Does AAP create unhelpful elitism and separation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school is having a field trip just for the AAP kids.

If you're talking about Keene Mill, that trip is organized and pair for by the parents of the AAP kids, and not every AAP kid even goes on the trip. It is not run or paid for by the school.

[Anonymous]

NP here.

What if it's not that AAP creates unhelpful elitism and separation, but that we were already elitists and separatists to begin with? So much so that AAP appeals to us intrinsically so that we would want to move here to begin with? And that some people who move here for other reasons become horrified at the prospect of it but because it's really hard to find housing with public transportation in the area, we just stick around and feed into the system anyway?

AAP is not the end all be all. But because there is a pervasive competitive parenting thing in this county, it becomes that.

[Anonymous]

We wanted to more to Arlington CO. because of the proximity and transportation, and the AART at our school specifically said that we'd be doing a disservice to our gifted child if we did. We spoke with several AARTs in FX and Arl. COs, and based on what they said we decided to stay in FX.

[Anonymous]

OP. I live in Fairfax County. It is the only school system my kids have ever been in. I have concerns about the AAP program, some similar to yours.

One of my kids tested into AAP. We didn't enroll him. He stayed at his base school in Level III where he was happy and content. The other wasn't even close to testing in. They never felt "not smart" or separated because once the AAP-obsessed families left the school, all that drama went with them.

Both my kids are now in high school and have gotten fantastic educations. They took honors classes starting in middle school. They have grades that would make any parent proud. The older is set to graduate with an IB diploma (the one who didn't test in) and knocked the SATs out of the park. Both kids have never been treated as "less" by a teacher or fellow student since leaving elementary school.

The AAP program brings out the absolute worst in people at the elementary school level, but once you move past it, it's done. Really, it's a non-issue after sixth grade and the hullabaloo seems really, really ridiculous in the rearview mirror. I suspect many of the most obnoxious posters on this page will look back and cringe in a few years when they realize how little all of this truly matters.

Move here. It's a great school system with much to offer beyond AAP.

[Anonymous]

PP, do you know which neighborhood OP is looking to move into? Can you speak for all of FX County?

I'm curious if OP will move to some schools rated as 1-5 on great schools, or is she looking to move to a neighborhood with school ratings more comparable to FCC. Maybe, since OP loves diversity so much she should move her kids to some school where 90% of the students don't speak English. That will provide her true diversity, and a chance to do a lot of good.

PP, also, if your kids are in HS, that means that they would have been part of the old program which was truly GT, and not expanded like today's program. And what's your school rating? From the way you speak, I bet it is 8-10.

[Anonymous]

Are you looking for racial diversity? If so, do some research on the school you are planning to move to. My kids are in an APP center (Elementary) in FFC and that particular school is not racially diverse at all.

[Anonymous]

^^^ that should read “AAP Center”. Not “APP Center”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. I live in Fairfax County. It is the only school system my kids have ever been in. I have concerns about the AAP program, some similar to yours.

One of my kids tested into AAP. We didn't enroll him. He stayed at his base school in Level III where he was happy and content. The other wasn't even close to testing in. They never felt "not smart" or separated because once the AAP-obsessed families left the school, all that drama went with them.

Both my kids are now in high school and have gotten fantastic educations. They took honors classes starting in middle school. They have grades that would make any parent proud. The older is set to graduate with an IB diploma (the one who didn't test in) and knocked the SATs out of the park. Both kids have never been treated as "less" by a teacher or fellow student since leaving elementary school.

The AAP program brings out the absolute worst in people at the elementary school level, but once you move past it, it's done. Really, it's a non-issue after sixth grade and the hullabaloo seems really, really ridiculous in the rearview mirror. I suspect many of the most obnoxious posters on this page will look back and cringe in a few years when they realize how little all of this truly matters.

Move here. It's a great school system with much to offer beyond AAP.

OP here. thank you so much for your extremely helpful, balanced, informed, and thoughtful reply. Truly grateful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, do you know which neighborhood OP is looking to move into? Can you speak for all of FX County?

I'm curious if OP will move to some schools rated as 1-5 on great schools, or is she looking to move to a neighborhood with school ratings more comparable to FCC. Maybe, since OP loves diversity so much she should move her kids to some school where 90% of the students don't speak English. That will provide her true diversity, and a chance to do a lot of good.

PP, also, if your kids are in HS, that means that they would have been part of the old program which was truly GT, and not expanded like today's program. And what's your school rating? From the way you speak, I bet it is 8-10.

I am the PP you are referring to. My kids are indeed in high school but they were not part of the old GT program; it was AAP with all the associated craziness, with pools and work samples and decisions on whether to stay at base schools or leave. I remember it all too well.

My kids go to a high school than many DCUM posters look down on. We were often asked if we'd be moving before they entered high school so they could go to to a better school. We were then told it was okay if we didn't want to move because we could pupil place to a better school with AP instead of IB. All of those conversations happened more than once. I learned to ignore all of it. The school is fabulous. My kids are happy and smart. The community is great.

I just want to assure the OP that the sense of elitism and separation disappear after the elementary school years, and dramatically so after the obsessed families leave the school. My kids could not today tell you which of their peers came up through the AAP system and which did not. And in conversations with fellow parents, it literally never, ever comes up. Ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, do you know which neighborhood OP is looking to move into? Can you speak for all of FX County?

I'm curious if OP will move to some schools rated as 1-5 on great schools, or is she looking to move to a neighborhood with school ratings more comparable to FCC. Maybe, since OP loves diversity so much she should move her kids to some school where 90% of the students don't speak English. That will provide her true diversity, and a chance to do a lot of good.

PP, also, if your kids are in HS, that means that they would have been part of the old program which was truly GT, and not expanded like today's program. And what's your school rating? From the way you speak, I bet it is 8-10.

OP here. Because of commuting proximity to our work, we are looking at the Pimmit Hills area, specifically, Westgate Elementary, Lemon Road Elementary, Kilmer MS, and Marshall HS. We are open to other suggestions/ideas. (need to be able to drive into NW DC). We are also looking at Arlington, but housing prices are harder for us there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP. I live in Fairfax County. It is the only school system my kids have ever been in. I have concerns about the AAP program, some similar to yours.

One of my kids tested into AAP. We didn't enroll him. He stayed at his base school in Level III where he was happy and content. The other wasn't even close to testing in. They never felt "not smart" or separated because once the AAP-obsessed families left the school, all that drama went with them.

Both my kids are now in high school and have gotten fantastic educations. They took honors classes starting in middle school. They have grades that would make any parent proud. The older is set to graduate with an IB diploma (the one who didn't test in) and knocked the SATs out of the park. Both kids have never been treated as "less" by a teacher or fellow student since leaving elementary school.

The AAP program brings out the absolute worst in people at the elementary school level, but once you move past it, it's done. Really, it's a non-issue after sixth grade and the hullabaloo seems really, really ridiculous in the rearview mirror. I suspect many of the most obnoxious posters on this page will look back and cringe in a few years when they realize how little all of this truly matters.

Move here. It's a great school system with much to offer beyond AAP.

OP here. thank you so much for your extremely helpful, balanced, informed, and thoughtful reply. Truly grateful.

You're welcome!

[Anonymous]

My child is enrolled in a AAP program / but we try not to make a big deal about it to him. But I have found that DH and I are WAY more laid back than other AAP parents. There tends to lot of competition and obsession about grades and scores. Those things are important - but I also want to cultivate grit and a love of learning in my child. To each his own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school is having a field trip just for the AAP kids.

If you're talking about Keene Mill, that trip is organized and pair for by the parents of the AAP kids, and not every AAP kid even goes on the trip. It is not run or paid for by the school.

Yes, Keene Mill, but I and many others (just search for Keene Mill Al Fresco and you'll see hundreds if not thousands of responses on that program) think that parents are elitist whether they pay themselves for this field trip or its paid for by the school. It's less of an issue for me who pays and more of an issue for me why parents keep it going on year after year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, do you know which neighborhood OP is looking to move into? Can you speak for all of FX County?

I'm curious if OP will move to some schools rated as 1-5 on great schools, or is she looking to move to a neighborhood with school ratings more comparable to FCC. Maybe, since OP loves diversity so much she should move her kids to some school where 90% of the students don't speak English. That will provide her true diversity, and a chance to do a lot of good.

PP, also, if your kids are in HS, that means that they would have been part of the old program which was truly GT, and not expanded like today's program. And what's your school rating? From the way you speak, I bet it is 8-10.

OP here. Because of commuting proximity to our work, we are looking at the Pimmit Hills area, specifically, Westgate Elementary, Lemon Road Elementary, Kilmer MS, and Marshall HS. We are open to other suggestions/ideas. (need to be able to drive into NW DC). We are also looking at Arlington, but housing prices are harder for us there.

Just move to Falls Church High School neighborhood. It will give you the diversity you're looking for with the same commute if not better and lower priced housing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school is having a field trip just for the AAP kids.

If you're talking about Keene Mill, that trip is organized and pair for by the parents of the AAP kids, and not every AAP kid even goes on the trip. It is not run or paid for by the school.

Yes, Keene Mill, but I and many others (just search for Keene Mill Al Fresco and you'll see hundreds if not thousands of responses on that program) think that parents are elitist whether they pay themselves for this field trip or its paid for by the school. It's less of an issue for me who pays and more of an issue for me why parents keep it going on year after year.

NP here. Why do you care that they have this field trip? Why don't you organize a field trip for non AAP kids that is the same as that, or even better, organize a better one.