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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here - thanks for all the comments, they've been very helpful.

It seems LJ is more academically intense, which to me makes sense since it AAP center designation probably makes the AAP curriculum a high priority and core mission.

I had heard Thoreau was building up their AAP offerings, maybe they aren't quite at the LJ level of intensity and maybe that's not their intention?  Or are they quickly closing the gap?

We aren't too wrapped into the Vienna scene or and our daughter isn't team sports focused, and aren't necessarily going for the most intense AAP program possible.  The social aspect of going to Madison and not knowing alot of the other kids is a big consideration for us assuming Thoreau has a perfectly fine AAP program.  But what I'm hearing is it may be close but not quite there yet?  She is very advanced in math and to be with other peers that are academically advanced would be good for her in our view.[/quote]

Did you go to the AAP info night, OP?  I think they had one in the past month.  I would definitely recommend talking to the dir. of student services at each school and getting a better idea.  You may be able to find powerpoint presentations on line as well.  It's true that TMS's AAP program is smaller and just taking root.  They are definitely wanting to keep those kids at TMS to make the program bigger.  LJMS's aap program has been around longer.  I cannot speak to the specific curriculum differences b/t the two aap programs.

As you may know TMS just finished a renovation and it is like a new school.  My child goes there and when I first saw it this year, I thought "this is too nice to be a public middle school!"  As a result of the renovation, TMS is now undercapacity by about 400 students.  LJMS is severely over-capacity now and is expected to get worse over the coming years.  The most recent CIP recommends re-zoning the western-most elem schools (not the aap kids -- but everyone) out of LJMS and into TMS (these are areas that now attend LJMS---OaktonHS).   Many people expect that the AAP kids who are zoned for TMS--> Madison (and any rezoned kids) will be assigned to attend AAP at TMS rather than having the option to go to LJMS.

Let's face it.  It's kind of absurd for kids zoned for TMS (which is under capacity) to be filling seats at LJMS (which is severely over capacity).  It hasn't been done yet, but it would be an easy (partial) solution.  For those who prefer LJMS's aap, well, good news -- our school board is so painfully slow and conflict averse that this will probably not be implemented for 2 years.  If my child was zoned for LJMS (based on address), I wouldn't be too happy to have kids from out of zone coming in and making a crowded situation worse!

So, OP, it's possible  that if you send your child to LJMS, she will be among the last Thoreau-zoned kids to have the option to go to LJMS.

As for math --- Just looking at last year's SOL data, TMS had 40 kids taking and passing Geometry.  (100% passrate).  As you know, they are in the process of developing their AAP program.  But, that number tells you what your child will have for peers in adv. math.  That was likely two classrooms of 20 kids each.  At LJMS, there were 97 kids taking Geometry.  Clearly, a bigger program of AAP kids.  But, similar results.  Just things to consider.[/quote]

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