Advanced Academics Programs
Fairfax County Public Schools offers a continuum of advanced academic services for students K-12 that builds upon students' individual strengths and skills and maximizes academic potential for all learners.
Welcome!
Welcome to the Spring Hill AAP webpage! We are thrilled to have you as part of our community or considering joining our Panther Family. Spring Hill’s mission directly aligns with that of the FCPS AAP vision: providing students opportunities for talent development, and differentiating instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners. We believe that all students deserve access to a rigorous curriculum that focuses on depth and complexity and the enhancement of critical thinking skills.
AAP Program 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 Teacher (AART) collaborate regularly to deliver the various levels of service.
The AART at Spring Hill, Erin O’Connor ([email protected]), coordinates the screening and identification of students for advanced academic services, collaborates with teachers to provide differentiated instruction, and delivers direct school-based services for identified students. Mrs. O’Connor also serves all children at the school by providing model lessons in Critical and Creative Thinking and working with the classroom teachers to extend and enrich the Program of Studies (POS).
The AART and classroom teachers teach nine Critical and Creative Thinking strategies across all subject areas and grade levels, as well as deliver instruction utilizing Access to Rigor materials from advanced curricular programs. The strategies are embedded in lessons that incorporate 21st Century thinking skills, as well as Portrait of a Graduate tenets, to extend and enrich content 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.
Differentiated lessons are offered to students in areas of specific academic strength (Subject-Specific Advanced Differentiation). 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 (Part-Time) are challenged through models and strategies designed to extend beyond grade level content. The Advanced Academic Resource Teacher supports the classroom teacher in differentiating instruction using the AAP curriculum and resources.
Students found eligible for placement in a Full-Time Advanced Academic Program through a central selection process receive a highly challenging instructional program in the four core subject areas. The Full-Time AAP Curriculum 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.
Spring Hill is pleased to offer a full-time local AAP Program. AAP services provide the option for advanced learners who need the challenge of a full-time AAP center curriculum and do not want to leave their community school.
Please feel free to contact Erin O’Connor at any point if you have any questions regarding the continuum of services, the screening process, or how services are delivered specifically at Spring Hill. We are proud to be part of your child’s academic journey and feel privileged to serve this community of wonderful students and families.
