AAP Local Level IV neighborhood school or AAP center?

[Anonymous]

In some school zones, there is a choice for parents to choose between Local Level IV neighborhood school and AAP center. What are the differences between the two? My daughter is in 2nd and I am trying to understand what the differences are between the two options?

[Anonymous]

You will get many answers, but these are a few practical issues I have noticed, now that my son is in 7th grade.

He had the same 25 or so students in his class every year. A few were principal placed, so those kids changed.

Also, there was not additional differentiation or levels in math. Now that he is taking algebra in 7th, he has learned that some kids from the 2 center schools nearby, took algebra in 6th and are taking geometry in 7th. Maybe he could have been pushed further?

You also get to stay at your base school with level 4, with neighbors and siblings.

I have also learned that center schools tend to start later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In some school zones, there is a choice for parents to choose between Local Level IV neighborhood school and AAP center. What are the differences between the two? My daughter is in 2nd and I am trying to understand what the differences are between the two options?

Here is a link to a similar thread with lots of links to previous posts:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/422777.page

[Anonymous]

It depends on the student, the LLIV program and the Center school program. Too many variable.

[Anonymous]

It really depends on the local level IV and the center. If you list them, parents with children at each school can provide their obesrvations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You will get many answers, but these are a few practical issues I have noticed, now that my son is in 7th grade.

He had the same 25 or so students in his class every year. A few were principal placed, so those kids changed.

Also, there was not additional differentiation or levels in math. Now that he is taking algebra in 7th, he has learned that some kids from the 2 center schools nearby, took algebra in 6th and are taking geometry in 7th. Maybe he could have been pushed further?

You also get to stay at your base school with level 4, with neighbors and siblings.

I have also learned that center schools tend to start later.

Our Center school starts at the same time as our Base school. Center school is very overcrowded. Did not see any difference in the pace or challenge in either classroom (DD tried both). Not sure what is the rush for kids to take Algebra in 6th grade - they are already skipping 3rd grade and 8th grade math. Would like to see how these kids end up doing in college math...

[Anonymous]

This is going to be so dependent on which Center and which LLIV. If you name them, you'll get better answers. A good place to start is by asking you school how many students in this years third grade opted for Center vs LLIV. If you get 75%+ opting to go Center, you won't have enough left for a strong LLIV class. If 75%+ stay, then you base school is very good or Center is very weak. An even split is tougher.

Also, agree that the push for 6th grade Algebra isn't necessarily a great thing. Even assuming that kids are really ready academically/ developmentally to understand and get a good grounding in Algebra in 6th & geometry in 7th, that puts AP calculus in 10th, multi variable/ linear algebra in 11th and then what ??? If you go into a stem field, isn't your colleges just going to make you retake their higher level math? And if you are humanities, do you need math above multi variable?

In FCPS, if 6th grade Algebra is offered and becomes the new standard for "good" math students (read: TJ Tracked) then some parents will prep their kids to death to qualify them, which risks a shaky per algebra, algebra, geometry foundation. Absent truly extraordinary circumstances, FCPS should be holding firm on 7th grade algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You will get many answers, but these are a few practical issues I have noticed, now that my son is in 7th grade.

He had the same 25 or so students in his class every year. A few were principal placed, so those kids changed.

Also, there was not additional differentiation or levels in math. Now that he is taking algebra in 7th, he has learned that some kids from the 2 center schools nearby, took algebra in 6th and are taking geometry in 7th. Maybe he could have been pushed further?

You also get to stay at your base school with level 4, with neighbors and siblings.

I have also learned that center schools tend to start later.

Our Center school starts at the same time as our Base school. Center school is very overcrowded. Did not see any difference in the pace or challenge in either classroom (DD tried both). Not sure what is the rush for kids to take Algebra in 6th grade - they are already skipping 3rd grade and 8th grade math. Would like to see how these kids end up doing in college math...

+100 My son's high school math teacher told me she has been appalled at how many kids come into her advanced math classes not understanding the fundamentals. Unless you have a math genius on your hands, take care with the acceleration. At most high schools a child who takes Algebra in 6th grade will run out of math classes before senior year. Really, I don't get the hurry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You will get many answers, but these are a few practical issues I have noticed, now that my son is in 7th grade.

He had the same 25 or so students in his class every year. A few were principal placed, so those kids changed.

Also, there was not additional differentiation or levels in math. Now that he is taking algebra in 7th, he has learned that some kids from the 2 center schools nearby, took algebra in 6th and are taking geometry in 7th. Maybe he could have been pushed further?

You also get to stay at your base school with level 4, with neighbors and siblings.

I have also learned that center schools tend to start later.

Our Center school starts at the same time as our Base school. Center school is very overcrowded. Did not see any difference in the pace or challenge in either classroom (DD tried both). Not sure what is the rush for kids to take Algebra in 6th grade - they are already skipping 3rd grade and 8th grade math. Would like to see how these kids end up doing in college math...

+100 My son's high school math teacher told me she has been appalled at how many kids come into her advanced math classes not understanding the fundamentals. Unless you have a math genius on your hands, take care with the acceleration. At most high schools a child who takes Algebra in 6th grade will run out of math classes before senior year. Really, I don't get the hurry.

Totally agree. In fact, I'm perfectly fine with my child taking Algebra in 8th grade. He isn't a STEM-type and is far more interested the Humanities. There simply is no need for him to rush through math.

[Anonymous]

One at local level IV, but got into AAP as an i"n pool" candidate and the 2nd child is at the AAP center, was also "in pool." Definitely not the same! At the center basically all the kids are not just smart, but very smart and the class goes much quicker. My son did not want to leave his friends, local level has been fine but his intellectual peer group has definitely left the building, if you know what I mean. There are smart kids, but it is apparent with volunteering in the class room and attending functions such as talent shows and science fairs it is definitely a different population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One at local level IV, but got into AAP as an i"n pool" candidate and the 2nd child is at the AAP center, was also "in pool." Definitely not the same! At the center basically all the kids are not just smart, but very smart and the class goes much quicker. My son did not want to leave his friends, local level has been fine but his intellectual peer group has definitely left the building, if you know what I mean. There are smart kids, but it is apparent with volunteering in the class room and attending functions such as talent shows and science fairs it is definitely a different population.

Which local level IV and AAP center?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:they are already skipping 3rd grade and 8th grade math. Would like to see how these kids end up doing in college math...

Was is this about skipping 3rd grade math?!?!?!

[Anonymous]

Actually, they don't completely skip 3rd grade math. They accelerate and do 3rd and 4th grade math in 3rd grade, so they are doing 5th grade math in 4th grade. They go through 3rd grade math very quickly, but they do go over it. Most AAP kids do not have a problem with it because they are already advanced in math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One at local level IV, but got into AAP as an i"n pool" candidate and the 2nd child is at the AAP center, was also "in pool." Definitely not the same! At the center basically all the kids are not just smart, but very smart and the class goes much quicker. My son did not want to leave his friends, local level has been fine but his intellectual peer group has definitely left the building, if you know what I mean. There are smart kids, but it is apparent with volunteering in the class room and attending functions such as talent shows and science fairs it is definitely a different population.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if my child will get into AAP or not but we really don't want to leave our base school if he does. I guess if he gets in we really need to find out about the local level IV program. I know most people at our school go to the center but I don't know why, the center school is a failing school but for the center and the kids sit in trailers and the place is just run down. I wish more would keep their kids in local level IV and create a great AAP program at our base school.