What are the likely implications of AAP being dismantled?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a lot of gossip about AAP being "dismantled". We are looking for a house and had hoped DC might get into AAP.

If there's no more AAP, what happens to the quality of instruction at the local and center schools?

With or without AAP, there will be substantial number of students who will exhaust all honors courses and go on to pursue dual enrollment courses. It's foolish for equity crazies to go after AAP/TJ, with the hope of stopping the top students from learning more. FCPS does not control what the student learns, students do. Unless they can somehow eliminate every available learning resource outside school, such as banning Khan Academy or restrict access to libraries or similar nonsense, the idea of constraining an advanced student's learning remains wishful thinking.

If you are looking for house, safe bet would be McLean, Langley, or Oakton attendance boundaries.

Our family income is well above the median household income and we are both well educated, yet could not afford in McLean or Langley and lately all I'm seeing for SFHs in Oakton are tear downs for 850k (our budget is slightly higher currently, with mortgage rates as they are). Could it really be that the only reliably good public schools are in such wealthy districts?

You need to get a good realtor. We are inlower than median household income, and we chose a Langley neighborhood. For us our kids education is a priority over a lavish house. Ymmv.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a lot of gossip about AAP being "dismantled". We are looking for a house and had hoped DC might get into AAP.

If there's no more AAP, what happens to the quality of instruction at the local and center schools?

With or without AAP, there will be substantial number of students who will exhaust all honors courses and go on to pursue dual enrollment courses. It's foolish for equity crazies to go after AAP/TJ, with the hope of stopping the top students from learning more. FCPS does not control what the student learns, students do. Unless they can somehow eliminate every available learning resource outside school, such as banning Khan Academy or restrict access to libraries or similar nonsense, the idea of constraining an advanced student's learning remains wishful thinking.

If you are looking for house, safe bet would be McLean, Langley, or Oakton attendance boundaries.

Our family income is well above the median household income and we are both well educated, yet could not afford in McLean or Langley and lately all I'm seeing for SFHs in Oakton are tear downs for 850k (our budget is slightly higher currently, with mortgage rates as they are). Could it really be that the only reliably good public schools are in such wealthy districts?

Kids who have involved parents will get a good education at any FCPS school. I know parents who have kids at Herndon HS and SLHS who have nothing but great things to say about their kids experience. Their kids take Honors or AP/IB classes where they are challenged and in class with kids interested in learning.

There are many solid HS that are not high FARMs with affordable housing in FCPS. You are not missing out on much by attending a HS that isn’t TJ, Langley, or McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a lot of gossip about AAP being "dismantled". We are looking for a house and had hoped DC might get into AAP.

If there's no more AAP, what happens to the quality of instruction at the local and center schools?

With or without AAP, there will be substantial number of students who will exhaust all honors courses and go on to pursue dual enrollment courses. It's foolish for equity crazies to go after AAP/TJ, with the hope of stopping the top students from learning more. FCPS does not control what the student learns, students do. Unless they can somehow eliminate every available learning resource outside school, such as banning Khan Academy or restrict access to libraries or similar nonsense, the idea of constraining an advanced student's learning remains wishful thinking.

If you are looking for house, safe bet would be McLean, Langley, or Oakton attendance boundaries.

Our family income is well above the median household income and we are both well educated, yet could not afford in McLean or Langley and lately all I'm seeing for SFHs in Oakton are tear downs for 850k (our budget is slightly higher currently, with mortgage rates as they are). Could it really be that the only reliably good public schools are in such wealthy districts?

You need to get a good realtor. We are inlower than median household income, and we chose a Langley neighborhood. For us our kids education is a priority over a lavish house. Ymmv.

SFH? impossible

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a lot of gossip about AAP being "dismantled". We are looking for a house and had hoped DC might get into AAP.

If there's no more AAP, what happens to the quality of instruction at the local and center schools?

With or without AAP, there will be substantial number of students who will exhaust all honors courses and go on to pursue dual enrollment courses. It's foolish for equity crazies to go after AAP/TJ, with the hope of stopping the top students from learning more. FCPS does not control what the student learns, students do. Unless they can somehow eliminate every available learning resource outside school, such as banning Khan Academy or restrict access to libraries or similar nonsense, the idea of constraining an advanced student's learning remains wishful thinking.

If you are looking for house, safe bet would be McLean, Langley, or Oakton attendance boundaries.

Our family income is well above the median household income and we are both well educated, yet could not afford in McLean or Langley and lately all I'm seeing for SFHs in Oakton are tear downs for 850k (our budget is slightly higher currently, with mortgage rates as they are). Could it really be that the only reliably good public schools are in such wealthy districts?

You need to get a good realtor. We are inlower than median household income, and we chose a Langley neighborhood. For us our kids education is a priority over a lavish house. Ymmv.

I am the same (or similar) but could not buy a shack in Langley in order to get into that pyramid. Besides, do you really think the academics are superior? How much is really the school vs your influence?

[Anonymous]

Teacher here. I don’t think AAP is going away, but I do think centers will eventually. The whole plan is to have every ES offer it and they are getting close to that goal. There will be no need for centers if services can be at the base school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I don’t think AAP is going away, but I do think centers will eventually. The whole plan is to have every ES offer it and they are getting close to that goal. There will be no need for centers if services can be at the base school.

That's the obvious plan, and in some places it's working as parents choose the base school over transferring to the center. But in other places, the centers remain the first choice for families. Rather than phasing out center schools altogether, the county is creating a dual system with some areas having robust centers and other areas having no centers. I wonder how long that will last.

[Anonymous]

Our family income is well above the median household income and we are both well educated, yet could not afford in McLean or Langley and lately all I'm seeing for SFHs in Oakton are tear downs for 850k (our budget is slightly higher currently, with mortgage rates as they are). Could it really be that the only reliably good public schools are in such wealthy districts?

Check out elementary schools zoned for West Springfield and Lake Braddock. Slightly cheaper neighborhoods (with a mix of old and new houses) and typically good schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've seen some 'gossip' on this site only about this over the past few weeks and it 100% feels like political astroturfers trying to get their far right school board nominees elected. It's not real, no one is trying to get rid of AAP. They CAN'T get rid of AAP without a replacement because it fills a statutory need.

AAP has already been eliminated plenty of places, especially in urban school districts (like DC) where it is viewed as non-inclusive and increasing the learning gap.

There was even an episode of Abbott Elementary that talked about this, and fully argued against G&T programs because they only benefit kids who are already doing well.

I'm not even sure I have an opinion on any of this, except for the fact that we currently live in a district with no AAP, but will be moving to an area with AAP at the end of elementary, and it causes me anxiety because I worry about my kid getting left behind without access to AAP earlier. So I'm extra aware of the debate over it and school districts are divided on the matter.

The former mayor of NYC - a self described socialist - proudly touted his “achievement” of eliminating the gifted and talented programs from NYC schools because they were not (in his opinion) “equitable.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a lot of gossip about AAP being "dismantled". We are looking for a house and had hoped DC might get into AAP.

If there's no more AAP, what happens to the quality of instruction at the local and center schools?

With or without AAP, there will be substantial number of students who will exhaust all honors courses and go on to pursue dual enrollment courses. It's foolish for equity crazies to go after AAP/TJ, with the hope of stopping the top students from learning more. FCPS does not control what the student learns, students do. Unless they can somehow eliminate every available learning resource outside school, such as banning Khan Academy or restrict access to libraries or similar nonsense, the idea of constraining an advanced student's learning remains wishful thinking.

If you are looking for house, safe bet would be McLean, Langley, or Oakton attendance boundaries.

Our family income is well above the median household income and we are both well educated, yet could not afford in McLean or Langley and lately all I'm seeing for SFHs in Oakton are tear downs for 850k (our budget is slightly higher currently, with mortgage rates as they are). Could it really be that the only reliably good public schools are in such wealthy districts?

You need to get a good realtor. We are inlower than median household income, and we chose a Langley neighborhood. For us our kids education is a priority over a lavish house. Ymmv.

I am the same (or similar) but could not buy a shack in Langley in order to get into that pyramid. Besides, do you really think the academics are superior? How much is really the school vs your influence?

You are the kind who even at walmart cannot buy a simple loaf of bread. Simplicity works.

[Anonymous]

In California, the democrats banned children below 9th grade from taking algebra prior to 9th grade in public school:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/10/california-math-framework-algebra/675509/

The radical progressives who dominate the current school board share the same educational philosophies of their west-coast counterparts.

If democrats are again voted into a majority on the FCPS school board, there is very little chance AAP will survive for much longer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In California, the democrats banned children below 9th grade from taking algebra prior to 9th grade in public school:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/10/california-math-framework-algebra/675509/

The radical progressives who dominate the current school board share the same educational philosophies of their west-coast counterparts.

If democrats are again voted into a majority on the FCPS school board, there is very little chance AAP will survive for much longer.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the San Francisco math track has proved a failure, after 10 years of harming high and low performing students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I don’t think AAP is going away, but I do think centers will eventually. The whole plan is to have every ES offer it and they are getting close to that goal. There will be no need for centers if services can be at the base school.

That's the obvious plan, and in some places it's working as parents choose the base school over transferring to the center. But in other places, the centers remain the first choice for families. Rather than phasing out center schools altogether, the county is creating a dual system with some areas having robust centers and other areas having no centers. I wonder how long that will last.

I think eventually they will just phase out centers once every ES has LL4. Most districts do not offer kids to choose which school they attend. Honestly, as a teacher I think getting rid of centers is a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are going to enroll DC in public school starting in Jan (first grade) and I'm looking for advice on how to navigate this as it relates to levels 2, 3, 4. So far I only have outsider knowledge. DC has been in private preschools/schools til now. Any advice on how to ensure DC gets needed services right away? DC is a fluent reader and advanced in math.

Parents can self refer for level II services at anytime. However, I found there to be very little actual enrichment provided through level II services.

https://www.fcps.edu/academics/academic-overview/advanced-academic-programs-aap/advanced-academic-program-aap-forms

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I don’t think AAP is going away, but I do think centers will eventually. The whole plan is to have every ES offer it and they are getting close to that goal. There will be no need for centers if services can be at the base school.

Thanks! I'm curious, though, about what this means for the former center schools and the quality of the experience there vs a nearby base school... Many with AAP aspirations buy in the center school neighborhood and presumably the schools have been shaped by being a center and that won't change over night?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Our family income is well above the median household income and we are both well educated, yet could not afford in McLean or Langley and lately all I'm seeing for SFHs in Oakton are tear downs for 850k (our budget is slightly higher currently, with mortgage rates as they are). Could it really be that the only reliably good public schools are in such wealthy districts?

Check out elementary schools zoned for West Springfield and Lake Braddock. Slightly cheaper neighborhoods (with a mix of old and new houses) and typically good schools.

Or Woodson pyramid?