<p>I don't know most of the seniors, so I didn't recognize the names to know if they were in APP previously. I do know that I worked in the counseling office with students who hadn't identified that they even wanted to attend college till perhaps junior or even senior year, and I was impressed at what an effort staff made to get everyone who wanted to into college- even students who didn't think they wanted to.
Besides the students from teh districts highly capable program the school has several other programs to support and guide students and encourage them to attend college. AVID I believe is a national program, African American Scholars,Black Achievers, Ignite Mentoring,Mesa and ACE which was a support class my daughter participated in first semester. She did so well that they decided she didn't need it 2nd semester. :)</p>
<p>it is accurate that if students identify as "gifted" as part of the district testing program they may go to the districts 'top" program for elementary and middle school. That is in quotes because I do not think much of the districts gifted program. I looked at it for my oldest- but I was very disappointed at what was purported to be advanced. I know lots of students who have chosen other public Seattle schools and received easily as good of an education as in APP.
Some parents are happy with APP, and it is also accurate that if you are enrolled in the APP program for 8th grade, then you may have priority for Garfield over even students from the neighborhood, this is very attractive to students and especially parents as they feel that it is important to have the students stick together for high school.
I don't feel it is so important, my daughter at Reed has friends who attended APP through middle and elementary, but did not want to be stuck with the same group of kids they had known since K, and so attended high schools other than Garfield. Most of the other schools in teh district have a selection of AP or IB classes, even at Nova across the street from Garfield which is one of the smallest high schools at about 280? students can take AP classes.
I feel that while the opportunity to teach some motivated kids can attract some great teachers, I don't think it is just the fact that some kids have been in APP that makes the classrooms a great place.
My daughter who was in Special education 3rd-8th gd had straight A's in challenging classes @ Garfield fall semester and jsut a tad lower spring semester. She is excited about taking an AP class next year. Very few of her group of friends attended the APP program, but they virtually all are doing quite well. She had been participating in track, which like most sports is one of the more diverse areas of the school, and no one had under a 3.5
The energy and enthusiasm of the kids and the teachers is contagious and not restricted to parents who have pulled their kids out of private schools to attend Garfield or who have stayed the course through Lowell and Washington, jsut so they could attend Garfield.
This was our first year, and I realize that with the new principal things are on a much more positive upswing than with the former principal, and I have been very impressed at the level of communication with parents and with the high expectations for everyone. While I don't generally volunteer in my daughters classrooms,( are you kidding?) I have in other areas of the school- not AP classes, and I had a great time- well sometimes not so great- but these are smart kids, sometimes too smart for their own good ;)
I am so impressed at how teachers returned messages the same day and some times immediately when I had a question or concern. I know not all the teachers can be exemplary, but even the "worst" teacher my daughter had this year, she said was better than the best teacher she had last year. I appreciate that within reason if a student wants to take an AP class they can, but also that a class does not have to be AP to be challenging. It can be overwhelming for some students to take on that challenge, but so far, we have heard so many great things from students and teachers that we are happy with our decision to stay in public school.</p>