FFX vs Arlington County Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the Arlington parents who are so opposed to Fairfax, what do you think of AAP classes, honors classes, etc? Is differentiation only allowed at the high school level or do you just prefer that kids be taught at different levels in their own classroom? Not sure what your concern is with Fairfax.

I do think that differentiation is more appropriate at the high school level. I think differences in children's maturity levels and preparedness are much broader in the early years, and elementary school teachers are accustomed to dealing with a broad range of skills and abilities in their classrooms. Also, children change and grow--an unexceptional 6-year-old can catch up to her peers, while very precocious 8-year-olds can turn out to be just garden variety snowflakes by age 12.

But really my concern is this: in a world of scarce resources, I would rather see special education funding devoted to children who really NEED special services because they can't be adequately served in a regular classroom. This means truly gifted children and children with learning problems, not your typical smart cookie. And if we are not talking about children who need special services (which we decidedly are not when it comes to FCPS AAP), then what we are talking about is special services that can probably be great for kids at all levels, so why save them only for the smart cookies? Why not share that wealth with the kids of more average intelligence? And if the AAP special services are really just more work, more homework, moving faster, then I admit that I don't really see the benefit of that, either. But then, I have never seen a study that shows any long-term benefit of elementary school homework.

I cannot see the real, long-term benefit of separating the smart cookies from the average cookies, and I think doing so may be do the average and below-average cookies a grave disservice. I think the real, measurable benefits for the smart cookies are far smaller than the potential costs for the others.

[phone] Very, very well said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington has Spanish immersion but not as part of the curriculum

No. Many of the elementary schools have Spanish 3 days a week. It's called FLES and is treated as all the other "specials".

This.

ESOL?

how do you say "troll" in Spanish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the Arlington parents who are so opposed to Fairfax, what do you think of AAP classes, honors classes, etc? Is differentiation only allowed at the high school level or do you just prefer that kids be taught at different levels in their own classroom? Not sure what your concern is with Fairfax.

I do think that differentiation is more appropriate at the high school level. I think differences in children's maturity levels and preparedness are much broader in the early years, and elementary school teachers are accustomed to dealing with a broad range of skills and abilities in their classrooms. Also, children change and grow--an unexceptional 6-year-old can catch up to her peers, while very precocious 8-year-olds can turn out to be just garden variety snowflakes by age 12.

But really my concern is this: in a world of scarce resources, I would rather see special education funding devoted to children who really NEED special services because they can't be adequately served in a regular classroom. This means truly gifted children and children with learning problems, not your typical smart cookie. And if we are not talking about children who need special services (which we decidedly are not when it comes to FCPS AAP), then what we are talking about is special services that can probably be great for kids at all levels, so why save them only for the smart cookies? Why not share that wealth with the kids of more average intelligence? And if the AAP special services are really just more work, more homework, moving faster, then I admit that I don't really see the benefit of that, either. But then, I have never seen a study that shows any long-term benefit of elementary school homework.

I cannot see the real, long-term benefit of separating the smart cookies from the average cookies, and I think doing so may be do the average and below-average cookies a grave disservice. I think the real, measurable benefits for the smart cookies are far smaller than the potential costs for the others.

[phone] Very, very well said.

-1000000000. In other words, I'm worried that my snowflake won't test into the advanced program, so I'd better come up with a rationale for why gifted programs cause more harm than good. Meanwhile, FCPS, not APS, has higher average SAT and SOL scores and attracts more high-achieving families, particularly Asians.

[Anonymous]

I cannot see the real, long-term benefit of separating the smart cookies from the average cookies, and I think doing so may be do the average and below-average cookies a grave disservice. I think the real, measurable benefits for the smart cookies are far smaller than the potential costs for the others.

Doesn't always help the so-called "smart cookies" either.

[Anonymous]

Other than bussing, AAP kids don't get any special money directed towards them. And there are many LLIV programs which get no additional funding for their AAP programs. Just wanted to clear up the confusing that AAP is costing an arm and a leg and taking money out of special education. It isn't. It's a little higher cost for bussing, but there are very few if any additional busses used because of AAP. It's more like just more fuel to pick up kids a little further away.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone speak to the OP's issues re: aftercare in FFX and the Monday schedule? I am another poster who is interested in the differences. Sounds like Arlington is friendlier for full time working parents whereas FFX is more apt for the SAH helicopter parents! LOL!

[Anonymous]

See recent threads about SACC. It is and it isn't. If you get your child into SACC, the program has more space for your child during aftercare hours. The benefit of Arlington is each year you can opt in or opt out and don't have to worry beyond August whether your child needs aftercare or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the Arlington parents who are so opposed to Fairfax, what do you think of AAP classes, honors classes, etc? Is differentiation only allowed at the high school level or do you just prefer that kids be taught at different levels in their own classroom? Not sure what your concern is with Fairfax.

I do think that differentiation is more appropriate at the high school level. I think differences in children's maturity levels and preparedness are much broader in the early years, and elementary school teachers are accustomed to dealing with a broad range of skills and abilities in their classrooms. Also, children change and grow--an unexceptional 6-year-old can catch up to her peers, while very precocious 8-year-olds can turn out to be just garden variety snowflakes by age 12.

But really my concern is this: in a world of scarce resources, I would rather see special education funding devoted to children who really NEED special services because they can't be adequately served in a regular classroom. This means truly gifted children and children with learning problems, not your typical smart cookie. And if we are not talking about children who need special services (which we decidedly are not when it comes to FCPS AAP), then what we are talking about is special services that can probably be great for kids at all levels, so why save them only for the smart cookies? Why not share that wealth with the kids of more average intelligence? And if the AAP special services are really just more work, more homework, moving faster, then I admit that I don't really see the benefit of that, either. But then, I have never seen a study that shows any long-term benefit of elementary school homework.

I cannot see the real, long-term benefit of separating the smart cookies from the average cookies, and I think doing so may be do the average and below-average cookies a grave disservice. I think the real, measurable benefits for the smart cookies are far smaller than the potential costs for the others.

[phone] Very, very well said.

-1000000000. In other words, I'm worried that my snowflake won't test into the advanced program, so I'd better come up with a rationale for why gifted programs cause more harm than good. Meanwhile, FCPS, not APS, has higher average SAT and SOL scores and attracts more high-achieving families, particularly Asians.

That's me you're quoting above. I know it is hard to believe that I could be opposed to a public policy even if it would benefit my child, so my position must be based on fear or jealousy or greed. It is not. We used to live in DC and considered private school for our eldest child, so he's been privately tested. His WISC-IV score would easily qualify him for FCPS AAP. I know my snowflake would test into the advanced program, and I still believe that advanced program (it is decidedly NOT a "gifted" program) could cause more harm than good. Your imagination must be very limited.

[Anonymous]

To add, the only schools I know with long SACC waitlists are AAP centers. Some have no waitlist and others are about 1 year to 1.5 years , but they let you register 1 year before you need care so it isn't typically an issue or not a longstanding issue. A lot of kindergarteners don't get in at our school, but they all go to the local private school or the karate school and then there are tons of kindergarteners in those programs, so it's nice for them and you don't have to worry about your kindergartener being with a lot of older kids. From 1st grade on, everyone I know who wants SACC got accepted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I cannot see the real, long-term benefit of separating the smart cookies from the average cookies, and I think doing so may be do the average and below-average cookies a grave disservice. I think the real, measurable benefits for the smart cookies are far smaller than the potential costs for the others.

Doesn't always help the so-called "smart cookies" either.

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Does Arlington do no pullout classes or switch classes for anything? I think Arlington parents live in a vacuum if they think kids don't measure themselves against one another.

[Anonymous]

Also wonder what the dynamics are of Arlington vs. Fairfax aftercare. Since a lot of kindergarteners don't get into SACC, there are a decent amount of 4th-6th graders taking up the available spots. If Arlington SACC is filled with kindergarteners, are there less older kids in the program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does Arlington do no pullout classes or switch classes for anything? I think Arlington parents live in a vacuum if they think kids don't measure themselves against one another.

I don't recall anyone saying anywhere in this thread that kids don't measure themselves against one another?

As to your question, I can only speak for my experience at one Arlington elementary school. DC had one primary teacher during grades k-3, switching classes only for art, PE, music, and Spanish, and with occasional pull-out for gifted instruction. In 4th grade, the students had one teacher for science and social studies, another for reading, and another for math, but no tracking for any of those classes. Same will be true in 5th grade.

FWIW, my child tested "advanced" on this year's 4th grade math, reading, and history SOLs.

[Anonymous]

I think both school systems have their pros and cons. I'm in FX, but my brother is in Arlington. We are both products of FXPS (so is SIL). My kids do language immersion in FX. It isn't at all school, but they do offer it.

Also think about your commute. My brother walks/metros to work. I slug. We both spend the same amount of time commuting.

Life is different on other items. I have a garage and 3 cars, he has two driveways and 3 sheds. I have to spend an hour mowing my lawn, I think he spends 20 minutes. I can avoid 66. they get stuck in 66 traffic on a sunday afternoon.

I wouldn't pick FX for the AAP programs/center, but we turned AAP down to stay with language immersion. I also didn't have too much problem with SACC. We got in a few months into after we started, but we were at an immersion school and they have longer waitlists. SACC is also only for a few years. Most parents drop it late 5th grade/6th grade when kids can latch-key it.

Fairfax does let you go to different high schools, with reason. Due to our language immersion we are looking at multiple high schools to keep with the language (local high school dropped the language we studied). But, IBs & APs are a whole other forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also wonder what the dynamics are of Arlington vs. Fairfax aftercare. Since a lot of kindergarteners don't get into SACC, there are a decent amount of 4th-6th graders taking up the available spots. If Arlington SACC is filled with kindergarteners, are there less older kids in the program?

Does SACC = extended day/aftercare?

If so, I don't know what would make you think Arlington elementary aftercare programs are full of kindergarteners? AFAIK, there is no waiting list at our elementary school for aftercare, so any elementary school child of any age can be enrolled. There is no predominance of younger vs. older kids or vice versa.