Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least one of the elementaries in our area is completely losing their AAP center.
I am sure the folks living in that neighborhood have no idea yet.
If I had purchased a home in that school boundary, I would be very, very pissed.

I don't think the current proposal includes eliminating any AAP centers...just adding new centers.

Perhaps I am reading this wrong, but according to the document online, White Oaks Elementary loses their center. All 200+ kids will go to other schools.

The White Oaks kids will go to Sangster.

Bonnie Brae, Terra Center, Fairview and Laurel Ridge kids will go to an unnamed center in the Robinson pyramid.

Nearly all of the kids attending Springfield Estates Elementary will go to other schools.

Hunter Woods Elementary appears to lose all of its AAP students as well.

Hunter Woods kids will go to Dogwood in South Lakes Pyramid. Navy, Crossfield and Waples Mill will go to Oakton Pyramid.

Why make so many kids accross this entire large county just to deal with the problems at 3 elementary schools? This is a shame.

According to the Level IV Center Enrollment by Cluster worksheet, White Oaks AAP Center would not be closed.

http://www.fcag.org/documents/level_iv_task_force_recs/level_iv_ctr_enr_clu.pdf

White Oaks would be one of two AAP Centers for the Lake Braddock SS pyramid.

Look at the iSIS data in the AAP Enrollment by Center and Feeder School worksheet:
http://www.fcag.org/documents/level_iv_task_force_recs/aap_enr_by_ctr_fdr.pdf

Then use the totals by grade level to compare each grade level going to various high schools. As an example, look at the 6th grade total in the Mount Vernon pyramid and compare it to a 6th grade total in a higher SES pyramid -- say, West Potomac.

Mount Vernon (current assigned AAP Center - Sandburg MS):
Fort Belvoir: 3
Mount Vernon Woods: 2
Riverside: 6
Washington Mill: 1
Woodlawn: 3
Woodley Hills: 1
Total 6th graders in Mount Vernon Pyramid: 16

West Potomac (current assigned AAP Center - Sandburg MS):
Belle View: 7
Bucknell: 2
Fort Hunt: 2
Groveton: 10
Hollin Meadows: 11
Hybla Valley: 5
Stratford Landing: 28
Waynewood: 12
Total 6th graders in West Potomac Pyramid: 77

So the Mount Vernon pyramid students would attend their base middle school (Whitman) instead of the currently assigned AAP Center middle school (Sandburg). The West Potomac pyramid students would attend their base middle school (Sandburg) and not be affected by a change in schools.

16 students going into 7th grade together is not a large enough critical mass to offer AAP Center classes, never mind have the ability to have multiple AAP level classes per grade. The West Potomac pyramid setup will have that option with a critical mass of 77 students, but not the Mount Vernon pyramid.

A similar situation exists for the Annandale pyramid (9 6th grade students - but this is further complicated that Poe MS starts in 6th grade) and Stuart (27 5th grade students). I also missed similar situations at Lee (26 6th grade students) and Hayfield (38 6th grade students).

What makes this more difficult is not having data by middle school. It would be easier to have it grouped by base middle school so it is easier to compare a group of 16 6th grade students at Whitman vs. a group of 77 6th grade students at Sandburg.

Got it. Thanks.

Anonymous wrote:

Of course when you look at the iSIS data provided by FCPS staff, the kids that will get the most shortchanged with this new FCPS proposal will be those in the Mount Vernon, Annandale and Stuart pyramids.

Since I'm pretty sure I don't understand the proposal, can you explain how they would be shortchanged?

Look at the iSIS data in the AAP Enrollment by Center and Feeder School worksheet:
http://www.fcag.org/documents/level_iv_task_force_recs/aap_enr_by_ctr_fdr.pdf

Then use the totals by grade level to compare each grade level going to various high schools. As an example, look at the 6th grade total in the Mount Vernon pyramid and compare it to a 6th grade total in a higher SES pyramid -- say, West Potomac.

Mount Vernon (current assigned AAP Center - Sandburg MS):
Fort Belvoir: 3
Mount Vernon Woods: 2
Riverside: 6
Washington Mill: 1
Woodlawn: 3
Woodley Hills: 1
Total 6th graders in Mount Vernon Pyramid: 16

West Potomac (current assigned AAP Center - Sandburg MS):
Belle View: 7
Bucknell: 2
Fort Hunt: 2
Groveton: 10
Hollin Meadows: 11
Hybla Valley: 5
Stratford Landing: 28
Waynewood: 12
Total 6th graders in West Potomac Pyramid: 77

So the Mount Vernon pyramid students would attend their base middle school (Whitman) instead of the currently assigned AAP Center middle school (Sandburg). The West Potomac pyramid students would attend their base middle school (Sandburg) and not be affected by a change in schools.

16 students going into 7th grade together is not a large enough critical mass to offer AAP Center classes, never mind have the ability to have multiple AAP level classes per grade. The West Potomac pyramid setup will have that option with a critical mass of 77 students, but not the Mount Vernon pyramid.

A similar situation exists for the Annandale pyramid (9 6th grade students - but this is further complicated that Poe MS starts in 6th grade) and Stuart (27 5th grade students). I also missed similar situations at Lee (26 6th grade students) and Hayfield (38 6th grade students).

What makes this more difficult is not having data by middle school. It would be easier to have it grouped by base middle school so it is easier to compare a group of 16 6th grade students at Whitman vs. a group of 77 6th grade students at Sandburg.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is about middle school, but to the Haycock parent with a child getting kicked out of there, I'd just view it as a better way for your children to get to know other children who will attend middle school and then high school with them eventually. Hopefully you'll meet parents that you can become friends with for years as well. All of the schools being considered have active PTA's and a long list of afterschool and family activities as well. Not sure what parents of current Haycock students within the Marshall pyramid are afraid of. Signed, A mom with a young child at one of schools being considered for AAP transfer students who also will not be able to have her children attend Haycock AAP in the future.

Not a Haycock parent, but a military parent whose child has attended 4 elementary schools in 5 grades.

This is very easy for you to say, because you are not having to move your child to their third school in 2-3 years. (from base school to AAP center, then to a new center)

The issue is that there is no grandfather clause for the children who are already established in a school that they love.

It is so disruptive to have kids change schools multiple times in just a few years. To do it when it is a necessity is one thing. To do it because the district is pushing through an ill-conceived, rushed plan is another one entirely.

+1 My kids have also had to move for reasons related to my work (non-military government service) and I agree 100%

Of course when you look at the iSIS data provided by FCPS staff, the kids that will get the most shortchanged with this new FCPS proposal will be those in the Mount Vernon, Annandale and Stuart pyramids.

Since I'm pretty sure I don't understand the proposal, can you explain how they would be shortchanged?

Anonymous wrote:This thread is about middle school, but to the Haycock parent with a child getting kicked out of there, I'd just view it as a better way for your children to get to know other children who will attend middle school and then high school with them eventually. Hopefully you'll meet parents that you can become friends with for years as well. All of the schools being considered have active PTA's and a long list of afterschool and family activities as well. Not sure what parents of current Haycock students within the Marshall pyramid are afraid of. Signed, A mom with a young child at one of schools being considered for AAP transfer students who also will not be able to have her children attend Haycock AAP in the future.

Not a Haycock parent, but a military parent whose child has attended 4 elementary schools in 5 grades.

This is very easy for you to say, because you are not having to move your child to their third school in 2-3 years. (from base school to AAP center, then to a new center)

The issue is that there is no grandfather clause for the children who are already established in a school that they love.

It is so disruptive to have kids change schools multiple times in just a few years. To do it when it is a necessity is one thing. To do it because the district is pushing through an ill-conceived, rushed plan is another one entirely.

This thread is about middle school, but to the Haycock parent with a child getting kicked out of there, I'd just view it as a better way for your children to get to know other children who will attend middle school and then high school with them eventually. Hopefully you'll meet parents that you can become friends with for years as well. All of the schools being considered have active PTA's and a long list of afterschool and family activities as well. Not sure what parents of current Haycock students within the Marshall pyramid are afraid of. Signed, A mom with a young child at one of schools being considered for AAP transfer students who also will not be able to have her children attend Haycock AAP in the future.

Anonymous wrote:

Are you kidding??? People fight over houses in the Haycock boundaries. They are easily worth about 50 thousand more than comparable houses in Lemon Road, Kent Gardens, etc. Why do you think it's so crowded?

The fact that the West Falls Church Metro sits within the Haycock district is not irrelevant, and in any event many people will pay more for a house in the Kent Gardens district with a McLean address than for a house in Falls Church.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least one of the elementaries in our area is completely losing their AAP center.
I am sure the folks living in that neighborhood have no idea yet.
If I had purchased a home in that school boundary, I would be very, very pissed.

I don't think the current proposal includes eliminating any AAP centers...just adding new centers.

Perhaps I am reading this wrong, but according to the document online, White Oaks Elementary loses their center. All 200+ kids will go to other schools.

The White Oaks kids will go to Sangster.

Bonnie Brae, Terra Center, Fairview and Laurel Ridge kids will go to an unnamed center in the Robinson pyramid.

Nearly all of the kids attending Springfield Estates Elementary will go to other schools.

Hunter Woods Elementary appears to lose all of its AAP students as well.

Hunter Woods kids will go to Dogwood in South Lakes Pyramid. Navy, Crossfield and Waples Mill will go to Oakton Pyramid.

Why make so many kids accross this entire large county just to deal with the problems at 3 elementary schools? This is a shame.

Yes, I read it this way too. The Hunter Woods center looks to disappear. And I don't think it will be phased in. They will have to incur a big transportation re-do cost, and will want to bite that bullet quickly, as well as all the complains they will get. So they'll want to jam it through as quickly as possible.

Perhaps I am reading this wrong, but according to the document online, White Oaks Elementary loses their center. All 200+ kids will go to other schools.

The White Oaks kids will go to Sangster.

Bonnie Brae, Terra Center, Fairview and Laurel Ridge kids will go to an unnamed center in the Robinson pyramid.

I don't know how to read it either, but if you are right a bunch of aap centers, more than you initially listed, are going, going, gone. Can someone with knowledge of how to read the document, reply about this.

What is a AAP center?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least one of the elementaries in our area is completely losing their AAP center.

I am sure the folks living in that neighborhood have no idea yet.

If I had purchased a home in that school boundary, I would be very, very pissed.

Which school? Is an AAP center that big of a draw? As a parent whose kid is in aap at our base school, I wouldn't mind losing our center, it would mean a lot less overcrowding

It would also mean lower test scores and less demand for properties in your neighborhood because the school would be perceived as "going downhill."

I have never heard of an elementary school driving property value. I know that high school does and respectively disagree with your dire prediction of the going downhill perception if a school rids the aap center. Most base school parents at aap centers are all for creating a magnet-like center school for aap. I am betting that you are not in-boundary for a aap elementary school.

The base school parents in our neck of the woods are completely welcoming and inclusive of the center kids. The surrounding community is proud to host an AAP center.

Marshall pyramid parent whose kid is getting kicked out of Haycock here. Why do you think your school is welcoming? How can we, as AAP parents, forge a good relationship with the parents at whatever school our kids will be sent to? What is the recipe for success?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least one of the elementaries in our area is completely losing their AAP center.

I am sure the folks living in that neighborhood have no idea yet.

If I had purchased a home in that school boundary, I would be very, very pissed.

Which school? Is an AAP center that big of a draw? As a parent whose kid is in aap at our base school, I wouldn't mind losing our center, it would mean a lot less overcrowding

It would also mean lower test scores and less demand for properties in your neighborhood because the school would be perceived as "going downhill."

I have never heard of an elementary school driving property value. I know that high school does and respectively disagree with your dire prediction of the going downhill perception if a school rids the aap center. Most base school parents at aap centers are all for creating a magnet-like center school for aap. I am betting that you are not in-boundary for a aap elementary school.

The base school parents in our neck of the woods are completely welcoming and inclusive of the center kids. The surrounding community is proud to host an AAP center.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least one of the elementaries in our area is completely losing their AAP center.

I am sure the folks living in that neighborhood have no idea yet.

If I had purchased a home in that school boundary, I would be very, very pissed.

Which school? Is an AAP center that big of a draw? As a parent whose kid is in aap at our base school, I wouldn't mind losing our center, it would mean a lot less overcrowding

It would also mean lower test scores and less demand for properties in your neighborhood because the school would be perceived as "going downhill."

I have never heard of an elementary school driving property value. I know that high school does and respectively disagree with your dire prediction of the going downhill perception if a school rids the aap center. Most base school parents at aap centers are all for creating a magnet-like center school for aap. I am betting that you are not in-boundary for a aap elementary school.

Are you kidding??? People fight over houses in the Haycock boundaries. They are easily worth about 50 thousand more than comparable houses in Lemon Road, Kent Gardens, etc. Why do you think it's so crowded?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least one of the elementaries in our area is completely losing their AAP center.

I am sure the folks living in that neighborhood have no idea yet.

If I had purchased a home in that school boundary, I would be very, very pissed.

Which school? Is an AAP center that big of a draw? As a parent whose kid is in aap at our base school, I wouldn't mind losing our center, it would mean a lot less overcrowding

It would also mean lower test scores and less demand for properties in your neighborhood because the school would be perceived as "going downhill."

I have never heard of an elementary school driving property value. I know that high school does and respectively disagree with your dire prediction of the going downhill perception if a school rids the aap center. Most base school parents at aap centers are all for creating a magnet-like center school for aap. I am betting that you are not in-boundary for a aap elementary school.