City of Fairfax vs County Schools

[Anonymous]

Anyone been in both and if given the choice, would you have kids within the city or on the county side? MS and HS if it makes a difference.

[Anonymous]

It's the same - run by FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's the same - run by FCPS.

Yup. No difference.

[Anonymous]

Not true
Fairfax city puts extra money into their schools. The buildings are nicer, they have
More ataff

[Anonymous]

Fairfax City is allowed to have its own school system -- just like Falls Church City. However, Fairfax City just contracts with Fairfax County to operate its schools.

If the city had an independent school system, property values in the city probably would rise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax City is allowed to have its own school system -- just like Falls Church City. However, Fairfax City just contracts with Fairfax County to operate its schools.

If the city had an independent school system, property values in the city probably would rise.

Nah, county kids from Willow Springs ES prop up the Johnson MS and Fairfax HS test scores. Without them the Fairfax schools would be even more mid.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax City taxpayers passed a major bond issue last fall to renovate schools. CIty residents are guaranteed to attend city schools ie we will not be redistricted, except perhaps a tiny number of kids that might switch from one city elementary to the other one. The city will put extra money into certain programs and provides some extra staffing. Providence, KJ and Fairfax have beautiful Libraries. I personally know 3 of the 5 school board members, they listen. We can be hamstrung by FCPS at times but the relationship allows for a smaller feel but still access to county programs such as Academies, Immersion and TJ. Also if Fairfax was it's own high school like Falls Church our teams would also have to go to the Shenandoah Valley to find similar sized schools to play. Taxes would be a lot more expensive for city residents and FCPS would have to fin the space for all of the county kids that would be removed from Fairfax, KJ and Providence. Daniels Run is all City kids.

[Anonymous]

Don’t the Fairfax City schools have more funding for things like science and STEAM labs?

[Anonymous]

I tend to think FCPS is eventually going to sever its relationship with Fairfax City. In the past it was a mutually beneficial relationship because FCPS operated the Fairfax City-owned schools while the schools also served some kids who lived in the county outside Fairfax City. But the requirement that all Fairfax City kids attend the city-owned schools results in weird boundaries in FCPS, and now FCPS is going to gain high school capacity with the acquisition of the KAA building (so will be less dependent on the capacity provided by the Fairfax City-owned schools). There are already a lot of people in the county zoned for Fairfax HS who are much closer to Centreville HS and would rather be zoned there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I tend to think FCPS is eventually going to sever its relationship with Fairfax City. In the past it was a mutually beneficial relationship because FCPS operated the Fairfax City-owned schools while the schools also served some kids who lived in the county outside Fairfax City. But the requirement that all Fairfax City kids attend the city-owned schools results in weird boundaries in FCPS, and now FCPS is going to gain high school capacity with the acquisition of the KAA building (so will be less dependent on the capacity provided by the Fairfax City-owned schools). There are already a lot of people in the county zoned for Fairfax HS who are much closer to Centreville HS and would rather be zoned there.

I suppose this is a definite possibility, but they will have to figure out what to do with all the elementary kids at Providence from Oakton Park and Fairfax Village apartments as those are not in the city. That is about three busloads of kids. Also new housing going in at the ATT site and across from Oakmont Rec, both of which were office buildings. I suppose they could overcrowd Oakton and crowd Mosaic again. County wouldn't have this issue if Blake Lane E.S. had been built instead of a dog park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's the same - run by FCPS.

This is not true

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax City is allowed to have its own school system -- just like Falls Church City. However, Fairfax City just contracts with Fairfax County to operate its schools.

If the city had an independent school system, property values in the city probably would rise.

Nah, county kids from Willow Springs ES prop up the Johnson MS and Fairfax HS test scores. Without them the Fairfax schools would be even more mid.

Willow Springs is a crap school don't fool yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax City is allowed to have its own school system -- just like Falls Church City. However, Fairfax City just contracts with Fairfax County to operate its schools.

If the city had an independent school system, property values in the city probably would rise.

Nah, county kids from Willow Springs ES prop up the Johnson MS and Fairfax HS test scores. Without them the Fairfax schools would be even more mid.

Willow Springs is a crap school don't fool yourself.

Willow springs is absolutely wonderful! How would you know? Did your child attend and have a terrible experience?

[Anonymous]

Why does Fairfax City have a superintendent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax City taxpayers passed a major bond issue last fall to renovate schools. CIty residents are guaranteed to attend city schools ie we will not be redistricted, except perhaps a tiny number of kids that might switch from one city elementary to the other one. The city will put extra money into certain programs and provides some extra staffing. Providence, KJ and Fairfax have beautiful Libraries. I personally know 3 of the 5 school board members, they listen. We can be hamstrung by FCPS at times but the relationship allows for a smaller feel but still access to county programs such as Academies, Immersion and TJ. Also if Fairfax was it's own high school like Falls Church our teams would also have to go to the Shenandoah Valley to find similar sized schools to play. Taxes would be a lot more expensive for city residents and FCPS would have to fin the space for all of the county kids that would be removed from Fairfax, KJ and Providence. Daniels Run is all City kids.

+1 We've been very happy with the Fairfax City schools (Daniels Run, KJ, Fairfax HS). Sometimes it would be nice to have a little more local control (like being able to open for snow before the entire rest of the county was plowed), but overall, it's nice to have the resources of the bigger county with local feel and extras the city is able to add to the schools.