Just picked up a high school kid who attended former GT and asked her opinion about it - she said GT was a great experience. She is currently taking a non-honor English and finds it so easy and fun. This is the first time she is taking a non-honor core course and her teacher has talked to her several times about how she should transfer to the honor class. But she really enjoys the feeling of being the top student in a class. She said she has not felt that way ever since 3rd grade.

Anonymous wrote:I am 11:36. I agree with 11:39 on the base school issue. Our base school is very good and many families buy houses here just for the school, hence the difference between AAP or GE is small. For kids from other schools, I heard the difference can be dramatic.

+1 McLean Pyramid parent here. I haven't noticed a lack of preparation in HS for those similarly "smart".

Kids learn from each other.
I think the real benefit is the peers.

I am 11:36. I agree with 11:39 on the base school issue. Our base school is very good and many families buy houses here just for the school, hence the difference between AAP or GE is small. For kids from other schools, I heard the difference can be dramatic.

It depends on the base school/general education alternative. In higher SES parts of FCPS, the schools offer math one grade level ahead and differentiate in the classroom for general education. The McLean pyramid offers the AAP curriculum in the general education classes, too. The main difference would be the peer group, where AAP has all advanced learned. The general education classes have top to bottom. If you have a good teacher, then she will differentiate the learning for the different levels.

1. With Advanced Math being offered at regular (non-AAP/non-Lv4) schools, what exactly does the AAP experience offer that is so much more advanced?
Depth of knowledge in all areas - have one in AAP and one in GE, one grade apart. In GE, the class spends several months preparing for SOL; while in AAP, less than a month. So if your kid is AAP material but in GE, he/she will spend several months focusing primarily on SOL which he/she could pass with two weeks preparation. Also, although the subject areas are almost identical, AAP goes in depth more.

2. Why is getting an AAP spot important to you/your child's education (other than the pride of being invited)?
Not very important for us. We did not parent refer or appeal.

3. If you've had a child in AAP classes, did it impact your child's education/success AFTER 6th grade? How?
Depending on how you define success. If knowledge is the goal, yes; if the name of college is the goal, no.

While we're all so busy waiting for scores, comparing results and hypothesizing about chances of getting in.... What will my kid get out of it if s/he gets in and does 4 years of AAP?
Not 4 years, 6 years. Your kid will be surrounded by many kids who are innovative, imaginary and super curious; your kid will be motivated without your effort for 6 years and wanting to take algrebra HN in 7th grade and to try to get in TJ. Drawback: your kid might have lower self-esteem if he/she is in the lower half of the class. My kid in AAP is average there and she rarely feels proud of herself. Each time we praise her, she would say something like, oh, right, you think I am good cause you are my mom or "mom, do you really believe the crap that if you work hard, you will be great?" Kids are very conscious about degree of smartness... My heart aches each time I hear these.

My opinion: if the kid can be on the average or better in AAP, then attend. If in the lower half, no. Now my 3rd child is 2nd grade in the pool and we did not even fillout the parent questionnaire. We will go with whatever decision the school makes. With two experiences, we believe that AAP or GE, my third DC will achieve the same success education wise.

Where do people here this meme that there are less disruptive dc in AAP classes? Its repeated on here so often but its simply not true.

Agree with PP except that my experience is that disruptive behavior and teasing/bullying is just as prevalent in AAP as general ed. The difference for us has been twofold: AAP classes are working one grade level ahead in math (and theoretically other subjects) so they actually are learning ahead of their gen ed peers, which is an advantage when they later sit next to each other in middle school. Perhaps more important for our needs, AAP is based on an experiential model of learning with less focus on rote worksheet-type drills. Lots of hands-on projects and group learning are better for some kinds of learners (typically, the ones who qualify for AAP services). Doesn't mean that gen ed is not fantastic for the kids who best fit that model.

AAP teachers are probably on average better than non AAP teachers

Your child's classmates will be similar in their ability to grasp concepts/lesson plans
(for example, in a non AAP class a child may understand the material in the first 5 minutes of a lesson plan. The teacher then spends 20 minutes trying to get the rest of the class to understand. That could mean boredom and less efficient use of your child's time).

Your child's classmates may stimulate and broaden your childs perspectives, as they may do as well to others.

Disruptive behavior is probably less of an issue in an AAP class. Teachers can focus more on teaching, as opposed to controlling the classroom and disciplining.

Smart kids tend to get teased at some point by others kids who may not have such an easy time in class (defense mechanism). This is less of an issue in an AAP class.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think it starts to matter in 7th and 8th grade. I can see that now, but didn't before in grades 3-6.

Actually it matters less as they get older because in high school they can choose whatever classes they want to take. So the all gen ed kid can sit right next to the all AAP kid in the very same class.

so both are at the starting line literally right next to each other but one might as well have a 10 pund weight tied to his/her ankles - that weight being 5 years of gen ed education compared to an AAP education. Yes the gen ed kid can work hard and maybe catch up, but they will have to be very motivated to do so.

Anonymous wrote:I do think it starts to matter in 7th and 8th grade. I can see that now, but didn't before in grades 3-6.

Actually it matters less as they get older because in high school they can choose whatever classes they want to take. So the all gen ed kid can sit right next to the all AAP kid in the very same class.

I do think it starts to matter in 7th and 8th grade. I can see that now, but didn't before in grades 3-6.

At least 6 years of bragging rights for the parents. And that's worth all the hassle of prep/WISC/appeal to some

Its similar to going to Harvard vs going to UVA.
Now, UVA is a great school and not chopped liver.
And its hard to say that you get a better "education" at one vs the other (as far as classes/teachers).

Its more about the environment and other intangibles than the coursework.

Don't know how anyone could answer Q3.

1. With Advanced Math being offered at regular (non-AAP/non-Lv4) schools, what exactly does the AAP experience offer that is so much more advanced?
2. Why is getting an AAP spot important to you/your child's education (other than the pride of being invited)?
3. If you've had a child in AAP classes, did it impact your child's education/success AFTER 6th grade? How?

While we're all so busy waiting for scores, comparing results and hypothesizing about chances of getting in.... What will my kid get out of it if s/he gets in and does 4 years of AAP?