be changed county-wide, rather than individual schools finding work-arounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With Woodward opening soon they are getting rid of APEX because not all of the incoming freshman in Fall 2026 will stay at Walter Johnson. Some will get moved to Woodward and thus won’t be able to complete the APEX program, since it’s a WJ only program and it’s a four year program.

How do you know this? My child is planning to apply to APEX for next year and I haven't seen any announcement about terminating this program. Why would they cancel it just as they start a regional model that is trying to attract students to the various regional schools. Parents have waited years for their kids to be a part of this program at WJ.

It is mostly a fake program to let Bethesda parents think even more highly of their snowflakes.

I know you’re just trying to troll but it’s now basically a non-selective (just minimum GPA req) program for admission so I don’t think anyone thinks that way, unless they’re ill informed. It provides true Honors English instead of MCPS Honors for All English. Higher level books and writing assignments and discussions. That’s why people care. Colleges don’t care about it for admission. You can take the same APs without it.

So a loophole around MCPS policy against cohorting Grade 9-10 English. Ideally the policy would be changed county-wide, rather than individual schools finding work-arounds.

ding ding ding

The only reason why APEX matters is cohorted English 9 and 10. And yes that should be countywide policy.

[Anonymous]

Is there an actual written policy against it? Or just that only Honors is offered (aside from some special courses)?

[Anonymous]

Can you take AP Seminar instead of English 10? I wonder if that’s the future plan? That’s not a bad idea.

[Anonymous]

You cannot take AP Language and Composition in Grade 10. It's only offered for 11th graders. Many MCPS high schools are offering AP Seminar for English 10 credit (instead of "Honors" English 10), but WJ only offers that class as an English elective to be taken along with the regular English class.

[Anonymous]

WJ will not become an IB school.

[Anonymous]

WJ posted on it's website

Thank you for your patience regarding the APEX Reach program at Walter Johnson High School. We will provide updated information at the Rising 9th Grade Parent Meeting on January 15, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., including an overview of the next steps for the 2026–2027 school year.

APEX is not going away.

[Anonymous]

It's a shame they diluted the APEX program, which was designed to keep kids at WJ rather than heading off to Blair and RM. It was test in, required a teacher recommendation, and now, just a 3.5 GPA (which due to grade inflation, is at least 75% if not more, of NB students). They don't stay like they used to because it's no longer the best and the brightest, and not a true cohort. They should bring back the test and the teacher recommendations

[Anonymous]

It is actually still there best and brightest. Requires more APs now so kids are pretty serious students. The one ms who aren’t wash out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a shame they diluted the APEX program, which was designed to keep kids at WJ rather than heading off to Blair and RM. It was test in, required a teacher recommendation, and now, just a 3.5 GPA (which due to grade inflation, is at least 75% if not more, of NB students). They don't stay like they used to because it's no longer the best and the brightest, and not a true cohort. They should bring back the test and the teacher recommendations

Counterpoint: The APEX Reach changes were great. It opened the program to anyone willing and able to do the work rather than rely on unnecessary gatekeeping requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a shame they diluted the APEX program, which was designed to keep kids at WJ rather than heading off to Blair and RM. It was test in, required a teacher recommendation, and now, just a 3.5 GPA (which due to grade inflation, is at least 75% if not more, of NB students). They don't stay like they used to because it's no longer the best and the brightest, and not a true cohort. They should bring back the test and the teacher recommendations

Counterpoint: The APEX Reach changes were great. It opened the program to anyone willing and able to do the work rather than rely on unnecessary gatekeeping requirements.

Agree. Who is leaving WJ? There are obee 3000 students!