thinking of pulling AAP kids to private

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Certainly at the elementary level, FCPS is below mediocre in teaching the sciences.

The OP’s children are in 6th and 4th so it is the MS and HS that is in play here.

What privates excel at the sciences and math in ES, MS and HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 kids in AAP, one 6th and one 4th. Both are doing fine (3s & 4s on report cards), but neither are particularly excited about schools. I have them shadowed a private school and they both loved it. Said that teachers at the private school are more enthusiastic and engaging, and kids are crazier and the classrooms are more fun. The 4th grader is happy that there is more attention from the teacher as the class size is significantly smaller. Given my 4th grader has a summer birthday, maturity is always a concern. If he continues in AAP, I imagine he will always be "average" or perhaps "below average" among his AAP classmates, even though I know he is very creative and smarter than what he shows in his school work. The 6th grader will need to change to middle school anyway, and our AAP middle school is new, so I have not idea how that is going to work out. Is finding a school that is more fun and exciting a good enough reason to change?

To answer you direct questions, yes. Finding a school that is more fun and exciting is a good enough reason to change. I would never pull my kids from AAP to private but it sounds like you want to, so you should.

[Anonymous]

I’d say pull them out and put them in a private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d say pull them out and put them in a private school.

+1. You know you want to do it OP, so I don't even get the point of this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 kids in AAP, one 6th and one 4th. Both are doing fine (3s & 4s on report cards), but neither are particularly excited about schools. I have them shadowed a private school and they both loved it. Said that teachers at the private school are more enthusiastic and engaging, and kids are crazier and the classrooms are more fun. The 4th grader is happy that there is more attention from the teacher as the class size is significantly smaller. Given my 4th grader has a summer birthday, maturity is always a concern. If he continues in AAP, I imagine he will always be "average" or perhaps "below average" among his AAP classmates, even though I know he is very creative and smarter than what he shows in his school work. The 6th grader will need to change to middle school anyway, and our AAP middle school is new, so I have not idea how that is going to work out. Is finding a school that is more fun and exciting a good enough reason to change?

Do what is best for your child.

How does this issue gets resolved in private?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm guessing a lot of your kids' enthusiasm for the 'more fun' school is based on how you've presented everything to them.

No, those are their words and impressions. I know very little about how their current AAP classrooms function and I did not observe the private school classrooms when they were there. The 6th grader now told me that in her current AAP classroom kids are not allowed to speak or will have minutes taken away from recess, but the private classroom are freer, kids can mingle and talk. I suppose the private school tries harder to make classes more fun/entertaining while the AAP classes are more strict and "no-nonsense."

Is your 6th grader not allowed to talk during recess or during class when teacher is teaching?If it is former then it is an issue but later then do you think it is wrong thing to ask from student?

[Anonymous]

It obviously depends on which private school you are talking about. Some are superior to FCPS AAP, some are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It obviously depends on which private school you are talking about. Some are superior to FCPS AAP, some are not.

which ones? Please name some.

[Anonymous]

If you can afford it, I'd do it. We did it after we moved out of state and only then did I really how messed up FCPS, especially AAP, is. Preserve their mental health and love for learning.