Move from MCPS to FCPS

[Anonymous]

We are currently in MCPS system, and the boundary rezone and regional programs seem to us is a mess and going to the wrong direction. We may consider to move to FCPS when kids in MS, a few years after. I have come across some posts here talking about FCPS boundary rezone and others. Can someone summarize it to me after all these FCPS rezone and changes (when will that happen?) , which areas and schools should be avoided and recommended? We are targeting mostly mainly great and nice HS areas. Background is that I have 2 IEP kids, but one doing great in a academic, and one has learning disabilities.

[Anonymous]

There are various draft proposals. Some large scale rezoning is likely - just as in MCPS. I would wait until after that FCPS rezoning process concludes before buying a house.

[Anonymous]

Buy near Langley HS. McLean HS is going downhill fast.

[Anonymous]

FCPS has as much as problems in MCPS. Current boundary review is mainly fixing split feeder elementary schools and would have minor impacts on most families.

There is a pending high school opening in Chantilly and its boundary is uncertain. If you want certainty you can just avoid that area. The pending HS is next to Carson Middle School.


But in general, schools are great in wealthy areas such as Great Falls, McLean, Vienna, Oakton.

Second tier is West Springfield, Burke, Chantilly. These schools are middle class and sometimes benefit from hard driving immigrant families.

Those schools inside Beltway (Falls Church, Annandale, and south of Beltway, (Lewis, Mount Vernon etc) are working class and worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are various draft proposals. Some large scale rezoning is likely - just as in MCPS. I would wait until after that FCPS rezoning process concludes before buying a house.

When will FCPS rezone process end?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are various draft proposals. Some large scale rezoning is likely - just as in MCPS. I would wait until after that FCPS rezoning process concludes before buying a house.

When will FCPS rezone process end?

Given how often FCPS sets a deadline and then extends it, I'm not sure anyone can reasonably say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are various draft proposals. Some large scale rezoning is likely - just as in MCPS. I would wait until after that FCPS rezoning process concludes before buying a house.

When will FCPS rezone process end?

Agree that FCPS likes to extend deadlines.

I will be surprised if it ends before the 2027-2028 school year.

McLean HS zone is likely to change some, so I would not consider that zone a "safe" place to buy right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has as much as problems in MCPS. Current boundary review is mainly fixing split feeder elementary schools and would have minor impacts on most families.

There is a pending high school opening in Chantilly and its boundary is uncertain. If you want certainty you can just avoid that area. The pending HS is next to Carson Middle School.


But in general, schools are great in wealthy areas such as Great Falls, McLean, Vienna, Oakton.

Second tier is West Springfield, Burke, Chantilly. These schools are middle class and sometimes benefit from hard driving immigrant families.

Those schools inside Beltway (Falls Church, Annandale, and south of Beltway, (Lewis, Mount Vernon etc) are working class and worse.

Langley and McLean high schools are inside the Beltway and both are considered strong overall. There are other popular inside-the-beltway high schools but they are in other districts, so not in FCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has as much as problems in MCPS. Current boundary review is mainly fixing split feeder elementary schools and would have minor impacts on most families.

There is a pending high school opening in Chantilly and its boundary is uncertain. If you want certainty you can just avoid that area. The pending HS is next to Carson Middle School.


But in general, schools are great in wealthy areas such as Great Falls, McLean, Vienna, Oakton.

Second tier is West Springfield, Burke, Chantilly. These schools are middle class and sometimes benefit from hard driving immigrant families.

Those schools inside Beltway (Falls Church, Annandale, and south of Beltway, (Lewis, Mount Vernon etc) are working class and worse.

Langley and McLean high schools are inside the Beltway and both are considered strong overall. There are other popular inside-the-beltway high schools but they are in other districts, so not in FCPS

Marshall is inside the Beltway. So are Annandale, Falls Church, and Justice, although I'm guessing you don't consider them "popular."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has as much as problems in MCPS. Current boundary review is mainly fixing split feeder elementary schools and would have minor impacts on most families.

There is a pending high school opening in Chantilly and its boundary is uncertain. If you want certainty you can just avoid that area. The pending HS is next to Carson Middle School.


But in general, schools are great in wealthy areas such as Great Falls, McLean, Vienna, Oakton.

Second tier is West Springfield, Burke, Chantilly. These schools are middle class and sometimes benefit from hard driving immigrant families.

Those schools inside Beltway (Falls Church, Annandale, and south of Beltway, (Lewis, Mount Vernon etc) are working class and worse.

Langley and McLean high schools are inside the Beltway and both are considered strong overall. There are other popular inside-the-beltway high schools but they are in other districts, so not in FCPS

Marshall is inside the Beltway. So are Annandale, Falls Church, and Justice, although I'm guessing you don't consider them "popular."

All are fine schools. Marshall is highly regarded and just inside the beltway too. In terms of test scores, Marshall, McLean, and Langley rank the highest for the inside the beltway FCPS schools. Annandale, Falls Church, and Justice may not be as highly ranked but they have strong community support.

OP can look at all those schools and neighborhoods for herself to see what best works for her family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are various draft proposals. Some large scale rezoning is likely - just as in MCPS. I would wait until after that FCPS rezoning process concludes before buying a house.

When will FCPS rezone process end?

The new boundary policy requires a comprehensive review at least every five years. Do not move to Fairfax county unless your kids are in the last couple of years of high school, unless you want to risk being moved as part of that cyclical review.

In fact, don’t move to Fairfax county if you care about schools, because the continual boundary review is going to significantly impact a lot of the top schools.

Don’t say you weren’t warned.

[Anonymous]

Y'all are so weird. All of these schools are fine, but anyone who would move from MCPS to FCPC is nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are currently in MCPS system, and the boundary rezone and regional programs seem to us is a mess and going to the wrong direction. We may consider to move to FCPS when kids in MS, a few years after. I have come across some posts here talking about FCPS boundary rezone and others. Can someone summarize it to me after all these FCPS rezone and changes (when will that happen?) , which areas and schools should be avoided and recommended? We are targeting mostly mainly great and nice HS areas. Background is that I have 2 IEP kids, but one doing great in a academic, and one has learning disabilities.

FCPS is a hot mess....sad but true and it's across the county.

[Anonymous]

Boundary vote is in Jan so after that we will know at least for next 5 years

[Anonymous]

DP. None will agree with this, but I might move our kids from MCPS to Arlington (APS). If we wanted IB for HS, then I would also look at Falls Church City (FCCPS). Arlington Tech is an interesting option school for a STEM student, and APS also sends students to TJ each year.

I would not move to FCPS or to Alexandria City (ACPS). APS is not perfect, but it is the best option inside the beltway. It is smaller than FCPS, so less badly managed.