Anonymous wrote:We were very happy to say goodbye to FHES in favor of LA. We came from another state and our kids were repeating materials from 2 grades back. the attitude at the school is not supportive for advanced kids. They really teach to a mean, which is low. The one class was not very advanced. The activities were fun, but again a few grade levels down.
LA is not perfect, but it was a much better school for our two kids in AAP. There were more students to be friends with. There were more teachers. The level was higher academically. I think there is a divide unless you join a club simply because there are 3-4 classes of AAP that all rotate together, so they see those children more.

What does this mean?

We were very happy to say goodbye to FHES in favor of LA. We came from another state and our kids were repeating materials from 2 grades back. the attitude at the school is not supportive for advanced kids. They really teach to a mean, which is low. The one class was not very advanced. The activities were fun, but again a few grade levels down.
LA is not perfect, but it was a much better school for our two kids in AAP. There were more students to be friends with. There were more teachers. The level was higher academically. I think there is a divide unless you join a club simply because there are 3-4 classes of AAP that all rotate together, so they see those children more.

Anonymous wrote:We chose LA and would make the same decision again. When the AART at FH tries to tell you there is no difference between the programs, don't believe her. Not saying your child will be unhappy at FH (many people love it), but the programs are NOT the same.

+1

After several rounds of debating, our FHES 2d grader is switching to LA. We've put three kids into FHES and this is our last. Frankly, we're happy that we're ending our relationship with FHES now.

We've had some good experiences with FHES and some not so great ones.

But, the overriding concern that we've had recently is the plan to no longer have a separate L-IV class for our youngest daughter. She's well ahead of most all kids in his class and she feels frustrated having to be in a holding pattern with other kids. By having a big set of regular classes with kids floating into and out of the classroom all of the time (for math, etc.) is a hassle and a distraction.

We're also concerned with certain things in the school generally - starting with the top of the school. From our perspective, there is a major lack of willingness to tackle serious issues. One issue is the abhorrent situation with Kiss and Ride. I cant tell you how many parents have complained about people failing to follow the established procedure on dropping off kids in the morning (that is, lining up on the Vale Road access road and proceeding orderly). Instead of following an orderly route, you have folks plowing up Flint Hill Road and demanding that they be allowed to cut in line by turning left into the K&R dropoff line. This has created complete gridlock situations - especially when a bus is involved. The insanity and stress of that intersection is probably what contributed to the crossing guard being put in the hospital for a week a couple years back.

I'd go with the established Center.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I hear better things about Flint Hill.

Could you please elaborate on good things that you heard?

We are very happy with the school, but coming to AAP we are not sure what to look for in making the decision.

Thank you!

--Better community (school community, not neighborhood community)
--Better administration (in handling any issues)
--Better teacher communication with parents

Thanks for the specifics. That is helpful.

Flint Hill is much better with teacher communication.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Plus to a center... more sections (3-4 AAP classes vs 1).

I would hate for my kid to stay with the same 24-30 kids for 4 years. Having more sections gives the opporutnity to mix the clasees up each year and the kid to make more friends/relationships (important in the elementary school years) and helps with transition to Middle School.

With multiple sections, the teachers can do team teaching. One teacher admitted that she loved it because she wasn't as strong in math (she knew it but enjoyed teaching Science instead). So she taught science 3x a day and another teacher taught History and another math. All teachers taught English/Reading, I think. My kid loved changing classes.

Now my DS is in Middle School and knows *so many* kids... from the neighborhood, from 2nd - 3rd grade, and from School (AAP).

That's a really interesting point. We are making the decision between Wolftrap and Archer. But, I guess the same would be true with Wolftrap as with Flint Hill. The kids are with the same classmates for four years. I had not considered this. I also did not realize that Louise Archer does team teaching.

Wolftrap does not keep the children all together for the entire day like Flint Hill does. The kids there mix classes for specials, science, and social studies and the entire grade eats and has recess together. Of course they are all Wolftrap boundary kids, but there are at least 80-100 kids per grade there. Flint Hill is a little more segregated with their AAP program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, note that two of the current Louise Archer PTA officers have children at both schools. Seek them out and ask them their opinions.

Can you provide any info on how to narrow down the PTA officers. Looking at the PTA website there are more than 25 members on the board.

Thanks!

Exec members

Anonymous wrote:Is there anyway to know how many Flint Hill students choose to go to LA and how many stayed back? I remember seeing an old report from 2008 but do not know where to look for the recent ones.

Thank you!

There was a posting that 2 children went to LA from Flint Hill (this year- so current 3rd graders). If you are at flint hill, you can see the aap students in the directory and count up who stayed.

Anonymous wrote:
Plus to a center... more sections (3-4 AAP classes vs 1).

I would hate for my kid to stay with the same 24-30 kids for 4 years. Having more sections gives the opporutnity to mix the clasees up each year and the kid to make more friends/relationships (important in the elementary school years) and helps with transition to Middle School.

With multiple sections, the teachers can do team teaching. One teacher admitted that she loved it because she wasn't as strong in math (she knew it but enjoyed teaching Science instead). So she taught science 3x a day and another teacher taught History and another math. All teachers taught English/Reading, I think. My kid loved changing classes.

Now my DS is in Middle School and knows *so many* kids... from the neighborhood, from 2nd - 3rd grade, and from School (AAP).

That's a really interesting point. We are making the decision between Wolftrap and Archer. But, I guess the same would be true with Wolftrap as with Flint Hill. The kids are with the same classmates for four years. I had not considered this. I also did not realize that Louise Archer does team teaching.

Is there anyway to know how many Flint Hill students choose to go to LA and how many stayed back? I remember seeing an old report from 2008 but do not know where to look for the recent ones.

Thank you!

Anonymous wrote:OP, note that two of the current Louise Archer PTA officers have children at both schools. Seek them out and ask them their opinions.

Can you provide any info on how to narrow down the PTA officers. Looking at the PTA website there are more than 25 members on the board.

Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:OP, have you been to the AAP tour night that LA holds for families like yours, who are making a choice about AAP center or no center? They usually host a night where parents hear a presentation about AAP and get a tour, while their kids get a separate tour led by LA sixth graders. That night really cemented my kid's desire to change schools (full disclosure, we were coming from another ES, not Flint Hill). I hope you haven't missed that event -- not sure at what point in the spring it was held, back when we did it a couple of years ago.

If you have not had a chance to go tour the school in person, with your child, and talk with teachers, do it. If you choose to stay at FH, you will know that you did due diligence and got all the information available to you as you made your choice.

It's worth asking at both schools how the LL IV or the center models are different from general ed (ask for specific examples of the work done -- everyone has the same curriculum, but ask how the LL IV and center classes handle that curriculum differently from how it might be presented in general ed at either school, and how expectations for students' homework and projects and papers etc. are different from general ed for the same material).

Whether you stay at FH or go to LA, your kid will be in a good school.

We are planning on attending the AAP Orientation - I assume this is what you mean by AAP tour, for both schools. They are scheduled for next week.

Thanks for the pointers on what to ask. I am much better informed now on what to look for.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I hear better things about Flint Hill.

Could you please elaborate on good things that you heard?

We are very happy with the school, but coming to AAP we are not sure what to look for in making the decision.

Thank you!

--Better community (school community, not neighborhood community)
--Better administration (in handling any issues)
--Better teacher communication with parents

Thanks for the specifics. That is helpful.

Plus to a center... more sections (3-4 AAP classes vs 1).

I would hate for my kid to stay with the same 24-30 kids for 4 years. Having more sections gives the opporutnity to mix the clasees up each year and the kid to make more friends/relationships (important in the elementary school years) and helps with transition to Middle School.

With multiple sections, the teachers can do team teaching. One teacher admitted that she loved it because she wasn't as strong in math (she knew it but enjoyed teaching Science instead). So she taught science 3x a day and another teacher taught History and another math. All teachers taught English/Reading, I think. My kid loved changing classes.

Now my DS is in Middle School and knows *so many* kids... from the neighborhood, from 2nd - 3rd grade, and from School (AAP).