s/o "if you kid doesn't go to AAP 3-8 is he doomed?" - what is the point of AAP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My kids (2E) have absolutely been more/better prepared for high school thanks to AAP. Just our family's experience, though.

How do you know?

Based on results seen in executive function skills and -- in turn -- in academic performance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of parents on this board who are trying to make themselves feel ok about the fact that their kids were not accepted into AAP. The fact is that the AAP curriculum is superior (which I why non-AAP parents keep saying their kids sHould have access to it), the peer group is stronger academically and more motivated, without ESOL kids, etc being pushed in and the strongest teachers tend to get AAp certified. The vast majority of the kids accepted to TJ, the NMSFs, etc. will be kids coming out of the AAP centers. Can you get a good education in FCPS in GE? Of course. But in most schools, the education is better in AAP-- just ask parents whose kids were GE until AAP selection in 3rd-- it's a huge difference.

I completely disagree. I see a lot of parents on this board trying to justify the existence of AAP by telling themselves and anyone gullible enough to believe them that the AAP curriculum is "superior," that the peer group is "more motivated" (??), that kids are more prepared in high school if they've been in AAP, and that the strongest teachers tend to be AAP certified. None of this has been true in our experience. Yes, most TJ accepted kids come from the AAP crowd, but then TJ isn't the goal for many of us - not by a long shot. As a parent with both AAP and GE kids, the only notable difference I've observed is the amount of homework and silly projects my AAP kid had. My GE kids learned exactly the same things as the one in AAP, but had a much less stressful time doing it and enjoyed school far more.

I think the many parents advocating for the AAP curriculum to be the "regular" curriculum (for all) do so because it's widely known that AAP can be done by the majority of students, whether or not they're AAP-identified, and the vast majority of AAP-identified kids are indistinguishable from the vast majority of GE kids - so why have a different curriculum in the first place. The fact is, this curriculum isn't especially difficult, as parents of highly gifted children have been saying. They're the ones asking for a far more challenging curriculum than AAP for their kids.

Then why don't you pull you DC out of AAP, if you are getting silly projects and no value added? For us, 3rd grade AAP was a night and day difference, and the teachers have been top notch. For the first time, DC became engaged in school and stopped getting bored and acting out. He could certainly handle an even more rigorous curriculum, but AAP is certainly a step up from GE. But I'm sure different school implement differently.

My DC was in AAP a few years ago - now in high school. I can compare his experience with my other children who are currently in GE, learning exactly the same material AAP child learned, and having a much happier school experience. Had I only known, we would have kept him in GE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is AAP and what does it have to do with real estate?

Considering that you entered the category that says, "AAP" after what the acronym stands for, you're post is a believable question. Not.

This thread was originally posted in a different forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I completely disagree. I see a lot of parents on this board trying to justify the existence of AAP by telling themselves and anyone gullible enough to believe them that the AAP curriculum is "superior," that the peer group is "more motivated" (??), that kids are more prepared in high school if they've been in AAP, and that the strongest teachers tend to be AAP certified. None of this has been true in our experience.

My kids (2E) have absolutely been more/better prepared for high school thanks to AAP. Just our family's experience, though.

YMMV, our AAP Center had no idea what to do with our 2E child.

[Anonymous]

My DC was in AAP a few years ago - now in high school. I can compare his experience with my other children who are currently in GE, learning exactly the same material AAP child learned, and having a much happier school experience. Had I only known, we would have kept him in GE.

So you've had no connection to AAP for years and never will again. Yet you still come here to point out your disappointment? That's dedication. For better or worse, when AAP is no longer relevant to my family I'll find something else to do with my time than visit this board.

[Anonymous]

AAP is feeder to TJ
if you don't get b in there, life goes on, one can still do well in college and life, but you went to the best high school in the us, academically speaking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AAP is feeder to TJ
if you don't get b in there, life goes on, one can still do well in college and life, but you went to the best high school in the us, academically speaking.

AAP is not a feeder to TJ. Correlation does not equal causation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
AAP is feeder to TJ
if you don't get b in there, life goes on, one can still do well in college and life, but you went to the best high school in the us, academically speaking.

AAP is not a feeder to TJ. Correlation does not equal causation.

+100000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AAP is feeder to TJ
if you don't get b in there, life goes on, one can still do well in college and life, but you went to the best high school in the us, academically speaking.

AAP is not a feeder to TJ. Correlation does not equal causation.

89% of AAP children who applied got into TJ. It's pretty much a feeder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AAP is feeder to TJ
if you don't get b in there, life goes on, one can still do well in college and life, but you went to the best high school in the us, academically speaking.

AAP is not a feeder to TJ. Correlation does not equal causation.

89% of AAP children who applied got into TJ. It's pretty much a feeder.

Did you mean 89% of kids who get into TJ are from AAP? I can't imagine that 89% of AAP kids who applied get in. I think a few thousand kids apply and only 400-500 kids get in. I'm guessing most AAP kids who apply don't get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AAP is feeder to TJ
if you don't get b in there, life goes on, one can still do well in college and life, but you went to the best high school in the us, academically speaking.

AAP is not a feeder to TJ. Correlation does not equal causation.

almost all the kids at TJ were in AAP. They're the cream of the crop academically. They were identified as such early on and put in an academic environment best suited for them.
What would have happened if there was no AAP and these kids all were Gen Ed during 3-8 is speculation. Luckily, we have AAP here in Fairfax County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AAP is feeder to TJ
if you don't get b in there, life goes on, one can still do well in college and life, but you went to the best high school in the us, academically speaking.

AAP is not a feeder to TJ. Correlation does not equal causation.

almost all the kids at TJ were in AAP. They're the cream of the crop academically. They were identified as such early on and put in an academic environment best suited for them.
What would have happened if there was no AAP and these kids all were Gen Ed during 3-8 is speculation. Luckily, we have AAP here in Fairfax County.

So you think you can counter "+100000" fake internet points with logic? I suspect someone will be along shortly to sort you out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AAP is feeder to TJ
if you don't get b in there, life goes on, one can still do well in college and life, but you went to the best high school in the us, academically speaking.

AAP is not a feeder to TJ. Correlation does not equal causation.

almost all the kids at TJ were in AAP. They're the cream of the crop academically. They were identified as such early on and put in an academic environment best suited for them.
What would have happened if there was no AAP and these kids all were Gen Ed during 3-8 is speculation. Luckily, we have AAP here in Fairfax County.

So you think you can counter "+100000" fake internet points with logic? I suspect someone will be along shortly to sort you out.

Wouldn't be surprised.

[Anonymous]

My DC was in AAP a few years ago - now in high school. I can compare his experience with my other children who are currently in GE, learning exactly the same material AAP child learned, and having a much happier school experience. Had I only known, we would have kept him in GE.

Actually, I'm interested in this comment. PP, can you post more about your kids' AAP vs. GE experiences? I have heard so many different things that run the gamut from "AAP is great" to "AAP helped my kid find his/her peer group" to "AAP is just a homework program." Of course there are many different centers, but I'm wondering just how different the experience is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My DC was in AAP a few years ago - now in high school. I can compare his experience with my other children who are currently in GE, learning exactly the same material AAP child learned, and having a much happier school experience. Had I only known, we would have kept him in GE.

Actually, I'm interested in this comment. PP, can you post more about your kids' AAP vs. GE experiences? I have heard so many different things that run the gamut from "AAP is great" to "AAP helped my kid find his/her peer group" to "AAP is just a homework program." Of course there are many different centers, but I'm wondering just how different the experience is.

If you have been around here awhile you will have learned that all the schools are different. I know how it is at Longfellow and Rachel Carson, but understand some of the other centers are quite different. I think it depends on the school.