Does Arlington County have the equivalent to FCPS AAP? If so, can one transfer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved from Arlington to Fairfax for the AAP program. You will not find anything as challenging in the Arlington schools. The math instruction is particularly weak, except at one or two schools.

Same with us. However, it may have been an issue with our particular elementary school (Glebe). We are much happier in FCPS at the AAP Center.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Fairfax schools are much better. Everyone should move there.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Move to Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

Arlington schools have a lot resources devoted to farms so I you are lucky to get anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All children are gifted in Arlington, didn't you know?

Ha, I jest.

There's a robust gifted program in Arlington, but it doesn't have all the trappings that make the FCPS program the freak show that it is.

Arlington's gifted program is difficult to get into, however.

Seriously? Both my kids are in it and I don't think they're geniouses!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All children are gifted in Arlington, didn't you know?

Ha, I jest.

There's a robust gifted program in Arlington, but it doesn't have all the trappings that make the FCPS program the freak show that it is.

Arlington's gifted program is difficult to get into, however.

Seriously? Both my kids are in it and I don't think they're geniouses!

It's actually really easy to get into the APS gifted program, and we have two levels of appeal if you don't get the answer you want the first time. I think the big difference is that it's just not as desirable or worthwhile of a program as AAP, so many don't even bother with it at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Move to Fairfax.

Tee hee. Arlington parent here. Yes, do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All children are gifted in Arlington, didn't you know?

Ha, I jest.

There's a robust gifted program in Arlington, but it doesn't have all the trappings that make the FCPS program the freak show that it is.

Arlington's gifted program is difficult to get into, however.

Seriously? Both my kids are in it and I don't think they're geniouses!

It's actually really easy to get into the APS gifted program, and we have two levels of appeal if you don't get the answer you want the first time. I think the big difference is that it's just not as desirable or worthwhile of a program as AAP, so many don't even bother with it at all.

Not anymore. The only real difference between this and AAP is there's no lunacy about it and it isn't regarded as some commodity where your child's future is fucked if you don't get in. Arlington parents are just more chill about the whole thing, but we enjoy reading about Fairfax parents' collective panic every February.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved from Arlington to Fairfax for the AAP program. You will not find anything as challenging in the Arlington schools. The math instruction is particularly weak, except at one or two schools.

Same with us. However, it may have been an issue with our particular elementary school (Glebe). We are much happier in FCPS at the AAP Center.

We have a son at Glebe and have been somewhat frustrated by the gifted program there. Can you expand on your experience and what made you leave?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington schools have a lot resources devoted to farms so I you are lucky to get anything.

One has nothing to do with the other. It's not that much of a difference between the counties, anyway.

Some 26.2% of Fairfax students are FARMs. It's 32.5% in Arlington. Not sure 6 points is that big or noticeable a difference given the number of students in the two systems (about 180,000 in Fairfax and about 19,000 in Arlington). Both are on the lower end for the state in either case. http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/bystate/Rankings.aspx?state=VA&ind=3239....

(Falls Church, interestingly, is in single digits).

Fairfax County's budget is $2.5 billion versus about $500 million for Arlington. So if you're really going to make a resources argument, Fairfax spends $13,888 per pupil while Arlington spends about $26,000, or twice as much.

Yeah, I'm not worried about it.

[Anonymous]

OP here= thank you for the insights (and interesting debate). I am asking since oldest DC will be in the pool based on 1st grade testing (was told this too by AAP teacher based on such a high score), grades have been top K and 1 etc., I'm not that excited about our school's AAP approach at our level IV school. They mainstream kids and then pull out for math etc.- the pull outs are like 38 kids. I have young enough kids that we can move. I love where we live but the center (another choice versus staying at level IV school) doesn't have SACC and that will be important. Plus- I have a younger child so if it's an overcrowded center, then we'd have kids in two different places. It'll depend on DH - he's applied for other jobs - but if it was DC- Arlington is close (plus I lived there after undergrad- it was fun). Thank you again for all the insights..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington schools have a lot resources devoted to farms so I you are lucky to get anything.

One has nothing to do with the other. It's not that much of a difference between the counties, anyway.

Some 26.2% of Fairfax students are FARMs. It's 32.5% in Arlington. Not sure 6 points is that big or noticeable a difference given the number of students in the two systems (about 180,000 in Fairfax and about 19,000 in Arlington). Both are on the lower end for the state in either case. http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/bystate/Rankings.aspx?state=VA&ind=3239....

(Falls Church, interestingly, is in single digits).

Fairfax County's budget is $2.5 billion versus about $500 million for Arlington. So if you're really going to make a resources argument, Fairfax spends $13,888 per pupil while Arlington spends about $26,000, or twice as much.

Yeah, I'm not worried about it.

Your figures are wrong, but no surprise since Arlington struggles with numbers. It's taxpayers and parents worried about where their kids will end up going to school who worry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Your figures are wrong, but no surprise since Arlington struggles with numbers. It's taxpayers and parents worried about where their kids will end up going to school who worry.

Parents who worry are the ones who worry. Thanks for that.

To repeat: All you people who are deciding where to move, please pick Fairfax. Go go go. Arlingtonians who try to persuade them otherwise, just hush. Hush now. Hush and read The Prince.