Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 11:02     Subject: AAP decisions in
I believe it's a separate Appeals Review Committee. I wonder if any of the original Full Time AAP Eligibility Review Board Members are present in the Appeals Review Board ?
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 10:18     Subject: AAP decisions in
Does anyone know who looks at the appeals? Is it just one appeals board?
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2026 19:14     Subject: AAP decisions in
Anonymous wrote:IMHO, also Woodson pyramid, think some parents get a tad too crafty with the work samples they submit for kids that seem unrealistic to panel during review. Talking allegedly student created serious science experiments or essays on how major financial systems work.

Be real about some creative play/construction project your kid did on a rainy Saturday, a joke they told at dinner that legitimately made adults laugh etc.


What does an alleged *serious* science experiment look like, and what do you mean by major financial system system? Also, how do you know this?

I feel like a bright kid could do science experiments on their own; so many kid books include experiments at the end nowadays. I also feel like a basic understanding of banking is not unrealistic either. My own kids have no understanding in this area, but they read a lot, and I could see a kid reading up about banking and getting a basic framework.

Though, I am not in Woodson, so perhaps I lack perspective here...
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2026 16:28     Subject: AAP decisions in
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We are getting ready to appeal for a 2nd grader, who was in the pool with high test scores including HOPE, but didn't get in.
One question - Would including a recommendation letter for the kid from a coach or a teacher (e.g. Piano teacher) add any value to the appeal?


No. They did away with recommendation letters years ago. New Test scores, work samples, and parent letter are how you need to make your case.


I thought you could still submit letters of recommendation. Where did you see this?


Here you go, it’s on the website:

“Awards, certificates, and letters of recommendation will not be part of screening files.”

https://www.fcps.edu/academics/academic-overview/advanced-academic-programs

Anonymous
Post 04/13/2026 15:55     Subject: AAP decisions in
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We are getting ready to appeal for a 2nd grader, who was in the pool with high test scores including HOPE, but didn't get in.
One question - Would including a recommendation letter for the kid from a coach or a teacher (e.g. Piano teacher) add any value to the appeal?


No. They did away with recommendation letters years ago. New Test scores, work samples, and parent letter are how you need to make your case.


I thought you could still submit letters of recommendation. Where did you see this?


they specifically told us not to at the meeting at our school. they don’t want anything from sports or music. they want writing and math samples.


While they definitely want writing and math samples, they show things like "Kid made up his own hieroglyphic system and explained it" at the meeting. Some creativity is allowed. And always have your kid add a couple sentences of explanation on work samples.
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2026 15:53     Subject: AAP decisions in
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We are getting ready to appeal for a 2nd grader, who was in the pool with high test scores including HOPE, but didn't get in.
One question - Would including a recommendation letter for the kid from a coach or a teacher (e.g. Piano teacher) add any value to the appeal?


No. They did away with recommendation letters years ago. New Test scores, work samples, and parent letter are how you need to make your case.


I thought you could still submit letters of recommendation. Where did you see this?


they specifically told us not to at the meeting at our school. they don’t want anything from sports or music. they want writing and math samples.
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2026 15:39     Subject: AAP decisions in
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We are getting ready to appeal for a 2nd grader, who was in the pool with high test scores including HOPE, but didn't get in.
One question - Would including a recommendation letter for the kid from a coach or a teacher (e.g. Piano teacher) add any value to the appeal?


No. They did away with recommendation letters years ago. New Test scores, work samples, and parent letter are how you need to make your case.


I thought you could still submit letters of recommendation. Where did you see this?


DP and the last letter of recommendation was I think 2019-2020 2nd graders. I know I did it for my Oldest and not my other 2 kids. They've been gone for years.
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2026 15:36     Subject: AAP decisions in
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We are getting ready to appeal for a 2nd grader, who was in the pool with high test scores including HOPE, but didn't get in.
One question - Would including a recommendation letter for the kid from a coach or a teacher (e.g. Piano teacher) add any value to the appeal?


No. They did away with recommendation letters years ago. New Test scores, work samples, and parent letter are how you need to make your case.


I thought you could still submit letters of recommendation. Where did you see this?
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2026 11:53     Subject: AAP decisions in
IMHO, also Woodson pyramid, think some parents get a tad too crafty with the work samples they submit for kids that seem unrealistic to panel during review. Talking allegedly student created serious science experiments or essays on how major financial systems work.

Be real about some creative play/construction project your kid did on a rainy Saturday, a joke they told at dinner that legitimately made adults laugh etc.
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2026 10:55     Subject: AAP decisions in
Anonymous wrote:We are getting ready to appeal for a 2nd grader, who was in the pool with high test scores including HOPE, but didn't get in.
One question - Would including a recommendation letter for the kid from a coach or a teacher (e.g. Piano teacher) add any value to the appeal?


No. They did away with recommendation letters years ago. New Test scores, work samples, and parent letter are how you need to make your case.
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2026 08:56     Subject: AAP decisions in
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For what it's worth, my friend has a kid who was in AAP and attends Harvard. Her other kid is a current high school senior and didn't get into AAP during elementary, but was just accepted to Harvard.

Bottom line. AAP doesn't matter as much as people may think.


I don’t view AAP as a pathway to a certain college or certain middle school or high school outcomes. It’s about fulfilling a current need that my kids’ base school has not been able to meet.


This, this is the healthy view of AAP (also usually the view your AART wants you to espouse if you talk to them for whatever reason, parents!)
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2026 08:55     Subject: AAP decisions in
Anonymous wrote:Hi parents!

I am absolutely new to this process, so please excuse my dumb question. My child is in the 2nd grade in a private school and we applied to AAP program. The child was found ineligible. I am reviewing this forum and I am struggling to understand why. The scores were over 140, HOPE was good, tried our best with work samples. I have a number of questions and would appreciate your feedback:

(1) Does your school district impact your chances? We are in Woodson HS pyramid and parents are very competitive here. I see on this forum that kids get in with much lower scores even in 120s but maybe from less competitive school districts? Is it even a thing?

(2) I already scheduled a WISC testing (hello, another $500!). I guess if the child scores over 99%, it makes sense to appeal?

(3) Does it impact our chances that we are coming from a private school? I feel like most people getting admitted are already in the school district?

(4) I understand this is level IV AAP. If we don’t get on appeal, are there any other programs the child can get in mid-year (like advanced math for example)? Or will it only be in 4th grade? Looking at curriculum for 3rd grade, I am afraid the child will be bored in math class in particular as that is what they studied in 2nd grade at school.

(5) Besides WISC, what else can we submit on appeal? We attached a lot of math and stem samples before. The child is also fluent in 3 languages, so we attached work samples. What would be helpful on appeal?

Thanks a lot for any feedback you can provide



My kids were at one of the 2 AAP centers in the Woodson pyramid. I don't know for sure about the other center, but I wouldn't say ours was competitive in the same way that say, Langley feeder schools are. Most kids didn't do math enrichment (a handful did).

Advanced math at our center had TONS of push-in kids, most of whom were the same academically as the AAP kids. There was no difference, everyone got the same math, they were friends, it was fine.

Woodson itself is a great high school and you won't be able to tell who was in AAP and who wasn't when the kids get to AP classes. You just have to keep your kid challenged until then.

I will say - the math was enough to keep my kids engaged. Science, social studies, and language arts were super weak.
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2026 08:14     Subject: AAP decisions in
We are getting ready to appeal for a 2nd grader, who was in the pool with high test scores including HOPE, but didn't get in.
One question - Would including a recommendation letter for the kid from a coach or a teacher (e.g. Piano teacher) add any value to the appeal?
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2026 07:36     Subject: AAP decisions in
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:High SES school where I know of several in-pool that did not get in. My kid had "always" checked off on all 11 HOPE questions. mix of test results. some 99% another below 90%. Did not get in. Took the WISC-V. Scored 135 (99%tile). Not sure if should appeal.


Yes, I would appeal.


I’ll add.. which test results were low? on the appeal, I’d include new work samples to counter any of those lower score results and any new school testing (if it’s higher). Definitely include the WISC.
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2026 05:03     Subject: AAP decisions in
Anonymous wrote:High SES school where I know of several in-pool that did not get in. My kid had "always" checked off on all 11 HOPE questions. mix of test results. some 99% another below 90%. Did not get in. Took the WISC-V. Scored 135 (99%tile). Not sure if should appeal.


Yes, I would appeal.