Any significant disadvantages with FCCPS?

[Anonymous]

We are moving into the area from abroad and are really interested in FCC, in part because of FCCPS. Our children are currently in an IB school system (PK-12) and thriving. The entire population of their current school district is 750, which seems to be the size of most primary schools in the DC area (which terrifies us). FCCPS attracted us because it is IB, because it is small, and because FCC works for us for our two commutes (Reston and DC).

I'd love feedback on whether our kids would miss out on anything that the surrounding FCPS, APS, or MCPS could offer?

I'm NOT concerned about lack of AP (we're already sold on IB). Our kids are typical learners (so I'm not concerned about gifted and talented programs). Is there anything else we're missing?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Does 24 hours and no responses mean that maybe we have found our new school home...? Seems like few FCCPS drawbacks...

[Anonymous]

I don't have direct experience w/ FCCPS, just anecdotal, but the bulk of the complaints I've heard all centered around the fact that the high school was a crumbling mess. Once the new school opens, hopefully that's no longer an issue. I do know that because of its small size and high pay, when faculty & staff positions open up, they get tons of highly-qualified applicants.

[Anonymous]

It’s much smaller than other area schools so when GM students have sports or other events with other schools they often have to travel long distances to other parts of the state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s much smaller than other area schools so when GM students have sports or other events with other schools they often have to travel long distances to other parts of the state.

I don't currently live in FCCPS, but am a GMHS grad and still have many friends there. The above is the major disadvantage- if you want to play sports you end up traveling out near Luray (that's the furthest I think) for games. And there isn't the same type of rivalry/camaraderie that comes from having games against other teams in the same district, where you may well have other connections to other players on the team.

You are also much more likely, however, to be able to make the varsity team at GMHS than at other schools.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP- I don't live in FCC but nearby Arlington and bid on some homes in FCC before ending up in Arlington so did some of my own research and sadly am on these boards far more than I'd like to admit... so I will share that the only negative I've seen listed here is that some have said the small school can be a disadvantage if your child ends up having any social issues with other kids as there just aren't as many options/other groups to jump to. Basically that while it's great that it's small in elementary and generally is great, it can be harder in older grades depending on your kid to go through school with all the same kids the whole time if you don't fit in. I've also seen lack of diversity listed as a negative but that's a problem in nearby places as well.

It sounds like you all have thrived in a small school environment and the advantages probably far outweigh that disadvantage except in a few particular circumstances, so otherwise I think it sounds like a really wonderful fit for your family based on what you described (IB interest, good for your commutes, like small schools). FCC seems like a great place! We're happy in Arlington and I think would have been very happy there too.

[Anonymous]

- It's growing very quickly - there are 8 or 9 (I can't remember) Kindergarten classes alone so even though there are split elementary schools, it's still very, very crowded (although class size isn't bad since they've added more classes per grade, but at some point they won't be able to do that).
- It's not diverse and the few low-income/minority students that are there, are definitely made to feel different. We know two families that moved into Fairfax County because their kids were very unhappy. Likewise, it's a wealthy area, and the kids know it and sometimes act like it.
- Some of the older kids we know complain that they've been in school with the SAME kids for 12 grades and it is VERY cliquish in high school (and the same goes for sports, extracurriculars, etc.).
- FCC is a small town and has the same small town quirks you'd expect - everybody knows everyone else's business. And as a middle and high-schooler, that is really tough. We've found that even the parents gossip about kids, even in elementary school!
- Nothing negative to say about the academics at all, the schools are great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP- I don't live in FCC but nearby Arlington and bid on some homes in FCC before ending up in Arlington so did some of my own research and sadly am on these boards far more than I'd like to admit... so I will share that the only negative I've seen listed here is that some have said the small school can be a disadvantage if your child ends up having any social issues with other kids as there just aren't as many options/other groups to jump to. Basically that while it's great that it's small in elementary and generally is great, it can be harder in older grades depending on your kid to go through school with all the same kids the whole time if you don't fit in. I've also seen lack of diversity listed as a negative but that's a problem in nearby places as well.

It sounds like you all have thrived in a small school environment and the advantages probably far outweigh that disadvantage except in a few particular circumstances, so otherwise I think it sounds like a really wonderful fit for your family based on what you described (IB interest, good for your commutes, like small schools). FCC seems like a great place! We're happy in Arlington and I think would have been very happy there too.

This is an odd statement considering that a block away from the FCC border on two sides in Fairfax County there are two minority-white schools, one of which is Title I.

[Anonymous]

The poster who said the elementary schools are overcrowded has old information. Neither elementary school is even at capacity, and won't be for several years, and there are no kids in trailers at any FCCPS school.

The biggest downside is that it's a small town where everyone knows each other. It can make it hard to "hide." On the other hand, it means you have a lot of people who know your kids and can look out for them. It's a very close-knit community. There are also a ton of State Dept and other families who move frequently, so there is lots of support and understanding for kids who are new to the system.

[Anonymous]

I did a lot of research on FCCPS. It's what people said...great if it goes well for your kid and if it doesn't, absolutely nowhere to hide. In a larger public or larger school system, there are more Plan B, C, Ds.

Real lack of diversity if you care about such things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The poster who said the elementary schools are overcrowded has old information. Neither elementary school is even at capacity, and won't be for several years, and there are no kids in trailers at any FCCPS school.

The biggest downside is that it's a small town where everyone knows each other. It can make it hard to "hide." On the other hand, it means you have a lot of people who know your kids and can look out for them. It's a very close-knit community. There are also a ton of State Dept and other families who move frequently, so there is lots of support and understanding for kids who are new to the system.

I never said it was overcrowded, just that it was very crowded - 8 or 9 kindergarten classes in one school, and they are expecting to expand even more with all the new development (you'd better believe families are moving into all the new apartment buildings - a lot of them live in the similar buildings near Dunn Loring)!

[Anonymous]

Move to Falls Church in Fairfax County vs FCC and go to Marshall High School, which is a great IB school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP- I don't live in FCC but nearby Arlington and bid on some homes in FCC before ending up in Arlington so did some of my own research and sadly am on these boards far more than I'd like to admit... so I will share that the only negative I've seen listed here is that some have said the small school can be a disadvantage if your child ends up having any social issues with other kids as there just aren't as many options/other groups to jump to. Basically that while it's great that it's small in elementary and generally is great, it can be harder in older grades depending on your kid to go through school with all the same kids the whole time if you don't fit in. I've also seen lack of diversity listed as a negative but that's a problem in nearby places as well.

It sounds like you all have thrived in a small school environment and the advantages probably far outweigh that disadvantage except in a few particular circumstances, so otherwise I think it sounds like a really wonderful fit for your family based on what you described (IB interest, good for your commutes, like small schools). FCC seems like a great place! We're happy in Arlington and I think would have been very happy there too.

This is an odd statement considering that a block away from the FCC border on two sides in Fairfax County there are two minority-white schools, one of which is Title I.

I think the poster is referring to nearby North Arlington, which is also very white. The closest FFX County neighborhoods are similar income-wise but have a lot more ethnic diversity (especially Asian).