Level IV AAP Courses at Cooper MS Next School Year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2.3% change is a big jump?

There was a 2% drop the year before, so it looks like it is in the range of normal annual fluctuations. So, too early to tell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2.3% change is a big jump?

The white enrollment at Cooper increased 7.6% and the white enrollment at Kilmer declined 13.9%, while the Asian enrollments were about the same. Over at Thoreau, the white enrollment was up 7.0%. It's just a hypothesis, but with white enrollments generally declining in FCPS it seems like the increases at Cooper and Thoreau may be tied to growing confidence in the LLIV programs there among white families.

[Anonymous]

This was my question below. Not a gripe or jealousy over AAP eligibility. I have two children in AAP - it's a good program, but there's more to life and what makes a child a well-rounded, intelligent contributing member of society. My one who is not Level IV (he was Level III, ridiculous labels!) successfully participated in "local level IV" throughout ES and understandably wonders now why he can't continue with "local level IV," as he is not attending a center. It's not a matter of paying for extra field trips or asking to participate in additional projects, as other posters mention...principal made clear that if one is not centrally eligible for AAP, no matter how long or well they did as a Level IV principal designee, they are flat out barred from participating in the program at Cooper. Of course they can still do Honors, but the AAP kids are being kept in their own bubble for the most part, as they would in a center. I gather it had to be done this way to attract the Level IV students to Cooper rather than them leaving for Kilmer or Longfellow centers. Apparently, many of those parents would not have placed their kids at Cooper if there had not been a separate and exclusive Level IV program. Just not sure it is a legitimate application of local level IV when a school is not a center.

"Has anyone else heard of or experienced this at Cooper? How is this permissible, if Cooper is not a center? At best, they can arguably be running a "local level IV" program, but if that's the case, how can they restrict students who were local level IV students at the elementary level from participating?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was my question below. Not a gripe or jealousy over AAP eligibility. I have two children in AAP - it's a good program, but there's more to life and what makes a child a well-rounded, intelligent contributing member of society. My one who is not Level IV (he was Level III, ridiculous labels!) successfully participated in "local level IV" throughout ES and understandably wonders now why he can't continue with "local level IV," as he is not attending a center. It's not a matter of paying for extra field trips or asking to participate in additional projects, as other posters mention...principal made clear that if one is not centrally eligible for AAP, no matter how long or well they did as a Level IV principal designee, they are flat out barred from participating in the program at Cooper. Of course they can still do Honors, but the AAP kids are being kept in their own bubble for the most part, as they would in a center. I gather it had to be done this way to attract the Level IV students to Cooper rather than them leaving for Kilmer or Longfellow centers. Apparently, many of those parents would not have placed their kids at Cooper if there had not been a separate and exclusive Level IV program. Just not sure it is a legitimate application of local level IV when a school is not a center.

"Has anyone else heard of or experienced this at Cooper? How is this permissible, if Cooper is not a center? At best, they can arguably be running a "local level IV" program, but if that's the case, how can they restrict students who were local level IV students at the elementary level from participating?"

Serious question: if your DC has been a good fit, and you want them in the MS program, why it talk to the AART & teacher, get private testing done and apply for AAP this year. If your DC has strong grades in LLIV, then you should have a strong case.

As to your other question, principals have huge discretion on who, if anyone, gets entry into local programs beyond the kids who have already tested in.

[Anonymous]

The principal at Cooper has tried to get official Level IV AAP standing for a few years now. Apparently she is setting the rules at her school to substantiate she has enough Center eligible students there to designate it as a Center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The principal at Cooper has tried to get official Level IV AAP standing for a few years now. Apparently she is setting the rules at her school to substantiate she has enough Center eligible students there to designate it as a Center.

I used to see posts claiming the principal at Cooper did not want a LLIV center at the school - which is it? I think it's inevitable that Cooper will become the only LLIV option for students in the Langley pyramid, and it's nice that some parents have seen the writing on the wall and taken advantage of the LLIV courses now available. Both Kilmer and Longfellow are less crowded now - which is great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was my question below. Not a gripe or jealousy over AAP eligibility. I have two children in AAP - it's a good program, but there's more to life and what makes a child a well-rounded, intelligent contributing member of society. My one who is not Level IV (he was Level III, ridiculous labels!) successfully participated in "local level IV" throughout ES and understandably wonders now why he can't continue with "local level IV," as he is not attending a center. It's not a matter of paying for extra field trips or asking to participate in additional projects, as other posters mention...principal made clear that if one is not centrally eligible for AAP, no matter how long or well they did as a Level IV principal designee, they are flat out barred from participating in the program at Cooper. Of course they can still do Honors, but the AAP kids are being kept in their own bubble for the most part, as they would in a center. I gather it had to be done this way to attract the Level IV students to Cooper rather than them leaving for Kilmer or Longfellow centers. Apparently, many of those parents would not have placed their kids at Cooper if there had not been a separate and exclusive Level IV program. Just not sure it is a legitimate application of local level IV when a school is not a center.

"Has anyone else heard of or experienced this at Cooper? How is this permissible, if Cooper is not a center? At best, they can arguably be running a "local level IV" program, but if that's the case, how can they restrict students who were local level IV students at the elementary level from participating?"

+1 on reapplying for AAP this year. Strong GBRS and report cards, as well as letters from his/ her last couple teachers saying DC is doing well with the program ought to carry a lot of weight-- especially if DC was strong enough the first time to be offered LLIII services.

Also +1 on each LLIV program being it's own fiefdom. The rules vary widely from school to school and year to year within a school. In our LLIV school, there are some years when they split the class and add 20 kids, and others when a class of 16 get no principal placements-- even though average class size is 27 or so for GE. But when our school principal places kids, it works hard to get them fully admitted to level IV for MS- And usually manageS for 90% of the kids. If your child has done well for 4 years, your ES should go to bat for you on this. Talk to the teacher, principal and AARTS not, while we are in the parent referral period.

[Anonymous]

Talk to the AARTS now ***

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal at Cooper has tried to get official Level IV AAP standing for a few years now. Apparently she is setting the rules at her school to substantiate she has enough Center eligible students there to designate it as a Center.

I used to see posts claiming the principal at Cooper did not want a LLIV center at the school - which is it? I think it's inevitable that Cooper will become the only LLIV option for students in the Langley pyramid, and it's nice that some parents have seen the writing on the wall and taken advantage of the LLIV courses now available. Both Kilmer and Longfellow are less crowded now - which is great!

Cooper has been dramatically under-enrolled due to the increased number of students found eligible for AAP over the past several years. The principal is now very supportive of opening a center at Cooper in order to bring back the students and bring the school up to its capacity. The school has done a lot over the past few years to prepare for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal at Cooper has tried to get official Level IV AAP standing for a few years now. Apparently she is setting the rules at her school to substantiate she has enough Center eligible students there to designate it as a Center.

I used to see posts claiming the principal at Cooper did not want a LLIV center at the school - which is it? I think it's inevitable that Cooper will become the only LLIV option for students in the Langley pyramid, and it's nice that some parents have seen the writing on the wall and taken advantage of the LLIV courses now available. Both Kilmer and Longfellow are less crowded now - which is great!

Cooper has been dramatically under-enrolled due to the increased number of students found eligible for AAP over the past several years. The principal is now very supportive of opening a center at Cooper in order to bring back the students and bring the school up to its capacity. The school has done a lot over the past few years to prepare for this.

Excellent! And with FCPS expanding Thoreau as part of its renovation, that means more of the AAP kids at Kilmer and Jackson can go there, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was my question below. Not a gripe or jealousy over AAP eligibility. I have two children in AAP - it's a good program, but there's more to life and what makes a child a well-rounded, intelligent contributing member of society. My one who is not Level IV (he was Level III, ridiculous labels!) successfully participated in "local level IV" throughout ES and understandably wonders now why he can't continue with "local level IV," as he is not attending a center. It's not a matter of paying for extra field trips or asking to participate in additional projects, as other posters mention...principal made clear that if one is not centrally eligible for AAP, no matter how long or well they did as a Level IV principal designee, they are flat out barred from participating in the program at Cooper. Of course they can still do Honors, but the AAP kids are being kept in their own bubble for the most part, as they would in a center. I gather it had to be done this way to attract the Level IV students to Cooper rather than them leaving for Kilmer or Longfellow centers. Apparently, many of those parents would not have placed their kids at Cooper if there had not been a separate and exclusive Level IV program. Just not sure it is a legitimate application of local level IV when a school is not a center.

"Has anyone else heard of or experienced this at Cooper? How is this permissible, if Cooper is not a center? At best, they can arguably be running a "local level IV" program, but if that's the case, how can they restrict students who were local level IV students at the elementary level from participating?"

+100 on everything you said. There is so much more to life than being in AAP and I think the schools are doing a disservice to all kids by keeping AAP kids in this silly bubble. Many non-AAP kids (how I hate these labels) are fully capable of being in AAP classes and shouldn't be excluded from them simply because some parents insist on exclusivity for their snowflakes. And yes, I also have a child in AAP and another who is Gen Ed. I see no reason for this constant segregation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was my question below. Not a gripe or jealousy over AAP eligibility. I have two children in AAP - it's a good program, but there's more to life and what makes a child a well-rounded, intelligent contributing member of society. My one who is not Level IV (he was Level III, ridiculous labels!) successfully participated in "local level IV" throughout ES and understandably wonders now why he can't continue with "local level IV," as he is not attending a center. It's not a matter of paying for extra field trips or asking to participate in additional projects, as other posters mention...principal made clear that if one is not centrally eligible for AAP, no matter how long or well they did as a Level IV principal designee, they are flat out barred from participating in the program at Cooper. Of course they can still do Honors, but the AAP kids are being kept in their own bubble for the most part, as they would in a center. I gather it had to be done this way to attract the Level IV students to Cooper rather than them leaving for Kilmer or Longfellow centers. Apparently, many of those parents would not have placed their kids at Cooper if there had not been a separate and exclusive Level IV program. Just not sure it is a legitimate application of local level IV when a school is not a center.

"Has anyone else heard of or experienced this at Cooper? How is this permissible, if Cooper is not a center? At best, they can arguably be running a "local level IV" program, but if that's the case, how can they restrict students who were local level IV students at the elementary level from participating?"

+100 on everything you said. There is so much more to life than being in AAP and I think the schools are doing a disservice to all kids by keeping AAP kids in this silly bubble. Many non-AAP kids (how I hate these labels) are fully capable of being in AAP classes and shouldn't be excluded from them simply because some parents insist on exclusivity for their snowflakes. And yes, I also have a child in AAP and another who is Gen Ed. I see no reason for this constant segregation.

Let's say it agin. Not all schools are Colvin Run.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was my question below. Not a gripe or jealousy over AAP eligibility. I have two children in AAP - it's a good program, but there's more to life and what makes a child a well-rounded, intelligent contributing member of society. My one who is not Level IV (he was Level III, ridiculous labels!) successfully participated in "local level IV" throughout ES and understandably wonders now why he can't continue with "local level IV," as he is not attending a center. It's not a matter of paying for extra field trips or asking to participate in additional projects, as other posters mention...principal made clear that if one is not centrally eligible for AAP, no matter how long or well they did as a Level IV principal designee, they are flat out barred from participating in the program at Cooper. Of course they can still do Honors, but the AAP kids are being kept in their own bubble for the most part, as they would in a center. I gather it had to be done this way to attract the Level IV students to Cooper rather than them leaving for Kilmer or Longfellow centers. Apparently, many of those parents would not have placed their kids at Cooper if there had not been a separate and exclusive Level IV program. Just not sure it is a legitimate application of local level IV when a school is not a center.

"Has anyone else heard of or experienced this at Cooper? How is this permissible, if Cooper is not a center? At best, they can arguably be running a "local level IV" program, but if that's the case, how can they restrict students who were local level IV students at the elementary level from participating?"

+100 on everything you said. There is so much more to life than being in AAP and I think the schools are doing a disservice to all kids by keeping AAP kids in this silly bubble. Many non-AAP kids (how I hate these labels) are fully capable of being in AAP classes and shouldn't be excluded from them simply because some parents insist on exclusivity for their snowflakes. And yes, I also have a child in AAP and another who is Gen Ed. I see no reason for this constant segregation.

Let's say it agin. Not all schools are Colvin Run.

I'm the PP and my kids don't attend Colvin Run. Sorry, I don't fit your agenda.

[Anonymous]

Colvin Run is a feeder to Cooper, so it's perfectly relevant to discuss on this thread for any parents of kids at that school.

[Anonymous]

This is like lather, rinse, repeat again.