Middle School AAP vs. Honors

[Anonymous]

Can someone provide an explanation of the difference between AAP and Honors?

From what I have been told, AAP level classes are available for those kids who have been accepted to the LLIV program. I've also been told that Honors classes are equivalent to AAP classes (based on curriculum), but are available for those not deemed center eligible.

I've also heard that the kids that are deemed LLIV eligible must take all 4 classes (math, LE, Science, & SS) while those who qualify for honors level courses are not required to take all 4 core classes as honors.

I've also heard that kids can be screened in MS to determine if they can take honors classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone provide an explanation of the difference between AAP and Honors?

Link: "The following diagram highlights the major similarities and differences between the Advanced Academic Level IV Center and the Honors classes in the middle school."

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/pdfs/AAPforMSdiagram.pdf

[Anonymous]

Can anyone give real life experience?

I have heard that the honors MS classes are very, very simple, and that the AAP MS classes are very, very time and homework intensive.

[Anonymous]

IME, with two children in the same school, One in AAP and one in Honors is that there is very little difference. There is more difference between which teacher your child has. At our DCs' school, the AAP teachers also teach Honors. One difference I hear touted is that the quality and depth of the classroom discussion is deeper in the AAP classroom- I have no direct experience since I haven't been in the classrooms - so I can't say whether this is true or not. I do know that outside of school I see intelligent conversation from both groups of students.

I think it also depends on the school. We are in McLean and the pool of well prepared advantaged smart students is high. I think integrating the AAP designated students and the Honors students in MS (like happens in HS) would solve many of the down sides to the current apartheid without creating new problems. "Watering down" is not ineveitable. However, I do not think that one size fits all in the whole county. Our county is too big for that, it is not monolithic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone give real life experience?

I have heard that the honors MS classes are very, very simple, and that the AAP MS classes are very, very time and homework intensive.

Honors MS classes are in no way "simple". My child is in all honors and has very in-depth assignments and tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it also depends on the school. We are in McLean and the pool of well prepared advantaged smart students is high. I think integrating the AAP designated students and the Honors students in MS (like happens in HS) would solve many of the down sides to the current apartheid without creating new problems. "Watering down" is not ineveitable. However, I do not think that one size fits all in the whole county. Our county is too big for that, it is not monolithic.

I agree. My DS' friend was at a non-Center MS taking all honors and then changed to the Center program at the assigned MS. He and his parents report that the Center program is much different and more demanding than the all honors classes he was taking at the other MS. (This is not in McLean.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it also depends on the school. We are in McLean and the pool of well prepared advantaged smart students is high. I think integrating the AAP designated students and the Honors students in MS (like happens in HS) would solve many of the down sides to the current apartheid without creating new problems. "Watering down" is not ineveitable. However, I do not think that one size fits all in the whole county. Our county is too big for that, it is not monolithic.

I agree. My DS' friend was at a non-Center MS taking all honors and then changed to the Center program at the assigned MS. He and his parents report that the Center program is much different and more demanding than the all honors classes he was taking at the other MS. (This is not in McLean.)

Also agree. Each school can be very different. Child is at a middle school AAP center, friends at another school without AAP taking honors. Know a couple of kids who have transferred out of the school with honors and into the AAP center at another school, after parents felt kids were bored and not challenged in the school with honors classes. But this is one school, so a great deal depends on the teachers, wherever you go; honors elsewhere could be more challenging. I know some families where honors worked very well to challenge and interest their kids who had come out of AAP in elementary.

Remember that honors is "self-selecting" so kids can choose to do it without regard for whether they are ready for whatever additional challenge it presents (not sure about the "screening" for honors that you mention but it might be a good idea). At least one MS touts how it has every single student in honors in two core subjects but some parents feel that the claim means honors is watered down. If that's what's done at your possible MS, ask how they make that work for everyone.

When we were looking at MS, we got a very good presentation about how general ed, honors and AAP differ at the MS level. Teachers at the AAP center school talked about how the same assignment would be done in each program, in detail. Having examples really helped (for instance, a biography paper due for all students would be shorter/use fewer sources for general ed; a little longer, more sources for honors; longer, more sources for AAP plus the students would have to discuss how their subject person would handle a modern-day issue. Just one example they used; there were others. If you are looking at a choice between honors and an AAP center, please don't hesitate to ask for some in-depth examples from teachers of both types of classes.

[Anonymous]

Thanks 9:34.

Unfortunately, we are looking at a choice between going to the center MS fro AAP or switching to the local MS for honors.

We have heard the homework load at the center is very high and the honors program at the local school is quite the opposite.

This is from friends who have chosen one or the other.

If we could do the honors program at the center school it wojld be our first as it sounds like a balance between both options.

[Anonymous]

Do the non center schools offer the algebra in 7th option or is that just at center schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks 9:34.

Unfortunately, we are looking at a choice between going to the center MS fro AAP or switching to the local MS for honors.

We have heard the homework load at the center is very high and the honors program at the local school is quite the opposite.

This is from friends who have chosen one or the other.

If we could do the honors program at the center school it wojld be our first as it sounds like a balance between both options.

Homework is overrated. Also, you also need to consider whether many kids from the center will be going to your base high school. I just realized that multiple schools are served by our center. If not that many from your base high school will be at the center, it might be a hard transition socially for high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks 9:34.

Unfortunately, we are looking at a choice between going to the center MS fro AAP or switching to the local MS for honors.

We have heard the homework load at the center is very high and the honors program at the local school is quite the opposite.

This is from friends who have chosen one or the other.

If we could do the honors program at the center school it wojld be our first as it sounds like a balance between both options.

Homework is overrated. Also, you also need to consider whether many kids from the center will be going to your base high school. I just realized that multiple schools are served by our center. If not that many from your base high school will be at the center, it might be a hard transition socially for high school.

I agree that homework is overrated and that is why we want something between hours of homework and an easy program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the non center schools offer the algebra in 7th option or is that just at center schools?

Algebra in 7th is offered at all middle schools for students that qualify.

[Anonymous]

Wait I thought AAP ended with elementary. Stated in many past post here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait I thought AAP ended with elementary. Stated in many past post here.

Lesson learned: don't believe everything you read on an anonymous forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait I thought AAP ended with elementary. Stated in many past post here.

Everything I've ever read about the program states that eligibility continues through eighth grade.