Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In lower SES schools, getting your kid in the AAP class gets them in a segregated class with mostly white and asian children that are high performing. There are typically fewer disruptive children in that class. Oh, and advanced math. That's pretty much the only curriculum difference.

Yup. Social and economic segregation is the goal of AAP.

Freely admitting that this was a driving factor for me. Poor kids (generally) have bad habits (not their faults) that I didn't want my daughter picking up on. Can't really relate to the race part because I know lots of high performing white, hispanic, asian, black, middle eastern people and I know low performing members of those groups too. If anything interactions with the poor whites (in this area often liberal not conservative) were the biggest fear. Lazy attitudes and expectations of handouts and student loan forgiveness. Yes, AAP segregates, and that's the point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of behavior issues in gen ed classes at our school, which I’ve seen with my older child. Every year I have to request he be separated from other kids who are known to throw chairs and laptops, kids who have given others concussions or punched classmates in the face…I just want my other kids away from that if at all possible. I absolutely think there’s less of that in AAP classes. I don’t actually care about the instruction.

Ugh, that's awful and I don't blame you and my motivations/instincts are quite similar. Would you say this is in a pretty good elementary school? I don't have a lot of experience (DC is in 2nd at a decent school). I'm not sure what's to come.

It’s an excellent school, and the teachers are wonderful. There’s only so much that can be done with dangerous kids - they stick them with aides, meet with the parents, give IEPs out easily - but reliably all the parents in each grade know what kids they want to avoid. So many parents request to avoid the same kids that it’s safer to get them into AAP rather than running the risk of having your kid get another concussion in music class or another black eye because a child rages during art class and tears everything off the walls prompting a lockdown.

Wow. Is this sort of thing widespread in FCPS?

I am not sure if it is widespread but in my high SES school (Oakton pyramid), my son went through second grade that was quite disruptive. My son said at one point principal was called to class for something every day. From our birthday party I observed those kids are just more mature/aggressive/street smart and just different breed from friends of my kid.

My kid went into AAP and he said he was amazed that the AAP class was so quiet and he was able to focus on lessons.

Because I don't want her to be in a class where kids are getting chairs thrown at their heads? What does this have to do with "the poors"?

To avoid poors

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of behavior issues in gen ed classes at our school, which I’ve seen with my older child. Every year I have to request he be separated from other kids who are known to throw chairs and laptops, kids who have given others concussions or punched classmates in the face…I just want my other kids away from that if at all possible. I absolutely think there’s less of that in AAP classes. I don’t actually care about the instruction.

Ugh, that's awful and I don't blame you and my motivations/instincts are quite similar. Would you say this is in a pretty good elementary school? I don't have a lot of experience (DC is in 2nd at a decent school). I'm not sure what's to come.

It’s an excellent school, and the teachers are wonderful. There’s only so much that can be done with dangerous kids - they stick them with aides, meet with the parents, give IEPs out easily - but reliably all the parents in each grade know what kids they want to avoid. So many parents request to avoid the same kids that it’s safer to get them into AAP rather than running the risk of having your kid get another concussion in music class or another black eye because a child rages during art class and tears everything off the walls prompting a lockdown.

Wow. Is this sort of thing widespread in FCPS?

Teacher here. Every grade at every school has these kids. Some have IEPS and some don’t. The problem is it is very hard to be expelled from public schools. They need to have alternative elementary schools like they do for high school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of behavior issues in gen ed classes at our school, which I’ve seen with my older child. Every year I have to request he be separated from other kids who are known to throw chairs and laptops, kids who have given others concussions or punched classmates in the face…I just want my other kids away from that if at all possible. I absolutely think there’s less of that in AAP classes. I don’t actually care about the instruction.

Ugh, that's awful and I don't blame you and my motivations/instincts are quite similar. Would you say this is in a pretty good elementary school? I don't have a lot of experience (DC is in 2nd at a decent school). I'm not sure what's to come.

It’s an excellent school, and the teachers are wonderful. There’s only so much that can be done with dangerous kids - they stick them with aides, meet with the parents, give IEPs out easily - but reliably all the parents in each grade know what kids they want to avoid. So many parents request to avoid the same kids that it’s safer to get them into AAP rather than running the risk of having your kid get another concussion in music class or another black eye because a child rages during art class and tears everything off the walls prompting a lockdown.

Wow. Is this sort of thing widespread in FCPS?

More than you know - teachers keep quiet about this stuff and students assume It's normal/parents already know about it

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of behavior issues in gen ed classes at our school, which I’ve seen with my older child. Every year I have to request he be separated from other kids who are known to throw chairs and laptops, kids who have given others concussions or punched classmates in the face…I just want my other kids away from that if at all possible. I absolutely think there’s less of that in AAP classes. I don’t actually care about the instruction.

Ugh, that's awful and I don't blame you and my motivations/instincts are quite similar. Would you say this is in a pretty good elementary school? I don't have a lot of experience (DC is in 2nd at a decent school). I'm not sure what's to come.

It’s an excellent school, and the teachers are wonderful. There’s only so much that can be done with dangerous kids - they stick them with aides, meet with the parents, give IEPs out easily - but reliably all the parents in each grade know what kids they want to avoid. So many parents request to avoid the same kids that it’s safer to get them into AAP rather than running the risk of having your kid get another concussion in music class or another black eye because a child rages during art class and tears everything off the walls prompting a lockdown.

Wow. Is this sort of thing widespread in FCPS?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of behavior issues in gen ed classes at our school, which I’ve seen with my older child. Every year I have to request he be separated from other kids who are known to throw chairs and laptops, kids who have given others concussions or punched classmates in the face…I just want my other kids away from that if at all possible. I absolutely think there’s less of that in AAP classes. I don’t actually care about the instruction.

Ugh, that's awful and I don't blame you and my motivations/instincts are quite similar. Would you say this is in a pretty good elementary school? I don't have a lot of experience (DC is in 2nd at a decent school). I'm not sure what's to come.

It’s an excellent school, and the teachers are wonderful. There’s only so much that can be done with dangerous kids - they stick them with aides, meet with the parents, give IEPs out easily - but reliably all the parents in each grade know what kids they want to avoid. So many parents request to avoid the same kids that it’s safer to get them into AAP rather than running the risk of having your kid get another concussion in music class or another black eye because a child rages during art class and tears everything off the walls prompting a lockdown.

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of behavior issues in gen ed classes at our school, which I’ve seen with my older child. Every year I have to request he be separated from other kids who are known to throw chairs and laptops, kids who have given others concussions or punched classmates in the face…I just want my other kids away from that if at all possible. I absolutely think there’s less of that in AAP classes. I don’t actually care about the instruction.

Ugh, that's awful and I don't blame you and my motivations/instincts are quite similar. Would you say this is in a pretty good elementary school? I don't have a lot of experience (DC is in 2nd at a decent school). I'm not sure what's to come.

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of behavior issues in gen ed classes at our school, which I’ve seen with my older child. Every year I have to request he be separated from other kids who are known to throw chairs and laptops, kids who have given others concussions or punched classmates in the face…I just want my other kids away from that if at all possible. I absolutely think there’s less of that in AAP classes. I don’t actually care about the instruction.

This is what the teacher recs are mostly about.

There are a lot of behavior issues in gen ed classes at our school, which I’ve seen with my older child. Every year I have to request he be separated from other kids who are known to throw chairs and laptops, kids who have given others concussions or punched classmates in the face…I just want my other kids away from that if at all possible. I absolutely think there’s less of that in AAP classes. I don’t actually care about the instruction.

We were new to FCPS for second grade. I found that outside of whole class lessons, my child was basically ignored. I also found there seemed to be a lot of behavioral issues, though perhaps that could have been a teacher problem with general classroom management. He is now in third grade being somewhat challenged and the classroom behavior is better than last year. I like that he has made friends who are serious about school. I overheard one of his neighborhood friends talking about their gen ed class and it sounded like a mess.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are parents who are invested in AAP because it's another thing for them to brag about - and some of them are loud here.

Then there are a lot of parents who just want to see their kid less bored at school. We've also experienced a social benefit as our nerdy kid has found easier connections with similar kids.

Then there are the people who are invested in hating AAP who are very loud about how evil it is. They spend an awful lot of time here, too.

In the real world I've mostly met people in the second group, although a few of both the first and third category as well.

I like to think of myself as belonging to this group, but I wouldn't say my kid is bookish or nerdy...

They can be bored without being bookish or nerdy. Mine - and the friends they have made in AAP - happen to be both. It's just easier to find those kids in the center cohort where they make up a larger percentage of the class.

I see. If I'm being honest, my biggest concern is that DC be among positive influences, and I'm hoping that AAP would provide this. Even if DC isn't learning much academically in school, that doesn't totally kill me because I am encouraging self-directed/initiated learning as much as I can at home.

I wouldn't confuse behavior with academic aptitude. The single most disruptive kid we've encountered is in the AAP class. And judging by some of the parents here you're going to have kids raised with abominable manners and a terrible attitude.

+1. I am the pp. My kid is not in AAP (yet?) but I could totally believe this.

The most important factor is access to advanced math. This can be in AAP or GE. DC was GE at an AAP center school and was pushed into AAP for math. DC’s outcomes have been as good or better than most of the full time AAP students. Advanced math in elementary school sets students up for the more challenging middle and high school track.

As for peer group, I’m not sure that surrounding your children with “nerdy” or quirky kids is really for their benefit. Knowing how to interact with a wide range of students is more helpful for life. No matter how smart or talented, strong interpersonal skills is a defining trait between those that lead and those that follow.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are parents who are invested in AAP because it's another thing for them to brag about - and some of them are loud here.

Then there are a lot of parents who just want to see their kid less bored at school. We've also experienced a social benefit as our nerdy kid has found easier connections with similar kids.

Then there are the people who are invested in hating AAP who are very loud about how evil it is. They spend an awful lot of time here, too.

In the real world I've mostly met people in the second group, although a few of both the first and third category as well.

I like to think of myself as belonging to this group, but I wouldn't say my kid is bookish or nerdy...

They can be bored without being bookish or nerdy. Mine - and the friends they have made in AAP - happen to be both. It's just easier to find those kids in the center cohort where they make up a larger percentage of the class.

I see. If I'm being honest, my biggest concern is that DC be among positive influences, and I'm hoping that AAP would provide this. Even if DC isn't learning much academically in school, that doesn't totally kill me because I am encouraging self-directed/initiated learning as much as I can at home.

I wouldn't confuse behavior with academic aptitude. The single most disruptive kid we've encountered is in the AAP class. And judging by some of the parents here you're going to have kids raised with abominable manners and a terrible attitude.