FCPS school decline

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to accept the fact that FCPS is in free fall. There is no fixing it without voting in a school board that will lead, find a competent superintendent, and ensure worthless layers of middle management are eliminated to provide funding to hire and retain excellent teachers.

FCPS uses technology very poorly and burdens teachers with a myriad of non-teaching duties.

Given the political makeup of Fairfax County, that is very likely to happen, so if you have the means it is time to go private.

I have been hearing this complaint since I moved here in 1987. Some people will always believe it. Some will eventually see the light when their kids go off to college and see how well prepared or not they are.

My DD called home the first semester of college to tell me how stupid all the non- NoVA kids were.

On the first day my kid texted me how racist, bigoted, and especially CLASSIST all the NoVA students were when a diverse group sat around the fire pit.

Of course they are! Have you ever read DCUM? You can be smarter and classist.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax county born and raised. Moved to my neighborhood 20 years ago for the school pyramid. I’ve witnessed a change: when my 3DC were in ES, nearly all children attended the FCPS ES.

Now, the reverse is true. My neighborhood has now split - several different private schools represented and at least one home schooler and another doing specialized FCPS distance learning to pursue an endeavor.

When given a choice and can afford to pay, parents are leaving FCPS.

[Anonymous]

It’s because most parents don’t really want “equal outcomes” for their kids. Those running FCPS don’t understand that. It’s a broken system that obsesses about the demographics at a single high school - TJ - and aggressively pushes mediocrity and “equity” everywhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s because most parents don’t really want “equal outcomes” for their kids. Those running FCPS don’t understand that. It’s a broken system that obsesses about the demographics at a single high school - TJ - and aggressively pushes mediocrity and “equity” everywhere else.

Bingo!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to accept the fact that FCPS is in free fall. There is no fixing it without voting in a school board that will lead, find a competent superintendent, and ensure worthless layers of middle management are eliminated to provide funding to hire and retain excellent teachers.

FCPS uses technology very poorly and burdens teachers with a myriad of non-teaching duties.

Given the political makeup of Fairfax County, that is very likely to happen, so if you have the means it is time to go private.

I have been hearing this complaint since I moved here in 1987. Some people will always believe it. Some will eventually see the light when their kids go off to college and see how well prepared or not they are.

My DD called home the first semester of college to tell me how stupid all the non- NoVA kids were.

On the first day my kid texted me how racist, bigoted, and especially CLASSIST all the NoVA students were when a diverse group sat around the fire pit.

Not surprised. Many FCPS schools, especially the "desirable" ones, have about half of the national average % for African-American demographics. The US's average population is around 13% African-American and schools like Oakton and Woodson have around 6%. Langley and Madison are laughable at <2% Black.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to accept the fact that FCPS is in free fall. There is no fixing it without voting in a school board that will lead, find a competent superintendent, and ensure worthless layers of middle management are eliminated to provide funding to hire and retain excellent teachers.

FCPS uses technology very poorly and burdens teachers with a myriad of non-teaching duties.

Given the political makeup of Fairfax County, that is very likely to happen, so if you have the means it is time to go private.

I have been hearing this complaint since I moved here in 1987. Some people will always believe it. Some will eventually see the light when their kids go off to college and see how well prepared or not they are.

My DD called home the first semester of college to tell me how stupid all the non- NoVA kids were.

On the first day my kid texted me how racist, bigoted, and especially CLASSIST all the NoVA students were when a diverse group sat around the fire pit.

Not surprised. Many FCPS schools, especially the "desirable" ones, have about half of the national average % for African-American demographics. The US's average population is around 13% African-American and schools like Oakton and Woodson have around 6%. Langley and Madison are laughable at <2% Black.

FCPS is very diverse and has more Hispanic and Asian kids than most school systems. Black kids aren’t some magic pixie dust that have to be present in large numbers in every school. Obviously Langley and Madison are very “desirable” as they are now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My rising 5th grader didn't get to go to Jamestown. I'm pretty pissed about that.

Do you not have a car? It's not that far away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to accept the fact that FCPS is in free fall. There is no fixing it without voting in a school board that will lead, find a competent superintendent, and ensure worthless layers of middle management are eliminated to provide funding to hire and retain excellent teachers.

FCPS uses technology very poorly and burdens teachers with a myriad of non-teaching duties.

Given the political makeup of Fairfax County, that is very likely to happen, so if you have the means it is time to go private.

I have been hearing this complaint since I moved here in 1987. Some people will always believe it. Some will eventually see the light when their kids go off to college and see how well prepared or not they are.

My DD called home the first semester of college to tell me how stupid all the non- NoVA kids were.

In a few more years, the NOVA kids will be as stupid (poorly educated) as the non-NOVA kids...

Maybe yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to FCPS this year from a New England state. I was told to prepare myself for poor schooling for my kid.

My fourth grade had a fantastic year. There were three field trips, one to Jamestown. There were multiplication and division daily fact practice. There were many book clubs, five paragraph essays, and daily use of agendas. There were spelling tests and homework. My kid finished the year with a grade level musical. I’m not sure what people are complaining about.

Could you name your ES or the HS pyramid? You got a good one.

Madison Pyramid

Which school? Madison and Thoreau are in free fall. I find it hard to believe. Fcps hasn’t done spelling tests in years. Most elementary schools are not teaching five paragraph essays today or even years ago.

My kids went to Clermont ES which is in the "dreaded Edison pyramid" and did 5 paragraph essays starting in 4th grade. They also did spelling but maybe that has changed. They're in 9th and 10th now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who has been a part of this community for the past 30 years, having attended a different high school within the FCPS system three decades ago, I can deeply understand the emotional significance behind my decision to stretch and buy a home in McLean. Growing up, I held McLean High and Longfellow Middle School in such high regard, considering them the epitome of academic excellence. They represented the schools I aspired for my own children to attend, believing they would provide the same exceptional education and opportunities that I had dreamed of as a child.

So, when the opportunity arose, I made a conscious and deliberate decision to invest in a home in McLean. It was driven by my deep desire to give my children the educational experience that I had always envisioned and hoped for. I believed that by living in McLean, they would have access to the exceptional educational standards and opportunities that I held in such high esteem.

However, it is with a heavy heart that I have witnessed the unfortunate decline of these once highly esteemed schools. The reality of their current state has not lived up to the expectations and dreams I had as a child. The facilities have deteriorated, the teaching quality has suffered, and it is disheartening to see the gap between what was once envisioned and the reality that exists today.

In light of this realization, the decline in quality, and the deliberate actions of the school board, I have made the difficult decision to enroll my younger child in a private school starting in middle school. It is a decision rooted in my deep concern for my child's education and my unwavering desire to provide them with the best possible opportunities for success.

I sincerely hope that the school board takes note of the decline and reevaluates its priorities. It is essential to recognize the importance of maintaining and improving the quality of education in all schools, including those in areas like McLean. Every child deserves access to a high-quality education, regardless of their socioeconomic background. By working towards restoring the excellence that these schools once represented, we can ensure that our children have the exceptional educational experiences they deserve.

A five paragraph word salad that has no special examples of the parts in bold.

And not one bit of evidence supporting any of these statements about the assured decline! Decline in average percentile of SAT scores? Number of APs taken? Art, theater, music awards? Science awards? College outcomes? Where is all this supposed decline? I'm willing to be consider the question, but no one gives data--just "things aren't like I imagined and/or remembered them to be" Given all the demographic changes in the area, I'm impressed by the strength and quality of the school system.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to accept the fact that FCPS is in free fall. There is no fixing it without voting in a school board that will lead, find a competent superintendent, and ensure worthless layers of middle management are eliminated to provide funding to hire and retain excellent teachers.

FCPS uses technology very poorly and burdens teachers with a myriad of non-teaching duties.

Given the political makeup of Fairfax County, that is very likely to happen, so if you have the means it is time to go private.

I have been hearing this complaint since I moved here in 1987. Some people will always believe it. Some will eventually see the light when their kids go off to college and see how well prepared or not they are.

My DD called home the first semester of college to tell me how stupid all the non- NoVA kids were.

On the first day my kid texted me how racist, bigoted, and especially CLASSIST all the NoVA students were when a diverse group sat around the fire pit.

Not surprised. Many FCPS schools, especially the "desirable" ones, have about half of the national average % for African-American demographics. The US's average population is around 13% African-American and schools like Oakton and Woodson have around 6%. Langley and Madison are laughable at <2% Black.

It's also self-fulfilling, if a school is < 2% black than black families who can afford to be there won't want to be there. So it creates a void and keeps the numbers low. That's likely what people at those schools want anyway, if DCUM is any reflection of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to accept the fact that FCPS is in free fall. There is no fixing it without voting in a school board that will lead, find a competent superintendent, and ensure worthless layers of middle management are eliminated to provide funding to hire and retain excellent teachers.

FCPS uses technology very poorly and burdens teachers with a myriad of non-teaching duties.

Given the political makeup of Fairfax County, that is very likely to happen, so if you have the means it is time to go private.

I have been hearing this complaint since I moved here in 1987. Some people will always believe it. Some will eventually see the light when their kids go off to college and see how well prepared or not they are.

My DD called home the first semester of college to tell me how stupid all the non- NoVA kids were.

On the first day my kid texted me how racist, bigoted, and especially CLASSIST all the NoVA students were when a diverse group sat around the fire pit.

Not surprised. Many FCPS schools, especially the "desirable" ones, have about half of the national average % for African-American demographics. The US's average population is around 13% African-American and schools like Oakton and Woodson have around 6%. Langley and Madison are laughable at <2% Black.

It's also self-fulfilling, if a school is < 2% black than black families who can afford to be there won't want to be there. So it creates a void and keeps the numbers low. That's likely what people at those schools want anyway, if DCUM is any reflection of them.

Asian families didn’t expect a party thrown for them before they sought out top pyramids. If Black families want stronger academics for their kids they can follow suit, not self-segregate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to accept the fact that FCPS is in free fall. There is no fixing it without voting in a school board that will lead, find a competent superintendent, and ensure worthless layers of middle management are eliminated to provide funding to hire and retain excellent teachers.

FCPS uses technology very poorly and burdens teachers with a myriad of non-teaching duties.

Given the political makeup of Fairfax County, that is very likely to happen, so if you have the means it is time to go private.

I have been hearing this complaint since I moved here in 1987. Some people will always believe it. Some will eventually see the light when their kids go off to college and see how well prepared or not they are.

My DD called home the first semester of college to tell me how stupid all the non- NoVA kids were.

On the first day my kid texted me how racist, bigoted, and especially CLASSIST all the NoVA students were when a diverse group sat around the fire pit.

Not surprised. Many FCPS schools, especially the "desirable" ones, have about half of the national average % for African-American demographics. The US's average population is around 13% African-American and schools like Oakton and Woodson have around 6%. Langley and Madison are laughable at <2% Black.

FCPS is very diverse and has more Hispanic and Asian kids than most school systems. Black kids aren’t some magic pixie dust that have to be present in large numbers in every school. Obviously Langley and Madison are very “desirable” as they are now.

+1

Also, parents self-select race in SIS. I chose Caucasian for my DC although has Asian heritage from a GGrandparent. My choice. If you can choose your gender…

Consider that Middle Eastern families select Caucasian as there is no other option. We’re missing data points here and many of our so called non diverse HS really are diverse but not FCPS-coveted diverse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who has been a part of this community for the past 30 years, having attended a different high school within the FCPS system three decades ago, I can deeply understand the emotional significance behind my decision to stretch and buy a home in McLean. Growing up, I held McLean High and Longfellow Middle School in such high regard, considering them the epitome of academic excellence. They represented the schools I aspired for my own children to attend, believing they would provide the same exceptional education and opportunities that I had dreamed of as a child.

So, when the opportunity arose, I made a conscious and deliberate decision to invest in a home in McLean. It was driven by my deep desire to give my children the educational experience that I had always envisioned and hoped for. I believed that by living in McLean, they would have access to the exceptional educational standards and opportunities that I held in such high esteem.

However, it is with a heavy heart that I have witnessed the unfortunate decline of these once highly esteemed schools. The reality of their current state has not lived up to the expectations and dreams I had as a child. The facilities have deteriorated, the teaching quality has suffered, and it is disheartening to see the gap between what was once envisioned and the reality that exists today.

In light of this realization, the decline in quality, and the deliberate actions of the school board, I have made the difficult decision to enroll my younger child in a private school starting in middle school. It is a decision rooted in my deep concern for my child's education and my unwavering desire to provide them with the best possible opportunities for success.

I sincerely hope that the school board takes note of the decline and reevaluates its priorities. It is essential to recognize the importance of maintaining and improving the quality of education in all schools, including those in areas like McLean. Every child deserves access to a high-quality education, regardless of their socioeconomic background. By working towards restoring the excellence that these schools once represented, we can ensure that our children have the exceptional educational experiences they deserve.

A five paragraph word salad that has no special examples of the parts in bold.

And not one bit of evidence supporting any of these statements about the assured decline! Decline in average percentile of SAT scores? Number of APs taken? Art, theater, music awards? Science awards? College outcomes? Where is all this supposed decline? I'm willing to be consider the question, but no one gives data--just "things aren't like I imagined and/or remembered them to be" Given all the demographic changes in the area, I'm impressed by the strength and quality of the school system.

I think this data can be found.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who has been a part of this community for the past 30 years, having attended a different high school within the FCPS system three decades ago, I can deeply understand the emotional significance behind my decision to stretch and buy a home in McLean. Growing up, I held McLean High and Longfellow Middle School in such high regard, considering them the epitome of academic excellence. They represented the schools I aspired for my own children to attend, believing they would provide the same exceptional education and opportunities that I had dreamed of as a child.

So, when the opportunity arose, I made a conscious and deliberate decision to invest in a home in McLean. It was driven by my deep desire to give my children the educational experience that I had always envisioned and hoped for. I believed that by living in McLean, they would have access to the exceptional educational standards and opportunities that I held in such high esteem.

However, it is with a heavy heart that I have witnessed the unfortunate decline of these once highly esteemed schools. The reality of their current state has not lived up to the expectations and dreams I had as a child. The facilities have deteriorated, the teaching quality has suffered, and it is disheartening to see the gap between what was once envisioned and the reality that exists today.

In light of this realization, the decline in quality, and the deliberate actions of the school board, I have made the difficult decision to enroll my younger child in a private school starting in middle school. It is a decision rooted in my deep concern for my child's education and my unwavering desire to provide them with the best possible opportunities for success.

I sincerely hope that the school board takes note of the decline and reevaluates its priorities. It is essential to recognize the importance of maintaining and improving the quality of education in all schools, including those in areas like McLean. Every child deserves access to a high-quality education, regardless of their socioeconomic background. By working towards restoring the excellence that these schools once represented, we can ensure that our children have the exceptional educational experiences they deserve.

A five paragraph word salad that has no special examples of the parts in bold.

And not one bit of evidence supporting any of these statements about the assured decline! Decline in average percentile of SAT scores? Number of APs taken? Art, theater, music awards? Science awards? College outcomes? Where is all this supposed decline? I'm willing to be consider the question, but no one gives data--just "things aren't like I imagined and/or remembered them to be" Given all the demographic changes in the area, I'm impressed by the strength and quality of the school system.

I think this data can be found