Happier After Move Away from FCPS/Fairfax County?

[Anonymous]

Looking for anecdotes from people who moved out of Fairfax County specifically to avoid FCPS and the politics of FCPS. Increasingly, I find myself despondent about living in this county with its wretchedly bad county government and schools system, and thinking we'd be happier elsewhere.

Or is every school system/School Board as bad (incompetent, hypocritical, etc.) as the Fairfax County School Board? Comparisons with other specific jurisdictions would be most welcome.

[Anonymous]

I have a senior and sophomore in high school right now. They go to two separate high schools. Both schools are with FCPS. What issues are there? Senior is doing just great. Played sports. Good academics to get him into MOST of the schools of his choice. Didn't get into UVA but did get into the others. Waiting on Va Tech. Happy kid. Likes school in general. Sophomore is even happier. Lots of friends. Plays sports. Social. In a club. Good grades. Likes his teachers and APs. The only thing that frustrated us but really didn't affect us was that Hayfield football scandal. Other than that, everything is just fine. What bothers you? Maybe my head is just in the sand.

[Anonymous]

Depends where you're planning to move. We moved from ACPS (Alexandria) to FCPS to get away from the schools and school board there.

[Anonymous]

I think in other areas people just aren't dialed in as much. My friends who live in smaller towns don't have any options or choices beyond the one high school in town, so there's no concept of, "it's not fair, those kids get xyz".

Here we so often fall victime to the adage "comparison is the theif of joy"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think in other areas people just aren't dialed in as much. My friends who live in smaller towns don't have any options or choices beyond the one high school in town, so there's no concept of, "it's not fair, those kids get xyz".

Here we so often fall victime to the adage "comparison is the theif of joy"

very good point.

Also, grass is always greener.

We moved from a high income area out west. Schools there also had issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a senior and sophomore in high school right now. They go to two separate high schools. Both schools are with FCPS. What issues are there? Senior is doing just great. Played sports. Good academics to get him into MOST of the schools of his choice. Didn't get into UVA but did get into the others. Waiting on Va Tech. Happy kid. Likes school in general. Sophomore is even happier. Lots of friends. Plays sports. Social. In a club. Good grades. Likes his teachers and APs. The only thing that frustrated us but really didn't affect us was that Hayfield football scandal. Other than that, everything is just fine. What bothers you? Maybe my head is just in the sand.

Please do not clutter up this thread with posts that are not responsive. We are fed up and want to hear about people who specifically moved to get away from FCPS.

[Anonymous]

We moved down to the Norfolk area. I specifically chose Chesapeake rather than Virginia Beach because in my experience, part of the issues with FCPS stemmed from the fact that it was just so big and bureaucratic. I prefer a smaller school system where it feels like there is more accountability, fewer schools, easier to know the players -- including folks on the school board, school principals. It also seems like it's easier and less bureaucratic to implement change in a smaller school district. But then again I grew up in a small town, so that just seemed like common sense to me. I also felt that when our kids came in in third grade and they had missed deadlines for certain programs (summer gifted program, etc.) it was much easier to ask for an exception to policy and some consideration and to not be told "I'm sorry, but the regulations require . .. "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved down to the Norfolk area. I specifically chose Chesapeake rather than Virginia Beach because in my experience, part of the issues with FCPS stemmed from the fact that it was just so big and bureaucratic. I prefer a smaller school system where it feels like there is more accountability, fewer schools, easier to know the players -- including folks on the school board, school principals. It also seems like it's easier and less bureaucratic to implement change in a smaller school district. But then again I grew up in a small town, so that just seemed like common sense to me. I also felt that when our kids came in in third grade and they had missed deadlines for certain programs (summer gifted program, etc.) it was much easier to ask for an exception to policy and some consideration and to not be told "I'm sorry, but the regulations require . .. "

Thanks for sharing. That resonates with me. FCPS just seems too big and impersonal. It would be OK if it were still well managed, but when it's big, impersonal, and lacking in common sense it starts to really weigh on you. I'm not cheap but I've really started to hate paying taxes here knowing the money often won't be well spent.

[Anonymous]

My SIL moved to Katy, Texas and away from FCPS due to a job relocation, and has been happy there. Their school district is large, and individual schools massive, so there is no change in terms of bureaucracy, and she feels that the education is on par with what you get here, just FAR more competitive of an environment.

[Anonymous]

Not me, but a friend moved to a good school district a few states south. They are so happy to be away from the politics and the insane academic competition. And I am jealous when I talk to them.

[Anonymous]

Moved to NJ for a job. Schools are better but property taxes are *way* more.

[Anonymous]

LOL. My sister moved to Alabama bc she didn’t like things being “forced on her kids” by the schools.

Now they have Christmas music performances and watch Jesus films. (They don’t even attend church…yet) They have to take agriculture classes. And their schools are 97% white.

I’ll take FCPS any day.

[Anonymous]

There are so many options in FCPS. Our kids were in private schools so we did not even focus on public, until we did. We went to just take a look (Robinson) and the option our kids had at their disposal was astounding. One is still at Terra Center and 2 in HS and we could not be happier. We have hard all the negatives and complaints but they do not affect our kids. We have found teachers and administrators are responsive when issues arise. Overall happy and saving $$

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL. My sister moved to Alabama bc she didn’t like things being “forced on her kids” by the schools.

Now they have Christmas music performances and watch Jesus films. (They don’t even attend church…yet) They have to take agriculture classes. And their schools are 97% white.

I’ll take FCPS any day.

Sometimes the grass does seem greener on the other side. Right now the grass in FCPS looks pretty yellow and heavily pissed on to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Moved to NJ for a job. Schools are better but property taxes are *way* more.

I imagine the school system is are MUCH smaller, so you're getting a more "bespoke" experience akin to a private school, but have to pay for it. FCPS is just a massive, senseless bureaucracy.