Anonymous
12/27/2022 17:51
Subject: AAP for dummies
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is AAP only in Virginia and not MD?
It is an FCPS program/structure. Virginia has a mandate to offer some sort of services for gifted children, but every district implements it differently. AFAIK, Fairfax is the only one with dedicated full time classrooms for advanced academics. Most counties offer pull out services of some kind.
LoCo also has a (newish) dedicated classroom GT program.
Full time? I thought theirs was one day per week or something like that.
Anonymous
12/27/2022 13:10
Subject: AAP for dummies
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is AAP only in Virginia and not MD?
It is an FCPS program/structure. Virginia has a mandate to offer some sort of services for gifted children, but every district implements it differently. AFAIK, Fairfax is the only one with dedicated full time classrooms for advanced academics. Most counties offer pull out services of some kind.
LoCo also has a (newish) dedicated classroom GT program.
Anonymous
12/27/2022 13:08
Subject: AAP for dummies
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is AAP only in Virginia and not MD?
It is an FCPS program/structure. Virginia has a mandate to offer some sort of services for gifted children, but every district implements it differently. AFAIK, Fairfax is the only one with dedicated full time classrooms for advanced academics. Most counties offer pull out services of some kind.
APS only has push in, pointless
Anonymous
12/27/2022 13:07
Subject: AAP for dummies
Anonymous wrote:People are desperate for AAP because the behavior problems are less severe in the AAP classroom compared to the gen ed one, and there aren't kids way below grade level taking all of the teacher's time. Above average kids left in gen ed at the lower or middle of the road SES schools end up doing a lot of independent work or computer programs rather than having much interaction with the teacher.
Yep. 100%
Anonymous
12/27/2022 13:06
Subject: AAP for dummies
Anonymous wrote:Is AAP only in Virginia and not MD?
It is an FCPS program/structure. Virginia has a mandate to offer some sort of services for gifted children, but every district implements it differently. AFAIK, Fairfax is the only one with dedicated full time classrooms for advanced academics. Most counties offer pull out services of some kind.
Anonymous
12/27/2022 12:53
Subject: AAP for dummies
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Parent of an AAP 3rd grader who is a behavior problem.
Don't buy into the idea that being in AAP means escaping behavior issues, because my kid and a few of his cronies may be in your kid's class.
Intelligence and behavior have nothing to do with each other.
He is getting advanced math services, currently doing 4th grade work in that subject. The expectations are higher for other subjects and they are now graded accordingly (ie it is harder to get 4s on the report card in AAP, they now note this on the front of kid's report).
Parents of smart kids should all apply, the school district now only goes to bat for the top 10 test-scorers at each individual elementary school. My kid, who had 99th percentile on the COGAT, was NOT in this group, so he would not have been considered if I hadn't taken all action as a parent. His teachers went to bat for him 100%, with top scores from them, and it worked out.
But don't count on the school to do anything for you, especially these days, they are overwhelmed by number of kids applying already.
This is reassuring. What were his scores, if I may ask?
136 on both the COGAT and the WISC (done for ADHD screening purposes)
Anonymous
12/27/2022 12:51
Subject: AAP for dummies
Anonymous wrote:Parent of an AAP 3rd grader who is a behavior problem.
Don't buy into the idea that being in AAP means escaping behavior issues, because my kid and a few of his cronies may be in your kid's class.
Intelligence and behavior have nothing to do with each other.
He is getting advanced math services, currently doing 4th grade work in that subject. The expectations are higher for other subjects and they are now graded accordingly (ie it is harder to get 4s on the report card in AAP, they now note this on the front of kid's report).
Parents of smart kids should all apply, the school district now only goes to bat for the top 10 test-scorers at each individual elementary school. My kid, who had 99th percentile on the COGAT, was NOT in this group, so he would not have been considered if I hadn't taken all action as a parent. His teachers went to bat for him 100%, with top scores from them, and it worked out.
But don't count on the school to do anything for you, especially these days, they are overwhelmed by number of kids applying already.
This is reassuring. What were his scores, if I may ask?
Anonymous
12/27/2022 12:45
Subject: AAP for dummies
Parent of an AAP 3rd grader who is a behavior problem.
Don't buy into the idea that being in AAP means escaping behavior issues, because my kid and a few of his cronies may be in your kid's class.
Intelligence and behavior have nothing to do with each other.
He is getting advanced math services, currently doing 4th grade work in that subject. The expectations are higher for other subjects and they are now graded accordingly (ie it is harder to get 4s on the report card in AAP, they now note this on the front of kid's report).
Parents of smart kids should all apply, the school district now only goes to bat for the top 10 test-scorers at each individual elementary school. My kid, who had 99th percentile on the COGAT, was NOT in this group, so he would not have been considered if I hadn't taken all action as a parent. His teachers went to bat for him 100%, with top scores from them, and it worked out.
But don't count on the school to do anything for you, especially these days, they are overwhelmed by number of kids applying already.
Don't buy into the idea that being in AAP means escaping behavior issues, because my kid and a few of his cronies may be in your kid's class.
Intelligence and behavior have nothing to do with each other.
He is getting advanced math services, currently doing 4th grade work in that subject. The expectations are higher for other subjects and they are now graded accordingly (ie it is harder to get 4s on the report card in AAP, they now note this on the front of kid's report).
Parents of smart kids should all apply, the school district now only goes to bat for the top 10 test-scorers at each individual elementary school. My kid, who had 99th percentile on the COGAT, was NOT in this group, so he would not have been considered if I hadn't taken all action as a parent. His teachers went to bat for him 100%, with top scores from them, and it worked out.
But don't count on the school to do anything for you, especially these days, they are overwhelmed by number of kids applying already.
Anonymous
12/27/2022 12:12
Subject: AAP for dummies
Anonymous wrote:People are desperate for AAP because the behavior problems are less severe in the AAP classroom compared to the gen ed one, and there aren't kids way below grade level taking all of the teacher's time. Above average kids left in gen ed at the lower or middle of the road SES schools end up doing a lot of independent work or computer programs rather than having much interaction with the teacher.
That is exactly my kids. I wish I understood this better before buying in our school district. There's too much disparity.
Anonymous
12/27/2022 11:50
Subject: AAP for dummies
Is AAP only in Virginia and not MD?
Anonymous
12/27/2022 11:49
Subject: AAP for dummies
People are desperate for AAP because the behavior problems are less severe in the AAP classroom compared to the gen ed one, and there aren't kids way below grade level taking all of the teacher's time. Above average kids left in gen ed at the lower or middle of the road SES schools end up doing a lot of independent work or computer programs rather than having much interaction with the teacher.
Anonymous
12/27/2022 10:55
Subject: AAP for dummies
New poster here. I totally missed the train on anything AAP related. I didn't realize this was something parents plan and prep for (I'm not from here). I now have a 1st and 3 grader who are very good students but it's becoming apparent that our school environment is not really helping them. There's a lot of disruption in the classroom and good students just go unnoticed. My 3rd grader did not get a high enough score in 2nd grade for AAP. I am not really surprised since he pretty much didn't learn anything during the pandemic (we didn't have a tutor, he hated on-line school and I was overwhelmed). I feel bad for not even trying. What's the way to go? Prep and ask if he can take a COGAT, like PP mentioned?
Anonymous
12/27/2022 08:04
Subject: Re:AAP for dummies
There are repeated threads in the VA Schools not FCPS forum that bemoan the lack of AAP or something similar in APS. There are parents who really dislike the cluster and push in model that APS uses.
There is no perfect solution for dealing with kids who are ahead in school.
I would not move just for AAP but I think there is value to the program.
There is no perfect solution for dealing with kids who are ahead in school.
I would not move just for AAP but I think there is value to the program.
Anonymous
12/27/2022 02:03
Subject: Re:AAP for dummies
1) The curriculum is the same for AAP and GE/ AAP might have some more enrichment activities, that depends on the school and class
2) Math moves at a faster paste for AAP, by the end of elementary school, kids are usually 1 grade ahead
3) Centers have a dedicated AAP class, other schools might not due to numbers (models differ from school to school)
4) You can apply to AAP in 2nd grade or any grade after
5) Recommend to have your child tested for the COGAT before applying (FCPS offers it for new students after 3rd grade)
6) It is harder to enter AAP now than it was a couple of years ago. From what I see.
7) You need to be in living within FCPS boundaries to apply. I don’t think it worth moving for it. Arlington doesn’t have a program like it and the kids are doing fine.
8) Read FCPS website and get familiar with requirements and deadlines
2) Math moves at a faster paste for AAP, by the end of elementary school, kids are usually 1 grade ahead
3) Centers have a dedicated AAP class, other schools might not due to numbers (models differ from school to school)
4) You can apply to AAP in 2nd grade or any grade after
5) Recommend to have your child tested for the COGAT before applying (FCPS offers it for new students after 3rd grade)
6) It is harder to enter AAP now than it was a couple of years ago. From what I see.
7) You need to be in living within FCPS boundaries to apply. I don’t think it worth moving for it. Arlington doesn’t have a program like it and the kids are doing fine.
8) Read FCPS website and get familiar with requirements and deadlines
Anonymous
12/26/2022 23:47
Subject: AAP for dummies
Please tell the basics about how AAP and why parent's want their kids in it.i am considering moving from MD to Fairfax. Are there issues in the Elementary school circulum that make parents so eager for AAP or is AAP just that good?
Please give me the basic run down. I have some basic knowledge that kids are tested in 2nd grade, etc. Are the center schools all AAP students? Is it better to have your kid in certain AAP programs vs others?
Please give me the basic run down. I have some basic knowledge that kids are tested in 2nd grade, etc. Are the center schools all AAP students? Is it better to have your kid in certain AAP programs vs others?