Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in grades K-8. Armstrong Elementary School offers an Advanced Academic Program within the school. Advanced Academic learning experiences are designed to develop higher-level thinking through enrichment, acceleration, and extension of the Program of Studies.

Our Armstrong Advanced Academic resource teacher (AART) collaborates with the school staff to determine the appropriate level of advanced academic services. Parents may refer their child for advanced academic services or get additional information on the screening process or advanced academic opportunities at Armstrong Elementary by contacting the school at 703-375-4800. Ongoing observation and assessment ensure that student needs are being met.

ADVANCED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS (AAP) ELEMENTARY CONTINUUM OF SERVICES 

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners. 

FCPS offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in Grades K-12. The continuum of services approach allows for a focus on matching services rather than labeling students. Students have:

• Multiple entry points for deeper learning opportunities in specific areas of need as they develop.
• A cluster group of students with similar academic needs to continue growing in their learning.

Teachers, administrators, and Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AARTs) work together to provide the following levels of service at the elementary level: 

Access to Rigor, Grades K-6 

All students have opportunities to think critically, reason, and problem-solve.  Teachers in Grades K-6 use:

• Critical and creative thinking strategies in their lessons. 
• Materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework a least once per quarter. 

Because Access to Rigor is for all FCPS students, there is not a screening process.

Subject-Specific Services Grades K-6  

Some students are strong in a specific subject area. Differentiated lessons are offered to these students in areas of specific academic strength. The advanced academic resource teacher collaborates with classroom teachers to provide additional challenges through resources that extend and enrich the FCPS Program of Studies. Students who require additional challenge in specific subject areas access AAP curriculum in their content area of strength in the general education classroom.

Classroom teachers adjust instruction for students in these area(s) by: 

• Providing different assignments and resources in those subjects,
• Grouping students by their strengths, interests, and readiness, and
• Using more materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework.

Students are re-evaluated for subject-specific differentiation each year at the local school.

Part-Time Services, Grades 3-6

Some students have advanced academic needs in multiple subject areas in addition to specific subject differentiation. These students need part-time AAP services.  In part-time services:

• Students work with other students who have similar academic needs through weekly pull-out classes or weekly co-taught lessons with the AART and classroom teacher. 
• Teachers provide frequent opportunities to use materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, science, social studies, and/or mathematics. 

Each year a local committee screens all students in grades 3-6 for possible participation in Part-Time advanced academic services. Part-time services continue through Grade 6. Once they are identified, students do not need to be evaluated each year.  

Full-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-8 

Some students are strong in a specific subject area. Differentiated lessons are offered to these students in areas of specific academic strength. The advanced academic resource teacher collaborates with classroom teachers to provide additional challenges through resources that extend and enrich the FCPS Program of Studies. Students who require additional challenge in specific subject areas access AAP curriculum in their content area of strength in the general education classroom.

Classroom teachers adjust instruction for students in these area(s) by: 

• Providing different assignments and resources in those subjects,
• Grouping students by their strengths, interests, and readiness, and
• Using more materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework.

Students are re-evaluated for subject-specific differentiation each year at the local school.

Ability Testing

FCPS uses ability testing as one part of the holistic screening process for Levels II-IV services. Test scores are not weighted or prioritized in the holistic screening process.  

• All students in Grade 1 take the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT).
• All students in Grade 2 take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). 
• NNAT and/or CogAT may be administered to students in Grades 3-6 who do not have an ability test score during the regularly scheduled testing windows.  

Please do not wait for test scores before submitting a referral for your student in Grades 2-7 as there will be no referrals for Level IV screening accepted past the deadline.

Young Scholars

FCPS developed the Young Scholars Model to help identify students from historically underrepresented populations for AAP services. The model provides additional opportunity to nurture talent and build confidence so that students can meet their potential. 

Twice-Exceptional (2e)

Some gifted students also have learning disabilities. These twice-exceptional, or “2e” students need strengths-based instruction. Their learning challenges also must be supported. FCPS has created a 2e handbook to help schools and families understand how to identify and serve 2e students. You can find these resources by going to www.fcps.edu and searching “2e.”

Middle and High School AAP

Additional information about middle and high school services may be found on the Advanced Academic Programs web page. https://www.fcps.edu/academics/academic-overview/advanced-academic-programs