Culture at Carson vs. Franklin

[Anonymous]

I have heard some pretty terrible things from the neighborhood moms at Crossfield that makes me think Franklin may be a better choice for my 6th grader next year. Lots of racist language, unchecked sexism and homophonic slurs among the male students, out of control busses, unchecked discipline issues and a poor relationship between teachers and administrators, and administrators with parents. My child is AAP but no interest in TJ. The parents with kids at Franklin just seem much happier. Am I better skipping the drama and sending my child to Franklin? Or is the AAP program worth the terrible culture?

[Anonymous]

We are in AAP at Carson and DS has not reported any issues. I have heard he and his friends talk about fights, mainly between girls, but not much. One of his friends Moms mentioned to me needing to cntact another Mom because of racist language in a chat. There was an email about racist language last year. No one seems to be overly concerned about the environment at Carson in our friend group and we know people in the AAP and Honors groups. We don't know anone taking regular classes so I cannot speak to those classes. We have not heard of issues on the bus.

We have friends at Franklin who love it there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard some pretty terrible things from the neighborhood moms at Crossfield that makes me think Franklin may be a better choice for my 6th grader next year. Lots of racist language, unchecked sexism and homophonic slurs among the male students, out of control busses, unchecked discipline issues and a poor relationship between teachers and administrators, and administrators with parents. My child is AAP but no interest in TJ. The parents with kids at Franklin just seem much happier. Am I better skipping the drama and sending my child to Franklin? Or is the AAP program worth the terrible culture?

You’ve let someone give you bunch of BS, but stick with Franklin. Carson’s already crowded super competitive, and academically advanced. Franklin’s more laid-back, which might be a better fit for your needs, so just show up and rack up the A’s.

[Anonymous]

We've had kids in AAP at both Carson and Franklin, as well as a kid in regular/honors education at Franklin. Holistically, we have been pleased with Franklin.

Franklin's AAP program is excellent, and the current administration is very good as well. They brought in a new principal last year and two new vice principals this year. It's been a positive change. We've also been very impressed with the Spanish teachers at Franklin.

The only negative we've seen is that Franklin's music program is now extremely small, which is different than when our older kids attended Franklin over the past few years. It's a shame that so few kids sign up for music classes.

[Anonymous]

No experience at Franklin with an AAP kid but my older went for regular honors classes. I was not impressed with my younger’s experience at Carson. They are in high school now and thriving but still are so impacted by the horrific competitive nature of the kids at Carson and their families. There is zero “school culture” — feels like a ton of scarcity mentality and everyone vying to stand out for TJ and be a neuroscientist at 16. Honestly, I found here middle school kids obnoxious and lacking humility. Did not have the same issue in high school or at Franklin. There has been lots of admin turnover at both schools, but at Franklin I think it has been for the better end at Carson it just seems like a patchwork of folks who have no direction. We also found the Carson afterschool programming to almost cater to the competitive individualistic academically driven kids. The wild thing is my daughter scored well above all these kids, got into TJ and elected to go to our local high school just for a break. She’s a sophomore and doing phenomenally.

[Anonymous]

I only have positive things to say about Franklin. The teachers and admins are wonderful and they do a really good job at creating a positive school environment. Mental health seems to be a top priority and the counselors are experienced, understanding and supportive. Yesterday they brought in therapy dogs during the lunch blocks and the kids were able to sign up to spend some time with them.

Regarding music, DD is in chamber orchestra and she really likes it. It’s small but she doesn’t seem to mind that at all. In fact, so far it seems to be a positive because she is getting much more individualized attention.

That said, I think the reason everything is so chill at Franklin is because the TJ-at-all-costs kids self select to go to Carson. Personally, I think Carson is probably a better fit for that cohort anyway so it really works out.

[Anonymous]

DC chose Carson and it’s ok. We also had no interest in tj and asked if DC would choose Franklin instead, but all the close friends chose Carson so DC wanted to do the same. Just let your DC decide.

[Anonymous]

There is a weird entitlement Carson kids have. Many of them think they are smarter than their teachers and are extremely segregated within their own cultures. We went to a diverse elementary school where this was not the case, but in my time volunteering at Carson it is almost disturbing. Zero emphasis on building tolerance and inclusivity. Super anti LGBTQ. It feels like the 90s. By older twins went to Franklin, and it was never like that (one AAP one just run of the mill mix of honors with lower level math).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a weird entitlement Carson kids have. Many of them think they are smarter than their teachers and are extremely segregated within their own cultures. We went to a diverse elementary school where this was not the case, but in my time volunteering at Carson it is almost disturbing. Zero emphasis on building tolerance and inclusivity. Super anti LGBTQ. It feels like the 90s. By older twins went to Franklin, and it was never like that (one AAP one just run of the mill mix of honors with lower level math).

Your personal envy against Carson is showing. FCPS says Carson Middle is their flagship stem school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a weird entitlement Carson kids have. Many of them think they are smarter than their teachers and are extremely segregated within their own cultures. We went to a diverse elementary school where this was not the case, but in my time volunteering at Carson it is almost disturbing. Zero emphasis on building tolerance and inclusivity. Super anti LGBTQ. It feels like the 90s. By older twins went to Franklin, and it was never like that (one AAP one just run of the mill mix of honors with lower level math).

Your personal envy against Carson is showing. FCPS says Carson Middle is their flagship stem school.

Envy against Carson? The PP volunteered at Careon, which implies that he/she had at least one child attend Carson. Why would there be envy?

I work for FCPS. Not once have I heard anyone in Region 1, the AAP office, or Instructional Services refer to ANY school as their "flagship school" or "flagship STEM school." Not once. That would be an incredibly inappropriate thing to say about any school (except TJHSST, of course).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a weird entitlement Carson kids have. Many of them think they are smarter than their teachers and are extremely segregated within their own cultures. We went to a diverse elementary school where this was not the case, but in my time volunteering at Carson it is almost disturbing. Zero emphasis on building tolerance and inclusivity. Super anti LGBTQ. It feels like the 90s. By older twins went to Franklin, and it was never like that (one AAP one just run of the mill mix of honors with lower level math).

Your personal envy against Carson is showing. FCPS says Carson Middle is their flagship stem school.

NP. Where does FCPS say that?

Carson had high TJ admissions for years because so many AAP kids from different pyramids go there.

Once they put AAP at every middle school its claim to fame is gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a weird entitlement Carson kids have. Many of them think they are smarter than their teachers and are extremely segregated within their own cultures. We went to a diverse elementary school where this was not the case, but in my time volunteering at Carson it is almost disturbing. Zero emphasis on building tolerance and inclusivity. Super anti LGBTQ. It feels like the 90s. By older twins went to Franklin, and it was never like that (one AAP one just run of the mill mix of honors with lower level math).

Your personal envy against Carson is showing. FCPS says Carson Middle is their flagship stem school.

It soooo flagship that Science Olympiad was banned for several years. I assume that is also pure envy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard some pretty terrible things from the neighborhood moms at Crossfield that makes me think Franklin may be a better choice for my 6th grader next year. Lots of racist language, unchecked sexism and homophonic slurs among the male students, out of control busses, unchecked discipline issues and a poor relationship between teachers and administrators, and administrators with parents. My child is AAP but no interest in TJ. The parents with kids at Franklin just seem much happier. Am I better skipping the drama and sending my child to Franklin? Or is the AAP program worth the terrible culture?

Crossfield doesn’t feed into Franklin.

[Anonymous]

I had one go through AAP at Carson and I have one doing honors at Franklin. I’m going to be honest, most of the teachers at Franklin seem mediocre. At Carson I felt the teachers were very unique, creative and understood kids better. The Carson teachers seemed to have better credentials too. Carson was also organized and like a well oiled machine. In contrast, we have found Franklin too laid back and unorganized. The kids don’t seem to understand how anything works at the school, including the after school activities.

Franklin also has some bizarre rules such as - kids must go to the gym or cafeteria when they arrive in the am and are only released at 8:25…that’s not enough time to go to lockers. They also can’t go to their lockers before recess to put away their backpacks (backpacks with computers go outside in hot or cold weather and stay on the dirty ground). Kids also aren’t allowed to go to their lockers after lunch - my child reports a high strung teacher always yelling at them when they are simply putting their lunch boxes away in their lockers. Carson encourages locker use which I like. More chances to socialize. I guess Franklin is scared of fights? The kids are more problematic maybe?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard some pretty terrible things from the neighborhood moms at Crossfield that makes me think Franklin may be a better choice for my 6th grader next year. Lots of racist language, unchecked sexism and homophonic slurs among the male students, out of control busses, unchecked discipline issues and a poor relationship between teachers and administrators, and administrators with parents. My child is AAP but no interest in TJ. The parents with kids at Franklin just seem much happier. Am I better skipping the drama and sending my child to Franklin? Or is the AAP program worth the terrible culture?

Crossfield doesn’t feed into Franklin.

I don’t think the OP said her kid goes to Crossfield just that she heard it from them. The lines are all so weird that at one point half our neighborhood had Herndon zip codes and part had Oakton. So it could be that too.