New to FFX county. What is AAP?

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone -

We're moving to McLean next month, when DC starts school, she will be going to Sherman Elementary. She's only 2 years old now, so I'm not really up on the schools yet.

Could one of you guys let me know what AAP is? It sound like some place gifted kids go, instead of their base schools? Is it some other location? Do these kids go to AAP every day - are they ever at their base school?

Thank you!!

[Anonymous]

Sure -- you can read all about it on the FCPS website:

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/index.shtml


I think the FAQ is particularly helpful:

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/faqs.shtml

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi everyone -

We're moving to McLean next month, when DC starts school, she will be going to Sherman Elementary. She's only 2 years old now, so I'm not really up on the schools yet.

Could one of you guys let me know what AAP is? It sound like some place gifted kids go, instead of their base schools? Is it some other location? Do these kids go to AAP every day - are they ever at their base school?

Thank you!!

Basically. It's not a gifted program, rather "advanced academics."

Supposed to be based on objective measurements but as you can see from the anxiety in the forums, this being Washington a lot of people jump through a lot of hoops to contrive to get their kids who are just on the bubble into the program.

Basically divides FFX into two tiers of education.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks ladies!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi everyone -

We're moving to McLean next month, when DC starts school, she will be going to Sherman Elementary. She's only 2 years old now, so I'm not really up on the schools yet.

Could one of you guys let me know what AAP is? It sound like some place gifted kids go, instead of their base schools? Is it some other location? Do these kids go to AAP every day - are they ever at their base school?

Thank you!!

[list]The less you know the better. Let your child do it on their own. If they make it you will know. Seriously I wish I didn't know as much. It is really stressful if you look into it to much. I agree with the PP poster it is just dividing the county in two tiers of education or Tracking as they called it years ago.

[Anonymous]

Don't think the answers to date are quite accurate. AAP is indeed the acronym for Advanced Academic Program in Fairfax - also referred to as "Level IV" services. About 10% of Fairfax elementary students are in the AAP program, although you'd think the percentage was far higher from this forum (where the posters consist largely of those whose kids are in the AAP program or very much want their kids accepted into the program). Franklin Sherman, a wonderful school, does not have its own AAP program. Kids assigned to Sherman who test into AAP go to Haycock ES in Falls Church instead.

It's not a "two-track" system at the elementary level. Fairfax has other advanced programs (Level II and III programs), in addition to the Level 1 general education services, for elementary students. Some students at Sherman are in the Level II/III program, though the general education enrollment is larger. It seems to work reasonably well. Parents who don't like the idea of differentiated instruction, or worry about the possibility that their children may not get into the AAP program, might be happier in another jurisdiction like Arlington.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP, except it is about 15% of the kids in the AAP program.

As with any process that passes judgment over our children, the approach is not without controversy.

The issues come down to teachers/schools view of the children compared with test scores. There are reasons to go both ways: test prep, teacher biases, etc. If you read through the forums, you can get a better idea. Don't worry about it now.

Even the base (general) education in FCPS is excellent. The difference is AAP goes into more detail on subject areas, but less drill and practice. For a truly gifted child, that can be very good. For a smart child, it is helpful, but not critical. For an average child, drill and practice is a better way of learning.

[Anonymous]

Level IV AAP starts with third grade, so you end up with about 10% of the total elementary school students at an AAP center and about 15-18% of the elgible students in grades 3-6 at an AAP center.

For the OP's benefit, Haycock and the other schools that have AAP centers also have general education and Level II/III students as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't think the answers to date are quite accurate. AAP is indeed the acronym for Advanced Academic Program in Fairfax - also referred to as "Level IV" services. About 10% of Fairfax elementary students are in the AAP program, although you'd think the percentage was far higher from this forum (where the posters consist largely of those whose kids are in the AAP program or very much want their kids accepted into the program). Franklin Sherman, a wonderful school, does not have its own AAP program. Kids assigned to Sherman who test into AAP go to Haycock ES in Falls Church instead.

It's not a "two-track" system at the elementary level. Fairfax has other advanced programs (Level II and III programs), in addition to the Level 1 general education services, for elementary students. Some students at Sherman are in the Level II/III program, though the general education enrollment is larger. It seems to work reasonably well. Parents who don't like the idea of differentiated instruction, or worry about the possibility that their children may not get into the AAP program, might be happier in another jurisdiction like Arlington.

Ignore the misplaced dig on Arlington, which is generally considered to be an equivalent or superior system to FFX.

The quality of education in APS is at such a higher level so there's not need for this elaborate tracking system. Arlington students have opportunity to go to TJ and there's also HB Woodlawn at the HS level. FFX parents should happy that Arlington exists, because most APS students would crowd out their own children from these AAP programs. Arlington base schools basically operate at that AAP level as a default.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ignore the misplaced dig on Arlington, which is generally considered to be an equivalent or superior system to FFX.

Please read this post and thread:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/214917.page#2138426

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ignore the misplaced dig on Arlington, which is generally considered to be an equivalent or superior system to FFX.

Please read this post and thread:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/214917.page#2138426

I think most people understand that the comparison generally is North Arlington to the more elite parts of FFX (McLean, etc) so I'm not exactly sure the point of saying that APS has problems with disadvantaged populations. We're not talking about disadvantaged populations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ignore the misplaced dig on Arlington, which is generally considered to be an equivalent or superior system to FFX.

Please read this post and thread:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/214917.page#2138426

I think most people understand that the comparison generally is North Arlington to the more elite parts of FFX (McLean, etc) so I'm not exactly sure the point of saying that APS has problems with disadvantaged populations. We're not talking about disadvantaged populations.

The point was the quoted text -- Arlington is not "generally considered to be an equivalent or superior system to Fairfax."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ignore the misplaced dig on Arlington, which is generally considered to be an equivalent or superior system to FFX.

Please read this post and thread:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/214917.page#2138426

I think most people understand that the comparison generally is North Arlington to the more elite parts of FFX (McLean, etc) so I'm not exactly sure the point of saying that APS has problems with disadvantaged populations. We're not talking about disadvantaged populations.

The point was the quoted text -- Arlington is not "generally considered to be an equivalent or superior system to Fairfax."

Actually, yes it is. AYP data is meaningless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Ignore the misplaced dig on Arlington, which is generally considered to be an equivalent or superior system to FFX.

The quality of education in APS is at such a higher level so there's not need for this elaborate tracking system. Arlington students have opportunity to go to TJ and there's also HB Woodlawn at the HS level. FFX parents should happy that Arlington exists, because most APS students would crowd out their own children from these AAP programs. Arlington base schools basically operate at that AAP level as a default.

It's not a misplaced dig. It's part of the reason why some people prefer the Arlington system. The reality is that people move to different jurisdictions, and in both directions, to suit their own preferences.

There is no consensus, except among some Arlington parents, that theirs is an equivalent or superior system to Fairfax. The limited differentiated instruction in Arlington is a respectable policy decision, but it's not due to the caliber of Arlington students compared to those in Fairfax or other localities. Just look at the feathers that start to fly when anyone in Arlington suggests a possible need to redistrict students to schools with lower average test scores, and it's quite clear that Arlington parents differentiate students in their own minds, even ACPS may not do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Ignore the misplaced dig on Arlington, which is generally considered to be an equivalent or superior system to FFX.

The quality of education in APS is at such a higher level so there's not need for this elaborate tracking system. Arlington students have opportunity to go to TJ and there's also HB Woodlawn at the HS level. FFX parents should happy that Arlington exists, because most APS students would crowd out their own children from these AAP programs. Arlington base schools basically operate at that AAP level as a default.

It's not a misplaced dig. It's part of the reason why some people prefer the Arlington system. The reality is that people move to different jurisdictions, and in both directions, to suit their own preferences.

There is no consensus, except among some Arlington parents, that theirs is an equivalent or superior system to Fairfax. The limited differentiated instruction in Arlington is a respectable policy decision, but it's not due to the caliber of Arlington students compared to those in Fairfax or other localities. Just look at the feathers that start to fly when anyone in Arlington suggests a possible need to redistrict students to schools with lower average test scores, and it's quite clear that Arlington parents differentiate students in their own minds, even ACPS may not do so.

Your Freudian slip is showing.