Let's talk about the lower performing schools in FFX

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yup North vs South Arlington Fairfax Style the sorting has commenced

Fairfax really screwed over Annandlae one of the last diverse high performing schools. Now its definently in the lower tier

+1

Although there seems to be some consideration to revisit the boundary change.

But the higher income neighborhoods that were moved out of Annandale to other high schools would now fight against going back to Annandale. Test scores have since gone down at Annandale, and sports teams are now less competitive. (Those same neighborhoods had fought to remain with Annandale, and the former principal wrote a letter in support of the remain campaign warning that middle class support would wane after those neighborhoods left Annandale)

But there are two School Board members (Mason and Braddock Districts) who are not pleased with the boundary change results, and could help steer a boundary change. (There may be other School Board members as well, but those two have been the most vocal in School Board work sessions and meetings.)

I just don't see how the school board can treat neighborhoods like a yo-yo moving them back to Annandale after 5 years and admitting the move was wrong. Is there a limit on how many times a neighborhood can move between schools (within a period of time)?

One relevant precedent is Hayfield/South County. When South County opened, FCPS moved so many kids out of Hayfield that the enrollment and test scores there started to tank. I think FCPS then moved some of those areas back to Hayfield. It was, in effect, an admission FCPS goofed.

Since the dismantling of Annandale occurred under Dale, addressing it now (or soon) wouldn't make Garza and her staff look bad. It might even make them look good. But I do know people in Wakefield Forest now who'd send their kids to Woodson, but go private before sending their kids to Annandale.

Annandale has passed the tipping point unfortunately, and reversing the boundaries and IB transfers would likely do little to reverse the trend set in motion by the boundary change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yup North vs South Arlington Fairfax Style the sorting has commenced

Fairfax really screwed over Annandlae one of the last diverse high performing schools. Now its definently in the lower tier

+1

Although there seems to be some consideration to revisit the boundary change.

But the higher income neighborhoods that were moved out of Annandale to other high schools would now fight against going back to Annandale. Test scores have since gone down at Annandale, and sports teams are now less competitive. (Those same neighborhoods had fought to remain with Annandale, and the former principal wrote a letter in support of the remain campaign warning that middle class support would wane after those neighborhoods left Annandale)

But there are two School Board members (Mason and Braddock Districts) who are not pleased with the boundary change results, and could help steer a boundary change. (There may be other School Board members as well, but those two have been the most vocal in School Board work sessions and meetings.)

I just don't see how the school board can treat neighborhoods like a yo-yo moving them back to Annandale after 5 years and admitting the move was wrong. Is there a limit on how many times a neighborhood can move between schools (within a period of time)?

The actual policy states that, as a general matter, an area shouldn't be redistricted more than once every three years.

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/97KJK54D54F8/$file/P8130.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at Mason Crest. Amazing elementary school, nice neighborhood (Broyhill Crest) with nice SFH's just around 500K. MS sucks but HS not terrible.

+1. Mason Crest parent, here. It's a great school. Involved parents, enthusiastic young teachers, and great administrators. We will miss it as we get out of dodge to avoid Glasgow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at Mason Crest. Amazing elementary school, nice neighborhood (Broyhill Crest) with nice SFH's just around 500K. MS sucks but HS not terrible.

+1. Mason Crest parent, here. It's a great school. Involved parents, enthusiastic young teachers, and great administrators. We will miss it as we get out of dodge to avoid Glasgow.

You think Stuart isn't terrible? The same kids at Glasgow go on to Stuart. I agree you should avoid Glasgow, but I think Stuart is just as bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at Mason Crest. Amazing elementary school, nice neighborhood (Broyhill Crest) with nice SFH's just around 500K. MS sucks but HS not terrible.

+1. Mason Crest parent, here. It's a great school. Involved parents, enthusiastic young teachers, and great administrators. We will miss it as we get out of dodge to avoid Glasgow.

You think Stuart isn't terrible? The same kids at Glasgow go on to Stuart. I agree you should avoid Glasgow, but I think Stuart is just as bad.

And you are basing this on the color of these kids' skin?

Eff off. FCPS has installed far more talented and hardworking administrators at those schools than some of the very average caretakers who've been in charge at schools like Madison and Robinson in recent years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at Mason Crest. Amazing elementary school, nice neighborhood (Broyhill Crest) with nice SFH's just around 500K. MS sucks but HS not terrible.

+1. Mason Crest parent, here. It's a great school. Involved parents, enthusiastic young teachers, and great administrators. We will miss it as we get out of dodge to avoid Glasgow.

You think Stuart isn't terrible? The same kids at Glasgow go on to Stuart. I agree you should avoid Glasgow, but I think Stuart is just as bad.

And you are basing this on the color of these kids' skin?

Eff off. FCPS has installed far more talented and hardworking administrators at those schools than some of the very average caretakers who've been in charge at schools like Madison and Robinson in recent years.

I have a good friend who works at FCPS. They send the best administrators and teachers to those schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at Mason Crest. Amazing elementary school, nice neighborhood (Broyhill Crest) with nice SFH's just around 500K. MS sucks but HS not terrible.

+1. Mason Crest parent, here. It's a great school. Involved parents, enthusiastic young teachers, and great administrators. We will miss it as we get out of dodge to avoid Glasgow.

You think Stuart isn't terrible? The same kids at Glasgow go on to Stuart. I agree you should avoid Glasgow, but I think Stuart is just as bad.

And you are basing this on the color of these kids' skin?

Eff off. FCPS has installed far more talented and hardworking administrators at those schools than some of the very average caretakers who've been in charge at schools like Madison and Robinson in recent years.

I'm actually not basing anything on the color of these kids' skin. No one can ever speak the truth about these schools without being call racist. The teachers are mediocre. The administrators are nice, but that doesn't change the fact that Glasgow and Stuart are not great schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at Mason Crest. Amazing elementary school, nice neighborhood (Broyhill Crest) with nice SFH's just around 500K. MS sucks but HS not terrible.

+1. Mason Crest parent, here. It's a great school. Involved parents, enthusiastic young teachers, and great administrators. We will miss it as we get out of dodge to avoid Glasgow.

You think Stuart isn't terrible? The same kids at Glasgow go on to Stuart. I agree you should avoid Glasgow, but I think Stuart is just as bad.

And you are basing this on the color of these kids' skin?

Eff off. FCPS has installed far more talented and hardworking administrators at those schools than some of the very average caretakers who've been in charge at schools like Madison and Robinson in recent years.

I'm actually not basing anything on the color of these kids' skin. No one can ever speak the truth about these schools without being call racist. The teachers are mediocre. The administrators are nice, but that doesn't change the fact that Glasgow and Stuart are not great schools.

What is your basis to claim the teachers are mediocre? See PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at Mason Crest. Amazing elementary school, nice neighborhood (Broyhill Crest) with nice SFH's just around 500K. MS sucks but HS not terrible.

+1. Mason Crest parent, here. It's a great school. Involved parents, enthusiastic young teachers, and great administrators. We will miss it as we get out of dodge to avoid Glasgow.

You think Stuart isn't terrible? The same kids at Glasgow go on to Stuart. I agree you should avoid Glasgow, but I think Stuart is just as bad.

And you are basing this on the color of these kids' skin?

Eff off. FCPS has installed far more talented and hardworking administrators at those schools than some of the very average caretakers who've been in charge at schools like Madison and Robinson in recent years.

I'm actually not basing anything on the color of these kids' skin. No one can ever speak the truth about these schools without being call racist. The teachers are mediocre. The administrators are nice, but that doesn't change the fact that Glasgow and Stuart are not great schools.

What is your basis to claim the teachers are mediocre? See PP.

Having teachers who post answer keys with clearly wrong answers, have teachers who DC and friends talk about being checked out, having math taught by teacher who had never taught math before....What's the basis of your opinion of the schools?

[Anonymous]

Can anyone tell me how their child is currently doing at Lee? If white and UMC, are there enough students like them to fit in and find their niche?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at Mason Crest. Amazing elementary school, nice neighborhood (Broyhill Crest) with nice SFH's just around 500K. MS sucks but HS not terrible.

+1. Mason Crest parent, here. It's a great school. Involved parents, enthusiastic young teachers, and great administrators. We will miss it as we get out of dodge to avoid Glasgow.

You think Stuart isn't terrible? The same kids at Glasgow go on to Stuart. I agree you should avoid Glasgow, but I think Stuart is just as bad.

And you are basing this on the color of these kids' skin?

Eff off. FCPS has installed far more talented and hardworking administrators at those schools than some of the very average caretakers who've been in charge at schools like Madison and Robinson in recent years.

I'm actually not basing anything on the color of these kids' skin. No one can ever speak the truth about these schools without being call racist. The teachers are mediocre. The administrators are nice, but that doesn't change the fact that Glasgow and Stuart are not great schools.

What is your basis to claim the teachers are mediocre? See PP.

Having teachers who post answer keys with clearly wrong answers, have teachers who DC and friends talk about being checked out, having math taught by teacher who had never taught math before....What's the basis of your opinion of the schools?

Administrators who are some of the best in the region, hard-working teachers who work overtime (ex: weekend SOL workshops), a growing IB program, more competitive sports teams, parents who pupil place their kids there now, and a general sense of optimism that things have been steadily improving ever since Calhoun left and Gros took over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone tell me how their child is currently doing at Lee? If white and UMC, are there enough students like them to fit in and find their niche?

My kids are doing fine. There are many opportunities to participate in activities since Lee is the smallest high school in FCPS. Will they be in the minority? Most definitely. Is this a bad thing? No. I have found the school to be receptive to everyone. Would I change certain things? Sure, but no school is perfect. The principal has made changes for the better (the AVID program and reintroducing some AP classes).

White people avoiding, moving away, and transferring out of Lee has led to a self-fulfilling prophecy since these are typically middle or upper middle class families and they would tend to score better (than say a recent immigrant). So as they left scores have declined. Not exclusive to white families as middle and upper middle class African American, Asian, Indian, etc. families have also started avoiding Lee. Sites like Great Schools have contributed to this downward trend.

The more middle and upper middle class families stay at Lee or move to Lee's neighborhoods the better the school will do. Remember, this is FCPS so the resources to do well are available.

If you don't send your kids to Lee, that will be X less white kids, and if others do the same it will be X + Y white kids less, and so on. What is your fear?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at Mason Crest. Amazing elementary school, nice neighborhood (Broyhill Crest) with nice SFH's just around 500K. MS sucks but HS not terrible.

+1. Mason Crest parent, here. It's a great school. Involved parents, enthusiastic young teachers, and great administrators. We will miss it as we get out of dodge to avoid Glasgow.

You think Stuart isn't terrible? The same kids at Glasgow go on to Stuart. I agree you should avoid Glasgow, but I think Stuart is just as bad.

And you are basing this on the color of these kids' skin?

Eff off. FCPS has installed far more talented and hardworking administrators at those schools than some of the very average caretakers who've been in charge at schools like Madison and Robinson in recent years.

I'm actually not basing anything on the color of these kids' skin. No one can ever speak the truth about these schools without being call racist. The teachers are mediocre. The administrators are nice, but that doesn't change the fact that Glasgow and Stuart are not great schools.

What is your basis to claim the teachers are mediocre? See PP.

Having teachers who post answer keys with clearly wrong answers, have teachers who DC and friends talk about being checked out, having math taught by teacher who had never taught math before....What's the basis of your opinion of the schools?

Administrators who are some of the best in the region, hard-working teachers who work overtime (ex: weekend SOL workshops), a growing IB program, more competitive sports teams, parents who pupil place their kids there now, and a general sense of optimism that things have been steadily improving ever since Calhoun left and Gros took over.

I don't think a growing IB program is a plus for the school. Also, more competitive sports teams mean nothing if the academics aren't where they should be. Yes, things are improving, but the optimism stems from things like becoming fully accredited only about a year ago. Maybe that's something to celebrate for you, but in a school system like FCPS, being fully accredited should be a given, not a cause for celebration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at Mason Crest. Amazing elementary school, nice neighborhood (Broyhill Crest) with nice SFH's just around 500K. MS sucks but HS not terrible.

+1. Mason Crest parent, here. It's a great school. Involved parents, enthusiastic young teachers, and great administrators. We will miss it as we get out of dodge to avoid Glasgow.

You think Stuart isn't terrible? The same kids at Glasgow go on to Stuart. I agree you should avoid Glasgow, but I think Stuart is just as bad.

And you are basing this on the color of these kids' skin?

Eff off. FCPS has installed far more talented and hardworking administrators at those schools than some of the very average caretakers who've been in charge at schools like Madison and Robinson in recent years.

I'm actually not basing anything on the color of these kids' skin. No one can ever speak the truth about these schools without being call racist. The teachers are mediocre. The administrators are nice, but that doesn't change the fact that Glasgow and Stuart are not great schools.

What is your basis to claim the teachers are mediocre? See PP.

Having teachers who post answer keys with clearly wrong answers, have teachers who DC and friends talk about being checked out, having math taught by teacher who had never taught math before....What's the basis of your opinion of the schools?

Administrators who are some of the best in the region, hard-working teachers who work overtime (ex: weekend SOL workshops), a growing IB program, more competitive sports teams, parents who pupil place their kids there now, and a general sense of optimism that things have been steadily improving ever since Calhoun left and Gros took over.

I don't think a growing IB program is a plus for the school. Also, more competitive sports teams mean nothing if the academics aren't where they should be. Yes, things are improving, but the optimism stems from things like becoming fully accredited only about a year ago. Maybe that's something to celebrate for you, but in a school system like FCPS, being fully accredited should be a given, not a cause for celebration.

A larger IB program is a plus at an IB school and stronger sports teams speak to greater student engagement. Given the alternative, the fact that things are improving is good news for all the communities that feed into the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at Mason Crest. Amazing elementary school, nice neighborhood (Broyhill Crest) with nice SFH's just around 500K. MS sucks but HS not terrible.

+1. Mason Crest parent, here. It's a great school. Involved parents, enthusiastic young teachers, and great administrators. We will miss it as we get out of dodge to avoid Glasgow.

You think Stuart isn't terrible? The same kids at Glasgow go on to Stuart. I agree you should avoid Glasgow, but I think Stuart is just as bad.

And you are basing this on the color of these kids' skin?

Eff off. FCPS has installed far more talented and hardworking administrators at those schools than some of the very average caretakers who've been in charge at schools like Madison and Robinson in recent years.

I'm actually not basing anything on the color of these kids' skin. No one can ever speak the truth about these schools without being call racist. The teachers are mediocre. The administrators are nice, but that doesn't change the fact that Glasgow and Stuart are not great schools.

What is your basis to claim the teachers are mediocre? See PP.

Having teachers who post answer keys with clearly wrong answers, have teachers who DC and friends talk about being checked out, having math taught by teacher who had never taught math before....What's the basis of your opinion of the schools?

Administrators who are some of the best in the region, hard-working teachers who work overtime (ex: weekend SOL workshops), a growing IB program, more competitive sports teams, parents who pupil place their kids there now, and a general sense of optimism that things have been steadily improving ever since Calhoun left and Gros took over.

I don't think a growing IB program is a plus for the school. Also, more competitive sports teams mean nothing if the academics aren't where they should be. Yes, things are improving, but the optimism stems from things like becoming fully accredited only about a year ago. Maybe that's something to celebrate for you, but in a school system like FCPS, being fully accredited should be a given, not a cause for celebration.

A larger IB program is a plus at an IB school and stronger sports teams speak to greater student engagement. Given the alternative, the fact that things are improving is good news for all the communities that feed into the school.

It is good news that it's now accredited....Improvement of a really bad school doesn't mean it's a good school.