s/o "if you kid doesn't go to AAP 3-8 is he doomed?" - what is the point of AAP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I completely disagree. I see a lot of parents on this board trying to justify the existence of AAP by telling themselves and anyone gullible enough to believe them that the AAP curriculum is "superior," that the peer group is "more motivated" (??), that kids are more prepared in high school if they've been in AAP, and that the strongest teachers tend to be AAP certified. None of this has been true in our experience.

My kids (2E) have absolutely been more/better prepared for high school thanks to AAP. Just our family's experience, though.

YMMV, our AAP Center had no idea what to do with our 2E child.

We also had an excellent experience at the AAP Center with our 2E kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I completely disagree. I see a lot of parents on this board trying to justify the existence of AAP by telling themselves and anyone gullible enough to believe them that the AAP curriculum is "superior," that the peer group is "more motivated" (??), that kids are more prepared in high school if they've been in AAP, and that the strongest teachers tend to be AAP certified. None of this has been true in our experience.

My kids (2E) have absolutely been more/better prepared for high school thanks to AAP. Just our family's experience, though.

YMMV, our AAP Center had no idea what to do with our 2E child.

We also had an excellent experience at the AAP Center with our 2E kids.

I think the problem lies in the variances in schools within the county and the difference types of 2E. I saw much better handling of 2E students if they had mild to moderate ADHD or HFA. Not so much on the LD front (and especially on the severe to profound yslexia area- although that has hchanged in the past five years in a few schools) or the moderate to severe levels of ADHD or HFA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My DC was in AAP a few years ago - now in high school. I can compare his experience with my other children who are currently in GE, learning exactly the same material AAP child learned, and having a much happier school experience. Had I only known, we would have kept him in GE.

So you've had no connection to AAP for years and never will again. Yet you still come here to point out your disappointment? That's dedication. For better or worse, when AAP is no longer relevant to my family I'll find something else to do with my time than visit this board.

No connection to AAP? Considering my two younger kids have to attend a center, and also considering they're outnumbered at this school by AAP kids, I'd say we have quite a connection. I'll keep posting here as long as I like, but thanks for your sage advice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AAP is feeder to TJ
if you don't get b in there, life goes on, one can still do well in college and life, but you went to the best high school in the us, academically speaking.

AAP is not a feeder to TJ. Correlation does not equal causation.

almost all the kids at TJ were in AAP. They're the cream of the crop academically. They were identified as such early on and put in an academic environment best suited for them.
What would have happened if there was no AAP and these kids all were Gen Ed during 3-8 is speculation. Luckily, we have AAP here in Fairfax County.

I would agree that the kids at TJ are the top academic performers. But to imply that all the kids in AAP are at this level is frankly, laughable. Very, very few kids are admitted to TJ. Most kids are not. Which makes it crystal clear to all exactly who are the "top" kids. Hint: not the run-of-the-mill, dime a dozen, mainstream AAP kids. It must be such a shock and disappointment when TJ rejections come out!

And if there was no AAP and those poor kids wound up in Gen Ed, the top performers would remain just that. It doesn't take a lukewarm, faux "gifted" program to nurture those who truly have gifts. How else would you explain the many top performers in high school who were never in AAP to begin with?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My DC was in AAP a few years ago - now in high school. I can compare his experience with my other children who are currently in GE, learning exactly the same material AAP child learned, and having a much happier school experience. Had I only known, we would have kept him in GE.

So you've had no connection to AAP for years and never will again. Yet you still come here to point out your disappointment? That's dedication. For better or worse, when AAP is no longer relevant to my family I'll find something else to do with my time than visit this board.

No connection to AAP? Considering my two younger kids have to attend a center, and also considering they're outnumbered at this school by AAP kids, I'd say we have quite a connection. I'll keep posting here as long as I like, but thanks for your sage advice!

Outnumbered by AAP but having a much happier school experience than AAP kids. Sounds like a winning formula.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My DC was in AAP a few years ago - now in high school. I can compare his experience with my other children who are currently in GE, learning exactly the same material AAP child learned, and having a much happier school experience. Had I only known, we would have kept him in GE.

Actually, I'm interested in this comment. PP, can you post more about your kids' AAP vs. GE experiences? I have heard so many different things that run the gamut from "AAP is great" to "AAP helped my kid find his/her peer group" to "AAP is just a homework program." Of course there are many different centers, but I'm wondering just how different the experience is.

Sure. I'm the PP and I would classify our son's AAP experience as lots of homework, projects that were pointless and took up far too much time, and an unnecessary division between kids. Lots of his friends were in GE, so he certainly didn't need a different peer group. I think he resented being separated from them, in fact. At the time, we thought we were doing the right thing, but in retrospect, the whole thing seems so silly and pointless. As I said earlier, my other kids are in GE and learning exactly the same information but having a much better time doing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My DC was in AAP a few years ago - now in high school. I can compare his experience with my other children who are currently in GE, learning exactly the same material AAP child learned, and having a much happier school experience. Had I only known, we would have kept him in GE.

So you've had no connection to AAP for years and never will again. Yet you still come here to point out your disappointment? That's dedication. For better or worse, when AAP is no longer relevant to my family I'll find something else to do with my time than visit this board.

No connection to AAP? Considering my two younger kids have to attend a center, and also considering they're outnumbered at this school by AAP kids, I'd say we have quite a connection. I'll keep posting here as long as I like, but thanks for your sage advice!

Outnumbered by AAP but having a much happier school experience than AAP kids. Sounds like a winning formula.

Should have clarified: their academic experience is happier and less stressful. The social experience is another story entirely, and not a very happy one. I was only addressing the question about the academic differences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My DC was in AAP a few years ago - now in high school. I can compare his experience with my other children who are currently in GE, learning exactly the same material AAP child learned, and having a much happier school experience. Had I only known, we would have kept him in GE.

So you've had no connection to AAP for years and never will again. Yet you still come here to point out your disappointment? That's dedication. For better or worse, when AAP is no longer relevant to my family I'll find something else to do with my time than visit this board.

No connection to AAP? Considering my two younger kids have to attend a center, and also considering they're outnumbered at this school by AAP kids, I'd say we have quite a connection. I'll keep posting here as long as I like, but thanks for your sage advice!

Outnumbered by AAP but having a much happier school experience than AAP kids. Sounds like a winning formula.

Should have clarified: their academic experience is happier and less stressful. The social experience is another story entirely, and not a very happy one. I was only addressing the question about the academic differences.

Were you as concerned about Gen Ed kids when your older kid was in AAP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My DC was in AAP a few years ago - now in high school. I can compare his experience with my other children who are currently in GE, learning exactly the same material AAP child learned, and having a much happier school experience. Had I only known, we would have kept him in GE.

Actually, I'm interested in this comment. PP, can you post more about your kids' AAP vs. GE experiences? I have heard so many different things that run the gamut from "AAP is great" to "AAP helped my kid find his/her peer group" to "AAP is just a homework program." Of course there are many different centers, but I'm wondering just how different the experience is.

Sure. I'm the PP and I would classify our son's AAP experience as lots of homework, projects that were pointless and took up far too much time, and an unnecessary division between kids. Lots of his friends were in GE, so he certainly didn't need a different peer group. I think he resented being separated from them, in fact. At the time, we thought we were doing the right thing, but in retrospect, the whole thing seems so silly and pointless. As I said earlier, my other kids are in GE and learning exactly the same information but having a much better time doing it.

Please tell us the name of this ES, with unhappy gen ed kids and AAP kids whose time is wasted by pointless projects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My DC was in AAP a few years ago - now in high school. I can compare his experience with my other children who are currently in GE, learning exactly the same material AAP child learned, and having a much happier school experience. Had I only known, we would have kept him in GE.

So you've had no connection to AAP for years and never will again. Yet you still come here to point out your disappointment? That's dedication. For better or worse, when AAP is no longer relevant to my family I'll find something else to do with my time than visit this board.

No connection to AAP? Considering my two younger kids have to attend a center, and also considering they're outnumbered at this school by AAP kids, I'd say we have quite a connection. I'll keep posting here as long as I like, but thanks for your sage advice!

Outnumbered by AAP but having a much happier school experience than AAP kids. Sounds like a winning formula.

Should have clarified: their academic experience is happier and less stressful. The social experience is another story entirely, and not a very happy one. I was only addressing the question about the academic differences.

Were you as concerned about Gen Ed kids when your older kid was in AAP?

When my son was in AAP, the program was vastly smaller. The AAP kids made up just a couple of classes per grade at their center and some grades had only one AAP class. Most kids were in Gen Ed and happy to be there. There weren't the social problems we're seeing today, where kids with identical abilities are being siphoned off into one of two groups. Now that the program has become enormous, there are centers where most of the kids are in AAP and this is thought to be "normal," when it should be anything but. Kids at centers who aren't in AAP feel they are somehow less-than, when the reality is anything but. That's what happens when a school system makes it appear that far more of its kids are "gifted" than they actually are. That's the experience my kids are having.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My DC was in AAP a few years ago - now in high school. I can compare his experience with my other children who are currently in GE, learning exactly the same material AAP child learned, and having a much happier school experience. Had I only known, we would have kept him in GE.

Actually, I'm interested in this comment. PP, can you post more about your kids' AAP vs. GE experiences? I have heard so many different things that run the gamut from "AAP is great" to "AAP helped my kid find his/her peer group" to "AAP is just a homework program." Of course there are many different centers, but I'm wondering just how different the experience is.

Sure. I'm the PP and I would classify our son's AAP experience as lots of homework, projects that were pointless and took up far too much time, and an unnecessary division between kids. Lots of his friends were in GE, so he certainly didn't need a different peer group. I think he resented being separated from them, in fact. At the time, we thought we were doing the right thing, but in retrospect, the whole thing seems so silly and pointless. As I said earlier, my other kids are in GE and learning exactly the same information but having a much better time doing it.

Please tell us the name of this ES, with unhappy gen ed kids and AAP kids whose time is wasted by pointless projects.

Now why would I do that? You'll just continue arguing and insisting that the experiences of others are false because you don't want to hear them, and you certainly don't want others to, either. The OP asked, "what is the point of AAP" and I answered honestly, based on my kids' experiences, both in and out of AAP. Sorry you don't like what your hearing, but that's really not my problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My DC was in AAP a few years ago - now in high school. I can compare his experience with my other children who are currently in GE, learning exactly the same material AAP child learned, and having a much happier school experience. Had I only known, we would have kept him in GE.

Actually, I'm interested in this comment. PP, can you post more about your kids' AAP vs. GE experiences? I have heard so many different things that run the gamut from "AAP is great" to "AAP helped my kid find his/her peer group" to "AAP is just a homework program." Of course there are many different centers, but I'm wondering just how different the experience is.

Sure. I'm the PP and I would classify our son's AAP experience as lots of homework, projects that were pointless and took up far too much time, and an unnecessary division between kids. Lots of his friends were in GE, so he certainly didn't need a different peer group. I think he resented being separated from them, in fact. At the time, we thought we were doing the right thing, but in retrospect, the whole thing seems so silly and pointless. As I said earlier, my other kids are in GE and learning exactly the same information but having a much better time doing it.

Please tell us the name of this ES, with unhappy gen ed kids and AAP kids whose time is wasted by pointless projects.

Now why would I do that? You'll just continue arguing and insisting that the experiences of others are false because you don't want to hear them, and you certainly don't want others to, either. The OP asked, "what is the point of AAP" and I answered honestly, based on my kids' experiences, both in and out of AAP. Sorry you don't like what your hearing, but that's really not my problem.

People read these boards for lots of reasons, and a big one is to do research about schools. When looking for neighborhoods and schools to choose when moving to the area, it would be nice to hear of schools that posters like and dislike and why. That would be a reason to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My DC was in AAP a few years ago - now in high school. I can compare his experience with my other children who are currently in GE, learning exactly the same material AAP child learned, and having a much happier school experience. Had I only known, we would have kept him in GE.

Actually, I'm interested in this comment. PP, can you post more about your kids' AAP vs. GE experiences? I have heard so many different things that run the gamut from "AAP is great" to "AAP helped my kid find his/her peer group" to "AAP is just a homework program." Of course there are many different centers, but I'm wondering just how different the experience is.

Sure. I'm the PP and I would classify our son's AAP experience as lots of homework, projects that were pointless and took up far too much time, and an unnecessary division between kids. Lots of his friends were in GE, so he certainly didn't need a different peer group. I think he resented being separated from them, in fact. At the time, we thought we were doing the right thing, but in retrospect, the whole thing seems so silly and pointless. As I said earlier, my other kids are in GE and learning exactly the same information but having a much better time doing it.

Please tell us the name of this ES, with unhappy gen ed kids and AAP kids whose time is wasted by pointless projects.

Now why would I do that? You'll just continue arguing and insisting that the experiences of others are false because you don't want to hear them, and you certainly don't want others to, either. The OP asked, "what is the point of AAP" and I answered honestly, based on my kids' experiences, both in and out of AAP. Sorry you don't like what your hearing, but that's really not my problem.

People read these boards for lots of reasons, and a big one is to do research about schools. When looking for neighborhoods and schools to choose when moving to the area, it would be nice to hear of schools that posters like and dislike and why. That would be a reason to do that.

Based on the snarky comment above (bolded), I don't buy that for a minute in this case. I've seen what happens to posters who reveal the name of the school/center they have issues with. They are immediately discredited by the aggressive pro-AAP-at-all-costs posters, who refuse to let anyone express negative opinions of AAP. Regardless, there are plenty of centers with the same issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When looking for neighborhoods and schools to choose when moving to the area, it would be nice to hear of schools that posters like and dislike and why. That would be a reason to do that.

Like: Canterbury Woods ES AAP Center, base school is North Springfield ES

But I'm sure no one would want to move in boundary to North Springfield because it is where "the poors" live and is not McLean, Vienna, or Great Falls

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AAP is feeder to TJ
if you don't get b in there, life goes on, one can still do well in college and life, but you went to the best high school in the us, academically speaking.

AAP is not a feeder to TJ. Correlation does not equal causation.

almost all the kids at TJ were in AAP. They're the cream of the crop academically. They were identified as such early on and put in an academic environment best suited for them.
What would have happened if there was no AAP and these kids all were Gen Ed during 3-8 is speculation. Luckily, we have AAP here in Fairfax County.

I would agree that the kids at TJ are the top academic performers. But to imply that all the kids in AAP are at this level is frankly, laughable. Very, very few kids are admitted to TJ. Most kids are not. Which makes it crystal clear to all exactly who are the "top" kids. Hint: not the run-of-the-mill, dime a dozen, mainstream AAP kids. It must be such a shock and disappointment when TJ rejections come out!

And if there was no AAP and those poor kids wound up in Gen Ed, the top performers would remain just that. It doesn't take a lukewarm, faux "gifted" program to nurture those who truly have gifts. How else would you explain the many top performers in high school who were never in AAP to begin with?

Data please on the "many top performers" who were not AAP. And real data, not just what your kids' friends are up to.