Advice for newcomers for accelerated Math and Language curriculum

[Anonymous]

We are thinking about moving into the Fairfax county this summer for schools. Our kids are one grade above in Math and Language using the Common Core standards (they are formally finishing 3rd and 1st grades). What will you recommend for us at this point? Will we be able to find schools here where our kids can continue advanced subjects in the Fall? Any specific recommendations on the schools?

Many thanks.

[Anonymous]

Where in Fairfax County?

[Anonymous]

I'm not very familiar with the county, but I've heard that schools are strong, for example a lot of things about the Falls Church City area. ideally, within a reasonable commute to Washington

[Anonymous]

Unless you are in an area of the county with a high ESL/ FARMS rate, most kids will be a minimum of one year ahead. Also, FCPS has not adopted common core.

[Anonymous]

Your kids will be very average in FCPS. If this is your concern,you are in for a shock.

That said, AAP runs 3-8 grade and offered further acceleration. Lots of info, so Google FCPS AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kids will be very average in FCPS. If this is your concern,you are in for a shock.

That said, AAP runs 3-8 grade and offered further acceleration. Lots of info, so Google FCPS AAP.

What state are your kids coming from.

Unless you are at a low performing school (and there are not many of those) your kids will probably be very typical fcps students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not very familiar with the county, but I've heard that schools are strong, for example a lot of things about the Falls Church City area. ideally, within a reasonable commute to Washington

There are 139 elementary schools in FCPS. Some schools have the AAP curriculum as their gen-Ed curriculum, some have over half of their population in the advance math. Some do not. My advice would change depending on the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are thinking about moving into the Fairfax county this summer for schools. Our kids are one grade above in Math and Language using the Common Core standards (they are formally finishing 3rd and 1st grades). What will you recommend for us at this point? Will we be able to find schools here where our kids can continue advanced subjects in the Fall? Any specific recommendations on the schools?

Many thanks.

OP, fcpw students are much higher than the national average.

For example, in the GT qualification test (cogat) they break out the scores between national levels and fcps levels. One of my kids was in the upper half of the 90s nationally, and 88% in fcps. There was almost a ten point difference.

I have friends who moved from fcps to out of state a couple of years ago. Their kid's scores were too low to qualify for gifted services (AAP) in rcps, but out of state she qualified fora gifted magnet school.

Do you have any other tests besides common core standards. Common core is not very relevant in this area. Being a year ahead in common core out of state does not really mean much interms of whether or not your kid is advanced in fcps or Arlington public schools.

[Anonymous]

You guys crack me up. We moved to a Common Core jurisdiction. The Smarter Balanced Tests (which is what my kids took) are WAY harder than the SOLs. Coming from a good FCPS elementary, the kids here were ahead of my GE kid and my AAP kid was on par. You might be surprised at what some other districts are like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You guys crack me up. We moved to a Common Core jurisdiction. The Smarter Balanced Tests (which is what my kids took) are WAY harder than the SOLs. Coming from a good FCPS elementary, the kids here were ahead of my GE kid and my AAP kid was on par. You might be surprised at what some other districts are like.

SOLs are a very low floor. Nobody thinks that they are challenging-- and they aren't supposed to be. It's a minimal competence assessment.

And I'm sure some other jurisdictions also have strong schools. But in an area as affluent and highly educated as FCPS, I would be shocked if the kids weren't ahead of 95% of other school systems. IMO, it's about smart, wealthy parents, more than schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You guys crack me up. We moved to a Common Core jurisdiction. The Smarter Balanced Tests (which is what my kids took) are WAY harder than the SOLs. Coming from a good FCPS elementary, the kids here were ahead of my GE kid and my AAP kid was on par. You might be surprised at what some other districts are like.

Common core is NOT relevant to fcps.

What determines whether or not your kid is advanced is the cogat. Common core means nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You guys crack me up. We moved to a Common Core jurisdiction. The Smarter Balanced Tests (which is what my kids took) are WAY harder than the SOLs. Coming from a good FCPS elementary, the kids here were ahead of my GE kid and my AAP kid was on par. You might be surprised at what some other districts are like.

Which jurisdiction?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You guys crack me up. We moved to a Common Core jurisdiction. The Smarter Balanced Tests (which l what my kids took) are WAY harder than the SOLs. Coming from a good FCPS elementary, the kids here were ahead of my GE kid and my AAP kid was on par. You might be surprised at what some other districts are like.

Is this a good thing? People are on here all the time railing against SOLs and testing.

[Anonymous]

Asap is roughly 1-2 years above grade level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Asap is roughly 1-2 years above grade level.

Meant AAP