Hunters Woods? What can you tell me about both the AAP and the magnet (non-AAP) sides?
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Anonymous
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This school looks huge, but it also seems to have a lot of PTA involvement and extas. What's the insider's scoop on how each side of the school meets expectations? I have one child who is very into math (not yet old enough for AAP, but gets all the pull outs in 1st grade, so AAP is a possibility) and one child who is 3rd grade regular classes (very high verbal, take Adv. Math but not in AAP).
Thinking about applying for this school, but have seen mixed reviews on www.greatschools.org. |
Anonymous
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FYI -- Hunters Woods may lose their AAP Center. The December 20, 2012 FCPS staff proposal includes changes for Hunters Woods (among other schools).
http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.n...%20Dec%2018-2012.pdf The School Board vote on AAP Expansion will be on January 24. |
Anonymous
+1. I think its a virtual certainty that HW will not be an AAP center due to overcrowding. Which is too bad, b/c the magnet extras are a nice addition (if you are there for the AAP Center)... the violin for all 3rd/4th graders is good, if you want to get your kid exposed to trying that earlier. And the other extras (movement class) -- are just extra things the kid gets to experience that other schools don't offer. Check the link, but from where we are, Navy (or crossfields) will be the designated AAP for the rising 3rd graders going forward. Compared to a neighborhood GenEd, I'd prefer the magnet program, but only if its not a big hassle commuting. Its not really worth it, if it is a big effort to commute. |
Anonymous
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OP here -- I was curious about whether the magnet side was really great or just fluff. Good to know about AAP moving b/c I'd like to keep my kids together even if one is AAP and the other isn't. I'm not all about getting into AAP, so long as my kids can get Adv. Math and still be in a regular classroom, I'm ok with that (esp. if the gen. ed. classroom has some extras from a magnet program).
It would be a significant commute although DH usually works in Reston, so he could potentially take the kids most days. Other opinions of the magnet program or the gen. ed. classroom culture/level? |
Anonymous
| My DD goes there but is only in K/1 so we are not in full magnet mode. But i do love her teachervand her specials. If you are interested as part of applying thru tge lottery, just apply as it is very simple. Then if your child gets chosen, you can go to the lottery open house and ask questions/check out the school. At our orientation, the students who spoke about the school said they liked HW better than their old school due to classroom lessons being more hands on vs sitting and learnibg. |
Anonymous
| Also worth noting that if your child is in the magnet program and is then accepted to the AAP program, they must return to the AAP program that their base school is assigned to. They cannot stay at HWES. Of course, may be a moot point since, as others have suggested, HWES is most likely losing its AAP center (Navy and Crossfield next year, and Waples Mill likely in a few years). |
Anonymous
| Yes, as soon as room opens at Mosby Woods they will send the Waples Mill kids there. |
Anonymous
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Will HW Magnet allow an out-of-neighborhood kid ride the AAP bus that picks up AAP kids?
HWs is the AAP center for us, so there are kids who ride the bus there. If another kid is accepted into the magnet program, would they qualify to ride the same bus, or not? |
Anonymous
The official line on this is "at the school's discretion." I know because I asked years ago when I was looking into the magnet program. Of course, there is a new principal now, so I don't know what she will say. I think it depends how crowded the particular bus is. There is one child at our bus stop whose mother drives him from another area (that isn't served by HW AAP) to get on the bus in our neighborhood, rather than drive him all the way to HW. |