Anonymous
04/02/2026 09:35
Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
Anonymous wrote:I didn't tell my kid she got in. She came home that day from school upset because all the kids who did were shouting it from the rooftops like they got into Harvard.
I suggest addressing it before school. Talking about not discussing it with others. We told her some kids might learn better in other locations in different ways.
I had 2 kids one center one not. Trust me, elementary parents, AAP kids do not outshine kids in HS. It won't matter at all. Go to the best fit. Honors in MS is the same.
it is a shame FCPS does this to 2nd graders. My kid had a fine experience in AAP, but she would have been fine at her base school with her sibling. It shouldn't be a choice you have to make in 2nd grade.
I fully agree. This is insanely early. May be if we were talking top 0.1% that would be something obvious at the age of 7 (have no idea) but FCPS AAP is a much much wider group. Kids can grow in and out of it, and even now, I have no idea which kids from my dc class got in. There is no single star in the class. Plenty of great students.
Anonymous
04/02/2026 09:32
Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
Anonymous wrote:I was concerned about this too, so here’s a paraphrased version of what I said:
The school looked at all the work you’ve been doing and realized your brain works differently and needs different kind of teaching. Some things come really easy for you, and you learn really fast, and some things are hard for you. So they’re going to make sure you have a teacher and a class that helps you learn the best way for you.
Of course, kids talk and know what AAP is. I’ve heard them talk about who’s in the smart group or whatever. So I also say something like:
This doesn’t mean that you’re smarter than other kids who aren’t in AAP. There’s lots of ways to be smart, and learning fast is just one way.
I also tell them I’m proud of all their hard work in school, and I’m glad they’re going to be in a class that fits them. I’m really careful not to say I’m proud they “got into AAP.”
You do understand that there are a good portion of in pool kids(top 10% of the grade) that don’t get in? So those kids don’t learn “fast”?
By saying “your brain works differently”, you are telling your kid that he/she is smart, what’s bad about this is when they realize they aren’t as smart as their parent told them, they either lose trust or start questioning themselves.
Anonymous
04/02/2026 09:28
Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
Anonymous wrote:I didn't tell my kid she got in. She came home that day from school upset because all the kids who did were shouting it from the rooftops like they got into Harvard.
I suggest addressing it before school. Talking about not discussing it with others. We told her some kids might learn better in other locations in different ways.
I had 2 kids one center one not. Trust me, elementary parents, AAP kids do not outshine kids in HS. It won't matter at all. Go to the best fit. Honors in MS is the same.
it is a shame FCPS does this to 2nd graders. My kid had a fine experience in AAP, but she would have been fine at her base school with her sibling. It shouldn't be a choice you have to make in 2nd grade.
Agree with the sentiment, but I just wanted to point out that there are many school systems that do this from K and 1st grade. I think If it were to happen in 3rd or 4th grade it could be even more difficult for kids to process.
Anonymous
04/02/2026 08:47
Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
I didn't tell my kid she got in. She came home that day from school upset because all the kids who did were shouting it from the rooftops like they got into Harvard.
I suggest addressing it before school. Talking about not discussing it with others. We told her some kids might learn better in other locations in different ways.
I had 2 kids one center one not. Trust me, elementary parents, AAP kids do not outshine kids in HS. It won't matter at all. Go to the best fit. Honors in MS is the same.
it is a shame FCPS does this to 2nd graders. My kid had a fine experience in AAP, but she would have been fine at her base school with her sibling. It shouldn't be a choice you have to make in 2nd grade.
I suggest addressing it before school. Talking about not discussing it with others. We told her some kids might learn better in other locations in different ways.
I had 2 kids one center one not. Trust me, elementary parents, AAP kids do not outshine kids in HS. It won't matter at all. Go to the best fit. Honors in MS is the same.
it is a shame FCPS does this to 2nd graders. My kid had a fine experience in AAP, but she would have been fine at her base school with her sibling. It shouldn't be a choice you have to make in 2nd grade.
Anonymous
04/02/2026 08:43
Subject: Re:How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
From early on, I told my 2nd grader in a very casual manner that the 3rd grade class placement works in a little different way and that we'd need to pick out work samples to give to CCT teachers to help the process.
When we learned that she was found eligible, we (again very casually) told her that the school system looked at everyone's work samples, report card and test scores and that she was placed in a group called AAP. I told her that it is not a secret-secret but still a good idea to not ask around in school to avoid any confusion since some of her friends wouldn't even know about it.
When we learned that she was found eligible, we (again very casually) told her that the school system looked at everyone's work samples, report card and test scores and that she was placed in a group called AAP. I told her that it is not a secret-secret but still a good idea to not ask around in school to avoid any confusion since some of her friends wouldn't even know about it.
Anonymous
04/01/2026 17:06
Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
The reason they don't stay friends w/general ed kids is they are never in class together, ever again. It's an ugly system. The kids know that the class assignments are not random.
Ok, so maybe they share an elective together. That's not significant. Thank goodness it gets a little better in MS and a lot better in HS.
Ok, so maybe they share an elective together. That's not significant. Thank goodness it gets a little better in MS and a lot better in HS.
Anonymous
04/01/2026 14:54
Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
I was concerned about this too, so here’s a paraphrased version of what I said:
The school looked at all the work you’ve been doing and realized your brain works differently and needs different kind of teaching. Some things come really easy for you, and you learn really fast, and some things are hard for you. So they’re going to make sure you have a teacher and a class that helps you learn the best way for you.
Of course, kids talk and know what AAP is. I’ve heard them talk about who’s in the smart group or whatever. So I also say something like:
This doesn’t mean that you’re smarter than other kids who aren’t in AAP. There’s lots of ways to be smart, and learning fast is just one way.
I also tell them I’m proud of all their hard work in school, and I’m glad they’re going to be in a class that fits them. I’m really careful not to say I’m proud they “got into AAP.”
The school looked at all the work you’ve been doing and realized your brain works differently and needs different kind of teaching. Some things come really easy for you, and you learn really fast, and some things are hard for you. So they’re going to make sure you have a teacher and a class that helps you learn the best way for you.
Of course, kids talk and know what AAP is. I’ve heard them talk about who’s in the smart group or whatever. So I also say something like:
This doesn’t mean that you’re smarter than other kids who aren’t in AAP. There’s lots of ways to be smart, and learning fast is just one way.
I also tell them I’m proud of all their hard work in school, and I’m glad they’re going to be in a class that fits them. I’m really careful not to say I’m proud they “got into AAP.”
Anonymous
04/01/2026 14:23
Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
Anonymous wrote:Kids/parents brag about this because they think this is an achievement? Lol if you come out from the thread where people posts their scores. You will realize lots of kids with ultra high scores don’t really get in while actually lots kids with mediocre scores get in. So you wanna celebrate mediocrity?
If you wanna argue that “well you talk like this because your kids didn’t get in”. My kids are in AAP, one with mediocre scores, one with really high scores. Both of them don’t even give a crap about being able to get in.
The post is literally asking advice how to explain what AAP is to prevent misunderstanding and bragging.
Anonymous
04/01/2026 12:53
Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
Kids/parents brag about this because they think this is an achievement? Lol if you come out from the thread where people posts their scores. You will realize lots of kids with ultra high scores don’t really get in while actually lots kids with mediocre scores get in. So you wanna celebrate mediocrity?
If you wanna argue that “well you talk like this because your kids didn’t get in”. My kids are in AAP, one with mediocre scores, one with really high scores. Both of them don’t even give a crap about being able to get in.
If you wanna argue that “well you talk like this because your kids didn’t get in”. My kids are in AAP, one with mediocre scores, one with really high scores. Both of them don’t even give a crap about being able to get in.
Anonymous
03/31/2026 22:25
Subject: Re:How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
I told DD that her lessers have now been informed of their status.
Anonymous
03/31/2026 22:17
Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We’re doing an AAP reveal party. Still deciding between doing a cake or balloons in a box for the reveal.
It's a nerd!
What is wrong with you?! Nerd?! Really?!
Spaz, please.
Anonymous
03/31/2026 22:11
Subject: How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
Anonymous wrote:We’re doing an AAP reveal party. Still deciding between doing a cake or balloons in a box for the reveal.
It's a nerd!
Anonymous
03/31/2026 22:06
Subject: Re:How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I want to keep my child grounded and humble about it
This will not last. It's right of you to want to try though. Quietly prepare that they will lose the friends who did not get in.
Booger eaters need friends too.
What about shit smearers?!
Anonymous
03/31/2026 22:04
Subject: Re:How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
Anonymous wrote:I want to keep my child grounded and humble about it
This will not last. It's right of you to want to try though. Quietly prepare that they will lose the friends who did not get in.
Booger eaters need friends too.
Anonymous
03/31/2026 21:49
Subject: Re:How did you tell your child about the AAP result?
I want to keep my child grounded and humble about it
This will not last. It's right of you to want to try though. Quietly prepare that they will lose the friends who did not get in.