If it's the same then what's the point of the pool and testing. That's silly, of course it's quite different. Math is two grade levels at once. Expectations are higher in every subject. Let's get real if there wasn't a difference we would't be on this thread right now. And half of FFX county parents wouldn't be trying to get their kids in.

My daughter has been in the AAP program two years now. I actually think that the homework and effort required in AAP may be lower than it would have been back at her base school. My feeling is that the teachers know that the students are all fairly bright and motivated so they figure that they can slack off a bit. Perhaps this will change in the higher grades?

The OP is correct the AAP standards have been slowly getting lower. Right now the AAP pool represents the about the top 15 percent of students. Also included in the top 15% are presumably the 1 to 2 percent highly gifted.

I’m very glad that my daughter made it into the program and not because of the coursework but because being around the top 15 % or so of students makes a huge difference. It is my daughter’s classmates that make the program so special not the coursework. Being with bright motivated students who are interested in learning is well worth trying to get your kid in the program.

Anonymous wrote:Disagree wholeheartedly-just attended our level IV center orientation, and my son was one of a handful of white kids there (I counted around 8 total). White girls even more rare-only 5 or so. Am nervous about a cultural divide as we want our kid to be well rounded and participate in sports and other extracurriculars that he enjoys and not have to study all of the time and do busywork. Have seen Race to Nowhere-should be REQUIRED for all FCPS staff!

How is 5 girls more rare than 3 boys?

I know a mom who's daughter scored average on 2 different tests (Cogat or something and another) and she appealed and got her an IQ test where the child still didn't test gifted, but got into the gifted program. If that's what the child wants and she's motivated I think it's great as long as it isn't the parents pushing for something the child doesn't want.

I just don't get the appeal these days unless your kid is out of this world gifted. Years ago you got smaller classes for one thing, but from what I understand that is not the case now. Is it that you need to be in a gifted program for programs like Jefferson? Maybe it's the peer group-better role models?

They're not bringing level IV across the board. They are just using the project and experiential based learning strategies found in the AAP curriculum for all classes. We are at one of the schools implementing this next year and the administration has made it clear that the general ed classes are not becoming level IV classes and the center program is remaining intact. The curriculum will not be at the same pace or depth that it is for level IV classes, but it is great that the general population will have access to the same curriculum.