Anonymous wrote:but what is the upside then of AAP, if any? I have seen older grade AAP kids at our LLIV crying from stress, and our school theoretically has a no homework policy.
DC was accepted, breezes through math/science/social studies work, is in top reading group but not light years ahead like one student in class. His current GE teacher is really pushing kids to write and the volume of writing she wants is significant and he stays on top of it, but not sure he needs more.
He rarely gets anything wrong on tests in other subjects, however, which indiciates to me he needs/could benefit from a greater challenge. Guess I am wondering at what cost?
I have seen the recent FCPS report that noted almost all TJ acceptances were AAP kids, but we won't push him that way if he doesn't want it.
PP, whose child is not stressed. For my child, she was really unhappy without having anything to occupy her brain. She was happier in AAP, because the acceleration in math kept her occupied for a bit, while she learned that maybe there are benefits to being able to cruise. I have no idea why you have seen kids cry from stress. If there is so much homework being assigned that it's causing kids distress, they should be at liberty to not do it. If I were the parent in that situation, I would 100% tell the teacher that a) there is too much work being assigned and b) that it is contrary to the school's no homework policy. It's elementary school, not HS or college, and these things really don't matter much.
You always have the option of putting your kids back in gen ed if things don't work out. Don't overthink it; it's not the equivalent of sending a third grader to MIT.