Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

... because there were more kids that they were in classes with. Kids tend to like the person sitting next to them. At FHES with only one class, there are only the other AAP kids sitting with them most of the time.

Flint Hill has mixed classes now for 3rd grade and going forward. They break off into an AAP class for math and language arts, but otherwise mix with students for the rest of the day. It's actually a great setup for someone who wants to keep siblings together, give an advanced child a challenging education, and still expose them to children who are not in the AAP program, but have other things they are gifted in.

Agree with those who advise that you go with LA. I would add that LA's AAP is the oldest in Vienna, and they have worked out all the kinks and know the best ways to administer AAP. Many of the AAP teachers have been there for years, so there is a lot of experience there. The younger teachers they bring in are always top-notch.

Now that Westbriar is also AAP, LA is no longer as crowded as it was, which was the only negative I had about the place when my kids attended.

OP, it sounds like you need to ask yourself which is more important to you: having your child attend the neighborhood school, or having them attend AAP. If it's AAP, go with LA. (Also, LA is so close....it's practically the same neighborhood anyway).

FHES is not a center. LA is a center. FHES has filler kids - GE kids- to fill a LLIV class. LA has AAP kids only. Big difference. A center is for AAP only kids; LLIV is aap kids who stayed + principal placed GE kids.

Anonymous wrote:

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?

... because there were more kids that they were in classes with. Kids tend to like the person sitting next to them. At FHES with only one class, there are only the other AAP kids sitting with them most of the time.