Advanced Academics at Westlawn

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in grades K-12. Learning opportunities are designed to meet the unique learning profile of each advanced learner through a continuum of services that focus and engage the student in challenging learning experiences to develop higher-level thinking through enrichment, acceleration, and extensions of the Program of Studies (POS). Classroom teachers, administrators, and Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AARTs) collaborate to deliver the various levels of service.

The Young Scholars is designed to find and nurture advanced academic potential in students from historically underrepresented populations. Curricular interventions and support are provided through the collaboration of the classroom teacher and the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher. As students’ progress through elementary and secondary school, continuing support and opportunities for accessing rigorous coursework are provided by school staff.

The Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, CCT specialist, and classroom teachers teach nine higher order thinking strategies as well as AAP curriculum across all subject areas and grade levels (Access to Rigor). The strategies are embedded in lessons that incorporate 21st Century thinking skills and extend and enrich the Program of Studies (POS) for all learners. Student responses to the lessons are also used to collect evidence of advanced academic potential in order to ensure equity and increase access to Advanced Academic Programs. This provides Access to Rigor for all students in all grade levels.

Differentiated lessons are offered to students in areas of specific academic strength (Subject-Specific). The Advanced Academic Resource Teacher collaborates with classroom teachers to provide additional challenges and extensions within the general education program.

Students in grades 3-6 identified by a local school screening committee for advanced academic services are challenged through models and strategies designed to extend and enrich the POS in the four core subject areas (Part-Time). These students meet in small groups with the AART on a weekly basis as well as receiving differentiation in the classroom.

Students found eligible for placement in a full-time Advanced Academic Program through a district selection process receive a highly challenging instructional program in the four core subject areas (Full-Time). The full-time program is designed to meet the needs of identified advanced learners with a strong emphasis on higher level thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making. Students have ongoing opportunities for reflection and self-assessment that develop an understanding of the characteristics, demands, and responsibilities of advanced intellectual development.

To access information and forms for full-time AAP, please click here. The window for full-time AAP referral is August 21, 2024 - December 15, 2024.

Learn More About Full Time AAP and How to Apply

More information about AAP services can be found in the below presentations (updated each fall).

AAP Overview of Services in English

AAP Overview of Services in Spanish

Advanced Academics Resource Teacher

The Advanced Academics Resource Teacher (AART) coordinates the screening and identification of students for advanced academic services, collaborates with teachers to provide differentiated instruction, and provides direct school-based services for identified students. The AART can explain how the continuum of AAP services works and answer specific questions about screening procedures and the delivery of services. The AART serves all children at the school by providing model lessons in AAP Curriculum and working with the classroom teachers to provide access to rigor for all students.

At Westlawn, our AART is Gretchen Maxwell and she is the point of contact for the program.