Pros and cons for kids at FCPS stand-alone "middle schools" vs. 7th and 8th at an FCPS secondary sch

[Anonymous]

1. Is there a significant difference b/t a kid attending a stand-alone middle school vs. a middle school that is part of a HS/secondary school?

2. Is there a sig. difference b/t all honors classes in MS and going to an AAP MS program?

[Anonymous]

Both answers are "it differs from school to school."

It also really depends on the student and the needs of that student.

[Anonymous]

Middle schools that don't have AAP will tell parents that honors and AAP are the same. Middle schools that are AAP centers will show parents the difference in the curriculum for each. The schools will have meetings in the spring and will explain the differences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Middle schools that don't have AAP will tell parents that honors and AAP are the same. Middle schools that are AAP centers will show parents the difference in the curriculum for each. The schools will have meetings in the spring and will explain the differences.

Isn't that going to be too late for parents to refer/get AAP designation (if the kid isn't already in AAP). I'm asking b/c I'm wondering if there would be any point to pursuing AAP designation for my 6th grader who was on the cusp back in 2nd grade and we didn't refer back then b/c we were satisfied with regular base school. I saw in another thread that some referenced a "bump" in applications either for 6th grader or for kids who are 6th graders. Does this mean parents value the MS AAP program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Middle schools that don't have AAP will tell parents that honors and AAP are the same. Middle schools that are AAP centers will show parents the difference in the curriculum for each. The schools will have meetings in the spring and will explain the differences.

When my DCs were in MS (they are in HS now), the MS said to group of parents, mostly of AAP students, that the two curriculums were the same. This was an AAP MS. A parent then made the comment that the student cohort was what made the difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middle schools that don't have AAP will tell parents that honors and AAP are the same. Middle schools that are AAP centers will show parents the difference in the curriculum for each. The schools will have meetings in the spring and will explain the differences.

When my DCs were in MS (they are in HS now), the MS said to group of parents, mostly of AAP students, that the two curriculums were the same. This was an AAP MS. A parent then made the comment that the student cohort was what made the difference.

I had a different experience. We were given handouts that showed what would be taught in AAP vs. honors. In English, the reading lists for the year were very different and writing assignments in English, social studies and science were held to different standards. Math was outside AAP and accessed through sixth grade testing. We were distinctly told that if our children went to the base middle school rather than the center they would only have access to the honors curriculum and not AAP.

[Anonymous]

At the end of 8th grade when it's time to sign up for 9th grade classes, the two will be counseled differently. AAP students are encouraged to take a more challenging curriculum than the honors group. I knew this since my daughter was in AAP only for math. At course selection time I stood in line with the AAP parents, and discussed course selection with counselors. I then compared notes with my honors student parents. It wasn't that the honors students couldn't sign up for the same 9th grade classes but they were getting steered towards a slightly lighter load.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both answers are "it differs from school to school."

It also really depends on the student and the needs of that student.

+1
and think what your HS plans will be. If you go to the AAP middle school and then you have to switch back to your base for high school, it does cause some social bumps.

But, if you are just looking at a South County/West Springfield model vs a Robinson/Lake Braddock model in regards to where you want to live, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Each has it's pros and cons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the end of 8th grade when it's time to sign up for 9th grade classes, the two will be counseled differently. AAP students are encouraged to take a more challenging curriculum than the honors group. I knew this since my daughter was in AAP only for math. At course selection time I stood in line with the AAP parents, and discussed course selection with counselors. I then compared notes with my honors student parents. It wasn't that the honors students couldn't sign up for the same 9th grade classes but they were getting steered towards a slightly lighter load.

Interesting, both my DCs went the Honors route in MS and were counseled to take all Honors available in HS. I guess it depends on the school and the student.

[Anonymous]

Personally I would prefer a standalone middle school, so that my 12 year old isn't having to deal with 18 year olds on the bus, in the hallways, etc. if your choice is AAP in 7-12 school or honors in 7-8, I'm not sure which I'd choose- probably whichever was a better fit socially and more convenient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally I would prefer a standalone middle school, so that my 12 year old isn't having to deal with 18 year olds on the bus, in the hallways, etc. if your choice is AAP in 7-12 school or honors in 7-8, I'm not sure which I'd choose- probably whichever was a better fit socially and more convenient.

My understanding is that there are different busses and different hallways. There are so many MS students and HS students at these schools that they are usually in two different buildings -- they just share a hallway somewhere and the campus. They break the classes into groups or cohorts so students can deal with fewer people all at once. They usually take their primary classes with their group. They will see other students in their electives, but not 18 year olds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. Is there a significant difference b/t a kid attending a stand-alone middle school vs. a middle school that is part of a HS/secondary school?

Unless the world has changed in the past decade, no. My brother went to Lake Braddock, I went to Washington Irving/West Springfield. Our experiences were similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I would prefer a standalone middle school, so that my 12 year old isn't having to deal with 18 year olds on the bus, in the hallways, etc. if your choice is AAP in 7-12 school or honors in 7-8, I'm not sure which I'd choose- probably whichever was a better fit socially and more convenient.

My understanding is that there are different busses and different hallways. There are so many MS students and HS students at these schools that they are usually in two different buildings -- they just share a hallway somewhere and the campus. They break the classes into groups or cohorts so students can deal with fewer people all at once. They usually take their primary classes with their group. They will see other students in their electives, but not 18 year olds.

hey 10:10 which school are you talking about? I agree that I thought most have separate buses & hallways. I went to Hayfield years ago and never saw the other side of the building. Currently in the South County district, and have two separate buildings, but I thought LB & Robinson still had separate buses/hallways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the end of 8th grade when it's time to sign up for 9th grade classes, the two will be counseled differently. AAP students are encouraged to take a more challenging curriculum than the honors group. I knew this since my daughter was in AAP only for math. At course selection time I stood in line with the AAP parents, and discussed course selection with counselors. I then compared notes with my honors student parents. It wasn't that the honors students couldn't sign up for the same 9th grade classes but they were getting steered towards a slightly lighter load.

Interesting, both my DCs went the Honors route in MS and were counseled to take all Honors available in HS. I guess it depends on the school and the student.

Same experience with my Honors MS kids. Both went on to take the most challenging courses in high school (Honors, then AP). It's up to the parents to make those decisions with their kids and whether the kids were in Honors or AAP in middle school makes no difference once in high school.

[Anonymous]

I went to LB in the 80s and there was one main hallway on the first floor and one main hallway on the second floor. So although in 7th and 8th grade, we had lockers in or around the 7th grade sub-school, we walked through the main hallway with high schoolers to get to PE, Drama, Music, the cafeteria, etc. Also, the lunch periods were mixed so middle schoolers had the same lunch period as high schoolers. I don't know if that has changed, but I can tell you I met the sophomore who became my boyfriend in 8th grade during lunch. There was *lots* of contact between MS and HS kids in LB back in the day. My kids go to private school for many reasons, but one of them was my experience in MS and HS in FCPS.