AAP program in Mont Co?

[Anonymous]

Is there an Advanced Academics Program in Montgomery County? We are thinking of moving there from Fairfax County, and I can't seem to figure out the system in Montgomery Co.
In Fairfax Co, a bright child has the opportunity to be placed in the AAP program at their own school (if the services are offered there), or another school nearby. How does it work in Mont Co? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

In MoCo the equivalent is G&T, and magnets. Many fewer MoCo kids get into magnets than get into AAP, is my understanding. In my view, Fairfax does a better job reaching kids in the 90th and 95th percentiles, who may not make it into the magnets.

[Anonymous]

MoCo has magnets for Elementary, Middle and High school, but there are many less slots than are available in Fairfax AAP. For elementary school there are 7 centers w/ probably ~50 kids each.

More info here for elementary: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/elementary/highly-gifted-centers.aspx

[Anonymous]

MCPS magnet generally include the top 2-3% and admittance based on a particular test score is not guaranteed. These is a also a separate application for each level of school so being in an ES magnet does not mean you will continue there.

[Anonymous]

Also keep in mind that magnets start at grade 4.

With Curriculum 2.0 (new in MCPS in last few years) there is no defined acceleration paths for most students. There are in-class reading and math groups that are differentiated by levels.

[Anonymous]

There is a GT magnet at Takoma Park Elementary School starting in kindergarten.

Also keep in mind that you generally can't enter magnets after the first year - K, 4, 6 and 9th grade for the various magnet levels. There is a test administered in December before the entry year. Because tons of qualified kids take the test, there are always long wait lists of kids for each magnet class. My understanding is that if you move from out of area your kid might be added to the wait list pool, but would have no special advantage over the other 90-100 kids on the wait list at, say, Takoma Park Middle School for each grade. Sorry I can't be more optimistic.

[Anonymous]

Actually it is grades 1 and 2..not K

[Anonymous]

OP, if you are looking on the MCPS website, look for "Highly Gifted Center" or HGC. The program is called HGC in ES, not magnet. It's magnet for MS. Being at an HGC does not guarantee the child will be in a magnet program for MS.

How old are your children, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you are looking on the MCPS website, look for "Highly Gifted Center" or HGC. The program is called HGC in ES, not magnet. It's magnet for MS. Being at an HGC does not guarantee the child will be in a magnet program for MS.

How old are your children, OP?

Thanks for the information! My daughter is in the first grade and she scored in the 99% on the NNAT. She is therefore in the screening pool for the AAP program in Fairfax Co, but I still do not know if she will make it in. I really do not think she will make it into any type of GT program in Montgomery County as it seems as if those spots are fewer and for very gifted students. I'm not sure I understand the new MCPS Curriculum 2.0? Is it a step in the right direction, or will it result in all children being taught at some middle range to allow them to pass the standardized tests? I don't want to be in a position where there is no option for an advanced track in subjects that she is doing well in.

[Anonymous]

Note that the HGCs are, I believe, only for grades 4 and 5.

[Anonymous]

HGCs are indeed only for grades 4-5.

The jury is still out on Curriculum 2.0. The MCPS website has a whole section devoted to it. My DC is in 2nd grade, so every year she is in the "guinea pig" year for 2.0 (i.e., this year, the 2nd grade teachers are teaching it for the first time. Next year it will be rolled out to 3rd grade. Presumably rolled out in fall 2013 to 4th grade, etc.)

Cuirriculum 2.0 is not meant to teach to the test, but to get a deeper knowledge of the foundations. The school does not send home any math formatives (quizes) during the year, so the only way I have gotten feedback on how DC is doing in math is to either wait for the report card or ask the teacher. I don't like that we don't get feedback on math. We do get the reading/writing formatives sent home, but not math. We got math formatives in prior years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HGCs are indeed only for grades 4-5.

The jury is still out on Curriculum 2.0. The MCPS website has a whole section devoted to it. My DC is in 2nd grade, so every year she is in the "guinea pig" year for 2.0 (i.e., this year, the 2nd grade teachers are teaching it for the first time. Next year it will be rolled out to 3rd grade. Presumably rolled out in fall 2013 to 4th grade, etc.)

Cuirriculum 2.0 is not meant to teach to the test, but to get a deeper knowledge of the foundations. The school does not send home any math formatives (quizes) during the year, so the only way I have gotten feedback on how DC is doing in math is to either wait for the report card or ask the teacher. I don't like that we don't get feedback on math. We do get the reading/writing formatives sent home, but not math. We got math formatives in prior years.

I don't understand. Are they taking math formatives in C2.0 and just not sending them home? Or are they not taking any math formatives? If the latter, what are grades based on -- unit tests only? Have you been getting reports on the summative testing, i.e. the unit testing? What about corrected homework, do you get that back?

Under FERPA, you have a right to see any "educational record" pertaining to your child, which is basically anything with your child's name on it. Formatives and Summatives would definitely fall in this category.

[Anonymous]

They are taking formatives, but not sending them home. Something about how 2.0 "works." There are no end-of-unit tests under 2.0 (at least not in my school). We get HW back, but not really corrected and not really timely, either.

I have asked to see formatives, but it's a pain (honestly) setting up a conference. I go by how well he understands based on the ease/difficulty of HW and then contact the teacher.