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[quote=Anonymous]I was able to speak with a counselor at AOL as well as a former AOS science teacher.  The programs are very different, not just in courses (very little overlap) but in teaching methods as well.   They are also both very challenging, but AOS is more rigorous. You can't go wrong with either, it is really up to an individual student's goals (potential doctors / research careers should pick AOS).  The below is from my notes based on discussions with both (I am just the complier / messenger).

The AOS math curriculum for the first two years was developed by an incredibly talented math teacher, Richard Siseley, and it is aimed to prepare students for multivariable calculus starting in Algebra II.  There are no "tricks" or shortcuts in building a solid foundation.

The science curriculum at AOS is also unique in that it interweaves physics, chemistry and Earth science into a freshmen double block course (3ish hours/B-day) and a sophomore single block.  Starting sophomore year, students work to design their own research project and the final two years at AOS one entire block is dedicated to doing research.  If this type of integrated curriculum and doing research does not sound appealing then AOS is not for you.

Basically, AOS is very research / bench science focused (math is heavy in computational modeling and statics to support research) and how to become math thinkers.  Math teaching method is Socratic where students are presented ideas and work out problems by looking at, thinking about, and analyzing problems.  Science is very bench science / lab focused (think lab coat / beaker.... classroom and lab right next door).

At AOS, your child will learn to write from writing a LOT of lab reports in science classes--that is the biggest challenge for freshman year.  AOS students have a lot more work than students at regular high school and also those at AET--more writing and more advanced math problems.

AET is very techy with a lot of engineering / IT projects (many group).  It teaches how math is used in the disciplines (more applied math).  Integrated Math teaches concepts to support what they are doing / learning in other classes.  Will teach math to help in a current Physics project or math to help in building structures, etc.  It emphasizes the connection between the disciplines.  It is taught in a spiraling method where concepts can be reintroduced at different points to reinforce.

(Here is a definition I found to describe spiraling math: What Is Spiraling the Math Curriculum? When we spiral curriculum in math class, we are organizing topics that might traditionally be taught in blocks, chapters, or units of study over a short period of time and we are introducing topics in smaller chunks and spreading them out over a longer period of time. While you can do this in many different ways, it is common to come back to the topic multiple times over the duration of the grade or course and going deeper each time. Spiraling is commonly referred to as “interleaving”, “distributing”, “spacing” or “mixing” the topics from the math curriculum, while teaching a concept in one unit or chapter like you see in many textbooks is commonly referred to as “blocked” or “massed” approaches.)

Hope this helps anyone in a similar dilemma.  My son has decided to accept his AET (Engineering pathway) offer and decline AOS.  His decision was based on both his future interests (more tech focused) and his desire to also pursue outside interests while in high school.

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