If your child was on the cusp or didn't get invited to AAP, what happened at your base school?

[Anonymous]

You are an asshat. Every other parent in the class is in the same boat. Tell me that all 24 kids should not be in AAP. Btw, did I mention that you are an asshat?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here --

I did some more research and was kind of disappointed with what I found. If you don't go to the center (either b/c you were on the cusp or you were not invited after being in pool), the most you can get at the local school is one hour every other week and/or the advanced math class (which would be every day). If math isn't your strong suit, then it's just one hour with the AART every other week in an area that is considered your strength.

That's a BIG difference from what a kid gets at the AAP center -- yet the CogAT score difference is just one percentile! It seems to be an "all or almost nothing" situation. I was hoping that the local school would have a lot more to offer to their higher performers, but apparently not.

It makes me realize why so many people push to get their kids into AAP. And it has made me think twice about whether we want to parent refer.

I really appreciated the comments from PPs, especially the one who mentioned whether DC is a self-starter and generally gets homework done by him/herself. DC is completely capable of doing the current homework, but is not a self-starter in the least and tends to get distracted and frustrated. DC can answer a math fact five times but then will get frustrated when she has more questions involving the SAME fact and DC will start the tears and generally dramatize the process which would take 3 min. if DC attended to it. I don't know if AAP would add more stress to DC's homework, but I fear that it would.

For that reason, and our own desire to keep things simple with just one school for two kids, we are not planning to refer. (But it is with disappointment that there is so little AA time offered to those who are at the top of charts ar the local school.)

Well, there are some schools that have local level 4. If your school is lucky enough to have that, then there is an "in between" the Center and regular general ed.

[Anonymous]

Yes, OP, check if your school offers level 4 in house.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- we definitely do not have local level 4. I thought that was essentially the same as being an AAP center, but just for that school's students.

Those that have it are very lucky. The uneven opportunities at FCPS! This is why I cringe when people say that we are the "gold standard." FCPS is not uniform.... if we had all the highest services at each school, I might agree.

[Anonymous]

OP, I recall seeing on another thread that if your child will attend an AAP center, you can fill out a form to request transfer of a sibling to that center as well.

Also, you might find that although your child may not be a self starter in second grade, he or she might become more motivated with the AAP curriculum and peer group.

[Anonymous]

i am also very surprised at how much more work aap is for the parents. the projects, research etc. it now feels like the whole family goes to school.

[Anonymous]

OP, I recall seeing on another thread that if your child will attend an AAP center, you can fill out a form to request transfer of a sibling to that center as well.

Also, you might find that although your child may not be a self starter in second grade, he or she might become more motivated with the AAP curriculum and peer group.

You can place a sibling there only if the school is open to transfers, and most Center schools are at capacity. It's not just filling out a form; you need permission from the principal.

[Anonymous]

op, i think you should look at whether your school differentiates in the classroom. i agree level iii might not seem enough, but starting in 1st grade at our es the kids change classes for math and are grouped by ability. by 3rd grade they are changing classes for math, spelling, and language arts all of which are based on pretests and ability level. this works well so kids can advance with like peers. our es does not have a center.