The difference btw the AAP class and the General Ed class

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is correct. AAP is not only a brain drain, taking all the best students out of the population of a school and classroom, leaving mediocre-poor lumped together behind. It's also a parent drain. I used to be volunteer coordinator for my child's ES, and when 3rd grade came and all the AAP kids left, so did all the volunteers. It's time to get rid of AAP. It's good for a handful of people, and bad for the rest of us.

Opinions like this reveal some of you for the a-holes you are. NEWSFLASH: some people CHOOSE not to send their kids to AAP. There are plenty of smart and motivated kids in "gen ed" classes. Mine was one of them. DC started honors classes in middle school (which our center school told us that all honors courses was essentially the AAP curriculum). DC is now in HS (10th) and all honors and AAP and killing it. Doing better than a lot of her AAP friends from ES.

Generalizing those not in AAP as mediocre and their parents . . . bunch of crap. The Gen Ed parent volunteers were just as involved -if not more so- at our ES. You smug hags need to check yourself.

Was this a Title 1 elementary school?

No. But the generalization was that AAP = good, smart kids and parents and non-AAP= not. I'll also say that perception bled into our Center School, with the AAP kids even given a separate promotion ceremony, separate events through the year, etc. And that perception is false, unwarranted and just plain ignorant.

+ a million
DP

As an AAP parent that makes me sad. We actually decided to have our kid stick to her local school Vs center. She’s full on level IV and could have gone to a center. A parent (who also happens to be a FCPS teacher) told me that our school could not meet the needs of intelligent kids which is why she sent her DC to the center down the street (after getting said child on appeal). So even within AAP you find there are parents who are competitive. Those same parents will eventually be talking about IOWA tests, then TJ or GPA, then college acceptances. I want my kids to do well but I’m not joining the crazies.

[Anonymous]

It’s not right people look down on others because they’re non AAP, either poor or rich, or have disabilities, or because of their race (usually if they are Asian/Hispanic/Black), but it’s more from the family especially the parents. A lot of people on this forum attacking others for whatever reasons because they think life’s not fair to them and their kids, but are they being fair to other when they say hateful words toward certain race or because some have better financial status so they must be cheating?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is correct. AAP is not only a brain drain, taking all the best students out of the population of a school and classroom, leaving mediocre-poor lumped together behind. It's also a parent drain. I used to be volunteer coordinator for my child's ES, and when 3rd grade came and all the AAP kids left, so did all the volunteers. It's time to get rid of AAP. It's good for a handful of people, and bad for the rest of us.

Opinions like this reveal some of you for the a-holes you are. NEWSFLASH: some people CHOOSE not to send their kids to AAP. There are plenty of smart and motivated kids in "gen ed" classes. Mine was one of them. DC started honors classes in middle school (which our center school told us that all honors courses was essentially the AAP curriculum). DC is now in HS (10th) and all honors and AAP and killing it. Doing better than a lot of her AAP friends from ES.

Generalizing those not in AAP as mediocre and their parents . . . bunch of crap. The Gen Ed parent volunteers were just as involved -if not more so- at our ES. You smug hags need to check yourself.

Was this a Title 1 elementary school?

No. But the generalization was that AAP = good, smart kids and parents and non-AAP= not. I'll also say that perception bled into our Center School, with the AAP kids even given a separate promotion ceremony, separate events through the year, etc. And that perception is false, unwarranted and just plain ignorant.

That's on the principal. The base kids' parents need them to know that it's not ok and if it keeps happening, they need to do something about it.

The principal. And AAP parents.

I had one parent flat out tell me before promotion how excited she was her kid would be AAP in MS since those kids can sort of keep to themselves and avoid Gen Ed kids. She thought mine was AAP. When I told her mine wasn't, she jsut fumbled and fussed until I turned my back on her. A lot of those parent are gross.

I 100% don't understand why there is AAP in middle school when there are also honors classes. It's such a waste of resources.

It absolutely is. But be prepared to be told that "AAP offers so much more than honors!" and should still remain.

The problem with Honors it is open enrollment. You have kids reading below grade level signing up for honors classes even if the 6th grade teacher recommends. While I understand the rational behind having open enrollment, I do think there should be prerequisites such as passing SOL’s and getting 3’s, 4’s in that subject area.

I'm fine with open enrollment. I think the middle school teachers need to be willing to fail students who can't keep up (these grades aren't on HS transcripts, so there are no real repercussions) and the schools need to be willing to offer a switch to regular for kids who realize they are in over their heads a month or two into the year

I don't know about letting them fail, but they do get an option to switch early on in the year. You just have to accept a possible schedule change to balance out the class sizes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP coming back to say I really hope they remove AAP from middle schools before my children get there. I have one in 4th and the AAP-General Ed divide has been awful. There are girls who she was good friends with from before they were even in grade school that won't even look at her now, even though they're in extracurriculars together.

I have one heading to middle school next year and they are just figuring out who is center placed, principal placed, and just in their class. This is a school that has had local for years. We’re going to let DD decline services because she found out that most of the girls she’s close with are not center placed. Reading this thread, I’m happy that they never knew until now and only seem to care to the extent they can stay together

That's the kicker and what infuriated me. Not all schools do LLIV, mine was center or nothing. And it hurt my child to sit on the bus at the end of second grade and be told by his buddy that he wished my kid was smarter so they could still ride the bus together.

Why do some kids have to go through that while others don't??? Just pick one model FCPS...center or LLIV and stick with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:anecdotally, all of the room parents from K/1/2 at our school wound up getting their kids into AAP one way or another (some are guests in the local level IV).

we were curious who would step up for the other three classes this year since all prior room parents had kids in the same program-- guess what? those classes found room parents right off the bat, and the AAP class had to put out a special request for someone to be the room parent after no one answered the initial call.

Made me chuckle -- did people get what they want and then stop volunteering? I will note several came forward on the second request.

Oh look it's "PTA moms get preferential treatment for AAP" lady. No, they don't, that's not how this works. Step away from the wine, Sarah/Jessica/Katie.

They absolutely did at my ES. I remember distinctly talking to some of the "in" PTA mom types. One conversation specifically blew my mind, where a few of them were ticking of their list as to who they wanted for teachers next year for their kids and they were giving to to [principal's FIRST name] next week. They did. And they got what they asked for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be fine if they got rid of the Centers at MS and ES. I also think a better model would be to have an Advanced Math and Advanced LA class and have kids change classes based on their ability level in each area. Group Math and Science and LA and Social Studies but allow kids to switch classes based on their needs.

This is how my child's school handles advanced math AND how it was done when I was in ES 30+ years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:anecdotally, all of the room parents from K/1/2 at our school wound up getting their kids into AAP one way or another (some are guests in the local level IV).

we were curious who would step up for the other three classes this year since all prior room parents had kids in the same program-- guess what? those classes found room parents right off the bat, and the AAP class had to put out a special request for someone to be the room parent after no one answered the initial call.

Made me chuckle -- did people get what they want and then stop volunteering? I will note several came forward on the second request.

Oh look it's "PTA moms get preferential treatment for AAP" lady. No, they don't, that's not how this works. Step away from the wine, Sarah/Jessica/Katie.

They absolutely did at my ES. I remember distinctly talking to some of the "in" PTA mom types. One conversation specifically blew my mind, where a few of them were ticking of their list as to who they wanted for teachers next year for their kids and they were giving to to [principal's FIRST name] next week. They did. And they got what they asked for.

I'm curious about if you ever asked for anything? I'm not a PTA mom, my kid is below average, and I get the teachers for my kid that I ask for because I am vocal about my child's needs. I bet the PTA moms are, too. Are you??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is correct. AAP is not only a brain drain, taking all the best students out of the population of a school and classroom, leaving mediocre-poor lumped together behind. It's also a parent drain. I used to be volunteer coordinator for my child's ES, and when 3rd grade came and all the AAP kids left, so did all the volunteers. It's time to get rid of AAP. It's good for a handful of people, and bad for the rest of us.

Opinions like this reveal some of you for the a-holes you are. NEWSFLASH: some people CHOOSE not to send their kids to AAP. There are plenty of smart and motivated kids in "gen ed" classes. Mine was one of them. DC started honors classes in middle school (which our center school told us that all honors courses was essentially the AAP curriculum). DC is now in HS (10th) and all honors and AAP and killing it. Doing better than a lot of her AAP friends from ES.

Generalizing those not in AAP as mediocre and their parents . . . bunch of crap. The Gen Ed parent volunteers were just as involved -if not more so- at our ES. You smug hags need to check yourself.

+ a million
My kids had to attend a center school as Gen Ed students and it was horrible. The AAP kids actually thought they were superior - as did their parents. It was such a relief to get to middle school where they could take honors classes, and then high school where they could take honors and AP. They excelled. AAP center schools are truly the worst and I’m astounded they still exist.

Now, with every ES having LLIV, every school will be like this. How nice!

But at least the majority of the kids will be Gen Ed, and not AAP - as it is at a center.

AAP kids are not the majority at our center. It’s not even 50/50. More like 2/3 Gen Ed and 1/3 AAP.

Well they are at our center. Each grade has 3, sometimes 4 AAP classes and fewer Gen Ed. It's absurd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be fine if they got rid of the Centers at MS and ES. I also think a better model would be to have an Advanced Math and Advanced LA class and have kids change classes based on their ability level in each area. Group Math and Science and LA and Social Studies but allow kids to switch classes based on their needs.

Yep. Absolutely this. Plenty of kids are advanced in one area but not in the other. And that includes AAP kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is correct. AAP is not only a brain drain, taking all the best students out of the population of a school and classroom, leaving mediocre-poor lumped together behind. It's also a parent drain. I used to be volunteer coordinator for my child's ES, and when 3rd grade came and all the AAP kids left, so did all the volunteers. It's time to get rid of AAP. It's good for a handful of people, and bad for the rest of us.

Opinions like this reveal some of you for the a-holes you are. NEWSFLASH: some people CHOOSE not to send their kids to AAP. There are plenty of smart and motivated kids in "gen ed" classes. Mine was one of them. DC started honors classes in middle school (which our center school told us that all honors courses was essentially the AAP curriculum). DC is now in HS (10th) and all honors and AAP and killing it. Doing better than a lot of her AAP friends from ES.

Generalizing those not in AAP as mediocre and their parents . . . bunch of crap. The Gen Ed parent volunteers were just as involved -if not more so- at our ES. You smug hags need to check yourself.

+ a million
My kids had to attend a center school as Gen Ed students and it was horrible. The AAP kids actually thought they were superior - as did their parents. It was such a relief to get to middle school where they could take honors classes, and then high school where they could take honors and AP. They excelled. AAP center schools are truly the worst and I’m astounded they still exist.

Now, with every ES having LLIV, every school will be like this. How nice!

But at least the majority of the kids will be Gen Ed, and not AAP - as it is at a center.

AAP kids are not the majority at our center. It’s not even 50/50. More like 2/3 Gen Ed and 1/3 AAP.

Well they are at our center. Each grade has 3, sometimes 4 AAP classes and fewer Gen Ed. It's absurd.

Our center school has 4-5 AAP classes and 2 Gen Ed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:anecdotally, all of the room parents from K/1/2 at our school wound up getting their kids into AAP one way or another (some are guests in the local level IV).

we were curious who would step up for the other three classes this year since all prior room parents had kids in the same program-- guess what? those classes found room parents right off the bat, and the AAP class had to put out a special request for someone to be the room parent after no one answered the initial call.

Made me chuckle -- did people get what they want and then stop volunteering? I will note several came forward on the second request.

Oh look it's "PTA moms get preferential treatment for AAP" lady. No, they don't, that's not how this works. Step away from the wine, Sarah/Jessica/Katie.

They absolutely did at my ES. I remember distinctly talking to some of the "in" PTA mom types. One conversation specifically blew my mind, where a few of them were ticking of their list as to who they wanted for teachers next year for their kids and they were giving to to [principal's FIRST name] next week. They did. And they got what they asked for.

I'm curious about if you ever asked for anything? I'm not a PTA mom, my kid is below average, and I get the teachers for my kid that I ask for because I am vocal about my child's needs. I bet the PTA moms are, too. Are you??

Nope. I had one conversation -one- with the principal over placement one year but ultimately deferred to where they put DC. There were things I wanted for DC that the ES did give (like advance math tracking, certain teachers, etc.) but I never asked for them (even though I wanted to).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be fine if they got rid of the Centers at MS and ES. I also think a better model would be to have an Advanced Math and Advanced LA class and have kids change classes based on their ability level in each area. Group Math and Science and LA and Social Studies but allow kids to switch classes based on their needs.

Yep. Absolutely this. Plenty of kids are advanced in one area but not in the other. And that includes AAP kids.

What about SS/Science that are very reading heavy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be fine if they got rid of the Centers at MS and ES. I also think a better model would be to have an Advanced Math and Advanced LA class and have kids change classes based on their ability level in each area. Group Math and Science and LA and Social Studies but allow kids to switch classes based on their needs.

Yep. Absolutely this. Plenty of kids are advanced in one area but not in the other. And that includes AAP kids.

What about SS/Science that are very reading heavy?

No one cares about S/SS.

Fwiw, splitting kids up like this wouldn't work at our center school - by 6th grade, the core subjects are combined and not separate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be fine if they got rid of the Centers at MS and ES. I also think a better model would be to have an Advanced Math and Advanced LA class and have kids change classes based on their ability level in each area. Group Math and Science and LA and Social Studies but allow kids to switch classes based on their needs.

x1 million

Cluster for ES and MS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:anecdotally, all of the room parents from K/1/2 at our school wound up getting their kids into AAP one way or another (some are guests in the local level IV).

we were curious who would step up for the other three classes this year since all prior room parents had kids in the same program-- guess what? those classes found room parents right off the bat, and the AAP class had to put out a special request for someone to be the room parent after no one answered the initial call.

Made me chuckle -- did people get what they want and then stop volunteering? I will note several came forward on the second request.

Oh look it's "PTA moms get preferential treatment for AAP" lady. No, they don't, that's not how this works. Step away from the wine, Sarah/Jessica/Katie.

They absolutely did at my ES. I remember distinctly talking to some of the "in" PTA mom types. One conversation specifically blew my mind, where a few of them were ticking of their list as to who they wanted for teachers next year for their kids and they were giving to to [principal's FIRST name] next week. They did. And they got what they asked for.

I'm curious about if you ever asked for anything? I'm not a PTA mom, my kid is below average, and I get the teachers for my kid that I ask for because I am vocal about my child's needs. I bet the PTA moms are, too. Are you??

Nope. I had one conversation -one- with the principal over placement one year but ultimately deferred to where they put DC. There were things I wanted for DC that the ES did give (like advance math tracking, certain teachers, etc.) but I never asked for them (even though I wanted to).

Parents need to advocate for their kids. In my experience, the school does what it can to accommodate requests because it reduces parent complaints and makes their lives easier.