Information session on AAP at Kilmer Middle?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd check with Kilmer, but your kid would likely be better off at Cooper if that is your base school. Smart kids, more space and he/she will likely go to high school with most of these kids as opposed to none of the classmates he/she will have at Kilmer[i].

Not sure why you'd think that. More than half of the AAP students at Kilmer have Cooper as their base school. These students also go to Langley unless they get into TJ or pupil place to an IB school. In addition, the closest IB school for the Cooper students who go to Kilmer, rather than Longfellow, is South Lakes, not Marshall, so that's another incentive to go to Langley (I'm not dumping on South Lakes, but Kilmer kids would not know many students there).

Yes, but the majority of kids who go to Kilmer go on to Madison or Marshall. It may be about the little AAP club for parents, but kids change when they become teenagers and a very large chunk of the AAP kids will tell you that they wish they had more classes with non-AAP kids who often seem to be more interesting. Teenage years are all about exploration and if you think your AAP kid is going to have nothing but AAP friends for the rest of his/her time in FCPS you are kidding yourself.

Also keep in mind that the plan is to eventually have all Cooper AAP kids stay at Cooper.

I guess it boils down to whether you see more benefit in having classes with non-AAP kids in MS than being in AAP classes. Whatever the future plans are for Cooper, it doesn't have an AAP center yet. If a kid in the Langley pyramid goes to the Kilmer AAP center, he or she will have plenty of middle-school peers who are also going to Langley.

Thank God. Hopefully, it will stay that way.

It won't. Not enough space at Kilmer.

[Anonymous]

If Cooper has Honors/AAP classes, I'd stay put. We were not happy at Kilmer and the worst of the teachers are still there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd check with Kilmer, but your kid would likely be better off at Cooper if that is your base school. Smart kids, more space and he/she will likely go to high school with most of these kids as opposed to none of the classmates he/she will have at Kilmer[i].

Not sure why you'd think that. More than half of the AAP students at Kilmer have Cooper as their base school. These students also go to Langley unless they get into TJ or pupil place to an IB school. In addition, the closest IB school for the Cooper students who go to Kilmer, rather than Longfellow, is South Lakes, not Marshall, so that's another incentive to go to Langley (I'm not dumping on South Lakes, but Kilmer kids would not know many students there).

Yes, but the majority of kids who go to Kilmer go on to Madison or Marshall. It may be about the little AAP club for parents, but kids change when they become teenagers and a very large chunk of the AAP kids will tell you that they wish they had more classes with non-AAP kids who often seem to be more interesting. Teenage years are all about exploration and if you think your AAP kid is going to have nothing but AAP friends for the rest of his/her time in FCPS you are kidding yourself.

Also keep in mind that the plan is to eventually have all Cooper AAP kids stay at Cooper.

I guess it boils down to whether you see more benefit in having classes with non-AAP kids in MS than being in AAP classes. Whatever the future plans are for Cooper, it doesn't have an AAP center yet. If a kid in the Langley pyramid goes to the Kilmer AAP center, he or she will have plenty of middle-school peers who are also going to Langley.

Thank God. Hopefully, it will stay that way.

Why do you say that, PP? Curious to hear your thoughts!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If Cooper has Honors/AAP classes, I'd stay put. We were not happy at Kilmer and the worst of the teachers are still there.

Interesting. I've heard great things about the teachers even just last year. Must be hit or miss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Cooper has Honors/AAP classes, I'd stay put. We were not happy at Kilmer and the worst of the teachers are still there.

Interesting. I've heard great things about the teachers even just last year. Must be hit or miss.

Very much so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd check with Kilmer, but your kid would likely be better off at Cooper if that is your base school. Smart kids, more space and he/she will likely go to high school with most of these kids as opposed to none of the classmates he/she will have at Kilmer[i].

Not sure why you'd think that. More than half of the AAP students at Kilmer have Cooper as their base school. These students also go to Langley unless they get into TJ or pupil place to an IB school. In addition, the closest IB school for the Cooper students who go to Kilmer, rather than Longfellow, is South Lakes, not Marshall, so that's another incentive to go to Langley (I'm not dumping on South Lakes, but Kilmer kids would not know many students there).

Yes, but the majority of kids who go to Kilmer go on to Madison or Marshall. It may be about the little AAP club for parents, but kids change when they become teenagers and a very large chunk of the AAP kids will tell you that they wish they had more classes with non-AAP kids who often seem to be more interesting. Teenage years are all about exploration and if you think your AAP kid is going to have nothing but AAP friends for the rest of his/her time in FCPS you are kidding yourself.

Also keep in mind that the plan is to eventually have all Cooper AAP kids stay at Cooper.

I guess it boils down to whether you see more benefit in having classes with non-AAP kids in MS than being in AAP classes. Whatever the future plans are for Cooper, it doesn't have an AAP center yet. If a kid in the Langley pyramid goes to the Kilmer AAP center, he or she will have plenty of middle-school peers who are also going to Langley.

Thank God. Hopefully, it will stay that way.

Why do you say that, PP? Curious to hear your thoughts!

Those of us who have or will have kids at Cooper are very happy that there is no AAP center. Many of our kids had to attend AAP centers during elementary school (Gen Ed students - center was the base school), and by middle school, they want out of that environment of AAP vs GE. It gets incredibly old. Cooper doesn't have that dynamic at all, and it's hugely refreshing. It would be nice if it could stay that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd check with Kilmer, but your kid would likely be better off at Cooper if that is your base school. Smart kids, more space and he/she will likely go to high school with most of these kids as opposed to none of the classmates he/she will have at Kilmer[i].

Not sure why you'd think that. More than half of the AAP students at Kilmer have Cooper as their base school. These students also go to Langley unless they get into TJ or pupil place to an IB school. In addition, the closest IB school for the Cooper students who go to Kilmer, rather than Longfellow, is South Lakes, not Marshall, so that's another incentive to go to Langley (I'm not dumping on South Lakes, but Kilmer kids would not know many students there).

Yes, but the majority of kids who go to Kilmer go on to Madison or Marshall. It may be about the little AAP club for parents, but kids change when they become teenagers and a very large chunk of the AAP kids will tell you that they wish they had more classes with non-AAP kids who often seem to be more interesting. Teenage years are all about exploration and if you think your AAP kid is going to have nothing but AAP friends for the rest of his/her time in FCPS you are kidding yourself.

Also keep in mind that the plan is to eventually have all Cooper AAP kids stay at Cooper.

I guess it boils down to whether you see more benefit in having classes with non-AAP kids in MS than being in AAP classes. Whatever the future plans are for Cooper, it doesn't have an AAP center yet. If a kid in the Langley pyramid goes to the Kilmer AAP center, he or she will have plenty of middle-school peers who are also going to Langley.

Thank God. Hopefully, it will stay that way.

Why do you say that, PP? Curious to hear your thoughts!

Those of us who have or will have kids at Cooper are very happy that there is no AAP center. Many of our kids had to attend AAP centers during elementary school (Gen Ed students - center was the base school), and by middle school, they want out of that environment of AAP vs GE. It gets incredibly old. Cooper doesn't have that dynamic at all, and it's hugely refreshing. It would be nice if it could stay that way.

It's not an option. Gen Ed students at Kilmer experience "that environment" as well, but it's worse, because Kilmer is over-crowded. Meanwhile Cooper has empty seats and a declining enrollment. It makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd check with Kilmer, but your kid would likely be better off at Cooper if that is your base school. Smart kids, more space and he/she will likely go to high school with most of these kids as opposed to none of the classmates he/she will have at Kilmer[i].

Not sure why you'd think that. More than half of the AAP students at Kilmer have Cooper as their base school. These students also go to Langley unless they get into TJ or pupil place to an IB school. In addition, the closest IB school for the Cooper students who go to Kilmer, rather than Longfellow, is South Lakes, not Marshall, so that's another incentive to go to Langley (I'm not dumping on South Lakes, but Kilmer kids would not know many students there).

Yes, but the majority of kids who go to Kilmer go on to Madison or Marshall. It may be about the little AAP club for parents, but kids change when they become teenagers and a very large chunk of the AAP kids will tell you that they wish they had more classes with non-AAP kids who often seem to be more interesting. Teenage years are all about exploration and if you think your AAP kid is going to have nothing but AAP friends for the rest of his/her time in FCPS you are kidding yourself.

Also keep in mind that the plan is to eventually have all Cooper AAP kids stay at Cooper.

I guess it boils down to whether you see more benefit in having classes with non-AAP kids in MS than being in AAP classes. Whatever the future plans are for Cooper, it doesn't have an AAP center yet. If a kid in the Langley pyramid goes to the Kilmer AAP center, he or she will have plenty of middle-school peers who are also going to Langley.

Thank God. Hopefully, it will stay that way.

Why do you say that, PP? Curious to hear your thoughts!

Those of us who have or will have kids at Cooper are very happy that there is no AAP center. Many of our kids had to attend AAP centers during elementary school (Gen Ed students - center was the base school), and by middle school, they want out of that environment of AAP vs GE. It gets incredibly old. Cooper doesn't have that dynamic at all, and it's hugely refreshing. It would be nice if it could stay that way.

It's not an option. Gen Ed students at Kilmer experience "that environment" as well, but it's worse, because Kilmer is over-crowded. Meanwhile Cooper has empty seats and a declining enrollment. It makes no sense.

Yes, the plan is the Cooper AAP kids will ultimately stay at Cooper for Middle School. And I think Cooper mom when you speak about being happy there is no AAP Center you are speaking for the majority of us. I had an AAP kid and I hate what a center does to a school. There is no way that the non-AAP kids' needs are anywhere near as valued as their AAP peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, the plan is the Cooper AAP kids will ultimately stay at Cooper for Middle School. And I think Cooper mom when you speak about being happy there is no AAP Center you are speaking for the majority of us. I had an AAP kid and I hate what a center does to a school. There is no way that the non-AAP kids' needs are anywhere near as valued as their AAP peers.

You had an AAP kid at a center school, and you're saying the needs of non-AAP kids don't get as much attention? How would you know?

[Anonymous]

Anyone who is thinking of Cooper should sit in on some classes to see the content and how students behave and whether and how the teachers control the behavior (and watch the behavior between classes). If you wanted to compare, go to Longfellow and note any differences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, the plan is the Cooper AAP kids will ultimately stay at Cooper for Middle School. And I think Cooper mom when you speak about being happy there is no AAP Center you are speaking for the majority of us. I had an AAP kid and I hate what a center does to a school. There is no way that the non-AAP kids' needs are anywhere near as valued as their AAP peers.

You had an AAP kid at a center school, and you're saying the needs of non-AAP kids don't get as much attention? How would you know?

Because like so many others, I had both AAP and non AAP kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who is thinking of Cooper should sit in on some classes to see the content and how students behave and whether and how the teachers control the behavior (and watch the behavior between classes). If you wanted to compare, go to Longfellow and note any differences.

Are you seriously suggesting that the kids at Cooper behave differently than those at Kilmer or Longfellow, simply because there is no AAP center at Cooper? You obviously know nothing about Cooper and what a terrific school is, full of great kids. And this is a perfect example of why Cooper parents and kids are quite happy to have nothing to do with this AAP nonsense.

[Anonymous]

No i don't think it is necessarily the kids' issue but I do believe that Longfellow is run in a more organized and streamlined way that facilitates things like progress to classes without yelling and scuffling in the halls and polite attention paid in classes. By all students at Longfellow, not just AAP. But in fairness to Cooper, I suggested that parents visit the schools and classes to compare. In my experience, many parents who claim to be happy with Cooper have never visited Longfellow.

[Anonymous]

As another example, as of about 2012, when I tried to call the school's attention to it, no one at Cooper claimed to have heard of this math program held at TJ every year (for many years) called the Intermediate Math Open which is a FUN thing, for any middle school in the area (private or public). It has nothing to do with TJ admissions or AAP. It is about making math fun. Every school gets invited. It set a great tone for DC's time at Longfellow to get invited. But there has to be a teacher willing to spend part of a Saturday at TJ. I think the invitation may have gotten filed in the circular file at Cooper though I am certain they are at least 7 kids interested enough to attend from Cooper. It's not the kids -they may not have even been told about the opportunity. The organization (and enough effort and discipline to sustain it) has to come from the school.

http://activities.tjhsst.edu/vmt/?schedule

[Anonymous]

http://activities.tjhsst.edu/vmt/tjimo/?

Better link to IMO here.