Interpreting crime stats at Fairfax county schools

[Anonymous]

I am trying to find a new place to live and basing my decision primarily on where I can afford to live and the safety and test scores of the schools. I find it very troubling that some of the elementary schools have one or more weapon violations. One even had a "serious incident" last year. Does anyone know how I can find out more about a particular incident? I've tried google with no luck.

Their website says : "Serious Incidents includes the offenses for assault, malicious wounding, homicides, rape, sexual battery and use of any weapon that is designed to explode." There is a separate category for fights.

This is not something one would expect at an elementary school. Any chance it was a teacher or are all the violations listed attributed to students? A teacher being responsible would probably make big news. I would assume (or at least hope) that any student who committed such an offense would be expelled, but how can I find out for sure?

[Anonymous]

OP, I think you are over thinking this. The serious incident could be a fist fight, a kid who detonated a small homemade device after hours (I knew a kid who did that years ago). Just saying it doesn't mean your 7 year old is going to be raped in the hall ways.

If you are seriously interested in a school that's got a report that worries you, see if you can get an interview with the principal or one of her staff and ask them to explain the incident, identities omitted of course.

There aren't very many schools out there where you will NOT find stuff like this - I went to a private school where drugs was the big problem - and Fairfax is going to be some of the best schools you can find. Even if some dumb ass brings his Dad's civil war revolver to school one day (ooops).

[Anonymous]

"OP, I think you are over thinking this" This was my exact thought when I read OP's post. OP you will only drive yourself batty if you continue with the "extremely perfect" school.

[Anonymous]

I spoke with someone who works at my daughter's current school. She also said talk to the principal. There are some elementary schools in Fairfax that have gang problems. So, my concerns are not completely off the wall.

[Anonymous]

Wouldn't you be hard pressed to find a school anywhere that doesn't have these problems?

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/crime/Montgomery-Co_-crime-rate-eclipses-neighboring-Fairfax-83080502.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/21/AR2007092102223.html

[Anonymous]

I take those statistics with a grain of salt - not because they are irrelevant, but because I think some schools are more vigilant in reporting that information than others. A school that duly records each incident properly gets stigmatized, while those that report with a bit less vigor go unscathed.

[Anonymous]

It may be difficult to find a middle or high school with pristine records, but this is not something that happens in all elementary schools. I found some school board info online that described a "serious incident" as one causing significant bodily injury. If it were simply a fist fight, then it would have been listed under the "fights" category. I may talk to the principal or just find another neighborhood.

Thanks