Anonymous wrote:Most of the non-center schools near us have 2-3 classes per grade. There is no way they would fill an entire classroom with advanced math students especially after the AAP students have left. There can't be many non center or LLIV schools that still has 4 classes per grade for grades 3-6.

One of our schools is a non center with a little over 600 students. In grades 3-6, they have three to four classes per grade. Looking at the yearbook last year, the classes are all a little bit over 20 kids. They offer pull out enrichment for math and reading starting in 1st grade, and offer advanced math for the older students.

The "gen ed" kids there are quite advanced. In fact, this base school scored higher on the SOLs than my other child's highly regarded center school, including the dreaded math SOLs. The base school also consistently qualifies many children for AAP.

It is in a different part of the county from the schools that get all the press on these boards, and is not a school that gets extra funds for poverty. Just a wonderful, solid, neighborhood school.

Anonymous wrote:Which part of Fairfax County is that?

Well, it's not the part near Vienna, McLean, Great Falls, Fairfax, Tyson's Corner, or Reston. It's a part of the county that is generally dismissed or disregarded on this forum despite the fact that the school is usually an 8 on Great Schools. It's not as competitive over here, and I really mean that, not as a snide slam.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the non-center schools near us have 2-3 classes per grade. There is no way they would fill an entire classroom with advanced math students especially after the AAP students have left. There can't be many non center or LLIV schools that still has 4 classes per grade for grades 3-6.

I am the PP -- we are a school of 800 students and we're in the part of the county that doesn't really push to go to AAP. We have 4 third grade classes. There are 25 kids in my child's regular class. I assume the other 3rd grade classrooms are comparable in size.

This is two + years old, but at DC's LLIV school, they had three classes with a total of 75-80 or so kids (school size was ~525). BUT, they had an additional math teacher and a special ed math teacher, so there were 5 math classes in 3-6th grade. Two of which were "compacted" or advanced or whatever it is they are calling it these days.

Which part of Fairfax County is that?

Anonymous wrote:Most of the non-center schools near us have 2-3 classes per grade. There is no way they would fill an entire classroom with advanced math students especially after the AAP students have left. There can't be many non center or LLIV schools that still has 4 classes per grade for grades 3-6.

I am the PP -- we are a school of 800 students and we're in the part of the county that doesn't really push to go to AAP. We have 4 third grade classes. There are 25 kids in my child's regular class. I assume the other 3rd grade classrooms are comparable in size.

Depends on the school.
That's part of the reason why I chose Center.