Hunters Woods is an Advanced Academic Level IV Center providing full-time Level IV services to Hunters Woods' students as well as students from several neighboring elementary schools. In addition to the AAP Level IV Center, all Hunters Woods' students are taught critical thinking skills and strategies. Advanced Academic School-based part-time Level II and Level III services are provided for identified students.

Our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher is Ms. Tara-Jeanne Tompkins. Ms. Tompkins can be reached via email at t[email protected] or by calling the main office at 703-262-7400.

ADVANCED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS (AAP) SCREENING FOR SCHOOL-BASED (LEVEL II-III) SERVICES Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in grades K-8.  Learning experiences are designed to develop higher-level thinking through enrichment, acceleration, and extensions of the Program of Studies (POS).  Teachers, administrators, and advanced academic resource teachers (AARTs) work together to provide the following levels of school-based services in each elementary school:

• Critical and Creative Thinking Lessons, Grades K-6 (Level I)

All students in kindergarten through grade six receive level I services which consist of model lessons that are designed to teach critical and creative thinking skills.  The lessons are modeled in all classrooms by AARTs and the thinking strategies are then used throughout the year by classroom teachers and other teachers who work with students. Student responses to these model lessons are used as part of the identification process for AAP services.  Parents may also practice the thinking strategies during family conversations and activities.  A description of the nine critical and creative thinking strategies can be found at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/advanced….  

• Differentiated Lessons in Areas of Academic Strength, Grades K-6 (Level II)

The AART collaborates with classroom teachers to provide additional challenge through lessons and resources that extend and enrich the POS.  Level II services are part of a talent development pool.  Students are rescreened annually to make decisions about the need for this level of service.

• Part-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-6 (Level III)

Students identified by a local school screening committee for part-time advanced academic services are challenged through models and strategies designed to extend and enrich the POS in the four core subject areas.  Students receive direct instruction from the AART at the local school using curriculum from the AAP Curriculum and Resources to Support the Differentiated Framework.  Students identified for Level III services continue to receive level III services through grade 6.

Screening for school-based services can happen at any time during the school year but is done schoolwide in spring to determine services for the next school year.  Parents or guardians may initiate the screening for school-based (level II and III) services by submitting the AAP School-Based Services (Level II-III) Referral Form (available at https://www.fcps.edu/registration/advanced-academics-identification-and-placement/elementary-school/current-fcps at the bottom of the page in Forms) to Tara-Jeanne Tompkins, AART at Hunters Woods Elementary prior to spring screening by Wednesday, April 7, 2021.   Multiple criteria are used to screen students for all levels of AAP services.  Parents or guardians who submit a referral will be notified by Hunters Woods Elementary of their student’s eligibility status by June 10. 

If a parent or guardian wishes to appeal an ineligible decision, they may submit an appeal with new data for consideration by the local school screening committee.  This new information should be submitted to Emily Cope and Tara-Jeanne Tompkins. 

If you have any questions, please contact Tara-Jeanne Tompkins @email.