School Board is Failing – Central High with 80% Poverty is Blowing McLean and Langley Out of the Water

[Anonymous]

The FCPS school board is failing miserably. They’re throwing money at failing schools like Falls Church and Justice, reducing teacher ratios, yet no results. Meanwhile, McLean and Langley, some of the top schools in the state, are being ignored. It’s time for Fairfax County taxpayers to demand better! Why are we funding failure and letting our best schools suffer? Here's the comparison:

Central High: 80.7% poverty, 83.27 score, $5,947 per pupil
McLean High: 12.2% poverty, 78.63 score, $8,768 per pupil
Langley High: 3.9% poverty, 82.25 score, $8,882 per pupil
Falls Church High: 61.4% poverty, 28.94 score, $11,958 per pupil
Justice High: 66.8% poverty, 33.12 score, $11,096 per pupil
It’s time to hold the school board accountable! What are your thoughts?

SchoolDigger Links:
Central High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0408001789/school.aspx
Falls Church High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0126000505/school.aspx
McLean High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0126000517/school.aspx
Langley High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0126000468/school.aspx

[Anonymous]

I think you're a troll if you can't see why schools with a large percentage of students living in poverty would need more funding than schools with high SES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you're a troll if you can't see why schools with a large percentage of students living in poverty would need more funding than schools with high SES.

You are missing the point, Central high has 80% poverty and has higher test scores than mclean and langley.

[Anonymous]

It says that Central High went from 39% free and reduced lunch to 81% free and reduced lunch within a year. Why is that?

The Wise school district does seem to be getting some things right but it's still a little strange why there is such a difference from one year to another. Also, this spending does not include the state spending. Can you show it along with the federal and state spending and then rate it comparatively to the cost of living of these two areas? Also when do the kids take these tests? Its really annoying to have comparisons of Algebra II but kids who take it in 8th grade compared to sophomore year as if it's the same type of student and school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It says that Central High went from 39% free and reduced lunch to 81% free and reduced lunch within a year. Why is that?

The Wise school district does seem to be getting some things right but it's still a little strange why there is such a difference from one year to another. Also, this spending does not include the state spending. Can you show it along with the federal and state spending and then rate it comparatively to the cost of living of these two areas? Also when do the kids take these tests? Its really annoying to have comparisons of Algebra II but kids who take it in 8th grade compared to sophomore year as if it's the same type of student and school.

even at 39%, it's still higher than all the FCPS compared schools. FCPS is doing something wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you're a troll if you can't see why schools with a large percentage of students living in poverty would need more funding than schools with high SES.

You are missing the point, Central high has 80% poverty and has higher test scores than mclean and langley.

Since I cannot view the Schooldigger page, I looked the school up on Wiki. In 2016, it had 600-some students. IOW, a tiny 2A high school compared to the normal-sized (or large) 5A high schools in Fairfax. Apples to oranges. A suburban high school will offer so much more than a tiny high school, there's no comparison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It says that Central High went from 39% free and reduced lunch to 81% free and reduced lunch within a year. Why is that?

The Wise school district does seem to be getting some things right but it's still a little strange why there is such a difference from one year to another. Also, this spending does not include the state spending. Can you show it along with the federal and state spending and then rate it comparatively to the cost of living of these two areas? Also when do the kids take these tests? Its really annoying to have comparisons of Algebra II but kids who take it in 8th grade compared to sophomore year as if it's the same type of student and school.

even at 39%, it's still higher than all the FCPS compared schools. FCPS is doing something wrong.

What scores are you comparing? Post something better, if you want a discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It says that Central High went from 39% free and reduced lunch to 81% free and reduced lunch within a year. Why is that?

The Wise school district does seem to be getting some things right but it's still a little strange why there is such a difference from one year to another. Also, this spending does not include the state spending. Can you show it along with the federal and state spending and then rate it comparatively to the cost of living of these two areas? Also when do the kids take these tests? Its really annoying to have comparisons of Algebra II but kids who take it in 8th grade compared to sophomore year as if it's the same type of student and school.

even at 39%, it's still higher than all the FCPS compared schools. FCPS is doing something wrong.

What scores are you comparing? Post something better, if you want a discussion.

average test scores

[Anonymous]

Also Wise County has a TOTAL of 6000 students and FIVE high schools. That's an insane amount of high schools for a district this small. They should have one high school for a county with this few kids. They have two vocational type schools so they likely weed out all the kids that are not college bound to those schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It says that Central High went from 39% free and reduced lunch to 81% free and reduced lunch within a year. Why is that?

The Wise school district does seem to be getting some things right but it's still a little strange why there is such a difference from one year to another. Also, this spending does not include the state spending. Can you show it along with the federal and state spending and then rate it comparatively to the cost of living of these two areas? Also when do the kids take these tests? Its really annoying to have comparisons of Algebra II but kids who take it in 8th grade compared to sophomore year as if it's the same type of student and school.

even at 39%, it's still higher than all the FCPS compared schools. FCPS is doing something wrong.

What scores are you comparing? Post something better, if you want a discussion.

average test scores

Summative scores? That's a strange comparison.

[Anonymous]

The pass rates are high for math, but the pass advanced rates are pathetic compared to even mediocre FCPS schools

https://schoolquality.virginia.gov/schools/central-high-4#fndtn-desktopTabs-assessments

It seems like they are teaching towards the middle very well. FCPS parents would riot if our schools took that approach.

Also, APs appear to be through virtual virginia
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_NUzWZfZdrQc1Bfemp3T1hEUTQ/view?resourcekey=0--YPjnXpa7soz_xMuR7KwVA
and the participation rate is near zero
https://www.greatschools.org/virginia/norton/1878-Central-High-School/#Advanced_courses


Basically, they are really great at getting their kids to pass sols, and not even a tiny bit more

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It says that Central High went from 39% free and reduced lunch to 81% free and reduced lunch within a year. Why is that?

The Wise school district does seem to be getting some things right but it's still a little strange why there is such a difference from one year to another. Also, this spending does not include the state spending. Can you show it along with the federal and state spending and then rate it comparatively to the cost of living of these two areas? Also when do the kids take these tests? Its really annoying to have comparisons of Algebra II but kids who take it in 8th grade compared to sophomore year as if it's the same type of student and school.

even at 39%, it's still higher than all the FCPS compared schools. FCPS is doing something wrong.

What scores are you comparing? Post something better, if you want a discussion.

Here are some statistics based on the data about test scores, spending, and poverty rates for each school:

Central High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0140
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0136
Spending: $5,947 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 80.7%
Average Test Score: 83.27

McLean High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0090
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0014
Spending: $8,768 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 12.2%
Average Test Score: 78.63

Langley High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0093
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0004
Spending: $8,882 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 3.9%
Average Test Score: 82.25

Falls Church High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0024
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0051
Spending: $11,958 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 61.4%
Average Test Score: 28.94

Justice High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0030
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0060
Spending: $11,096 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 66.8%
Average Test Score: 33.12

Key Insights:
Negative correlation (-0.88) between test scores and spending per pupil indicates that higher spending doesn't necessarily result in higher scores in these schools.
Moderate negative correlation (-0.47) between poverty rate and test scores shows that higher poverty is associated with lower test scores, but not as strongly as spending.

This shows that despite higher spending in schools like Falls Church and Justice High, there is no significant improvement in test scores. In fact, schools with lower spending, like Central High, are outperforming them, which suggests a failure in how FCPS allocates and utilizes its resources.

[Anonymous]

Put all five high schools against a mid-level school in Fairfax with the same number of kids total and then let's analyze these together. Take West Springfield or Centerville against the entire Wise County high schools together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It says that Central High went from 39% free and reduced lunch to 81% free and reduced lunch within a year. Why is that?

The Wise school district does seem to be getting some things right but it's still a little strange why there is such a difference from one year to another. Also, this spending does not include the state spending. Can you show it along with the federal and state spending and then rate it comparatively to the cost of living of these two areas? Also when do the kids take these tests? Its really annoying to have comparisons of Algebra II but kids who take it in 8th grade compared to sophomore year as if it's the same type of student and school.

even at 39%, it's still higher than all the FCPS compared schools. FCPS is doing something wrong.

What scores are you comparing? Post something better, if you want a discussion.

Here are some statistics based on the data about test scores, spending, and poverty rates for each school:

Central High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0140
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0136
Spending: $5,947 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 80.7%
Average Test Score: 83.27

McLean High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0090
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0014
Spending: $8,768 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 12.2%
Average Test Score: 78.63

Langley High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0093
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0004
Spending: $8,882 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 3.9%
Average Test Score: 82.25

Falls Church High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0024
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0051
Spending: $11,958 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 61.4%
Average Test Score: 28.94

Justice High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0030
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0060
Spending: $11,096 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 66.8%
Average Test Score: 33.12

Key Insights:
Negative correlation (-0.88) between test scores and spending per pupil indicates that higher spending doesn't necessarily result in higher scores in these schools.
Moderate negative correlation (-0.47) between poverty rate and test scores shows that higher poverty is associated with lower test scores, but not as strongly as spending.

This shows that despite higher spending in schools like Falls Church and Justice High, there is no significant improvement in test scores. In fact, schools with lower spending, like Central High, are outperforming them, which suggests a failure in how FCPS allocates and utilizes its resources.

This is not the only money going into these schools and likely the cost of teacher salaries and building maintenance is much higher in Fairfax County. Its really important to look at all the spending against cost of living.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It says that Central High went from 39% free and reduced lunch to 81% free and reduced lunch within a year. Why is that?

The Wise school district does seem to be getting some things right but it's still a little strange why there is such a difference from one year to another. Also, this spending does not include the state spending. Can you show it along with the federal and state spending and then rate it comparatively to the cost of living of these two areas? Also when do the kids take these tests? Its really annoying to have comparisons of Algebra II but kids who take it in 8th grade compared to sophomore year as if it's the same type of student and school.

even at 39%, it's still higher than all the FCPS compared schools. FCPS is doing something wrong.

What scores are you comparing? Post something better, if you want a discussion.

Here are some statistics based on the data about test scores, spending, and poverty rates for each school:

Central High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0140
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0136
Spending: $5,947 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 80.7%
Average Test Score: 83.27

McLean High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0090
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0014
Spending: $8,768 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 12.2%
Average Test Score: 78.63

Langley High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0093
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0004
Spending: $8,882 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 3.9%
Average Test Score: 82.25

Falls Church High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0024
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0051
Spending: $11,958 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 61.4%
Average Test Score: 28.94

Justice High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0030
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0060
Spending: $11,096 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 66.8%
Average Test Score: 33.12

Key Insights:
Negative correlation (-0.88) between test scores and spending per pupil indicates that higher spending doesn't necessarily result in higher scores in these schools.
Moderate negative correlation (-0.47) between poverty rate and test scores shows that higher poverty is associated with lower test scores, but not as strongly as spending.

This shows that despite higher spending in schools like Falls Church and Justice High, there is no significant improvement in test scores. In fact, schools with lower spending, like Central High, are outperforming them, which suggests a failure in how FCPS allocates and utilizes its resources.

Average test score is a meaingless number. Your "Key Insights" are meaningless - bad data in, bad data out.