combination class at AAP Center?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the McLean pyramid, the curriculum is the same, as that was part of a test project. I know they combine the kids for math at Haycock. They also have combined them for social studies and science, but that isn't all the time.

Regarding whether the centers are really needed if they have so much overlap with the GE, I think that's what people are referencing. In the areas with high performing base students, do we really need to separate the students into two, labeled groups when they aren't that far apart academically.

Yes, this is it exactly. The kids at our center are so similar - regardless of who's in AAP and who's not. It's a very strange thing to see them divided up, as if one group is somehow magically able to comprehend more difficult concepts. When they're all together for a grade-wise presentation or event, and there's a Q&A session, the General Ed students ask and answer very intriguing and difficult questions. Honestly, you can't even tell these kids apart. All of these kids are high performing, whether Gen Ed or AAP. The labeling and segregation is really over-the-top in these cases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the McLean pyramid, the curriculum is the same, as that was part of a test project. I know they combine the kids for math at Haycock. They also have combined them for social studies and science, but that isn't all the time.

Regarding whether the centers are really needed if they have so much overlap with the GE, I think that's what people are referencing. In the areas with high performing base students, do we really need to separate the students into two, labeled groups when they aren't that far apart academically.

Yes, this is it exactly. The kids at our center are so similar - regardless of who's in AAP and who's not. It's a very strange thing to see them divided up, as if one group is somehow magically able to comprehend more difficult concepts. When they're all together for a grade-wise presentation or event, and there's a Q&A session, the General Ed students ask and answer very intriguing and difficult questions. Honestly, you can't even tell these kids apart. All of these kids are high performing, whether Gen Ed or AAP. The labeling and segregation is really over-the-top in these cases.

The environment you describe is not in existence in all parts of the county, and certainly not in a majority of FCPS schools.

[Anonymous]

I'd be upset if my AAP eligible kid was mixed with gen Ed kids during core classes. There's a reason the kids didnt get into aap; there's a reason why other kids did get into AAP. McLean is dumbing down the program!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MS does NOT mix. AAP only kids in AAP. High performing GE are in honors. There is a difference. Glad I'm not in McLean!

Sorry, but in middle schools any child who qualifies can be in Algebra or Geometry with AAP kids. Why so invested in keeping AAP kids segregated? Seems unhealthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be upset if my AAP eligible kid was mixed with gen Ed kids during core classes. There's a reason the kids didnt get into aap; there's a reason why other kids did get into AAP. McLean is dumbing down the program!

McLean is doing what all schools in areas with a high percentage of AAP kids will eventually be doing, so get used to it. AAP is no longer a "gifted" program or a special ed program There is simply no need in areas like McLean and Vienna to bus some kids to a separate schools to find a critical mass of intellectual peers. And FCPS administrators are wisely realizing that.

If you want your kid segregated from kids who might have strengths other than academics, perhaps you should try one of the lower SES schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the McLean pyramid, the curriculum is the same, as that was part of a test project. I know they combine the kids for math at Haycock. They also have combined them for social studies and science, but that isn't all the time.

Regarding whether the centers are really needed if they have so much overlap with the GE, I think that's what people are referencing. In the areas with high performing base students, do we really need to separate the students into two, labeled groups when they aren't that far apart academically.

Yes, this is it exactly. The kids at our center are so similar - regardless of who's in AAP and who's not. It's a very strange thing to see them divided up, as if one group is somehow magically able to comprehend more difficult concepts. When they're all together for a grade-wise presentation or event, and there's a Q&A session, the General Ed students ask and answer very intriguing and difficult questions. Honestly, you can't even tell these kids apart. All of these kids are high performing, whether Gen Ed or AAP. The labeling and segregation is really over-the-top in these cases.

The environment you describe is not in existence in all parts of the county, and certainly not in a majority of FCPS schools.

In the Vienna, Great Falls, McLean, Oakton areas, it absolutely does exist. The kids are so similar as to be interchangeable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be upset if my AAP eligible kid was mixed with gen Ed kids during core classes. There's a reason the kids didnt get into aap; there's a reason why other kids did get into AAP. McLean is dumbing down the program!

And this attitude is exactly why I will be so glad for my kids to move on to high school where they are free to choose any advanced class they choose. By then, AAP kids and their entitled parents will simply be like everybody else. Which is probably painful for some, like PP, to imagine!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS does NOT mix. AAP only kids in AAP. High performing GE are in honors. There is a difference. Glad I'm not in McLean!

Sorry, but in middle schools any child who qualifies can be in Algebra or Geometry with AAP kids. Why so invested in keeping AAP kids segregated? Seems unhealthy.

+100
It is unhealthy, not to mention ridiculous. Plenty of GE students in our middle school take Geometry and Algebra in AAP classes because they qualify to be in there. And honestly, I don't understand why all AAP classes aren't open to any student who is able to do the work. AAP isn't brain surgery, though I know there are parents who like to believe it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be upset if my AAP eligible kid was mixed with gen Ed kids during core classes. There's a reason the kids didnt get into aap; there's a reason why other kids did get into AAP. McLean is dumbing down the program!

McLean is doing what all schools in areas with a high percentage of AAP kids will eventually be doing, so get used to it. AAP is no longer a "gifted" program or a special ed program There is simply no need in areas like McLean and Vienna to bus some kids to a separate schools to find a critical mass of intellectual peers. And FCPS administrators are wisely realizing that.

If you want your kid segregated from kids who might have strengths other than academics, perhaps you should try one of the lower SES schools.

Exactly. Clearly, there are parents who thrive off of the idea of segregation. They're in for a rude awakening one of these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the McLean pyramid, the curriculum is the same, as that was part of a test project. I know they combine the kids for math at Haycock. They also have combined them for social studies and science, but that isn't all the time.

Regarding whether the centers are really needed if they have so much overlap with the GE, I think that's what people are referencing. In the areas with high performing base students, do we really need to separate the students into two, labeled groups when they aren't that far apart academically.

Yes, this is it exactly. The kids at our center are so similar - regardless of who's in AAP and who's not. It's a very strange thing to see them divided up, as if one group is somehow magically able to comprehend more difficult concepts. When they're all together for a grade-wise presentation or event, and there's a Q&A session, the General Ed students ask and answer very intriguing and difficult questions. Honestly, you can't even tell these kids apart. All of these kids are high performing, whether Gen Ed or AAP. The labeling and segregation is really over-the-top in these cases.

The environment you describe is not in existence in all parts of the county, and certainly not in a majority of FCPS schools.

In the Vienna, Great Falls, McLean, Oakton areas, it absolutely does exist. The kids are so similar as to be interchangeable.

Fairfax County is comprised of more than Vienna, Great Falls, McLean, and Oakton.

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/maps/images/maps/handouts/pdf07/schoolregions.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the McLean pyramid, the curriculum is the same, as that was part of a test project. I know they combine the kids for math at Haycock. They also have combined them for social studies and science, but that isn't all the time.

Regarding whether the centers are really needed if they have so much overlap with the GE, I think that's what people are referencing. In the areas with high performing base students, do we really need to separate the students into two, labeled groups when they aren't that far apart academically.

Yes, this is it exactly. The kids at our center are so similar - regardless of who's in AAP and who's not. It's a very strange thing to see them divided up, as if one group is somehow magically able to comprehend more difficult concepts. When they're all together for a grade-wise presentation or event, and there's a Q&A session, the General Ed students ask and answer very intriguing and difficult questions. Honestly, you can't even tell these kids apart. All of these kids are high performing, whether Gen Ed or AAP. The labeling and segregation is really over-the-top in these cases.

The environment you describe is not in existence in all parts of the county, and certainly not in a majority of FCPS schools.

In the Vienna, Great Falls, McLean, Oakton areas, it absolutely does exist. The kids are so similar as to be interchangeable.

Fairfax County is comprised of more than Vienna, Great Falls, McLean, and Oakton.

Never said it wasn't. And most people aren't saying get rid of all AAP centers -- when you may at most have a small handful of advanced kids at one school, they serve a purpose. In Vienna, Great Falls, McLean, Oakton and some other areas, they segregate too many similar kids from each other, foment a parental arms race and divide school communities. In these places, separate AAP centers are silly and unnecessary. I would rather have had my gifted son at his base school then live with the mess they've made of schools around where we live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the McLean pyramid, the curriculum is the same, as that was part of a test project. I know they combine the kids for math at Haycock. They also have combined them for social studies and science, but that isn't all the time.

Regarding whether the centers are really needed if they have so much overlap with the GE, I think that's what people are referencing. In the areas with high performing base students, do we really need to separate the students into two, labeled groups when they aren't that far apart academically.

Yes, this is it exactly. The kids at our center are so similar - regardless of who's in AAP and who's not. It's a very strange thing to see them divided up, as if one group is somehow magically able to comprehend more difficult concepts. When they're all together for a grade-wise presentation or event, and there's a Q&A session, the General Ed students ask and answer very intriguing and difficult questions. Honestly, you can't even tell these kids apart. All of these kids are high performing, whether Gen Ed or AAP. The labeling and segregation is really over-the-top in these cases.

The environment you describe is not in existence in all parts of the county, and certainly not in a majority of FCPS schools.

In the Vienna, Great Falls, McLean, Oakton areas, it absolutely does exist. The kids are so similar as to be interchangeable.

Fairfax County is comprised of more than Vienna, Great Falls, McLean, and Oakton.

Never said it wasn't. And most people aren't saying get rid of all AAP centers -- when you may at most have a small handful of advanced kids at one school, they serve a purpose. In Vienna, Great Falls, McLean, Oakton and some other areas, they segregate too many similar kids from each other, foment a parental arms race and divide school communities. In these places, separate AAP centers are silly and unnecessary. I would rather have had my gifted son at his base school then live with the mess they've made of schools around where we live.

Many of the User Voice suggestions are saying get rid of all AAP centers. I disagree with those suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the McLean pyramid, the curriculum is the same, as that was part of a test project. I know they combine the kids for math at Haycock. They also have combined them for social studies and science, but that isn't all the time.

Regarding whether the centers are really needed if they have so much overlap with the GE, I think that's what people are referencing. In the areas with high performing base students, do we really need to separate the students into two, labeled groups when they aren't that far apart academically.

Yes, this is it exactly. The kids at our center are so similar - regardless of who's in AAP and who's not. It's a very strange thing to see them divided up, as if one group is somehow magically able to comprehend more difficult concepts. When they're all together for a grade-wise presentation or event, and there's a Q&A session, the General Ed students ask and answer very intriguing and difficult questions. Honestly, you can't even tell these kids apart. All of these kids are high performing, whether Gen Ed or AAP. The labeling and segregation is really over-the-top in these cases.

The environment you describe is not in existence in all parts of the county, and certainly not in a majority of FCPS schools.

In the Vienna, Great Falls, McLean, Oakton areas, it absolutely does exist. The kids are so similar as to be interchangeable.

Fairfax County is comprised of more than Vienna, Great Falls, McLean, and Oakton.

Never said it wasn't. And most people aren't saying get rid of all AAP centers -- when you may at most have a small handful of advanced kids at one school, they serve a purpose. In Vienna, Great Falls, McLean, Oakton and some other areas, they segregate too many similar kids from each other, foment a parental arms race and divide school communities. In these places, separate AAP centers are silly and unnecessary. I would rather have had my gifted son at his base school then live with the mess they've made of schools around where we live.

Haven't most schools in McLean, Vienna, Great Falls, and Oakton started combining kids in homerooms for LLIV? I know at least four schools that do this already.

[Anonymous]

So glad that my kids are in an actual center! LLIV is not, never will be, a center! It's just a pleasing tactic for gen Ed kids' parents. My kids ALL got into AAP and that's why we chose the center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So glad that my kids are in an actual center! LLIV is not, never will be, a center! It's just a pleasing tactic for gen Ed kids' parents. My kids ALL got into AAP and that's why we chose the center.

If you read the thread, you'll see that centers are combining GE and AAP students for math and other subjects. They test the students then group them by ability. What we've seen is that many of the GE and AAP end up in the same groups because they test the same. Would you really have a problem with capable GE students learning alongside your child?