Underwhelmed by FCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mosby Woods/Luther Jackson/Oakton high poster here. I gave you OUR experience. Has very little to do with anything other than the admin and the teachers. Try to spin it as you may, but we LOVED all 3 schools, and LJ was our kids' favorite! Again, this is OUR experience. Nothing to do with funding or center schools.

The point is it means very little to general ed parents who don't have the option of a center school if their school is declining while these schools are improving. The entire pyramid should be strong.

+100
Personally, I'm really sick and tired of hearing about how great center schools are, when my own children don't have that "option." Why aren't all schools equally good? Why must one have a child in AAP before they can say how "great" their school is? Forget AAP - every school should be excellent, for ALL students.

I agree - FCPS distributes its resources very unevenly. The best of everything goes to AAP, the most resources to special needs, and regular kids are left with nothing. We have language immersion classes with 20 kids from the same country getting a private school education that isn't available to the rest of the county. FCPS is not world class unless you are one of the "special" kids that gets more than average. If you're average, you sit in classes with 35 kids, do work on the lowest common denominator, and probably have an average teacher at best.

I have two children with special needs. I'd trade you every day of the year to have them be average middle of the road kids in an average school with an average teacher. Their road is so much longer and harder.

[Anonymous]

GCTrailRunner wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in the Springfield area, my son is in AAP. I get emails from his teacher, complaining that my son has not turned in this and that..and she would even tell me she would even pull some of her students during lunch time just to complete the task at hand. Having her said that, I was thinking that she was over-loading her students with a lot of task to do at school then. So being in AAP is not all that good I think if you get a teacher who overworks you. Sometimes I do regret sending him to full time AAP because he sometimes just falls asleep after getting off from the bus. Just pray you go to a teacher that is good and at the same time does not treat you as such.

I agree with you - my son goes to SEES and the pressure on them (full time AAP) is ridiculous. His teacher 'says' that they don't get graded on the homework (well whether it has been turned in on time). He is ADHD so he actually DOES his homework and then forgets to turn it in. She does not work with us in regards to that - writes negative comments....just have had issues with this one teacher this entire school year. Hoping we get a better one next year. So back to the ADHD thing - if he forgets something or is late turning in - she will hold him back from recess or lunch...she lets him choose. What the heck kind of choice is that? The kids NEED a break and lunch and recess are the only times they have away from academics...ridiculous.

I suggest you post in the Kids with Special Needs forum here. There are lots of us with kids in elementary school with 504 Plans to support their kids.

Have you submitted a multipurpose referral to start the IEP/504 Plan process?

[GCTrailRunner]

Thanks - I didn't even notice the special needs forum.

[Anonymous]

GCTrailRunner wrote:Thanks - I didn't even notice the special needs forum.

She should not hold him back from lunch or recess. Tell her to send whatever it is home and you'll go over it on the weekend. If she has a problem with that, talk to the principal. It's elementary school, grades don't matter. All that matters is that your child masters the what's being taught.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mosby Woods/Luther Jackson/Oakton high poster here. I gave you OUR experience. Has very little to do with anything other than the admin and the teachers. Try to spin it as you may, but we LOVED all 3 schools, and LJ was our kids' favorite! Again, this is OUR experience. Nothing to do with funding or center schools.

The point is it means very little to general ed parents who don't have the option of a center school if their school is declining while these schools are improving. The entire pyramid should be strong.

+100
Personally, I'm really sick and tired of hearing about how great center schools are, when my own children don't have that "option." Why aren't all schools equally good? Why must one have a child in AAP before they can say how "great" their school is? Forget AAP - every school should be excellent, for ALL students.

I agree - FCPS distributes its resources very unevenly. The best of everything goes to AAP, the most resources to special needs, and regular kids are left with nothing. We have language immersion classes with 20 kids from the same country getting a private school education that isn't available to the rest of the county. FCPS is not world class unless you are one of the "special" kids that gets more than average. If you're average, you sit in classes with 35 kids, do work on the lowest common denominator, and probably have an average teacher at best.

What you mean by "the best of everything"? AAP kids are in the same buildings, use the same facilities and materials....they have AAP certified teachers, but that doesn't mean they are "better" teachers then gen ed teachers. What makes AAP different is that the kids identified as eligible are lumped together - and the curriculum goes faster and a little more in-depth, but otherwise is the same as Gen Ed.

It depends on the school. In some schools the curriculum is watered down for Gen Ed, and the teachers have low expectations of the kids. AAP, is exponentially better compared to those schools. I think there should be honors classes in elementary that are fluid, so kids can go in and out based on ability. I feel bad for the high performing Gen Ed kids who are in those classes with low expectations. The whole argument that honors that young is bad is ridiculous. I like it because any kid willing and able to go the extra mile can be included. I feel our society is so afraid of hurting people's feelings that common sense has gone out the window. My kids are in one of those schools, and it never crossed my mind for a second to leave them there when they were found eligible for level IV.

[Anonymous]

My spouse went to TJ in the 90s, and I went to a private school in the same time frame. Test scores at my private school were probably comparable to TJ. Years later, it's been interesting to see the professional success of our peers. The TJ kids have done well, but my private school peers have done better. Our kids are in private school and will remain there. If you can afford it, the social advantages of private school last a lifetime. Also, my spouse's TJ peers have generally opted for private school too. Their choice is telling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My spouse went to TJ in the 90s, and I went to a private school in the same time frame. Test scores at my private school were probably comparable to TJ. Years later, it's been interesting to see the professional success of our peers. The TJ kids have done well, but my private school peers have done better. Our kids are in private school and will remain there. If you can afford it, the social advantages of private school last a lifetime. Also, my spouse's TJ peers have generally opted for private school too. Their choice is telling.

What nonsense. Your school's test scores almost surely were not comparable to TJ's, and who believes that you've tracked the lives of your classmates and those of your spouse's that carefully? Obviously, private school gave you no social advantages, or you wouldn't be so smug and annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My spouse went to TJ in the 90s, and I went to a private school in the same time frame. Test scores at my private school were probably comparable to TJ. Years later, it's been interesting to see the professional success of our peers. The TJ kids have done well, but my private school peers have done better. Our kids are in private school and will remain there. If you can afford it, the social advantages of private school last a lifetime. Also, my spouse's TJ peers have generally opted for private school too. Their choice is telling.

Gosh, you are special.

I went to public high school in Maryland. Medium-rated.

My husband went to one of the top-rated privates in the country.

Guess what? We make the same good salaries and our peer groups do, too! It's like black magic or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My spouse went to TJ in the 90s, and I went to a private school in the same time frame. Test scores at my private school were probably comparable to TJ. Years later, it's been interesting to see the professional success of our peers. The TJ kids have done well, but my private school peers have done better. Our kids are in private school and will remain there. If you can afford it, the social advantages of private school last a lifetime. Also, my spouse's TJ peers have generally opted for private school too. Their choice is telling.

What nonsense. Your school's test scores almost surely were not comparable to TJ's, and who believes that you've tracked the lives of your classmates and those of your spouse's that carefully? Obviously, private school gave you no social advantages, or you wouldn't be so smug and annoying.

Many TJ grads stayed in the DC area. Between Facebook and LinkedIn, it's not hard to track. There are comparable high schools. For example, St. Albans is in the ballpark. There are others.

Sorry if I sounded smug because that was not my intention. I was trying to offer a different perspective. If you don't believe me, talk to successful TJ grads in their 30s and 40s. More importantly, look where their kids are going.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My spouse went to TJ in the 90s, and I went to a private school in the same time frame. Test scores at my private school were probably comparable to TJ. Years later, it's been interesting to see the professional success of our peers. The TJ kids have done well, but my private school peers have done better. Our kids are in private school and will remain there. If you can afford it, the social advantages of private school last a lifetime. Also, my spouse's TJ peers have generally opted for private school too. Their choice is telling.

What nonsense. Your school's test scores almost surely were not comparable to TJ's, and who believes that you've tracked the lives of your classmates and those of your spouse's that carefully? Obviously, private school gave you no social advantages, or you wouldn't be so smug and annoying.

Many TJ grads stayed in the DC area. Between Facebook and LinkedIn, it's not hard to track. There are comparable high schools. For example, St. Albans is in the ballpark. There are others.

Sorry if I sounded smug because that was not my intention. I was trying to offer a different perspective. If you don't believe me, talk to successful TJ grads in their 30s and 40s. More importantly, look where their kids are going.

You sound both insufferably smug and deeply anxious about your own position in life. No adult who was confident in his/her own success would track high-school acquaintances' "achievement" and "success" (which presumably you define only as high income?) via Facebook and LinkedIn.

[Anonymous]

Elite private schools do tend to have a strong network and interest in helping each other out professionally. I see that in action every recruiting cycle. It's yet another way that people who can't afford $40K/year tuition in high school and then likely more in college are shut out of the elite class over people who came from money.

I grew up middle class and, though hard work, a good connection while I was in college, and just plain luck, moved my station up and get to listen to people talk about people who went to public school, and, god forbid, a PUBLIC UNIVERSITY like they're ignorant, backwoods morons. I mostly just bite my lip, but I know I make more than about half of them despite my "lackluster" education.

I wouldn't be proud of that system. It promotes classism over merit. One of the principles in the consulting company I used to work for called it the "nepotism exchange program".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My spouse went to TJ in the 90s, and I went to a private school in the same time frame. Test scores at my private school were probably comparable to TJ. Years later, it's been interesting to see the professional success of our peers. The TJ kids have done well, but my private school peers have done better. Our kids are in private school and will remain there. If you can afford it, the social advantages of private school last a lifetime. Also, my spouse's TJ peers have generally opted for private school too. Their choice is telling.

I call BS. TJ Class of 1988 was the first selective admission group. People in that group are now mid-40s. I was high school class of 1992 (not TJ), so I am about your spouse's age. I had my 1st DC when I was 27. By DMV standards, I was a teen mother-- like shock the conscious young (IRL, I had been married for several years, and had been working with a grad degree. Also not living I. The DMV). That kid is a freshman at TJ. Many people my age in the DMV have kids still in diapers-- or are trying to get pregnant. Almost no one who graduated with your spouse has children old enough that they are considering whether to apply to TJ vs strong public HS vs private. And deciding TJ vs private is very different than third rate, GS 2 public elementary school vs private. You don't yet know whether TJ alums will have kids attend. Although I do know an alum from one of the first classes who just had a child start, so, it is possible.

Also, admissions and academic standards during TJ's first decade and admissions and academic standards today are totally different. TJ class of 1990 graduated from a quirky experimental magnet program, not an internationally recognized academic powerhouse.

But you keep telling yourself you have a better education than your spouse, and feeling superior to him/her. I bet they love you for looking down on them. The value of a TJ diploma has grown since the 1990s though. I bet today people are most impressed with your speuse's HS pedigree than yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My spouse went to TJ in the 90s, and I went to a private school in the same time frame. Test scores at my private school were probably comparable to TJ. Years later, it's been interesting to see the professional success of our peers. The TJ kids have done well, but my private school peers have done better. Our kids are in private school and will remain there. If you can afford it, the social advantages of private school last a lifetime. Also, my spouse's TJ peers have generally opted for private school too. Their choice is telling.

I call BS. TJ Class of 1988 was the first selective admission group. People in that group are now mid-40s. I was high school class of 1992 (not TJ), so I am about your spouse's age. I had my 1st DC when I was 27. By DMV standards, I was a teen mother-- like shock the conscious young (IRL, I had been married for several years, and had been working with a grad degree. Also not living I. The DMV). That kid is a freshman at TJ. Many people my age in the DMV have kids still in diapers-- or are trying to get pregnant. Almost no one who graduated with your spouse has children old enough that they are considering whether to apply to TJ vs strong public HS vs private. And deciding TJ vs private is very different than third rate, GS 2 public elementary school vs private. You don't yet know whether TJ alums will have kids attend. Although I do know an alum from one of the first classes who just had a child start, so, it is possible.

Also, admissions and academic standards during TJ's first decade and admissions and academic standards today are totally different. TJ class of 1990 graduated from a quirky experimental magnet program, not an internationally recognized academic powerhouse.

But you keep telling yourself you have a better education than your spouse, and feeling superior to him/her. I bet they love you for looking down on them. The value of a TJ diploma has grown since the 1990s though. I bet today people are most impressed with your speuse's HS pedigree than yours.

No adult in the working world is impressed that a colleague has a TJ diploma. I think when you're in the FCPS bubble with kids still in school, you think it's a big deal. Once you leave that phase behind, you realize it's an insignificant bit of information that no one really cares about. It's right up there with being captain of the football team in high school. After high school, no one cares and people think you're pathetic if you actually bring it up.

[Anonymous]

No adult in the working world is impressed that a colleague has a TJ diploma. I think when you're in the FCPS bubble with kids still in school, you think it's a big deal. Once you leave that phase behind, you realize it's an insignificant bit of information that no one really cares about. It's right up there with being captain of the football team in high school. After high school, no one cares and people think you're pathetic if you actually bring it up.

Not sure I agree....I think it is impressive, but only if the person also went to an impressive college. I would consider it odd if someone mentioned it before saying where they attended college.

[Anonymous]

[Up]

Anonymous

We are in a highly rated elementary school. So far (3 three), we are unimpressed with FCPS. We wanted a solid public school system, thus the move the FCPS. We're not pushing our children to go to AAP, we actually prefer they stay at their base school with other kids from the same neighborhood. Overall experience has been so/so. On the one hand, you've got highly competitive parents pushing for their children to transfer to AAP, and a highly motivated PTA that does numerous interesting activities and enrichment programs. However, the general education track seems unimpressive. In fact I went to a public school system that is less reputable that FCPS and felt like the standard and effort was higher. At the parent teacher conference, we were old one of our DC was doing "great." However, she seems to struggle with basic homework that we help her with. A lot of sheets come back ungraded and incomplete. This has been the case for the last 3 years. I get the impression the teachers are overwhelmed with the class size. They have had 26-28 children in a class and 1 teacher except for kindergarten with an instructional aid which made a big difference. Interested what other people have experienced?

There is another explanation. Teachers are not supposed to grade every piece of work. A good teacher does not grade practice work, only work that assesses a student's progress. However,if you feel that your student consistently isn't completing their work, maybe you should ask the teacher for a student study to see if they need special education.