Elementary school question - how would good NOVA schools handle this situation

[Anonymous]

My kids currently go to a DC charter school but we are thinking about moving to Northern Virginia because we have some concerns about our school in the long-run. But I'm wondering if NOVA schools would really be better or if I am just romanticizing good suburban schools. We are specifically looking at North Arlington or possibly Falls Church city. I don't think I could live in Fairfax but I'm curious about responses from there too. Anyway, here is the situation (I'll follow up later with how current school handled this).

Fall of first grade: Child given a math assessment test and tests at end of second grade level (child was not given any special math curriculum the previous year or at home). Child did not test as advanced at reading.

Winter of first grade: Parent asks teachers for more advanced math work for child because child is complaining he is bored and parent can see that he can do math homework very quickly even right after new concepts are introduced.

[Anonymous]

The suspense for the big reveal is almost unbearable.

[Anonymous]

At our Fairfax elementary school, there is very little differentiation in math in 1st or 2nd. Perhaps a few extension worksheets here or there. Advanced math starts in 3rd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At our Fairfax elementary school, there is very little differentiation in math in 1st or 2nd. Perhaps a few extension worksheets here or there. Advanced math starts in 3rd.

Yep, same here. The last couple months of first he was pulled out for enrichment by the AART but I’m not sure it helped him from being bored and not challenged. So I’m not sure you’ll get what you’re looking for in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The suspense for the big reveal is almost unbearable.

[Anonymous]

In my FCPS school, I am quite confident your child would receive appropriately challenging math through math workshop.

[Anonymous]

We went to an APS ES. DS was advanced in math going into K and he was pulled out of class to do higher level work with the gifted resource center teacher starting the year and that continued throughout ES. He seemed appropriately challenged and continued on the highest math track into MS.

[Anonymous]

When DC 1 was in second grade, school taught differentiated math based on kids ability. (Classes were split for math based on this). For DC 2 (who is in an immersion class) they differentiate within the class. She is currently doing 3rd Grade math in 2nd Grade. DC 1 is now in AAP (5th Grade). DC2 will go into AAP next September.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the replies. I really just wanted to hear about how other schools handle stuff like this - instead of commentary about what I did. Our school did not do anything special for my son for most of the year and did not tell me about these test results until the end of year conference (even though the results were from the fall). At around February my son asked kept asking me for harder math and I asked his teachers and he finally was allowed to do harder math sheets during the school day once he finished his regular math sheets. I think what I am annoyed about is that they kinda made it seem like it was all in my head that my kid is good at math - when the school had test results that showed he was good at math. The school does not really do much advanced math in any grades, as far as I can tell. it's good to hear that if we move for third grade, he won't have missed out on too much. We have other kids and they all do well in math - but this child seems to catch on to concepts much more quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the replies. I really just wanted to hear about how other schools handle stuff like this - instead of commentary about what I did. Our school did not do anything special for my son for most of the year and did not tell me about these test results until the end of year conference (even though the results were from the fall). At around February my son asked kept asking me for harder math and I asked his teachers and he finally was allowed to do harder math sheets during the school day once he finished his regular math sheets. I think what I am annoyed about is that they kinda made it seem like it was all in my head that my kid is good at math - when the school had test results that showed he was good at math. The school does not really do much advanced math in any grades, as far as I can tell. it's good to hear that if we move for third grade, he won't have missed out on too much. We have other kids and they all do well in math - but this child seems to catch on to concepts much more quickly.

In FCPS, they are using iReady, which gives the teachers and admin a better snapshot of where each kid, almost instantaneously.

We have an advanced math kid too and he's being pulled out and going into AAP in third grade. If you can move and have them put your kid in level IV services, in third grade they teach advanced math.

This being said: Virginia doesn't use common core. So even if your kid is testing high in DC, it may not be equivalent in FFX. I'm just not sure.

[Anonymous]

OP. FCPS schools would be uneven in this under AAP until third grade. Completely up to the principal. Your kid should get Level II AAP services in 1-2. But what that means varies. Homefully pullouts for extra enrichment. But that is not a given.

In 3rd grade, test score dependent, your kid should qualify for Level III services in Math, and formally be placed in an Advanced math class, tracked to start Algebra I in 7th, rather than 8th. That is everywhere.

If your kid also ends up with strong overall aptitude score, they would qualify for full-time level IV services, and be placed in the AAP classroom in your school, if there is one, or placed in the nearest AAP Center for full time advanced work in all subjects. You would decide whether to keep them in AAP at their bae school or send them to the center. Kids who place here are ultimately the core of the kids who apply to and attend TJ.

So, the answer is: not much formally in 1st, but very good service starting in 3rd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. FCPS schools would be uneven in this under AAP until third grade. Completely up to the principal. Your kid should get Level II AAP services in 1-2. But what that means varies. Homefully pullouts for extra enrichment. But that is not a given.

In 3rd grade, test score dependent, your kid should qualify for Level III services in Math, and formally be placed in an Advanced math class, tracked to start Algebra I in 7th, rather than 8th. That is everywhere.

If your kid also ends up with strong overall aptitude score, they would qualify for full-time level IV services, and be placed in the AAP classroom in your school, if there is one, or placed in the nearest AAP Center for full time advanced work in all subjects. You would decide whether to keep them in AAP at their bae school or send them to the center. Kids who place here are ultimately the core of the kids who apply to and attend TJ.

So, the answer is: not much formally in 1st, but very good service starting in 3rd.

Our school doesn’t start advanced math until 6th grade.

[Anonymous]

I have no idea what the problem is and what you think should be done extra special for your kid.

[Anonymous]

We've been through two different FCPS schools. The math differentiation in K-2 is highly dependent on the individual teacher. There are more structured pull-outs for advanced reading, but there doesn't seem to be anything systematic for advanced math in the early years. Some teachers offer more advanced worksheets, some set up math-based projects, some point the kid to Dreambox for self-paced math work.

AAP level 3 (part time / some subjects) or level 4 (full time for all subjects) start in third grade. If the child is found eligible for level 3 or level 4 services, (s)he'll get advanced classes as appropriate from 3rd grade on. AAP math compresses the curriculum so that by 5th grade they've completed the regular 6th grade math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The suspense for the big reveal is almost unbearable.

I hope ACPS gets the rose!!!!!