Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the comments so far. I am trying to learn more about high school options (not TJ, but Advanced Placement, IB Diploma, and academy courses). Would a FCAG membership be a good idea so I can learn more about these high school options?

Not worth it if those are your interests. There are a few members/posters whose kids ended up at IB schools, but the topics of primary interest are the ES/ MS AAP programs, TJ admissions, and enrichment programs. You can find more information about IB and Academy programs for free on the FCPS web site than you'll find in FCAG materials.

Not so. As a matter of fact, FCAG is having a panel discussion about IB vs. AP programs on December 10th at 7pm at Kilmer.

12:47 -- so for high school students, FCAG has no interest beyond TJ?

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the comments so far. I am trying to learn more about high school options (not TJ, but Advanced Placement, IB Diploma, and academy courses). Would a FCAG membership be a good idea so I can learn more about these high school options?

Not worth it if those are your interests. There are a few members/posters whose kids ended up at IB schools, but the topics of primary interest are the ES/ MS AAP programs, TJ admissions, and enrichment programs. You can find more information about IB and Academy programs for free on the FCPS web site than you'll find in FCAG materials.

They fulfill a useful role, which is to advocate for the AAP program, especially at times when it seemed like a candidate for the chopping block under the previous superintendent.

There are a number of loudmouths on the e-mail forum whose sole purpose seems to be to assert that gifted children are the only ones that matter, that their child is more gifted than others or to establish the baseline for gifted (whatever their child is, is it), but you shouldn't confound them with the people running FCAG.

Just join and look at the old posts to see if it's for you. It's not an anonymous list so you have a lot less of the sniping that this forum has. Very few trolls since you have to use a name. But Yes, a bunch of parents of high achieving kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friend told me about FCAG and their email listserv. Is anyone here a member? Is it a useful group? Does the group focus mostly on TJ?

No, they advocate for TJ but also all AAP programs.

Very much come across as a special interest group, as if everything in FCPS should revolve around the AAP program. The parents often try to outdo each other on the list serve in coming up with different adverbs to describe exactly how gifted their children are: "profoundly gifted" is your basic entry-level smart now.

Seeing as everything in FCPS does revolve around AAP, it's clear FCAG is receiving special treatment right and left. Perhaps FCPS should stop letting them call the shots.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best thing about the group probably would be if you had a kid who was exceptionally smart in some respects, and challenged in others, and you were trying to figure out how to navigate the school system to best serve your kid. There are definitely some FCAG members who are experts on the whole 2E phenomenon. They also know a great deal about different types of enrichment programs if you want your child to spend her summer at math or music camp. Finally, they routinely submit FOIA requests to FCPS so they can assemble a large data base on AAP programs and TJ admissions from different middle schools.

Otherwise, it can be a scary crowd, since they not only humblebrag constantly about how gifted their kids are, but also act as if they are under constant attack from the unwashed masses who care about resources made available to other students.

Yes this.

They will "lobby" and create all kinds of ruckus to make sure that AAP is always given priority #1 within FCPS.

Ugh, can't stand them. Seems many of the parents at our school are members of this silly group, judging by the description above.

Anonymous wrote:The best thing about the group probably would be if you had a kid who was exceptionally smart in some respects, and challenged in others, and you were trying to figure out how to navigate the school system to best serve your kid. There are definitely some FCAG members who are experts on the whole 2E phenomenon. They also know a great deal about different types of enrichment programs if you want your child to spend her summer at math or music camp. Finally, they routinely submit FOIA requests to FCPS so they can assemble a large data base on AAP programs and TJ admissions from different middle schools.

Otherwise, it can be a scary crowd, since they not only humblebrag constantly about how gifted their kids are, but also act as if they are under constant attack from the unwashed masses who care about resources made available to other students.

Yes this.

They will "lobby" and create all kinds of ruckus to make sure that AAP is always given priority #1 within FCPS.

FWIW, you can join the Yahoo Group mailer for free, without having to pay membership.
Why don't you try that, and then you can figure out if it will be a useful resource for you or not.

OP here - thanks for the comments so far. I am trying to learn more about high school options (not TJ, but Advanced Placement, IB Diploma, and academy courses). Would a FCAG membership be a good idea so I can learn more about these high school options?

The best thing about the group probably would be if you had a kid who was exceptionally smart in some respects, and challenged in others, and you were trying to figure out how to navigate the school system to best serve your kid. There are definitely some FCAG members who are experts on the whole 2E phenomenon. They also know a great deal about different types of enrichment programs if you want your child to spend her summer at math or music camp. Finally, they routinely submit FOIA requests to FCPS so they can assemble a large data base on AAP programs and TJ admissions from different middle schools.

Otherwise, it can be a scary crowd, since they not only humblebrag constantly about how gifted their kids are, but also act as if they are under constant attack from the unwashed masses who care about resources made available to other students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friend told me about FCAG and their email listserv. Is anyone here a member? Is it a useful group? Does the group focus mostly on TJ?

No, they advocate for TJ but also all AAP programs.

Very much come across as a special interest group, as if everything in FCPS should revolve around the AAP program. The parents often try to outdo each other on the list serve in coming up with different adverbs to describe exactly how gifted their children are: "profoundly gifted" is your basic entry-level smart now.

Sounds awful. Will stay away. Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:A friend told me about FCAG and their email listserv. Is anyone here a member? Is it a useful group? Does the group focus mostly on TJ?

No, they advocate for TJ but also all AAP programs.

Very much come across as a special interest group, as if everything in FCPS should revolve around the AAP program. The parents often try to outdo each other on the list serve in coming up with different adverbs to describe exactly how gifted their children are: "profoundly gifted" is your basic entry-level smart now.

easy enough to join it and see for yourself.
I do know their president shows up at school board meetings to advocate for the AAP program.

A friend told me about FCAG and their email listserv. Is anyone here a member? Is it a useful group? Does the group focus mostly on TJ?