FCPS HS Boundary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are never going to have the same classes across all schools because you need to have enough students in each school to offer the class. I know we are looking at SLHS and wondering if the math options will be enough for a kid who is taking Algebra 1 in 7th grade. The IB program is less attractive to us because of how the math is structured and there are fewer STEM electives at SLHS than other schools in the area. SLHS has fewer kids entering with Algebra 1 in 7th grade, there is are fewer kids who are ready for more advanced math so there are fewer options.

And yes, high FARMs schools are going to have fewer kids who are ready for AP or IB classes in high school and so there are fewer class offerings and there are fewer higher level options offered. We are not going to be able to fix that. Dropping IB as a whole will keep more kids at their base school, which should increase the number of students who are in the AP program, allowing for more sections and more class offerings. But even with that, Langley is going to have different courses offered than SLHS.

Honestly, I am fine with that. The classes offered should meet the needs of the students. Offering Dual Enrollment options for kids who are further ahead in the higher FARMs schools can help with the class differences. If kids are staying at their base schools, then there will be more kids in the AP program and things will improve. But if a boundary adjustment and dropping IB means that there are more kids in the high FARMs schools that are participating in the AP program, then that is a good thing.

All of the parents I know at SLHS with kids in IB are pretty happy with the school. All the parents I know at Herndon with kids in the AP track are pretty happy. The schools will do better if the FARMs numbers drop, we saw SLHS improve when the Fox Mill kids were moved to SLHS and that did not add that many kids. I want to say Fox Mill has about 90 kids in each grade level, so adding in about 360 kids but the scores at SLHS jumped a good amount. The number of classes offered increased a good amount. It doesn’t match Langley or Chantilly but it is improved.

But the boundaries need to be updated, it has been too long and they are wonky. We all know that. The people on this board tend to be High SES so people feel like they have to most to lose and that is what we are hearing.

The boundaries don’t need to be updated, except in rare circumstances. We all know that. (See I can just categorically proclaim a universal truth too.)

Most SJW agitators on this board are just hoping for a small bump in their housing values at the expense of their neighbors.

The ripple effects are real. Move one group and now a different school os over or under crowded so you make adjustments there, rinse and repeat.

And I am tired of people who repeat the “Your school was remodeled” line. No one knows where they will end up. I sure as heck didn’t move into the pyramid that I am in because I thought the school was going to be renovated nor did I vote for the school to be renovated. A renovation did nothing to add the classes and programs that would benefit my kid and I am far more concerned about that.

And the “You want to bump your property value.” My property value has been growing quite nicely in my mid range school pyramid. I don’t need a boundary shift to change that fact. Believe it or not, not everyone is about driving up their property values.

You are picking at the same things with people because the best that you have is that you like your school and you don’t want your kid to move. And that is fine and valid but not a good reason for the county to not look at boundary adjustment. Your posts are dismissive because people don’t agree with you on a policy issue. You don’t want this to happen so you assume that the people who support the idea are all the same people and are all self centered.

Parroting the same response anytime someone disagrees with you does not strengthen your argument.

I don’t think that the boundaries need to be rejiggered in some weird way to balance FARMs rates across the county, we cannot do that. We have areas of the county that are poor and we have areas of the county that are well off and we have a lot in between. But we can readjust seats to fill schools with open seats instead of building additions to schools which cost millions of dollars.

Find a way to use that space, like an IB magnate school or a real vo-tech school or even a few vo-tech schools so that kids who don’t want to go to college have a place to go and learn a trade. Or shift boundaries county wide and see where we can shift the student population to use that space and save money on expansions.

Please, note that it’s “magnet” school, not magnate. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are never going to have the same classes across all schools because you need to have enough students in each school to offer the class. I know we are looking at SLHS and wondering if the math options will be enough for a kid who is taking Algebra 1 in 7th grade. The IB program is less attractive to us because of how the math is structured and there are fewer STEM electives at SLHS than other schools in the area. SLHS has fewer kids entering with Algebra 1 in 7th grade, there is are fewer kids who are ready for more advanced math so there are fewer options.

And yes, high FARMs schools are going to have fewer kids who are ready for AP or IB classes in high school and so there are fewer class offerings and there are fewer higher level options offered. We are not going to be able to fix that. Dropping IB as a whole will keep more kids at their base school, which should increase the number of students who are in the AP program, allowing for more sections and more class offerings. But even with that, Langley is going to have different courses offered than SLHS.

Honestly, I am fine with that. The classes offered should meet the needs of the students. Offering Dual Enrollment options for kids who are further ahead in the higher FARMs schools can help with the class differences. If kids are staying at their base schools, then there will be more kids in the AP program and things will improve. But if a boundary adjustment and dropping IB means that there are more kids in the high FARMs schools that are participating in the AP program, then that is a good thing.

All of the parents I know at SLHS with kids in IB are pretty happy with the school. All the parents I know at Herndon with kids in the AP track are pretty happy. The schools will do better if the FARMs numbers drop, we saw SLHS improve when the Fox Mill kids were moved to SLHS and that did not add that many kids. I want to say Fox Mill has about 90 kids in each grade level, so adding in about 360 kids but the scores at SLHS jumped a good amount. The number of classes offered increased a good amount. It doesn’t match Langley or Chantilly but it is improved.

But the boundaries need to be updated, it has been too long and they are wonky. We all know that. The people on this board tend to be High SES so people feel like they have to most to lose and that is what we are hearing.

The boundaries don’t need to be updated, except in rare circumstances. We all know that. (See I can just categorically proclaim a universal truth too.)

Most SJW agitators on this board are just hoping for a small bump in their housing values at the expense of their neighbors.

The ripple effects are real. Move one group and now a different school os over or under crowded so you make adjustments there, rinse and repeat.

And I am tired of people who repeat the “Your school was remodeled” line. No one knows where they will end up. I sure as heck didn’t move into the pyramid that I am in because I thought the school was going to be renovated nor did I vote for the school to be renovated. A renovation did nothing to add the classes and programs that would benefit my kid and I am far more concerned about that.

And the “You want to bump your property value.” My property value has been growing quite nicely in my mid range school pyramid. I don’t need a boundary shift to change that fact. Believe it or not, not everyone is about driving up their property values.

You are picking at the same things with people because the best that you have is that you like your school and you don’t want your kid to move. And that is fine and valid but not a good reason for the county to not look at boundary adjustment. Your posts are dismissive because people don’t agree with you on a policy issue. You don’t want this to happen so you assume that the people who support the idea are all the same people and are all self centered.

Parroting the same response anytime someone disagrees with you does not strengthen your argument.

I don’t think that the boundaries need to be rejiggered in some weird way to balance FARMs rates across the county, we cannot do that. We have areas of the county that are poor and we have areas of the county that are well off and we have a lot in between. But we can readjust seats to fill schools with open seats instead of building additions to schools which cost millions of dollars.

Find a way to use that space, like an IB magnate school or a real vo-tech school or even a few vo-tech schools so that kids who don’t want to go to college have a place to go and learn a trade. Or shift boundaries county wide and see where we can shift the student population to use that space and save money on expansions.

“Parroting the same response anytime someone disagrees with you does not strengthen your argument.” Hey pot, I’m kettle, nice to meet you.

And you are addressing many different posters in your rant, not just one. Perhaps you’ll find a more receptive audience at the next tea party convention?

+1. Although I don't think she's a Tea Party type. She's a loyal Democrat who got hers and is happy to be a cheerleader for the new School Board.

You all are hilarious.

I get that McLean needs renovations and have been supportive of renovations.

I am opposed to all expansions when there are open seats around the county that we have not tried to use. I can’t change that others feel differently and fund all construction on the ballot, not my fault.

I would have preferred the Fox Mill kids not be moved from Oak Hill to SLHS but it happened. The kids are doing just fine. Academically they have fewer options, which I am not thrilled with. Most of the kids in the neighborhood are very happy at South Lakes. My friends whose kids transferred from Herndon to South Lakes are happy. My child will be fine if he attends South Lakes. He will be fine at any school he moves to be cause we are involved parents.

FCPS has not adjust boundaries in ages and it is long over due. It will be painful and disruptive and is going to upset a lot of people.

I don’t think they should gerrymander borders so that there is an even level of FARMs kids at all schools, that is not doable. But where there are borders that make sense to adjust, they should adjust.

If there are overcrowded schools after boundaries are redrawn, then expand those schools. I suspect that will not be an issue.

I know people who felt strongly about what high school they wanted their child to attend so they moved after MS. That was a choice they made. Most people stayed put and worked to improve SLHS.

But none of that matters to you because you are focused on one thing and one thing only. Anyone who has a different opinion is dismissed for whatever reason you think you can dismiss them. It doesn’t matter if people acknowledge that there are legit issues and concerns, they are wrong for thinking that it is still something that needs to happen.

It's not just McLean that needs to be renovated and expanded. So does Annandale. The failure to invest in Annandale commensurate with investments in other schools is one reason why they kept lopping off single-family neighborhoods at Annandale to send to other schools (Falls Church, Woodson, Lake Braddock, and Edison). It took its toll on the school over time.

Also, the cost associated with renovations by all reports is much larger than the marginal cost associated with additions, but if including an addition helps keep kids at their current schools the marginal cost is worth it.

There's no imperative to make county-wide boundary adjustments; it's simply an equity-driven initiative dating back to 2018 (listen to what Pat Hynes and her colleagues were saying at the time) that got squelched and is now being revived under a different name ("efficiency" rather than "equity"). If there is extreme overcrowding or extreme under-enrollment that requires changes at specific schools, they need to address the root causes first, and redistrict only if necessary after exhausting other avenues (for example, making changes that would attract more families back to Lewis rather than just treating West Springfield kids as widgets who can plug a short-fall at Lewis).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Today’s work session gets to the point made earlier about how FCPS offers different programming at its schools. Perhaps this is how they standardize curriculum everywhere so there are no programmatic differences among schools. I vote IB off the island- too expensive for too little benefit. Also kill the useless FLES.

Shouldn’t it all be standardized to be the same at every school across the county?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today’s work session gets to the point made earlier about how FCPS offers different programming at its schools. Perhaps this is how they standardize curriculum everywhere so there are no programmatic differences among schools. I vote IB off the island- too expensive for too little benefit. Also kill the useless FLES.

Shouldn’t it all be standardized to be the same at every school across the county?

It certainly should be before they propose to move kids around to schools their parents weren't planning for them to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today’s work session gets to the point made earlier about how FCPS offers different programming at its schools. Perhaps this is how they standardize curriculum everywhere so there are no programmatic differences among schools. I vote IB off the island- too expensive for too little benefit. Also kill the useless FLES.

Shouldn’t it all be standardized to be the same at every school across the county?

It cannot be standardized because different populations have different needs. Schools with a higher percentage of ESOL kids need ESOL programs. They are not going to have the same number of kids who need AP classes. Some schools will end up with a wider array of AP classes because they have a larger percentage of the student body who can take AP classes.

I believe every school offers similar levels of English, History, Social Studies, Math, and Science. Some schools can offer more advanced math and science because they have had more kids in Algebra 1 in 7th grade so there is a demand for math beyond AP Calculus. Other schools have very few kids who have had Algebra 1 in 8th grade so they don’t need math beyond Calculus, they might only have one section of Calculus.

Getting rid of IB, or moving it to a magnate school program that kids can apply for, is a great first step.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today’s work session gets to the point made earlier about how FCPS offers different programming at its schools. Perhaps this is how they standardize curriculum everywhere so there are no programmatic differences among schools. I vote IB off the island- too expensive for too little benefit. Also kill the useless FLES.

Shouldn’t it all be standardized to be the same at every school across the county?

It cannot be standardized because different populations have different needs. Schools with a higher percentage of ESOL kids need ESOL programs. They are not going to have the same number of kids who need AP classes. Some schools will end up with a wider array of AP classes because they have a larger percentage of the student body who can take AP classes.

I believe every school offers similar levels of English, History, Social Studies, Math, and Science. Some schools can offer more advanced math and science because they have had more kids in Algebra 1 in 7th grade so there is a demand for math beyond AP Calculus. Other schools have very few kids who have had Algebra 1 in 8th grade so they don’t need math beyond Calculus, they might only have one section of Calculus.

Getting rid of IB, or moving it to a magnate school program that kids can apply for, is a great first step.

So some schools might be able to offer more sessions of advanced classes than others, but if they can't offer the same classes at different schools they really have no business redistricting kids.

And to echo PP you mean "magnet" not "magnate."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today’s work session gets to the point made earlier about how FCPS offers different programming at its schools. Perhaps this is how they standardize curriculum everywhere so there are no programmatic differences among schools. I vote IB off the island- too expensive for too little benefit. Also kill the useless FLES.

Shouldn’t it all be standardized to be the same at every school across the county?

It cannot be standardized because different populations have different needs. Schools with a higher percentage of ESOL kids need ESOL programs. They are not going to have the same number of kids who need AP classes. Some schools will end up with a wider array of AP classes because they have a larger percentage of the student body who can take AP classes.

I believe every school offers similar levels of English, History, Social Studies, Math, and Science. Some schools can offer more advanced math and science because they have had more kids in Algebra 1 in 7th grade so there is a demand for math beyond AP Calculus. Other schools have very few kids who have had Algebra 1 in 8th grade so they don’t need math beyond Calculus, they might only have one section of Calculus.

Getting rid of IB, or moving it to a magnate school program that kids can apply for, is a great first step.

So some schools might be able to offer more sessions of advanced classes than others, but if they can't offer the same classes at different schools they really have no business redistricting kids.

And to echo PP you mean "magnet" not "magnate."

DP. Sometimes, it sure feels like the magnates are trying to run this district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today’s work session gets to the point made earlier about how FCPS offers different programming at its schools. Perhaps this is how they standardize curriculum everywhere so there are no programmatic differences among schools. I vote IB off the island- too expensive for too little benefit. Also kill the useless FLES.

Shouldn’t it all be standardized to be the same at every school across the county?

It cannot be standardized because different populations have different needs. Schools with a higher percentage of ESOL kids need ESOL programs. They are not going to have the same number of kids who need AP classes. Some schools will end up with a wider array of AP classes because they have a larger percentage of the student body who can take AP classes.

I believe every school offers similar levels of English, History, Social Studies, Math, and Science. Some schools can offer more advanced math and science because they have had more kids in Algebra 1 in 7th grade so there is a demand for math beyond AP Calculus. Other schools have very few kids who have had Algebra 1 in 8th grade so they don’t need math beyond Calculus, they might only have one section of Calculus.

Getting rid of IB, or moving it to a magnate school program that kids can apply for, is a great first step.

So some schools might be able to offer more sessions of advanced classes than others, but if they can't offer the same classes at different schools they really have no business redistricting kids.

And to echo PP you mean "magnet" not "magnate."

DP. Sometimes, it sure feels like the magnates are trying to run this district.

Not really. Magnates gave up on FCPS years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The entire Langley pyramid area should just secede from Fairfax county as an independent city and stop supporting this bufoonery.

How would they do that? (Hint- they can’t )

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title15.2/subtitleIII/

Where there is political will there is a way.

The moratorium on new towns and cities in Virginia was recently extended to 2032, and Youngkin (who lived in the Langley district) signed the bill.

What was done can be easily undone. If there was a Republican majority in the Assembly I suspect the moratorium would have been allowed to expire.

Not really, it is more of a regional fight. NOVA and Hampton Roads vs. ROVA. There is a similar dynamic with regard to changing the formula the commonwealth uses to determine the disbursement of school funds. A super majority of Delegates and Senators benefit from the current system. It criss crosses political lines.

As the pp said, Youngkin signed the renewal. He could have vetoed it like so many other bills he has vetoed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today’s work session gets to the point made earlier about how FCPS offers different programming at its schools. Perhaps this is how they standardize curriculum everywhere so there are no programmatic differences among schools. I vote IB off the island- too expensive for too little benefit. Also kill the useless FLES.

Shouldn’t it all be standardized to be the same at every school across the county?

It cannot be standardized because different populations have different needs. Schools with a higher percentage of ESOL kids need ESOL programs. They are not going to have the same number of kids who need AP classes. Some schools will end up with a wider array of AP classes because they have a larger percentage of the student body who can take AP classes.

I believe every school offers similar levels of English, History, Social Studies, Math, and Science. Some schools can offer more advanced math and science because they have had more kids in Algebra 1 in 7th grade so there is a demand for math beyond AP Calculus. Other schools have very few kids who have had Algebra 1 in 8th grade so they don’t need math beyond Calculus, they might only have one section of Calculus.

Getting rid of IB, or moving it to a magnate school program that kids can apply for, is a great first step.

So some schools might be able to offer more sessions of advanced classes than others, but if they can't offer the same classes at different schools they really have no business redistricting kids.

And to echo PP you mean "magnet" not "magnate."

DP. Sometimes, it sure feels like the magnates are trying to run this district.

Not really. Magnates gave up on FCPS years ago.

The richest and most connected can always opt out of government schools,
even if they had a hand in making them less desirable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today’s work session gets to the point made earlier about how FCPS offers different programming at its schools. Perhaps this is how they standardize curriculum everywhere so there are no programmatic differences among schools. I vote IB off the island- too expensive for too little benefit. Also kill the useless FLES.

Shouldn’t it all be standardized to be the same at every school across the county?

It cannot be standardized because different populations have different needs. Schools with a higher percentage of ESOL kids need ESOL programs. They are not going to have the same number of kids who need AP classes. Some schools will end up with a wider array of AP classes because they have a larger percentage of the student body who can take AP classes.

I believe every school offers similar levels of English, History, Social Studies, Math, and Science. Some schools can offer more advanced math and science because they have had more kids in Algebra 1 in 7th grade so there is a demand for math beyond AP Calculus. Other schools have very few kids who have had Algebra 1 in 8th grade so they don’t need math beyond Calculus, they might only have one section of Calculus.

Getting rid of IB, or moving it to a magnate school program that kids can apply for, is a great first step.

Legally the schools must, at some level, have similar curriculums. Advanced classes, remedial classes, etc. You can't implement AP at one school and not have a similar program (AP or IB) at another. They should standardize AP to start. Academies are optional and don't have to exist, but when they do everyone must have an option to participate. This is actually not quite right in Fairfax because the academies vary and they are spread across the county. It easiest practical for some students to participate.

[Anonymous]

All of the HS have AP or IB. I would guess that all of the schools have similar AP offerings, like US History, Bio, Chem, Calc AB, Calc BC, and the English ones. But some schools might have 1 or 2 sections while others have 4 or 5 sessions. And some schools might offer more of the elective APs, ok so they are all elective but not the core subjects, while others do not because they don’t have enough kids.

I am not a fan of the Academies. The classes are hard to attend if you are not a student at the base school. Why not have a vo-tech school where kids who want to learn a trade can attend. They take all their core classes and the classes for certification in the trade they are interested in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of the HS have AP or IB. I would guess that all of the schools have similar AP offerings, like US History, Bio, Chem, Calc AB, Calc BC, and the English ones. But some schools might have 1 or 2 sections while others have 4 or 5 sessions. And some schools might offer more of the elective APs, ok so they are all elective but not the core subjects, while others do not because they don’t have enough kids.

I am not a fan of the Academies. The classes are hard to attend if you are not a student at the base school. Why not have a vo-tech school where kids who want to learn a trade can attend. They take all their core classes and the classes for certification in the trade they are interested in.

Totally agree with this. Why are we so focused on all the AP and IB stuff? Let's get kids who don't have an interest in going to college well prepped for a trade by doing a vo-tech school? It makes so much sense and you can make good money going into these fields. Why can't we get vo-tech schools at Lewis or Annendale or Mount Vernon or wherever there might be a greater interest? Close that stupid social justice academy and put in programs that might actually benefit some of the students that go there. Why can't we focus on getting this piece done before we start talking about boundary changes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the HS have AP or IB. I would guess that all of the schools have similar AP offerings, like US History, Bio, Chem, Calc AB, Calc BC, and the English ones. But some schools might have 1 or 2 sections while others have 4 or 5 sessions. And some schools might offer more of the elective APs, ok so they are all elective but not the core subjects, while others do not because they don’t have enough kids.

I am not a fan of the Academies. The classes are hard to attend if you are not a student at the base school. Why not have a vo-tech school where kids who want to learn a trade can attend. They take all their core classes and the classes for certification in the trade they are interested in.

Totally agree with this. Why are we so focused on all the AP and IB stuff? Let's get kids who don't have an interest in going to college well prepped for a trade by doing a vo-tech school? It makes so much sense and you can make good money going into these fields. Why can't we get vo-tech schools at Lewis or Annendale or Mount Vernon or wherever there might be a greater interest? Close that stupid social justice academy and put in programs that might actually benefit some of the students that go there. Why can't we focus on getting this piece done before we start talking about boundary changes?

Like Edison Academy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The entire Langley pyramid area should just secede from Fairfax county as an independent city and stop supporting this bufoonery.

How would they do that? (Hint- they can’t )

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title15.2/subtitleIII/

Where there is political will there is a way.

The moratorium on new towns and cities in Virginia was recently extended to 2032, and Youngkin (who lived in the Langley district) signed the bill.

What was done can be easily undone. If there was a Republican majority in the Assembly I suspect the moratorium would have been allowed to expire.

Not really, it is more of a regional fight. NOVA and Hampton Roads vs. ROVA.

It really is NOVA versus ROVA, with Hampton Roads not caring at all (simply because virtually everyone there already lives in a Class 1 City).

Virtually all of Hampton Roads localities are Class 1 cities. Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach are all Class 1 cities. Williamsburg is a Class 2 city within James City County, but geographically it is either just north of Hampton Roads or on the northern fringe of Hampton Roads.

By contrast, Falls Church is a Class 2 city within Arlington County. Fairfax City is a Class 2 City within Fairfax County, so it could have its own school system if it chose to do so. Herndon and Vienna are examples of incorporated towns within Fairfax County. Virginia towns cannot have their own school systems.

Personally, I would like to see Fairfax County cut in half, and I do not care how it gets sliced, not only for better schools but also for more responsive local government. Alternately, I would be ok with having more towns and cities within Fairfax County. Neither of these will ever happen. Too many developer $$ would be at risk if there were a larger number of local governments to deal with, so the developers would kill it.