Anonymous
Post 05/30/2013 13:57     Subject: Anyone thinking of not going to AAP?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

At our middle school, AAP center and honors were not the same. They read different works of literature in English and different source materials in history and civics. The literature read in English was much more advanced and dealt with more complex themes. Long term assignments in social studies had more requirements and were graded on a more difficult scale.



This showcases how your center school was likely one "in name only" as compared to the other centers that have marked differences between AAP and honors.


Why did the wrong quote come up? Try again:

In 7th grade, the curriculum for AAP and honors courses (non-AAP for smart kids) is identical. We discovered this when our AAP kid and his honors best friend compared notes: same homework, same text books, same pacing, everything. AAP in elementary is great for kids who need the extra stimulation, but my experience as a mom of both AAP and gen-ed kids is that it all evens out in middle and high. My single gen-ed child far surpassed his brothers!


Sorry, PPs!
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2013 13:56     Subject: Anyone thinking of not going to AAP?
Anonymous wrote:

At our middle school, AAP center and honors were not the same. They read different works of literature in English and different source materials in history and civics. The literature read in English was much more advanced and dealt with more complex themes. Long term assignments in social studies had more requirements and were graded on a more difficult scale.



This showcases how your center school was likely one "in name only" as compared to the other centers that have marked differences between AAP and honors.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2013 13:39     Subject: Anyone thinking of not going to AAP?
Anonymous wrote:In 7th grade, the curriculum for AAP and honors courses (non-AAP for smart kids) is identical.


Interesting -- FCPS has a document posted on their website outlining the differences between AAP and honors at the middle school level --

The following diagram highlights the major similarities and differences between the Advanced Academic Level IV Center and the Honors classes in the middle school.


http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/pdfs/AAPforMSdiagram.pdf
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2013 13:25     Subject: Anyone thinking of not going to AAP?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Spoke with another family who have a child in the program as well as children not in it and they were less than impressed. They acknowledged that the math was more advanced, but did not find the center's treatment of the other core subjects to be overwhelming, and actually thought that the education their non-AAP kids got was comparable.
Just curious as to whether others had qualified, but elected not to go.


This exactly 100% mirrors DC's experience in 3-6, but in 7th it does start living up to expectations.


In 7th grade, the curriculum for AAP and honors courses (non-AAP for smart kids) is identical. We discovered this when our AAP kid and his honors best friend compared notes: same homework, same text books, same pacing, everything. AAP in elementary is great for kids who need the extra stimulation, but my experience as a mom of both AAP and gen-ed kids is that it all evens out in middle and high. My single gen-ed child far surpassed his brothers!


Not our experience at all. DC is in a center and taking Algebra I and it is not the same as the math honors at his friend's MS. Because of the kids (who had to qualify via SOl scores and Iowa test scores), the AAP teacher can go faster and deal with tougher material. Open honors lets anyone in who wants to be there.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2013 12:08     Subject: Anyone thinking of not going to AAP?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Spoke with another family who have a child in the program as well as children not in it and they were less than impressed. They acknowledged that the math was more advanced, but did not find the center's treatment of the other core subjects to be overwhelming, and actually thought that the education their non-AAP kids got was comparable.
Just curious as to whether others had qualified, but elected not to go.


This exactly 100% mirrors DC's experience in 3-6, but in 7th it does start living up to expectations.


In 7th grade, the curriculum for AAP and honors courses (non-AAP for smart kids) is identical. We discovered this when our AAP kid and his honors best friend compared notes: same homework, same text books, same pacing, everything. AAP in elementary is great for kids who need the extra stimulation, but my experience as a mom of both AAP and gen-ed kids is that it all evens out in middle and high. My single gen-ed child far surpassed his brothers!


At our middle school, AAP center and honors were not the same. They read different works of literature in English and different source materials in history and civics. The literature read in English was much more advanced and dealt with more complex themes. Long term assignments in social studies had more requirements and were graded on a more difficult scale.

Anonymous
Post 05/30/2013 11:33     Subject: Anyone thinking of not going to AAP?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Spoke with another family who have a child in the program as well as children not in it and they were less than impressed. They acknowledged that the math was more advanced, but did not find the center's treatment of the other core subjects to be overwhelming, and actually thought that the education their non-AAP kids got was comparable.
Just curious as to whether others had qualified, but elected not to go.


This exactly 100% mirrors DC's experience in 3-6, but in 7th it does start living up to expectations.


In 7th grade, the curriculum for AAP and honors courses (non-AAP for smart kids) is identical. We discovered this when our AAP kid and his honors best friend compared notes: same homework, same text books, same pacing, everything. AAP in elementary is great for kids who need the extra stimulation, but my experience as a mom of both AAP and gen-ed kids is that it all evens out in middle and high. My single gen-ed child far surpassed his brothers!
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2013 14:22     Subject: Anyone thinking of not going to AAP?
Anonymous wrote:AAP eligibility is good until eighth grade, so you can always change your mind. Might be worth it to go this year and then change back if it is not what you had thought.



Or you can always wait until middle school and switch. A number of kids in my son's class did this so they'd be more challenged for high school and yet still attend the same elementary and middle school as their friends. It's worth noting that none struggled in the slightest since they were smart kids, nor did they regret not going in elementary school.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2013 09:55     Subject: Anyone thinking of not going to AAP?
AAP eligibility is good until eighth grade, so you can always change your mind. Might be worth it to go this year and then change back if it is not what you had thought.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2013 15:39     Subject: Re:Anyone thinking of not going to AAP?
Anonymous wrote:You should also consider the logistics as far as how close the center is to your house, how long your DC's bus ride will be, especially if you're happy with you base school these things are worth factoring in.


+1

Another issue may be bell schedules. The center school may have a different bell schedule than the base school.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2013 15:30     Subject: Re:Anyone thinking of not going to AAP?
You should also consider the logistics as far as how close the center is to your house, how long your DC's bus ride will be, especially if you're happy with you base school these things are worth factoring in.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2013 21:25     Subject: Anyone thinking of not going to AAP?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If you wouldn't mind sharing, which Center was that where your friend was not impressed?


Belvedere/Glasgow


If you wouldn't mind sharing, what's the base school?


I have a DC currently at Belvedere and he has a great teacher. I think he's learning a lot. He's not overwhelmed, but he is being challenged. I know of a couple parent's who weren't happy, one because they thought the pace was too fast and another because they didn't like their DC's teacher's teaching style. I don't have any experience with Glasgow, but so far I'm happy with Belvedere.