Next steps for those that didn’t get into full time AAP

[Anonymous]

Also the principal placement calls happen in late July thru mid August at our school.

That's because they have to hold open slots for kids who move -- and yes, every yr we have had a kid move over the summer into our community who winds up in AAP, either because they were already in it at another fcps school or a similar GT program in a different division.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I'm frankly bewildered by this whole process. According to the AART, my kid's test scores are very high, and she's been consistently among the top 10% in her class since K. She's a motivated learner, loves school, easy going--the whole package. Not only did she get rejected, but it seemed like 99% of her entire class shared the same fate. She asked around and only one kid she knew got in. The AART confirmed that very few kids from the school got in and was at a loss herself. I put together a very strong appeal packet; got rejected again. If FCPS is accepting roughly 20% of the student body into aap, that is not reflected at our school. Are they looking for Einstein-level geniuses?

About 10% of kids in 2nd grade are admitted to AAP for 3rd grade. That percentage grows as kids apply in older grades and are accepted and as kids move into the district and are placed in AAP. Our ES has a couple of kids accepted in 4th and 5th grade who move to the Center. My kid is in MS now but he has friends still in 6th and we have watched this play out for the last five years.

[Anonymous]

Level 4 is done at central screening which I’m sure everyone is aware of. It has nothing to do with the individual school unless I am missing something? I.e., they don’t reject a child at a particular school because there are too many already in the level 4 full time. Is that correct?

[Anonymous]

Cry about it and accept reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cry about it and accept reality.

Effectively correct but a little gruff perhaps.

It’s like applying to a college and not getting in… everyone can’t get in and just try again the following cycle. I can tell you that scores are just one piece and while you need high scores, you better be able to show Rube Goldberg type samples and not look like the parents did the work… they can tell

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Level 4 is done at central screening which I’m sure everyone is aware of. It has nothing to do with the individual school unless I am missing something? I.e., they don’t reject a child at a particular school because there are too many already in the level 4 full time. Is that correct?

That is correct in FCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Level 4 is done at central screening which I’m sure everyone is aware of. It has nothing to do with the individual school unless I am missing something? I.e., they don’t reject a child at a particular school because there are too many already in the level 4 full time. Is that correct?

FCPS's line is that there is not a limitation on seats and that location doesn't matter. Reality points to something different. There are clearly different profiles for individual schools based on who is accepted or not. Schools are screened together so that kids can be compared. It is not as simple as adding a trailer to add capacity.

And it makes sense. Centers have to have room for their kids in the Gen Ed program, some with special education classrooms as well. Space at the Centers is limited so there is a hard number of kids who can attend AAP at the Center schools. There are probably formulas based on past acceptances for the number of kids who will choose to stay at their base school and the number of kids who will move to the Center schools so that the Center school classes stay under the max capacity. LLIV programs have a number of kids that they can house. These limits are going to affect who can be accepted into the program based on the base school and the Cneter school capacity. They also need to leave space for kids to be added in 4th-6th grade.

Schools that have a high number of high scorers end up with a very different looking group of kids accepted into AAP then Title 1 schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious how different schools handle “full time aap rejected” kids. Does the school reach out and offer principal placement? Have they reached out yet?

Do we as parents need to do anything or just wait for part time / local principal placement? Would the process of applying to full time be enough to show them we have interest in our child for these programs?

Also interested if you’re considering private school options and your reasoning for that.

Math is the only part of AAP that really matters. Knowing the cash crop of new Hampshire is nice but that's not why you want AAP. You want AAP for the slightly more challenging math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious how different schools handle “full time aap rejected” kids. Does the school reach out and offer principal placement? Have they reached out yet?

Do we as parents need to do anything or just wait for part time / local principal placement? Would the process of applying to full time be enough to show them we have interest in our child for these programs?

Also interested if you’re considering private school options and your reasoning for that.

Math is the only part of AAP that really matters. Knowing the cash crop of new Hampshire is nice but that's not why you want AAP. You want AAP for the slightly more challenging math.

Plenty of parents want AAP because they think it is a more challenging curriculum in LA, social studies, and science. A good number of kids in AAP struggle with the math acceleration. AAP used to present amore challenging LA curriculum, but that has been scaled back due to benchmark. I don't know what the science and social studies enrichment looked like, but I would hope that it is more than learning the major exports of different states.

But the math component is really challenging for a decent percentage of the kids in AAP. There is a reason why the percentage of kids taking Algebra 1 H in 7th grade is something ike 12% when you have about 20% of 6th graders in AAP and a decent percentage of kids in Advanced math. Anecdotally, about half the kids who I knew in AAP ended up in Math 7H, whether by choice or because of test scores. I know a bunch who are attending RSM or getting tutored to stay up with M7H, I half expect them to drop off the Honors math track as soon as they can. And that is fine, they should take classes that fit them and not be forced into more advanced classes that they struggle with. My point is that there are a good number of kids in AAP that are not advanced in math and don't belogn in Advanced Math.

And yes, I think kids who pass proficient on SOLs should not be in AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I'm frankly bewildered by this whole process. According to the AART, my kid's test scores are very high, and she's been consistently among the top 10% in her class since K. She's a motivated learner, loves school, easy going--the whole package. Not only did she get rejected, but it seemed like 99% of her entire class shared the same fate. She asked around and only one kid she knew got in. The AART confirmed that very few kids from the school got in and was at a loss herself. I put together a very strong appeal packet; got rejected again. If FCPS is accepting roughly 20% of the student body into aap, that is not reflected at our school. Are they looking for Einstein-level geniuses?

Are you in 2nd right now/rising 3rd? At my kids’ school, 2nd grade is HUGE. The biggest grade by far, bigger than 1st, and much larger than 3-4, which were grades that were both affected by Covid. Not sure if this extends to other schools. But there is a quota for LIV. They say there’s not but there is, simply because there needs to be room for the kids if they choose to attend the centers or stay at their local school. If 2nd is big everywhere, it could be that you’re running up against a soft quota.

Try for Advanced Math if you can because that’s the main differentiator, especially at LLIV schools. Or re-apply again in 3rd for rising 4th, maybe with private testing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I'm frankly bewildered by this whole process. According to the AART, my kid's test scores are very high, and she's been consistently among the top 10% in her class since K. She's a motivated learner, loves school, easy going--the whole package. Not only did she get rejected, but it seemed like 99% of her entire class shared the same fate. She asked around and only one kid she knew got in. The AART confirmed that very few kids from the school got in and was at a loss herself. I put together a very strong appeal packet; got rejected again. If FCPS is accepting roughly 20% of the student body into aap, that is not reflected at our school. Are they looking for Einstein-level geniuses?

This was exactly my kid that got in on appeal. I am so so sorry I know how it feels after being rejected the first time.. your kid deserves to have gotten in. When your kiddo gets in next year for 4th grade, you'll feel a sense of relief. So don't give up, keep applying any chance you get. Every year if you have to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I'm frankly bewildered by this whole process. According to the AART, my kid's test scores are very high, and she's been consistently among the top 10% in her class since K. She's a motivated learner, loves school, easy going--the whole package. Not only did she get rejected, but it seemed like 99% of her entire class shared the same fate. She asked around and only one kid she knew got in. The AART confirmed that very few kids from the school got in and was at a loss herself. I put together a very strong appeal packet; got rejected again. If FCPS is accepting roughly 20% of the student body into aap, that is not reflected at our school. Are they looking for Einstein-level geniuses?

Curious what they will end up doing with your daughter. Like if she gets part time or principal placement, when will she be notified? Will you give us an update in this thread? All you do is wait since it seems its taboo to ask a principal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious how different schools handle “full time aap rejected” kids. Does the school reach out and offer principal placement? Have they reached out yet?

Do we as parents need to do anything or just wait for part time / local principal placement? Would the process of applying to full time be enough to show them we have interest in our child for these programs?

Also interested if you’re considering private school options and your reasoning for that.

Math is the only part of AAP that really matters. Knowing the cash crop of new Hampshire is nice but that's not why you want AAP. You want AAP for the slightly more challenging math.

Plenty of parents want AAP because they think it is a more challenging curriculum in LA, social studies, and science. A good number of kids in AAP struggle with the math acceleration. AAP used to present amore challenging LA curriculum, but that has been scaled back due to benchmark. I don't know what the science and social studies enrichment looked like, but I would hope that it is more than learning the major exports of different states.

But the math component is really challenging for a decent percentage of the kids in AAP. There is a reason why the percentage of kids taking Algebra 1 H in 7th grade is something ike 12% when you have about 20% of 6th graders in AAP and a decent percentage of kids in Advanced math. Anecdotally, about half the kids who I knew in AAP ended up in Math 7H, whether by choice or because of test scores. I know a bunch who are attending RSM or getting tutored to stay up with M7H, I half expect them to drop off the Honors math track as soon as they can. And that is fine, they should take classes that fit them and not be forced into more advanced classes that they struggle with. My point is that there are a good number of kids in AAP that are not advanced in math and don't belogn in Advanced Math.

And yes, I think kids who pass proficient on SOLs should not be in AAP.

We entered the AAP program to give us options for classes and schools. We were fortunate enough to be accepted but the initial crux being we came from private to public, was to try to ensure our child was in a conducive learning environment. You hate to think there are disruptive children in public schools but it’s a reality and is generally a reflection on the parents and home life. It can happen in private as well but trust me it’s handled and resolved rather quickly. Parents of children in AP programs, ( or those that apply and unfortunately may not get in, like anyone reading this thread) take a vested approach to their children’s education and stay involved.

I would also say to parents to keep trying the next cycle if your child was not accepted. I know it can be depressing but if you feel it will benefit your child, stay at it.

[Anonymous]

If your kid had the high test scores and is above grade level in every metric, then ignore the posters who are acting like your kid doesn't belong and you need to learn to accept being told 'no.' Your kid absolutely should have been admitted, and the system is broken.

From here:
1. Hope your child is principal placed.
2. Apply again in 3rd. If any of the scores were lacking, get another test. Make sure you have good work samples. With any luck, the 3rd grade teacher will wonder why your kid isn't in AAP, and will give a great HOPE. You will hopefully have specific examples of how and why your kid's needs aren't being met in the gen ed classroom.
3. Put your kid in AoPS or RSM math classes. Your kid will be even better prepared for AAP/advanced math in subsequent grades than the ones who were admitted into AAP.
4. Encourage your kid to make productive use of the absurd amounts of free time they're likely to have in gen ed. Make sure they have a lot of books to read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Level 4 is done at central screening which I’m sure everyone is aware of. It has nothing to do with the individual school unless I am missing something? I.e., they don’t reject a child at a particular school because there are too many already in the level 4 full time. Is that correct?

It actually has everything to do with individual schools. The central screening committee reviews packets by school, so your child is being compared to other kids at their school. It’s why you see posts about many kids with insanely high scores being rejected at high performing schools (McLean pyramid, for example), while lower scores are accepted in other lower performing schools. Also, the FCPS line is that there is no cap on students in the program, but that’s nonsense.