Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To those who state that they would have opted for a local level IV had they had the choice, there is a reason why the centers exist and local level IVs still feed there. The programs at our schools (center and level IV) are not the same- despite what the staff states during the presentation. It really isn't mixing the groups that is an issue- it's also inconsistency- it is completly up to the principal to do whatever, whenever. So- what you experience one year can turn upside down the next. And that was what our particular school was experiencing. As for the neighborhood aspect- in our case the center is so close and feeds to all the same MS and HS so this wasn't a temporary friendships situation. So- sorry but I am so glad we have centers (and our center is a feeder- meaning, not enough to be a local level IV- as I'm sure others are).

You are 100% correct. Plus, with a change in administration, there is no way to predict what may be implemented under a new principal. Site-based management supercedes what central office staff present.

I'm PP here- but at our base school every year has changed- not just level IV but every grade- in many case after school already started. We're trying to stay positive but the principal has her own plans...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To those who state that they would have opted for a local level IV had they had the choice, there is a reason why the centers exist and local level IVs still feed there. The programs at our schools (center and level IV) are not the same- despite what the staff states during the presentation. It really isn't mixing the groups that is an issue- it's also inconsistency- it is completly up to the principal to do whatever, whenever. So- what you experience one year can turn upside down the next. And that was what our particular school was experiencing. As for the neighborhood aspect- in our case the center is so close and feeds to all the same MS and HS so this wasn't a temporary friendships situation. So- sorry but I am so glad we have centers (and our center is a feeder- meaning, not enough to be a local level IV- as I'm sure others are).

You are 100% correct. Plus, with a change in administration, there is no way to predict what may be implemented under a new principal. Site-based management supercedes what central office staff present.

+++++

Anonymous wrote:To those who state that they would have opted for a local level IV had they had the choice, there is a reason why the centers exist and local level IVs still feed there. The programs at our schools (center and level IV) are not the same- despite what the staff states during the presentation. It really isn't mixing the groups that is an issue- it's also inconsistency- it is completly up to the principal to do whatever, whenever. So- what you experience one year can turn upside down the next. And that was what our particular school was experiencing. As for the neighborhood aspect- in our case the center is so close and feeds to all the same MS and HS so this wasn't a temporary friendships situation. So- sorry but I am so glad we have centers (and our center is a feeder- meaning, not enough to be a local level IV- as I'm sure others are).

You are 100% correct. Plus, with a change in administration, there is no way to predict what may be implemented under a new principal. Site-based management supercedes what central office staff present.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ack-seeing those numbers just pisses me off all over again.

And the new center fixes very little.

There is the issue of potential unintended consequences. It is possible to remove too many students from a Center where the result is no longer a strong viable Center. (Not suggesting this is the case specifically for Greenbriar West; just raising the point in general.) Ideally a Center has a minimum of two classes per grade.

I do understand this point. And I'm not suggesting we do away with centers entirely.

But this particular case was a slow moving disaster that they sat back and allowed to happen. They could have done something a couple years ago, but they truly let it reach outrageous proportions. And their discussion of the situation made it so blatantly obvious who was the favored child, so to speak. Truly disgusting. I can't wait to vote against this school board.

+10000

And the situation was such a mess it turned people off of AAP altogether. (Along the lines of "throw the baby out with the bathwater.")

There is a happy medium but (unfortunately) the School Board as a whole seems reluctant to address the overarching problem of needing multiple solutions across the county.

To those who state that they would have opted for a local level IV had they had the choice, there is a reason why the centers exist and local level IVs still feed there. The programs at our schools (center and level IV) are not the same- despite what the staff states during the presentation. It really isn't mixing the groups that is an issue- it's also inconsistency- it is completly up to the principal to do whatever, whenever. So- what you experience one year can turn upside down the next. And that was what our particular school was experiencing. As for the neighborhood aspect- in our case the center is so close and feeds to all the same MS and HS so this wasn't a temporary friendships situation. So- sorry but I am so glad we have centers (and our center is a feeder- meaning, not enough to be a local level IV- as I'm sure others are).

Annandale Terrace
Grade 3: 7 choose Center, 2 choose LLIV
Grade 4: 1 choose Center, 4 choose LLIV
Grade 5: 4 choose Center, 3 choose LLIV
Total: 12 choose Center, 9 choose LLIV

Armstrong
Grade 3: 3 choose Center, 7 choose LLIV
Grade 4: 6 choose Center, 5 choose LLIV
Grade 5: 8 choose Center, 11 choose LLIV
Grade 6: 12 choose Center, 4 choose LLIV
Total: 29 choose Center, 27 choose LLIV

Beech Tree
Grade 3: 1 choose Center, 5 choose LLIV
Grade 4: 1 choose Center, 12 choose LLIV
Grade 5: 0 choose Center, 13 choose LLIV
Total: 2 choose Center, 30 choose LLIV

Braddock
Grade 3: 2 choose Center, 2 choose LLIV
Grade 4: 1 choose Center, 2 choose LLIV
Grade 5: 5 choose Center, 2 choose LLIV
Total: 8 choose Center, 6 choose LLIV


Cameron
Grade 3: 1 choose Center, 5 choose LLIV
Grade 4: 3 choose Center, 3 choose LLIV
Grade 5: 3 choose Center, 1 choose LLIV
Grade 6: 0 choose Center, 2 choose LLIV
Total: 7 choose Center, 11 choose LLIV

There are some schools with strong LLIV programs, and other schools without.

It doesn't seem like these schools really need a LLIV program. Do the parents want it? What's the difference between a LLIV program with 3 children per grade and a LLIII program and compacted math?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ack-seeing those numbers just pisses me off all over again.

And the new center fixes very little.

There is the issue of potential unintended consequences. It is possible to remove too many students from a Center where the result is no longer a strong viable Center. (Not suggesting this is the case specifically for Greenbriar West; just raising the point in general.) Ideally a Center has a minimum of two classes per grade.

I do understand this point. And I'm not suggesting we do away with centers entirely.

But this particular case was a slow moving disaster that they sat back and allowed to happen. They could have done something a couple years ago, but they truly let it reach outrageous proportions. And their discussion of the situation made it so blatantly obvious who was the favored child, so to speak. Truly disgusting. I can't wait to vote against this school board.

Anonymous wrote:Ack-seeing those numbers just pisses me off all over again.

And the new center fixes very little.

There is the issue of potential unintended consequences. It is possible to remove too many students from a Center where the result is no longer a strong viable Center. (Not suggesting this is the case specifically for Greenbriar West; just raising the point in general.) Ideally a Center has a minimum of two classes per grade.

Ack-seeing those numbers just pisses me off all over again.

And the new center fixes very little.

^^I just checked Dashboard and Poplar Tree numbers match, while Colin Powell's are off by only one student for 5th and 6th grade.

Anonymous wrote:Can you also post poplar tree numbers? I think they are fairly similar to CP's.

Poplar Tree
Grade 3: 35 choose Center, 5 choose LLIV
Grade 4: 34 choose Center, 0 choose LLIV
Grade 5: 46 choose Center, 4 choose LLIV
Grade 6: 35 choose Center, 1 choose LLIV
Total: 150 choose Center, 10 choose LLIV

(Might be interesting to compare these numbers with those shared by Facilities as part of the Greenbriar West/Poplar Tree AAP Center shift earlier this year.)

Anonymous wrote:Fascinating. So, obviously, you are on the council.

Can you explain why the option still remains for those (I think you said) 12 schools who could easily fill classes at their base school?

I am simply a member of AAPAC. Any policy decision comes from the School Board. AAPAC does have recommendations, but they are simply a statement and not a change in policy.

AAPAC's final report for this year will be posted on BoardDocs in advance of the June 1 work session.

Can you also post poplar tree numbers? I think they are fairly similar to CP's.

Fascinating. So, obviously, you are on the council.

Can you explain why the option still remains for those (I think you said) 12 schools who could easily fill classes at their base school?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think pointing out the flaws with the system, such as running essentially an honors program and then excluding a large percentage of kids who are more than capable of handling it, is bashing. That's the great thing about living in this country, freedom of speech. And yes, I have a child in AAP and see the work they do, and it's an honors program, not a gifted program.

who the f**k claims it is a “gifted program.”?
but it is selective - so only the smartest and most precocious get in

Fairfax County claims it's a gifted program. They specifically said that the name change from GT to AAP did not affect its status as a gifted program, but indicated that the program was for academically gifted kids, not kids gifted in other areas. That is why they still use the NNAT, CogAT, and Gifted Behavior Rating Scores for admission.