Advanced Academics Overview

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 designed to focus and engage the student in challenging learning experiences that 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.

Advanced Academics at Westlawn ES

At Westlawn, 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 and classroom teachers teach nine higher order thinking strategies (Level I) as well as AAP curriculum across all subject areas and grade levels. 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 (Level II) are offered to students in areas of specific academic strength. The Advanced Academic Resource Teacher collaborates with classroom teachers to provide additional challenges and resources within the general education program.

Students identified by a local school screening committee for advanced academic services (Level III) are challenged through models and strategies designed to extend and enrich the POS in the four core subject areas. Level III 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 (Level IV) through a central selection process receive a highly challenging instructional program in the four core subject areas. The Level IV program is designed to meet the needs of 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 the Level IV referral form, please click here. The parent/guardian questionnaire, which is optional for AAP referral, is located here. The window for AAP Level IV referral is August 15, 2022 - December 15, 2022.

Advanced Academics Level IV Team

At Westlawn students found eligible for the full-time Advanced Academic Program (Level IV) receive challenging instruction in all subject areas.

More information about Level IV services can be found in these presentations.

• View our presentation in English
• View our presentation 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 program 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.