Why do parents go through great lengths to get their children into AAP?

[Anonymous]

There's no way you'll be getting useful responses to a question like that. If that's what you actually want.

Actually I have received some very helpful answers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's an excellent question. This forum has been really eye-popping. I understand wanting differentiation for a genius kid, but don't quite get the lengths that people go to convince people that their normal but semi-bright kids are geniuses who require differentiation. It's odd.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

I was in AAP as well.

-more interesting classes
-faster class pace
-better classroom discussions with involved peers
-less disciplinary problems or other students being hostile
-no more remedial work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not every parent goes through great lengths for AAP. DS was in pool, we filled out the parent questionnaire and spent maybe an hour pulling together some work samples. We spent maybe 2 hours on the process. We wanted to have options if there were options that are available. We spent the same amount of time deciding on language immersion, that included attending an informational meeting and applying for the lottery online.

DS is smart and ahead in school. We deferred AAP because we like the LI program. That said, we will enroll him in AAP in MS because we want him to be challenged in school.

I don't care if DS is gifted or not, I have no clue if he is, but I do care that school is a place where he can learn and grow. If the regular classroom is not challenging him, then I would like to do the best I can to move him to a more challenging environment. It really, is that simple.

It is no different then parents who are interested in their kids taking AP/IB classes when appropriate in high school. Appropriate to me means that my child is challenged and learning at an appropriate level. That might means that he does IB classes in the areas he is strongest and does Honors classes in other areas. we will see how things go when he gets to high school.

There are other parents who appear to be more invested in their kids being in the advanced group. Some of that is cultural, some of it is parents thinking that the best = highest level possible, some of it is parents who are worried about "prestige."

But if you don't care, then what is the point of even posting here?

DS attends supplemental math and enjoys math competitions because he likes math. He likes math a lot. (shrugs) I don't get it because I always struggled with math but he loves it. He enjoys being with other kids who like math and have fun solving math problems and puzzles. There are not that many in his class at school. It is nice for him to have a place to go where he doesn't feel out of place because he likes math. I can imagine that there are parents who like AAP because it means that their kid is in a class with other kids who might like or appreciate having more difficult work to do.

My child is exactly like that and center has been hugely beneficial in that regard.

[Anonymous]

Average or smart kids get basically no attention whatsoever in gen pop. ALL resources are focused on getting kids to grade level. This isn't a big deal if you only have 1-2 kids who are struggling, but when half the class is under grade level it really impacts the rest of the kids.

[Anonymous]

In FCPS, around 20% of kids are in AAP. The sheer volume of kids in AAP creates a lot of the desperation. Parents might be willing to accept that their kid isn't in the top 5%. Very few educated professionals would accept that their bright child isn't in the top 20-25%. Also, after removing the top 20%, there aren't that many bright, motivated, advanced kids left in gen ed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In FCPS, around 20% of kids are in AAP. The sheer volume of kids in AAP creates a lot of the desperation. Parents might be willing to accept that their kid isn't in the top 5%. Very few educated professionals would accept that their bright child isn't in the top 20-25%. Also, after removing the top 20%, there aren't that many bright, motivated, advanced kids left in gen ed.

Thanks—- that’s a perspective I hadn’t considered and find it very helpful.

[Anonymous]

I wonder, do parents feel their children get better teachers when in AAP.?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder, do parents feel their children get better teachers when in AAP.?

NP. Of course they do. Teachers fight to be able to teach the AP courses or the interesting courses. Teaching remedial math to kids who get poor grades isn't fun. Also, disciplinary issues are like night and day.

[Anonymous]

Because Gen Ed is really slow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder, do parents feel their children get better teachers when in AAP.?

NP. Of course they do. Teachers fight to be able to teach the AP courses or the interesting courses. Teaching remedial math to kids who get poor grades isn't fun. Also, disciplinary issues are like night and day.

This is false. Some teachers prefer AAP or gen ed, some go back and forth in different years. The teaching isn't better or worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To keep my kids out of the general population and with kids whose families at least moderately care about academics and future success.

This is what is gross about AAP and the way it is run in this county. My child loves school and wants to be successful. We care about academics and try our best to help her and support the school and teachers. Unfortunately she is Dyslexic and has ADHD. She is not disruptive, but inattentive. My husband and myself are both highly educated with and care deeply about our children doing well in school. A little empathy would go a long way, I think FCPS should have a program for the truly gifted (5%) and then general education but with ability grouping, because a child might be quite ahead in Math but need extra help in reading. THe opposite could also be true.

It's also weird to me that you are identified in second grade and get to stay no matter what happens, but if a child blooms let the parents have to jump though hoops to be moved to AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To keep my kids out of the general population and with kids whose families at least moderately care about academics and future success.

This is what is gross about AAP and the way it is run in this county. My child loves school and wants to be successful. We care about academics and try our best to help her and support the school and teachers. Unfortunately she is Dyslexic and has ADHD. She is not disruptive, but inattentive. My husband and myself are both highly educated with and care deeply about our children doing well in school. A little empathy would go a long way, I think FCPS should have a program for the truly gifted (5%) and then general education but with ability grouping, because a child might be quite ahead in Math but need extra help in reading. THe opposite could also be true.

It's also weird to me that you are identified in second grade and get to stay no matter what happens, but if a child blooms let the parents have to jump though hoops to be moved to AAP.

That was a troll post. So I'm not sure that you really need to be grossed out by it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To keep my kids out of the general population and with kids whose families at least moderately care about academics and future success.

This is what is gross about AAP and the way it is run in this county. My child loves school and wants to be successful. We care about academics and try our best to help her and support the school and teachers. Unfortunately she is Dyslexic and has ADHD. She is not disruptive, but inattentive. My husband and myself are both highly educated with and care deeply about our children doing well in school. A little empathy would go a long way, I think FCPS should have a program for the truly gifted (5%) and then general education but with ability grouping, because a child might be quite ahead in Math but need extra help in reading. THe opposite could also be true.

It's also weird to me that you are identified in second grade and get to stay no matter what happens, but if a child blooms let the parents have to jump though hoops to be moved to AAP.

I partially agree, it might be weird but in later grades there are no additional “hoops” to jump through. Everyone has the same process at any grade. You imply there is extra work in later grades and I can’t agree with that part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To keep my kids out of the general population and with kids whose families at least moderately care about academics and future success.

This is what is gross about AAP and the way it is run in this county. My child loves school and wants to be successful. We care about academics and try our best to help her and support the school and teachers. Unfortunately she is Dyslexic and has ADHD. She is not disruptive, but inattentive. My husband and myself are both highly educated with and care deeply about our children doing well in school. A little empathy would go a long way, I think FCPS should have a program for the truly gifted (5%) and then general education but with ability grouping, because a child might be quite ahead in Math but need extra help in reading. THe opposite could also be true.

It's also weird to me that you are identified in second grade and get to stay no matter what happens, but if a child blooms let the parents have to jump though hoops to be moved to AAP.

That was a troll post. So I'm not sure that you really need to be grossed out by it.

DP. Don't think this is a troll post. I feel the exact same way. Peers matter.