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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Seems to  me that if every middle school can send kids to TJ, then every middle school should be able to offer AAP.[/quote]

Not that straightforward because certain courses require certain requirements.  For example, a random teacher can’t just teach algebra and geometry (which is why algebra in 6th grade is crazy).  You need a math endorsement from VDOE.  Some local schools may not have the staff with those requirements.  [/quote]

I believe every MS has math teachers for Algebra 1 and most have a teacher for Geometry but those classes are not AAP classes.

But there are schools that do not have enough AAP students to offer AAP classes so the AAP kids are in honors classes. Center schools can offer AAP classes because they have more students and can offer multiple AAP classes in LA, Social Studies, and Science to meet the scheduling needs of the AAP kids at the school.

Some people will tell you that the honors courses are teaching the same material as the AAP courses, some people will tell you that the AAP courses go a bit more in depth. At a Center school, AAP kids will only be in classes with other AAP kids. Parents send their kids to the Center because they think the peer group is stronger and they don't like the open enrollment in Honors classes.

Every MS should hve enough kids who were selected for AAP that they have enough kids to fill out multiple sections of the 3 core AAP classes. There really isn't a need for MS Centers. [/quote]

Plus, once you get to HS, it truly is Honors for all! Or at least, honors for all who want it...[/quote]

A large percentage of the kids in AAP will take AP classes as soon as they can, although not all. A large percentage of the MS kids in hoors will take AP classes as soon as they can. HS is a different system.

My kid is at Carson, he is in AAP classes. All of his core classes are with kids in AAP. A few friends have made some snide comments about not mixing with the commoners but, for the most part, it is not a big deal. There are enough AAP kids at the school that there are AAP classes in all of the teams, most of them have at least 2 classes for each of the core subjects. I am fine with the AAP students returning to Franklin, there would be fewer AAP classes but still plenty to have a strong program.

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Sorry Franklin is nowhere in the ballpark of Carson academically.  It’s an ok program, but not even close to what Carson offers.[/quote]
Oh my gosh, we are talking about middle school. [b]Guess what: Many of those same kids reconvene at Oakton High School and take the same freshman course load and there’s no discernible performance difference between those who went to Carson AAP and those who went to Franklin and did AAP/Honors.[/b] (Exception- there are probably more Carson kids taking algebra II or AP pre calculus in 9th). But for everything else, it doesn’t matter that Carson is apparently in its own academic ballpark. They all end up in the same place with comparable grades, IME. [/quote]
Source?  That's right, you're stating your opinion/wishes as if it is a fact with no proof.[/quote]

No one has completed a study comparing the grades and classes of AAP kids vs gen ed kids in HS. Yet we are all aware that there is a far higher percentage of kids taking honors/AP/IB classes in HS then were in AAP. And we all know plenty of gen ed kids that go on to top colleges out of pretty much every HS.

AAP serves a purpose to help keep kids who are ahead in ES engaged in school while providing kids who are on grade level or behind an opportunity to learn at a pace that makes sense for them. As kids get older and more comfortable with foundational material, they are able to handle the work in Honors classes and, later, AP/IB classes. Most of the kids in AAP are smart but they are not off the charts genius. Some even struggle with HS classes. So yes, I am sure that there are kids from Franklin at Oakton who are doing as well as an AAP kid from Carson at Oakton. 
[/quote]
Backpedal all you want, but your statement that there is no difference is completely made up.  Obviously you can cherry pick individual results that show what you want - especially with so many parents prepping their kids into AAP who don't belong there.  I'd still bet this week's paycheck that the average SOL / SAT / whatever score is higher for the Carson AAP kids over the Franklin AAP/honors ones.  Not saying one is better (I'd prefer all middle schools offer AAP with no choice to go to a center myself), just statistically most of the top scoring kids that would have gone to Franklin are currently going to Carson.[/quote]

Sheer numbers-wise, you could be right, for Carson is about 60-70% larger than Franklin. Percentage of students-wise, however, I am willing to gander that the difference is negligible.

Additionally, it is extremely likely that the high-scoring kids would be high-scoring whether they attended Carson or Franklin. It is the CHILD who earned those scores, not anything special the school did. Carson is not some magic place that is responsible for high-achieving kids being high-achieving. Both Carson and Franklin nurture and support those students, and both schools challenge appropriately,  as well. [/quote]

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