Anonymous wrote:Rumor from kid in program: MCPS considering making APEX an “opt in” vs “test-in” program. In his view will make it less rigorous.

Opt in doesn't make it less rigorous, just less exclusive. AP courses are AP courses, they don't change based on who is sitting in the seats. If you have 50 kids currently earning As and Bs and add in 20 more that are less prepared, you don't change the As and Bs, you just add 20 Cs to the list. Don't confuse lowering average scores with less rigor. It's the same rigor, just lower average outcome.

If they made it something you could choose to do or not, it will be like the ACES program they have for science. I’m not sure you’ll get that many more kids. My kid for instance does a sport 20+ hours/week and is more interested in sciences. She wants to be able to pick her own APs that lean towards math/science not humanities. Although I encouraged her to apply, she knew it wasn’t for her. But I know a few of her friends applied and had they been admitted, I’m not sure they would have stuck it out. So, you might also have more attrition.

Just looked on the Walter Johnson website, and it says the program is under review and a meeting will be held sometime in December. A specific date is not yet determined. That seems rather late to inform parents of students of changes for next year. It sounds as if the rumors of those middle school students are not unfounded.

I have a 9th grader in APEX. He did not tell me anything, but I'll ask. I attended both meetings last school year (informational, and then for accepted students only) and spoke to one of the founders/coordinators of the program, and there was no information regarding any changes. I would be disappointed to learn of APEX ditching its selectivity. The peer cohort is what makes its program strong, and every single student participating at the first informational meeting last year was very clear that that was its first strength.

The APEX program is wonderful so far, at any rate. DS loves his APEX classes (US Gov, English and Biology).

Was this really a survey? If so, doesn't it seem a little odd that the school would be asking students how to change the program? It sounds like all students, APEX and non-APEX, took the survey. This bothers me.

I have two students at W.J., both of whom took the survey. My kids said the same thing, that several options on the survey indicated that students would just choose to be in the program and that the application and testing process would be eliminated. This is worrisome but not unexpected considering that the middle school magnets no longer have an application process. I wonder if MCPS initiated this review as part of an overall look at high school programs - sort of an extension of what they did in middle school. This could be unfortunate for kids who really want the challenge of a program like APEX as it is currently structured.

Rumor from kid in program: MCPS considering making APEX an “opt in” vs “test-in” program. In his view will make it less rigorous.

What kinds of questions were asked on the survey? I doubt the program is being "dumbed down", middle schoolers and high schoolers like to stoke adult's fears.

OP here....PP re the survey is what I heard from the kids. They are all worried based on the options presented in the survey that MCPS is considering dumbing down the program so that’s the “word on the street” among the kids. I wish they’d be more transparent about what they are considering, especially for the 8th graders trying to decide whether to apply for magnet.

I have a student at W.J., not in APEX. Students were given a survey outlining possible changes to APEX, and my DS said that most of the possibilities sounded like the program would be made much less challenging. Students taking the survey were not asked if they were in APEX or not, just if they applied.

I read through the website recently. One of the programs was listed as "under review," yet I am not sure if it was APEX, ACES or something else. You might visit their website to see what it says. (If I could remember, I'd let you know here.)

They frequently review the program. This is just a regular review, those reviewing include teachers, parents and current APEX students. Three years ago (maybe four) a similar review panel made the change of adding a third class/cohort, because the school had grown so much bigger. We don't yet know what changes will come from this review.

Please do not spread misinformation about the program!

I dunno. My middle schooler said kids were talking about how the program was changing to become less challenging. Figured I’d check here and see if anyone had heard anything since middle schoolers are often unreliable (but sometimes are Better informed than me!)

Why would there be changes?

Anyone hear about potential changes to this program?