New VA school rating system in 2025-2026 SY

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The good students get good grades, and the bad students get bad grades. Parents are really the only people that can lift up the bad students/grades.

Remove the good students and the average changes, but the bad students still get bad grades. Add more good students and the average changes, but the bad students still get bad grades.

The only thing that is changing is the numbers of good and bad students.

if the ratio of bad to good gets too high, classroom management gets impossible. There are schools in the county well past that tipping point

The county is just about at the tipping point as a whole. It won’t matter how you mix and match the students populations.

Well, that's an American cultural fail then, isn't it? Perhaps as a society we should decide parents need to parent such that kids can function in a classroom. If you don't, then it's 1950s or earlier style shaming for you.

Well many of these students and families that are having difficulty with performing are newer to America, however, they are performing as expected in regards to impoverished students expectations.

There's a difference between difficulty performing and being a classroom management issue.

We also need high school teachers that can actually teach. This is lacking especially now with the shortage of educators.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:ELL students, if managed correctly, are an advantage to the school they are at because they have the potential to show the most growth compared to kids who are already on grade level and just pass.

But the new ratings are going to weight “mastery” more than “growth.”

+1 there will be many schools with high ELL populations that will be screwed. And this school board will redraw boundaries to cover it up.

You can’t really re-draw boundaries to cover it up. Aside from Langley, most schools will continue to see an increase in ELL and FARMS.

Already happening. See Hunt Valley ES boundary proposal -Sandy Anderson - redrawn to attend Lewis (Lee) HS.

I’d homeschool or move or switch to private rather than send my DC to Lewis.

If they move all of Hunt Valley, that will be a sufficient cohort for me to send my DC to Lewis. YMMV

Says someone who has never set foot in Lewis or knows what goes on at the school. Let your child attend a thug and gang school? Nah. HVES will homeschool if they can't figure out the HS transfer process.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:It’s just amazing to me how far FCPS has fallen since the mid-90s. It would have been unheard of before then to have any schools in those lower two categories.

Massive illegal immigration and far-left Democrats on the SB are all responsible for this decline and it’s shameful.

Fairfax County was smaller than, teachers were better, admins were better, there were less standards, etc....

Or FCPS stopped the spin machine and it has always been bad.

No, it actually was an excellent school district. The spin is what we see today, when FCPS pretends to still be excellent and “world class,” as they like to say.

It had fewer poor and ELL kids. Those kids drag down school ratings and that's reflected in FCPS today. The schools that don't have those kids are still ranked as some of the best schools in the state

+1. Pretty much this people. A school district reflects its population. I agree this is probably just an in for the introduction of school vouchers which will further drag down public education. I do disagree with some of FCPS’s policies like not holding kids accountable for their behaviors and grading policies. This will only put more pressure on school districts to teach to standardized tests.

My friends in more voucher friendly states really appreciated the economic diversity it brought to their private schools. As someone who was educated with a hodge-podge of everything but charter schools, I don't understand why vouchers are such a bad thing. Letting poorer people have the same privilege to pick their schools as the wealthy - the HORRORS. Unless you're FEA, why be threatened?

Because a lot of charter schools are crappy AF and do not operate under the same regulations as public schools. Many are also religious based which some of us are not religious. They also can be more discerning about who they pick so the excuse that it gives poor kids more opportunities is BS.

You don’t think poor smart kids exist?

Poor smart kids 100% exist. It might be harder to identify them at a younger age because there is a strong chance that their parents have not been reading to them or teaching them numbers and colors and shapes and letters and the like. And when you can find the smart kids, heck the above average kids, their parents have to be invested enough to go looking for the oppertunities outside of the base school. And then those opportunities probably have to provide transportation because the parents might not have transportation or the time to be able to transport their kids.

Many private schools have requirements that kids take tests before they can apply, which requires parents can get their kids to the test or afford the testing.

The barriers to using vouchers are more then just passing the application process at private schools. It is getting the testing done. It is being able to navigate the application process. It is about having access to reliable transportation. Heck, it starts with knowing that the option is there in the first place, which poor families are less likely to know.

Vouchers might be used my lower middle class families, probably would be used by middle class families, and would be used by rich families already sending their kids to private schools. The vast majority of the kids struggling in school or who are missing a lot of school are not going to use the vouchers. The schools that they are in will decline even more and the problem isn't solved. But hey, the rich folks will be able to save thousands of dollars off the tuition they were already paying. Yay them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s just amazing to me how far FCPS has fallen since the mid-90s. It would have been unheard of before then to have any schools in those lower two categories.

Massive illegal immigration and far-left Democrats on the SB are all responsible for this decline and it’s shameful.

Fairfax County was smaller than, teachers were better, admins were better, there were less standards, etc....

Or FCPS stopped the spin machine and it has always been bad.

No, it actually was an excellent school district. The spin is what we see today, when FCPS pretends to still be excellent and “world class,” as they like to say.

It had fewer poor and ELL kids. Those kids drag down school ratings and that's reflected in FCPS today. The schools that don't have those kids are still ranked as some of the best schools in the state

+1. Pretty much this people. A school district reflects its population. I agree this is probably just an in for the introduction of school vouchers which will further drag down public education. I do disagree with some of FCPS’s policies like not holding kids accountable for their behaviors and grading policies. This will only put more pressure on school districts to teach to standardized tests.

My friends in more voucher friendly states really appreciated the economic diversity it brought to their private schools. As someone who was educated with a hodge-podge of everything but charter schools, I don't understand why vouchers are such a bad thing. Letting poorer people have the same privilege to pick their schools as the wealthy - the HORRORS. Unless you're FEA, why be threatened?

Because a lot of charter schools are crappy AF and do not operate under the same regulations as public schools. Many are also religious based which some of us are not religious. They also can be more discerning about who they pick so the excuse that it gives poor kids more opportunities is BS.

You don’t think poor smart kids exist?

Poor smart kids 100% exist. It might be harder to identify them at a younger age because there is a strong chance that their parents have not been reading to them or teaching them numbers and colors and shapes and letters and the like. And when you can find the smart kids, heck the above average kids, their parents have to be invested enough to go looking for the oppertunities outside of the base school. And then those opportunities probably have to provide transportation because the parents might not have transportation or the time to be able to transport their kids.

Many private schools have requirements that kids take tests before they can apply, which requires parents can get their kids to the test or afford the testing.

The barriers to using vouchers are more then just passing the application process at private schools. It is getting the testing done. It is being able to navigate the application process. It is about having access to reliable transportation. Heck, it starts with knowing that the option is there in the first place, which poor families are less likely to know.

Vouchers might be used my lower middle class families, probably would be used by middle class families, and would be used by rich families already sending their kids to private schools. The vast majority of the kids struggling in school or who are missing a lot of school are not going to use the vouchers. The schools that they are in will decline even more and the problem isn't solved. But hey, the rich folks will be able to save thousands of dollars off the tuition they were already paying. Yay them?

The problem isn't solved by having rich kids in the school either. The problems are not as visible in the numbers because wealthier kids pull the averages higher. You aren't solving poor kids problems by having rich kid cover up the problem. FCPS will no longer be able to hide with this new reporting system and definitely not if vouchers become available. Im glad they are being exposed. These boundary movements are nothing but CYA and screwing over MC kids in the process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s just amazing to me how far FCPS has fallen since the mid-90s. It would have been unheard of before then to have any schools in those lower two categories.

Massive illegal immigration and far-left Democrats on the SB are all responsible for this decline and it’s shameful.

Fairfax County was smaller than, teachers were better, admins were better, there were less standards, etc....

Or FCPS stopped the spin machine and it has always been bad.

No, it actually was an excellent school district. The spin is what we see today, when FCPS pretends to still be excellent and “world class,” as they like to say.

It had fewer poor and ELL kids. Those kids drag down school ratings and that's reflected in FCPS today. The schools that don't have those kids are still ranked as some of the best schools in the state

+1. Pretty much this people. A school district reflects its population. I agree this is probably just an in for the introduction of school vouchers which will further drag down public education. I do disagree with some of FCPS’s policies like not holding kids accountable for their behaviors and grading policies. This will only put more pressure on school districts to teach to standardized tests.

My friends in more voucher friendly states really appreciated the economic diversity it brought to their private schools. As someone who was educated with a hodge-podge of everything but charter schools, I don't understand why vouchers are such a bad thing. Letting poorer people have the same privilege to pick their schools as the wealthy - the HORRORS. Unless you're FEA, why be threatened?

Because a lot of charter schools are crappy AF and do not operate under the same regulations as public schools. Many are also religious based which some of us are not religious. They also can be more discerning about who they pick so the excuse that it gives poor kids more opportunities is BS.

You don’t think poor smart kids exist?

DP
Truly poor kids are not going to have access to schools via voucher. The rate of FARMS kids in some public schools will skyrocket once middle class kids leave with vouchers. If money from vouchers is pulled directly from the school system, FCPS is going to go downhill faster.

If your going-in assumption is that the schools are so bad anyone with the financial option to do so will leave, then fix the schools. Don’t trap the students.

You can't fix kids' home life. The best you can do is save your own kids.

[Anonymous]

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/virginias-new-school-rating-system-sparks-controversy-fairfax-county-warns-negative-impact.amp

“So they’ll have all the things we don’t have answers for straightened out in the next month? No!" said Karl Frisch, chair of the Fairfax County Board of Education. "So they’re voting on it before straightening it out? Can you imagine if we tried to do something like that here?"

Does Karl not realize they are rushing boundary review by bypassing the RFP process next Thursday? I CAN imagine, Karl, because you are about to jam the boundary review down our throats in expedited fashion. You can’t make this stuff up.

I’m all for the accreditation moves at the state level and for the ensuing vouchers. The school board has gone too far with this boundary review process.

[Anonymous]

FCPS is just scared that people will find out just how bad some of the bad schools are

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS is just scared that people will find out just how bad some of the bad schools are

Sure reads like that.

Isn't it true that every time VA has leadership that makes accreditation harder districts freak out, there's an ensuing crash in the number of accredited schools, districts clean up their act, and then we loosen standards again? I thought this has played out before a few times?

[Anonymous]

Yes they are very scared to show how far the schools have fallen and they have no idea how to fix it. If vouchers are available there will be no amount of boundary tinkering that would save some of these schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes they are very scared to show how far the schools have fallen and they have no idea how to fix it. If vouchers are available there will be no amount of boundary tinkering that would save some of these schools.

This. Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS is just scared that people will find out just how bad some of the bad schools are

FCPS is scared that people will find out just how bad the schools are. I fixed it for you. I think we are all in for a wake up call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s just amazing to me how far FCPS has fallen since the mid-90s. It would have been unheard of before then to have any schools in those lower two categories.

Massive illegal immigration and far-left Democrats on the SB are all responsible for this decline and it’s shameful.

Fairfax County was smaller than, teachers were better, admins were better, there were less standards, etc....

Or FCPS stopped the spin machine and it has always been bad.

No, it actually was an excellent school district. The spin is what we see today, when FCPS pretends to still be excellent and “world class,” as they like to say.

It had fewer poor and ELL kids. Those kids drag down school ratings and that's reflected in FCPS today. The schools that don't have those kids are still ranked as some of the best schools in the state

+1. Pretty much this people. A school district reflects its population. I agree this is probably just an in for the introduction of school vouchers which will further drag down public education. I do disagree with some of FCPS’s policies like not holding kids accountable for their behaviors and grading policies. This will only put more pressure on school districts to teach to standardized tests.

My friends in more voucher friendly states really appreciated the economic diversity it brought to their private schools. As someone who was educated with a hodge-podge of everything but charter schools, I don't understand why vouchers are such a bad thing. Letting poorer people have the same privilege to pick their schools as the wealthy - the HORRORS. Unless you're FEA, why be threatened?

Because a lot of charter schools are crappy AF and do not operate under the same regulations as public schools. Many are also religious based which some of us are not religious. They also can be more discerning about who they pick so the excuse that it gives poor kids more opportunities is BS.

You don’t think poor smart kids exist?

DP
Truly poor kids are not going to have access to schools via voucher. The rate of FARMS kids in some public schools will skyrocket once middle class kids leave with vouchers. If money from vouchers is pulled directly from the school system, FCPS is going to go downhill faster.

If your going-in assumption is that the schools are so bad anyone with the financial option to do so will leave, then fix the schools. Don’t trap the students.

There's no feasible way to do this that doesn't involve a ton of federal overhauls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s just amazing to me how far FCPS has fallen since the mid-90s. It would have been unheard of before then to have any schools in those lower two categories.

Massive illegal immigration and far-left Democrats on the SB are all responsible for this decline and it’s shameful.

Fairfax County was smaller than, teachers were better, admins were better, there were less standards, etc....

Or FCPS stopped the spin machine and it has always been bad.

No, it actually was an excellent school district. The spin is what we see today, when FCPS pretends to still be excellent and “world class,” as they like to say.

It had fewer poor and ELL kids. Those kids drag down school ratings and that's reflected in FCPS today. The schools that don't have those kids are still ranked as some of the best schools in the state

+1. Pretty much this people. A school district reflects its population. I agree this is probably just an in for the introduction of school vouchers which will further drag down public education. I do disagree with some of FCPS’s policies like not holding kids accountable for their behaviors and grading policies. This will only put more pressure on school districts to teach to standardized tests.

My friends in more voucher friendly states really appreciated the economic diversity it brought to their private schools. As someone who was educated with a hodge-podge of everything but charter schools, I don't understand why vouchers are such a bad thing. Letting poorer people have the same privilege to pick their schools as the wealthy - the HORRORS. Unless you're FEA, why be threatened?

Because a lot of charter schools are crappy AF and do not operate under the same regulations as public schools. Many are also religious based which some of us are not religious. They also can be more discerning about who they pick so the excuse that it gives poor kids more opportunities is BS.

You don’t think poor smart kids exist?

DP
Truly poor kids are not going to have access to schools via voucher. The rate of FARMS kids in some public schools will skyrocket once middle class kids leave with vouchers. If money from vouchers is pulled directly from the school system, FCPS is going to go downhill faster.

If your going-in assumption is that the schools are so bad anyone with the financial option to do so will leave, then fix the schools. Don’t trap the students.

There's no feasible way to do this that doesn't involve a ton of federal overhauls.

Schools only reflect the families that reside within a school district. The county is getting poorer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s just amazing to me how far FCPS has fallen since the mid-90s. It would have been unheard of before then to have any schools in those lower two categories.

Massive illegal immigration and far-left Democrats on the SB are all responsible for this decline and it’s shameful.

Fairfax County was smaller than, teachers were better, admins were better, there were less standards, etc....

Or FCPS stopped the spin machine and it has always been bad.

No, it actually was an excellent school district. The spin is what we see today, when FCPS pretends to still be excellent and “world class,” as they like to say.

It had fewer poor and ELL kids. Those kids drag down school ratings and that's reflected in FCPS today. The schools that don't have those kids are still ranked as some of the best schools in the state

+1. Pretty much this people. A school district reflects its population. I agree this is probably just an in for the introduction of school vouchers which will further drag down public education. I do disagree with some of FCPS’s policies like not holding kids accountable for their behaviors and grading policies. This will only put more pressure on school districts to teach to standardized tests.

My friends in more voucher friendly states really appreciated the economic diversity it brought to their private schools. As someone who was educated with a hodge-podge of everything but charter schools, I don't understand why vouchers are such a bad thing. Letting poorer people have the same privilege to pick their schools as the wealthy - the HORRORS. Unless you're FEA, why be threatened?

Because a lot of charter schools are crappy AF and do not operate under the same regulations as public schools. Many are also religious based which some of us are not religious. They also can be more discerning about who they pick so the excuse that it gives poor kids more opportunities is BS.

You don’t think poor smart kids exist?

DP
Truly poor kids are not going to have access to schools via voucher. The rate of FARMS kids in some public schools will skyrocket once middle class kids leave with vouchers. If money from vouchers is pulled directly from the school system, FCPS is going to go downhill faster.

If your going-in assumption is that the schools are so bad anyone with the financial option to do so will leave, then fix the schools. Don’t trap the students.

There's no feasible way to do this that doesn't involve a ton of federal overhauls.

Schools only reflect the families that reside within a school district. The county is getting poorer.

Yes and much of it is because of how many have shown up from the border. Not only are the ratings going to tank but good luck getting these kids to grade level in any reasonable amount of time. The costs are going to be astronomical

[Anonymous]

Dumb question: why does accreditation matter? Is it tied to funding? Do you get more or less if you are accredited? Anything else?