So many non AAP kids in my kids class

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if OP is a troll, I actually learned something from this thread. DS is just starting 2nd grade, so if he makes AAP, then I will have to make a decision about whether he should switch schools to attend a center school. I realized that I actually would want him in a class that is solely AAP students and not mixed.

It depends on the school. My school is a LL4 and has one AAP class per grade. The class is 60-70 percent Level 4, with the rest filled with Level 3 or high achieving students. You would not know who was Level 4 if you walked into my classroom. Some of my Level 3 kids are better students than my Level 4. We also have kids come back yearly from the center. I would research what model your base school uses first.

Your school is an exception. Most of the schools use the clustering model. My conspiracy theory is that they use the clustering model to have the AAP curriculum in all classrooms, and in turn raise school's overall student test scores. They could careless if AAP students stay or go.

If that worked, every school would do it. But it doesn't, which is why they don't.

How do you know it doesn't? Is it because not every school does it? It's not how real life works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry, OP. Our base school uses the stupid cluster too. They had seven 3rd grade classes and put 4-5 level iv kids in each one, in addition to every other level of ability and need.

To be clear, that's not how cluster grouping works. If they have seven classes and 28-35 level iv kids, they should form 4-5 classes with 7-9 level id kids and 3-4 classes without any level iv kids. All low-performing kids should be in those classes.

That said, I don't doubt that what you're saying is true. Just pointing out that the school isn't implementing cluster grouping correctly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if OP is a troll, I actually learned something from this thread. DS is just starting 2nd grade, so if he makes AAP, then I will have to make a decision about whether he should switch schools to attend a center school. I realized that I actually would want him in a class that is solely AAP students and not mixed.

It depends on the school. My school is a LL4 and has one AAP class per grade. The class is 60-70 percent Level 4, with the rest filled with Level 3 or high achieving students. You would not know who was Level 4 if you walked into my classroom. Some of my Level 3 kids are better students than my Level 4. We also have kids come back yearly from the center. I would research what model your base school uses first.

Your school is an exception. Most of the schools use the clustering model. My conspiracy theory is that they use the clustering model to have the AAP curriculum in all classrooms, and in turn raise school's overall student test scores. They could careless if AAP students stay or go.

I am PP. I think most of the cluster models are newer AAP programs. The only school I know of that switched to cluster after having an established program is Shrevewood.

I guarantee that OP is a Shrevewood parent. She sounds just like the ones that were complaining last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's what the cluster model is: a couple LIV students in a class of mostly non-LIV students. Was your 6th grader newly admitted to AAP?

The school year hasn't' started yet - can you switch to the center now?

My kid will not be ok switching schools this late in the game. I am astounded that so few AAP kids are in their class though. So many problem kids and ESOL kids in there. Truly disappointed.

Serious question: What else did you think the cluster model would entail?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know this was a thing. Can someone elaborate?

In the cluster model, gifted kids are grouped and put in classes with otherwise non-gifted kids who admin/teachers believe will benefit from having gifted peers in a class with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know this was a thing. Can someone elaborate?

I don't know what cluster means in the OP, but at certain schools that offer local level IV, they don't have enough kids to fill a class will all AAP LLIV kids, so there are other kids in the class. And if you knew anything about AAP, and that was something you cared about, you have to select to attend the center at those school if you want AAP kids only in the class.

Even if a school has enough AAP kids for a (small) class, there's nothing forcing the school to keep them all in the same class instead of splitting them up among multiple classes to reduce the number of teachers required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP -- I'm sorry, but if you are as dumb as you sound, I'm not sure your kid would succeed in a center, if they've inherited their intelligence from you. How could a school assure anyone that half the class would be AAP students? New kids come and go from public schools every year. If you wanted to be assured of that, you'd know that going to the center is the only way.

Do what you can to get your kid into a center immediately. But then again, consider that your kid may feel better about themselves if they aren't surrounded by people smarter than them.

So basically, you're calling OP dumb for assuming the school wouldn't lie to her face? That seems excessive. You and I might know what's up, but that doesn't say anything about the intelligence of those who don't. Knowledge =/= intelligence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know this was a thing. Can someone elaborate?

I don't know what cluster means in the OP, but at certain schools that offer local level IV, they don't have enough kids to fill a class will all AAP LLIV kids, so there are other kids in the class. And if you knew anything about AAP, and that was something you cared about, you have to select to attend the center at those school if you want AAP kids only in the class.

I did attend the informational meeting and was assured that half the class would be AAP. It's not remotely close to being true. Plus, the rest of the class isn't even Level III. It's a total mixture with lots of Sped and ESOL. Why do they think this is ok?

Because Special Education and ESOL children can also be very smart and have high IQs. These particular children are probably far smarter than your own child, especially if he inherited any genes from you.

Oh, please. You just keep telling yourself that.

It's true. 2E kids exist, and there's no reason why intelligence would be limited to English-speaking kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if OP is a troll, I actually learned something from this thread. DS is just starting 2nd grade, so if he makes AAP, then I will have to make a decision about whether he should switch schools to attend a center school. I realized that I actually would want him in a class that is solely AAP students and not mixed.

It depends on the school. My school is a LL4 and has one AAP class per grade. The class is 60-70 percent Level 4, with the rest filled with Level 3 or high achieving students. You would not know who was Level 4 if you walked into my classroom. Some of my Level 3 kids are better students than my Level 4. We also have kids come back yearly from the center. I would research what model your base school uses first.

Is the LIV/LIII percentage of your class available to parents who ask? What about the fact that there is only one AAP class per grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if OP is a troll, I actually learned something from this thread. DS is just starting 2nd grade, so if he makes AAP, then I will have to make a decision about whether he should switch schools to attend a center school. I realized that I actually would want him in a class that is solely AAP students and not mixed.

It depends on the school. My school is a LL4 and has one AAP class per grade. The class is 60-70 percent Level 4, with the rest filled with Level 3 or high achieving students. You would not know who was Level 4 if you walked into my classroom. Some of my Level 3 kids are better students than my Level 4. We also have kids come back yearly from the center. I would research what model your base school uses first.

Your school is an exception. Most of the schools use the clustering model. My conspiracy theory is that they use the clustering model to have the AAP curriculum in all classrooms, and in turn raise school's overall student test scores. They could careless if AAP students stay or go.

Why would the need the clustering model for that? If gen ed students do well with AAP curriculum, nothing is stopping the school from using it in gen ed classrooms without needing clustering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if OP is a troll, I actually learned something from this thread. DS is just starting 2nd grade, so if he makes AAP, then I will have to make a decision about whether he should switch schools to attend a center school. I realized that I actually would want him in a class that is solely AAP students and not mixed.

It depends on the school. My school is a LL4 and has one AAP class per grade. The class is 60-70 percent Level 4, with the rest filled with Level 3 or high achieving students. You would not know who was Level 4 if you walked into my classroom. Some of my Level 3 kids are better students than my Level 4. We also have kids come back yearly from the center. I would research what model your base school uses first.

Your school is an exception. Most of the schools use the clustering model. My conspiracy theory is that they use the clustering model to have the AAP curriculum in all classrooms, and in turn raise school's overall student test scores. They could careless if AAP students stay or go.

Why would the need the clustering model for that? If gen ed students do well with AAP curriculum, nothing is stopping the school from using it in gen ed classrooms without needing clustering.

You cannot use AAP curriculum without AAP student(s).

[Anonymous]

I’m a general ed parent in a wealthy fcps. A High percentage of AAP kids moved to the center. If you are that upset by this just go private.

[Anonymous]

You don’t sound very inclusive. What will happen when the child gets into the workforce? Will they be able to work in a team? Life lessons extend far beyond your helicoptering.

[Anonymous]

I can’t believe how many people are actually responding to this obvious troll post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if OP is a troll, I actually learned something from this thread. DS is just starting 2nd grade, so if he makes AAP, then I will have to make a decision about whether he should switch schools to attend a center school. I realized that I actually would want him in a class that is solely AAP students and not mixed.

It depends on the school. My school is a LL4 and has one AAP class per grade. The class is 60-70 percent Level 4, with the rest filled with Level 3 or high achieving students. You would not know who was Level 4 if you walked into my classroom. Some of my Level 3 kids are better students than my Level 4. We also have kids come back yearly from the center. I would research what model your base school uses first.

Is the LIV/LIII percentage of your class available to parents who ask? What about the fact that there is only one AAP class per grade?

Parents sometimes ask at orientation. We also say many kids get AAP status after 3rd grade. So by 6th grade, it is closer to 80-90 percent AAP kids, while 3rd may be 60 percent. There are pros/cons with one class. But my school is small so we only have 3 teachers per grade. Some centers have 1 AAP class per grade too.