Anonymous
Post 01/17/2026 11:45     Subject: APEX Reach - Interest Form?
The problem for WJ is that honors and on-level English 9 use the same curriculum. It won’t be the same as APEX English 9, which used its own curriculum. This is a real downgrade.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2026 11:13     Subject: APEX Reach - Interest Form?
Anonymous wrote:With Apex going away, the best and the brightest will head out to Blair and other magnets. Apex, the original al one, was what kept them at WJ.

Although if MCPS goes through with their cockamamie regional program plan, who knows what will happen


Wasn't APEX humanities oriented? Blair is science/math. The kids that were interested in APEX are not into Blair offerings, i wooukd assume.

Anonymous
Post 01/17/2026 10:38     Subject: APEX Reach - Interest Form?
With Apex going away, the best and the brightest will head out to Blair and other magnets. Apex, the original al one, was what kept them at WJ.

Although if MCPS goes through with their cockamamie regional program plan, who knows what will happen
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2026 09:48     Subject: APEX Reach - Interest Form?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is there an actual written policy against it? Or just that only Honors is offered (aside from some special courses)?


Central Office maintains that there are 2 courses for English — grade level and honors aa but in practice schools are only offering “honors” (without modification from the grade-level curriculum).


No, not the case with WJ. We were given a sheet for rising 9th graders. There is on grade English and Honors English.


That doesn’t change that there are two course codes and WJ (and other schools) could choose to offer both. They don’t. But they could.


WJ will offer both next year since Apex is going away.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2026 09:15     Subject: APEX Reach - Interest Form?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is there an actual written policy against it? Or just that only Honors is offered (aside from some special courses)?


Central Office maintains that there are 2 courses for English — grade level and honors aa but in practice schools are only offering “honors” (without modification from the grade-level curriculum).


No, not the case with WJ. We were given a sheet for rising 9th graders. There is on grade English and Honors English.


That doesn’t change that there are two course codes and WJ (and other schools) could choose to offer both. They don’t. But they could.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2026 05:52     Subject: APEX Reach - Interest Form?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is there an actual written policy against it? Or just that only Honors is offered (aside from some special courses)?


Central Office maintains that there are 2 courses for English — grade level and honors aa but in practice schools are only offering “honors” (without modification from the grade-level curriculum).


No, not the case with WJ. We were given a sheet for rising 9th graders. There is on grade English and Honors English.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 23:40     Subject: APEX Reach - Interest Form?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think they are replacing it with AP Capstone Diploma.


Which is probably better since AP Capstone is nationally recognized. No one outside of WJ knows Apex


Nobody cares about AP Capstone.

But having to use the MCPS English curriculum — that is a huge step back.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 23:37     Subject: APEX Reach - Interest Form?
Anonymous wrote:Is there an actual written policy against it? Or just that only Honors is offered (aside from some special courses)?


Central Office maintains that there are 2 courses for English — grade level and honors aa but in practice schools are only offering “honors” (without modification from the grade-level curriculum).
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 19:09     Subject: APEX Reach - Interest Form?
Anonymous wrote:I think they are replacing it with AP Capstone Diploma.


Which is probably better since AP Capstone is nationally recognized. No one outside of WJ knows Apex
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 19:00     Subject: APEX Reach - Interest Form?
I think they are replacing it with AP Capstone Diploma.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 18:37     Subject: APEX Reach - Interest Form?
What did they say about Apex at the meeting yesterday?
Anonymous
Post 12/22/2025 16:58     Subject: APEX Reach - Interest Form?
Students who don't like the humanities focus often leave after 9th because "it's not worth it." The requirements are taking a specific sequence of courses + a total of 9 APs before graduation, with at least 6 test scores of 3 or higher, plus completing a specific academic pathway. although one of those pathways is very general.
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2025 13:24     Subject: APEX Reach - Interest Form?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's a shame they diluted the APEX program, which was designed to keep kids at WJ rather than heading off to Blair and RM. It was test in, required a teacher recommendation, and now, just a 3.5 GPA (which due to grade inflation, is at least 75% if not more, of NB students). They don't stay like they used to because it's no longer the best and the brightest, and not a true cohort. They should bring back the test and the teacher recommendations


Because it isn't really a program to leave or not leave. Once you finish cohorted English 9 and 10 it makes no difference. Kids just take what they want to take. There is no cohort, activites, cohesion, or anything.

Counterpoint: The APEX Reach changes were great. It opened the program to anyone willing and able to do the work rather than rely on unnecessary gatekeeping requirements.


Agree. Who is leaving WJ? There are obee 3000 students!


I think they meant leaving the apex program. A lot do leave the apex program.


Because it isn't really a program to leave or not leave. Once you finish cohorted English 9 and 10 it makes no difference. Kids just take what they want to take. There is no cohort, activites, cohesion, or anything.
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2025 13:23     Subject: APEX Reach - Interest Form?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's a shame they diluted the APEX program, which was designed to keep kids at WJ rather than heading off to Blair and RM. It was test in, required a teacher recommendation, and now, just a 3.5 GPA (which due to grade inflation, is at least 75% if not more, of NB students). They don't stay like they used to because it's no longer the best and the brightest, and not a true cohort. They should bring back the test and the teacher recommendations


Because it isn't really a program to leave or not leave. Once you finish cohorted English 9 and 10 it makes no difference. Kids just take what they want to take. There is no cohort, activites, cohesion, or anything.

Counterpoint: The APEX Reach changes were great. It opened the program to anyone willing and able to do the work rather than rely on unnecessary gatekeeping requirements.


Agree. Who is leaving WJ? There are obee 3000 students!


I think they meant leaving the apex program. A lot do leave the apex program.
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2025 00:28     Subject: APEX Reach - Interest Form?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's a shame they diluted the APEX program, which was designed to keep kids at WJ rather than heading off to Blair and RM. It was test in, required a teacher recommendation, and now, just a 3.5 GPA (which due to grade inflation, is at least 75% if not more, of NB students). They don't stay like they used to because it's no longer the best and the brightest, and not a true cohort. They should bring back the test and the teacher recommendations


Counterpoint: The APEX Reach changes were great. It opened the program to anyone willing and able to do the work rather than rely on unnecessary gatekeeping requirements.


Agree. Who is leaving WJ? There are obee 3000 students!


I think they meant leaving the apex program. A lot do leave the apex program.