Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think high school is when they actually start differentiating more.

Not really. Any kid can sign up for honors courses, there is no barrier to entry. My neighbors DD barely passed Geometry and is generally disruptive but is going to same courses as DD. I think she will rise to high school challenge, DH thinks it’s indicative that more class time will be spent bringing kids up to min standards than helping our kids reach their abilities.

ummmmmm.......You need to get teacher approval for Intensified (it's not called honors) classes. There is differentiation.

Not true. Parents have the final say. My son got no teacher approvals in 8th grade, so I spoke to the counselor and had him placed in intensified anyway. It has worked out well.

Generally, if a student is supposed to be in the Intensified class, they would have had the approval. Of course, Arlington parents can always override the referrals.

And that’s the issue, my neighbors DD is not honors material and will hold back the class; there should be entry exams.

No, your neighbor's DD will not "hold back the class." The class will proceed and your neighbor's DD will do poorly in it.

And you need to worry about your own kid and not your neighbor's.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think high school is when they actually start differentiating more.

Not really. Any kid can sign up for honors courses, there is no barrier to entry. My neighbors DD barely passed Geometry and is generally disruptive but is going to same courses as DD. I think she will rise to high school challenge, DH thinks it’s indicative that more class time will be spent bringing kids up to min standards than helping our kids reach their abilities.

ummmmmm.......You need to get teacher approval for Intensified (it's not called honors) classes. There is differentiation.

Not true. Parents have the final say. My son got no teacher approvals in 8th grade, so I spoke to the counselor and had him placed in intensified anyway. It has worked out well.

Generally, if a student is supposed to be in the Intensified class, they would have had the approval. Of course, Arlington parents can always override the referrals.

And that’s the issue, my neighbors DD is not honors material and will hold back the class; there should be entry exams.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think high school is when they actually start differentiating more.

Not really. Any kid can sign up for honors courses, there is no barrier to entry. My neighbors DD barely passed Geometry and is generally disruptive but is going to same courses as DD. I think she will rise to high school challenge, DH thinks it’s indicative that more class time will be spent bringing kids up to min standards than helping our kids reach their abilities.

ummmmmm.......You need to get teacher approval for Intensified (it's not called honors) classes. There is differentiation.

Not true. Parents have the final say. My son got no teacher approvals in 8th grade, so I spoke to the counselor and had him placed in intensified anyway. It has worked out well.

Generally, if a student is supposed to be in the Intensified class, they would have had the approval. Of course, Arlington parents can always override the referrals.

2019-2022: Covid
2023: Monkeypox!
2024: Trump is back and APS is privatized! Good luck!
2025: Global warming: The Floods part 1
2026: Washington Liberty takes over 3 elementary schools and a middle school building to accommodate its enrollment of over 15,000 students.
2027-31: Covid part deux: the recovidding (now transmissible from 3 rooms away and via mental telepathy)
2032: Global warming: Are we supposed to have tornadoes every day? Roof replacements on 3 schools needed.
2033: APS School Board: Now that WL enrollment is 25K+, should we consider a 4th comprehensive high school?
2034: Plague of Locusts
2035: Hamsterpox
2036: Jury reaches verdict in Depp/Heard trial and verdict triggers riots and mass uprisings; schools close for year.
2037: Global Warming: HB Woodlawn bulding sinks into the Potomac and 10 APS parents who have been angry for decades experience deep schadenfreude and emotional healing.
2038: Mutant Flesh Eating Cicadas lead to apocalypse and reversion to virtual learning until further notice

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think high school is when they actually start differentiating more.

Not really. Any kid can sign up for honors courses, there is no barrier to entry. My neighbors DD barely passed Geometry and is generally disruptive but is going to same courses as DD. I think she will rise to high school challenge, DH thinks it’s indicative that more class time will be spent bringing kids up to min standards than helping our kids reach their abilities.

But there are still more advanced options for coursework, unlike in middle school where it’s just math.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think high school is when they actually start differentiating more.

Not really. Any kid can sign up for honors courses, there is no barrier to entry. My neighbors DD barely passed Geometry and is generally disruptive but is going to same courses as DD. I think she will rise to high school challenge, DH thinks it’s indicative that more class time will be spent bringing kids up to min standards than helping our kids reach their abilities.

ummmmmm.......You need to get teacher approval for Intensified (it's not called honors) classes. There is differentiation.

Not true. Parents have the final say. My son got no teacher approvals in 8th grade, so I spoke to the counselor and had him placed in intensified anyway. It has worked out well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think high school is when they actually start differentiating more.

Not really. Any kid can sign up for honors courses, there is no barrier to entry. My neighbors DD barely passed Geometry and is generally disruptive but is going to same courses as DD. I think she will rise to high school challenge, DH thinks it’s indicative that more class time will be spent bringing kids up to min standards than helping our kids reach their abilities.

ummmmmm.......You need to get teacher approval for Intensified (it's not called honors) classes. There is differentiation.

Anonymous wrote:I think high school is when they actually start differentiating more.

Not really. Any kid can sign up for honors courses, there is no barrier to entry. My neighbors DD barely passed Geometry and is generally disruptive but is going to same courses as DD. I think she will rise to high school challenge, DH thinks it’s indicative that more class time will be spent bringing kids up to min standards than helping our kids reach their abilities.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless he’s talking about pulling your kid out of APS, let him be miserable if he’s so hellbent on it. If he wants to grouse, he can talk to a wall because you don’t owe him an audience for constant, pointless complaints.

He wants to move to Howard County where they give “real homework” and “differentiation”. Our kids are A students and kinda bored in school, but I assume it will be for once they are in IB.

He wants to uproot his kids? Right before high school? Do they have any friends or activities they do?

Most of kids friends have gone private but we can’t afford that.

I think high school is when they actually start differentiating more.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless he’s talking about pulling your kid out of APS, let him be miserable if he’s so hellbent on it. If he wants to grouse, he can talk to a wall because you don’t owe him an audience for constant, pointless complaints.

He wants to move to Howard County where they give “real homework” and “differentiation”. Our kids are A students and kinda bored in school, but I assume it will be for once they are in IB.

He wants to uproot his kids? Right before high school? Do they have any friends or activities they do?

Next year: Monkeypox!

Anonymous wrote:Unless he’s talking about pulling your kid out of APS, let him be miserable if he’s so hellbent on it. If he wants to grouse, he can talk to a wall because you don’t owe him an audience for constant, pointless complaints.

He wants to move to Howard County where they give “real homework” and “differentiation”. Our kids are A students and kinda bored in school, but I assume it will be for once they are in IB.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We haven't had a single closure this school year, so I don't understand that complaint.

They've pretty much stopped all covid mitigation, so what is his problem exactly?

Staffing will continue to be an issue while teachers are paid so poorly and stretched so thin. The shooting this week will not help over all morale.

I'd argue we had one closure for the "insufficient staff" day in January where there was no actual weather to force a closure, but omicron had many teachers out sick and Fairfax was closed too. APS called it a snow day, but it wasn't a result of weather.

Ok, I'll give you that one Thursday .

Anonymous wrote:We haven't had a single closure this school year, so I don't understand that complaint.

They've pretty much stopped all covid mitigation, so what is his problem exactly?

Staffing will continue to be an issue while teachers are paid so poorly and stretched so thin. The shooting this week will not help over all morale.

I'd argue we had one closure for the "insufficient staff" day in January where there was no actual weather to force a closure, but omicron had many teachers out sick and Fairfax was closed too. APS called it a snow day, but it wasn't a result of weather.