Anonymous
Post 02/19/2024 07:43     Subject: Try FCPS AAP center for 2-3 weeks and switch to private?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let's say I talk to my child, and that we agree on sending him to private next year because we don't want the tuition to burn for next year.
Can he still see the FCPS AAP for the first three weeks of semester next year, so that at least he has an idea of what the school is like there. Is there any downside of him being at FCPS AAP for the first three weeks, given he knows he will switch to private for the rest of the year, and he may consider the AAP for the 6th grade?


It's a terrible idea. What if he hates it? There's no point to going to a school for 2 weeks only. Even worse, what if he loves it and makes a best friend? Then he would leave.

More likely, he would not even start to fit in, since his time is so short. So it would just be a miserable useless experience.

Pick a school and send him there.


Look, I don't know why anyone here insisting on not understanding. I already mentioned that he wants to have a choice, and this plan excites him. He does not have any attachment yet to either private or the FCPS AAP center. No friends. No familiarity. He wants to see both. If he likes AAP for the first 3 weeks, that's great information for him and he can continue. If he hates it, great info for him so he can continue with private for the rest of the year.

He has never been in a classroom with more than 15 kids, or at any public school.


He would be making a decision based on not a lot of information because it’s the first few weeks of school — it’s a terrible way to make a decision!


And, if he ultimately chooses to go to public school, you are effectively teaching him that money can be thrown away — also not a good decision.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2024 07:35     Subject: Try FCPS AAP center for 2-3 weeks and switch to private?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let's say I talk to my child, and that we agree on sending him to private next year because we don't want the tuition to burn for next year.
Can he still see the FCPS AAP for the first three weeks of semester next year, so that at least he has an idea of what the school is like there. Is there any downside of him being at FCPS AAP for the first three weeks, given he knows he will switch to private for the rest of the year, and he may consider the AAP for the 6th grade?


It's a terrible idea. What if he hates it? There's no point to going to a school for 2 weeks only. Even worse, what if he loves it and makes a best friend? Then he would leave.

More likely, he would not even start to fit in, since his time is so short. So it would just be a miserable useless experience.

Pick a school and send him there.


Look, I don't know why anyone here insisting on not understanding. I already mentioned that he wants to have a choice, and this plan excites him. He does not have any attachment yet to either private or the FCPS AAP center. No friends. No familiarity. He wants to see both. If he likes AAP for the first 3 weeks, that's great information for him and he can continue. If he hates it, great info for him so he can continue with private for the rest of the year.

He has never been in a classroom with more than 15 kids, or at any public school.


He would be making a decision based on not a lot of information because it’s the first few weeks of school — it’s a terrible way to make a decision!
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2024 07:31     Subject: Try FCPS AAP center for 2-3 weeks and switch to private?
OP, yes you can do your plan and it won’t make your kid ineligible for AAP. PPs have pointed out why your plan is obnoxious. But if you want to do it, go for it. Honestly, your kid’s FCPS teacher will be relieved to have a student dropped from their roster 2 weeks into the school year. They won’t miss your kid for a second.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2024 05:57     Subject: Try FCPS AAP center for 2-3 weeks and switch to private?
If you can afford private school there really is only one option. Be a parent and do what is best for your kid.
Anonymous
Post 02/18/2024 23:28     Subject: Try FCPS AAP center for 2-3 weeks and switch to private?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let's say I talk to my child, and that we agree on sending him to private next year because we don't want the tuition to burn for next year.
Can he still see the FCPS AAP for the first three weeks of semester next year, so that at least he has an idea of what the school is like there. Is there any downside of him being at FCPS AAP for the first three weeks, given he knows he will switch to private for the rest of the year, and he may consider the AAP for the 6th grade?


YOU will fit in beautifully. You are every negative thing anyone has ever uttered about an AAP parent rolled into one. You ask for opinions and feedback and then get into a snit because the feedback from everyone is that it’s a terrible idea.

It's a terrible idea. What if he hates it? There's no point to going to a school for 2 weeks only. Even worse, what if he loves it and makes a best friend? Then he would leave.

More likely, he would not even start to fit in, since his time is so short. So it would just be a miserable useless experience.

Pick a school and send him there.


Look, I don't know why anyone here insisting on not understanding. I already mentioned that he wants to have a choice, and this plan excites him. He does not have any attachment yet to either private or the FCPS AAP center. No friends. No familiarity. He wants to see both. If he likes AAP for the first 3 weeks, that's great information for him and he can continue. If he hates it, great info for him so he can continue with private for the rest of the year.

He has never been in a classroom with more than 15 kids, or at any public school.
Anonymous
Post 02/18/2024 23:07     Subject: Try FCPS AAP center for 2-3 weeks and switch to private?
Anonymous wrote:Some commenters recommended a shadow day at private to get a sense of the privates. I wonder why they object to 2-3 week shadowing at FCPS claiming you cannot get a sense of school during such a short time. One day shadowing at private is super short in comparison.


NP but they are not going to get a true impression of either school during the first 2-3 days or even weeks. Things have to settle down. We thought we hated our private and had made the wrong choice in the first couple of weeks, but by the end of the year we loved it. I think it’s just better to make a choice now, and be open to switching at for next year if they don’t like it.
Anonymous
Post 02/18/2024 22:34     Subject: Try FCPS AAP center for 2-3 weeks and switch to private?
Anonymous wrote:Some commenters recommended a shadow day at private to get a sense of the privates. I wonder why they object to 2-3 week shadowing at FCPS claiming you cannot get a sense of school during such a short time. One day shadowing at private is super short in comparison.

Because our private has been doing these shadow days for 120 years. They have it down to a science - you get a snippet of your actual class (peers), you experience all the subjects, meet w/ student leaders, deans, the specials teachers, coaches, etc. Then you see the same from the next division you’ll be in. As someone who experienced that and the chaotic first few weeks of a local public school here, I assure you the shadow day is a lot more informative than a few weeks at the beginning of the year at FCPS will be.

OP I’m unclear how, if he decides he wants FCPS, missing the 2 weeks or whatever he spends at the private and then goes back won’t be disruptive. What will you say? He was randomly sick for 2 weeks?

If you wanted to be really obnoxious, if it’s a top private, they offer tuition insurance. You have to attend for 2 weeks to be able to apply for a refund, but I guess you could lie and do that? I think you get a large percentage back.

I do still think you need to step back and realize this is a terrible plan. No way an 11 year old will get a full feel in 2 weeks, especially when he’s the new kid being inserted into friend groups. You are the more mature one here and should be able to make a logical choice. My dc came home daily the first week of 5th grade this year and said it was awful. This is at a school dc has been at since K and loves. Well turns out they had switched to a healthier lunch provider and a kid dc dislikes is now on her bus. Glad I didn’t let her decide to leave and flush $46k down the toilet for those reasons
Anonymous
Post 02/18/2024 22:24     Subject: Try FCPS AAP center for 2-3 weeks and switch to private?
Anonymous wrote:Your child (and you as his parent) will not do well in FCPS. I can already tell. Just put him in private. FCPS will not cater to your every whim, the private school will. I can already see the disaster that will happen if you put your child in public school. An AAP Center is not like a mini private school within FCPS, it's still FCPS, you still have to deal with bureaucracy and large class sizes and your kid not getting one on one time. Go private. Trust me.


This. Your sense of entitlement will not be served by public schools. Stick with private.
Anonymous
Post 02/18/2024 22:15     Subject: Try FCPS AAP center for 2-3 weeks and switch to private?
Your child (and you as his parent) will not do well in FCPS. I can already tell. Just put him in private. FCPS will not cater to your every whim, the private school will. I can already see the disaster that will happen if you put your child in public school. An AAP Center is not like a mini private school within FCPS, it's still FCPS, you still have to deal with bureaucracy and large class sizes and your kid not getting one on one time. Go private. Trust me.
Anonymous
Post 02/18/2024 22:12     Subject: Try FCPS AAP center for 2-3 weeks and switch to private?
That's pretty awful of you to take that private school spot away from someone who really wants it, and then potentially open it up for a poor kid to start school 3 weeks in.
Anonymous
Post 02/18/2024 21:52     Subject: Try FCPS AAP center for 2-3 weeks and switch to private?
It seems like the OP is less looking for anyone's opinion and more looking for everyone to validate her plan and her parenting style. Just abandon the thread, you will go nowhere.
Anonymous
Post 02/18/2024 21:45     Subject: Try FCPS AAP center for 2-3 weeks and switch to private?
Anonymous wrote:Some commenters recommended a shadow day at private to get a sense of the privates. I wonder why they object to 2-3 week shadowing at FCPS claiming you cannot get a sense of school during such a short time. One day shadowing at private is super short in comparison.


A shadow day normally happens once the school year is under way. It gives a student a chance to see what a normal day looks like and how the school works. Clubs have started, sports might be happening. It is a normal day.

The first few weeks of school are kind of hectic and chaotic. Kids are coming back and talking to friends and catching up. Teachers are introducing kids to the classroom and trying to establish what the routine is going to be. FCPS will probably have the kids take the iReady and do other basic testing. Specials may or may not start. Clubs won’t start for a few weeks. It is not even close to a normal day,

So not really the same thing.
Anonymous
Post 02/18/2024 20:48     Subject: Try FCPS AAP center for 2-3 weeks and switch to private?
He needs more than a few weeks to decide if he likes public and certainly more than a few days to decide if he likes private.

You are also messing with other families who would have liked the open spot.

Give him the rundown of the pros and cons and decide by the summer. If at the end of the year he hates whatever he chose you can try the other option.
Anonymous
Post 02/18/2024 20:44     Subject: Re:Try FCPS AAP center for 2-3 weeks and switch to private?
Have you bought a house yet and have a specific ES or AAP center you would like to know more about?
Anonymous
Post 02/18/2024 18:59     Subject: Try FCPS AAP center for 2-3 weeks and switch to private?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let's say I talk to my child, and that we agree on sending him to private next year because we don't want the tuition to burn for next year.
Can he still see the FCPS AAP for the first three weeks of semester next year, so that at least he has an idea of what the school is like there. Is there any downside of him being at FCPS AAP for the first three weeks, given he knows he will switch to private for the rest of the year, and he may consider the AAP for the 6th grade?


It's a terrible idea. What if he hates it? There's no point to going to a school for 2 weeks only. Even worse, what if he loves it and makes a best friend? Then he would leave.

More likely, he would not even start to fit in, since his time is so short. So it would just be a miserable useless experience.

Pick a school and send him there.


Look, I don't know why anyone here insisting on not understanding. I already mentioned that he wants to have a choice, and this plan excites him. He does not have any attachment yet to either private or the FCPS AAP center. No friends. No familiarity. He wants to see both. If he likes AAP for the first 3 weeks, that's great information for him and he can continue. If he hates it, great info for him so he can continue with private for the rest of the year.

He has never been in a classroom with more than 15 kids, or at any public school.


This is not his decision. You are the parent. This is your decision.


Let's say our family values his opinion.


I get it, we let our child have a say in staying at his base school or moving to the Center. But that did not involve attending one and then leaving after 3 weeks.

I would be surprised to find too many people who think this is a good idea. Outside of the tuition piece, the disruption is bigger then you are giving credit for. Teachers use the first weeks of school to set routines, help kids get to know their classmates, focus on integrating new kids into the class, and figure out how to manage that particular group of kids. A kid leaving after 3 weeks is going to disrupt that flow.

The history you have laid out for your child points to a lot of movement in his education. Some of that cannot be avoided due to illness, job moves, and the like. You are now suggesting that he start to get to know a group of kids for 3 weeks, then move to another school, and then potentially move again in another year. Different schools have different teaching methods and emphasize different elements of an area. Too much movement will lead to gaps in knowledge that can be an issue later on.

I get the desire to give your child a choice but this is not the way I would do it. I would explain the options and do a pro and con list but moving between the two is not good for the other kids in his class and isn’t going to provide him/you with the experience that will help him/you make an informed decision. The first weeks at school are not normal and 2 days is not enough at the private school.

It sounds like you are set on a path forward but it is rare that anyone on this board agrees on anything and yet pretty much all of the posts are pointing in the same direction.

I get your point.
During preschool he had an IEP and received services due to anxiety. He is much better now. He is above grade level in all topics except writing. He is grade level at writing. He is very creative and talented in art, music. He is very athletic and does well in sports. School days - we try to keep them short since he may get overstimulated during long days and have hard time sleeping. He stays at school 8am-3pm at the moment. He does a lot of reading, art and math at home in his free time.