WOW! This AAP thing is interesting.

[Anonymous]

Just so you know, my non-AAP high school kids are in all the same classes as the kids who started GT (as it was called back in the day) in 3rd grade. And they are doing really well.
I don't know what AAP gets you, since it all evens out in the end.
I really wish they would differentiate based on learning styles, ie. group visual learners together, kinesthetic, etc. Even having some single sex classrooms would be great.

[Anonymous]

This board does not represent most people in Fairfax. That is a very important point that so many people new to this board seem to not understand. The people who obsess about AAP and push and scheme for their kids to get in find and follow this board and post scores religiously. Most everyone else falls in the other category -- you get or you don't. That's it. Most people's kids do not know their scores or anyone else's. I mentioned the program to my children the day of the orientation so they would know why we were going to a meeting. They told me that no one was talking about it at school. I was at a birthday part the weekend after the letters came and NOT ONE conversation involved AAP. And, we're in Mclean. Please do not generalize NOVA to the subset of posters on this board. Welcome and good luck with your move.

[Anonymous]

good luck to you
my 3rd grader is typical smarth and curious boy. got into aap without pushing. he likes it--is with his buddies--and is learning more

BUT--he and i are a bit stressed. the home work is one hour or a little more most days. and because he is out of bounds, his travel time is longer. so if there is an extra curricular that day, there is not down time, dreamy time, pure play time.

maybe advanced academics are not needed at this age.

[Anonymous]

good luck to you
my 3rd grader is typical smarth and curious boy. got into aap without pushing. he likes it--is with his buddies--and is learning more

BUT--he and i are a bit stressed. the home work is one hour or a little more most days. and because he is out of bounds, his travel time is longer. so if there is an extra curricular that day, there is not down time, dreamy time, pure play time.

maybe advanced academics are not needed at this age.

True, more specifically, advanced academics are not needed for your child at this age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:90% of FCPS students in AAP received no prepping for the test.

Not sure how anyone would know this. no one ever asked me if I did or did not prep my child and I highly doubt theu ask 6-7y/o when they take the test!

[Anonymous]

It's called BS learned in school. This is an art form for many here.

[Anonymous]

Another military family that highly recommends the West Springfield-Burke corridor (the schools located from West Springfield Elementary through Sangster)

Lots of great normal military families, WONDERFUL school and teachers, great community feel. I have one kid in our base school and another in AAP, and it seems that both schools do a fabulous job of meeting and exceeding our kids' educational needs.

None of the kids seem at all concerned about testing or scores.

[Anonymous]

Thank You for your comments. We will be house hunting in a few weeks. I grew up in Fairfax (left 20 years ago when I went to college) so I have an idea of where we'd like to live. Thanks for your input.

[Anonymous]

Oh, I love Virginia Beach. I would be bummed to be leaving. Good luck with your move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
90% of FCPS students in AAP received no prepping for the test.

Not sure how anyone would know this. no one ever asked me if I did or did not prep my child and I highly doubt theu ask 6-7y/o when they take the test!

No one would know this. PP has an axe to grind and doesn't like to face the fact that AAP is like everything else, a program in demand that can easily be gamed. Additionally, considering how relatively easy it is, statistically speaking, to get into the program, it is pretty clear that there isn't anything particularly gifted about the kids chosen to participate and begs the question of why the enrichment isn't available to all students as a matter of course.

Good luck, OP, in your move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why the enrichment isn't available to all students as a matter of course.

It is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or, you can just move to Arlington where they differentiate within the classroom with a few pullout services. I've never had a single conversation with another parent about gifted services or any of that stuff.

our ARL ES PTA had a GT svc info night and the turnout exceed the room capacity. don't fool yourself that your fellow parents don't care about 'that stuff.'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or, you can just move to Arlington where they differentiate within the classroom with a few pullout services. I've never had a single conversation with another parent about gifted services or any of that stuff.

our ARL ES PTA had a GT svc info night and the turnout exceed the room capacity. don't fool yourself that your fellow parents don't care about 'that stuff.'

Of course they CARE; I didn't imply that they don't so I think you read way too much into my statement. Showing up at an information night is not much of an investment of time or energy, is what any responsible parent with a smart kid would do, and is hardly on par with the efforts, frequently discussed on this board, that parents go to to get their kids into AAP. It is well known that parents in Arlington are as a general matter highly invested in their childrens' education. However, I stand by my statement that it is not a huge topic of conversation or angst. I have two kids in the system and know and socialize with many parents and frequently discuss school-related matters, and in 6 years have not had a single conversation about gifted services with another parent, nor have I overhead any such conversation among other parents. I do not know of any kid who has prepped to qualify for gifted services. If you read DCUM, you will not find that "how to get your child qualified for Arlington gifted services" is not a significant topic of conversation (versus, say, real estate in Arlington). Therefore, I'm sure that while there are parents who engage quietly in such conduct, it is not a large part of the cultural conversation nor is there a widespread perception among parents that not qualifying for gifted services means that your child is missing out on any significant educational benefit.

[Anonymous]

So you think parents and your "friends" will reveal all their trials and tribulations (e.g., dirty laundry) to you. Standing room only!!

GT services are on the minds of the majority of young families with young childrem. You had better believe this. You can take that to the bank.

[Anonymous]

If you read DCUM, you will not find that "how to get your child qualified for Arlington gifted services" is not a significant topic of conversation (versus, say, real estate in Arlington).

Perhaps that is because Arlington county does not have anything that even remotely compares to AAP level IV. What would the parents in question even talk about? Boy, I sure hope that my son gets to take that AP course in High School 6 years from now...