World Language transfer request for HS
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Anonymous
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Was this option removed recently? My child is currently in middle school, and we had planned to request a world language transfer to a different high school because the language is not offered at our zoned high school. However, when I attempted to request this via the transfer portal, I don’t see a way to submit this request. I’m wondering whether this process has changed or if there is another mechanism to make this request.
If this option is no longer available, is there an alternative pathway for a student to take the intended language? My child has a strong interest in pursuing this language in high school, so I’d appreciate guidance on what options may still be available. |
Anonymous
| We are also hoping to transfer for this reason and did not see this option either. I thought it might be because my DC is already a freshman but perhaps not. |
Anonymous
| I emailed DCs guidance counselor and hopefully will hear back soon. |
Anonymous
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They updated the policy recently to start enforcing the no transfers into closed high schools rule.
That policy has been in place for decades. But FCPS wasn't enforcing it, not even at overcrowded schools that have officially been closed to transfers for years, such as WSHS. So if, for example, you are trying to use the language loophole to transfer into WSHS for German, it sounds like you are out of luck. Many people will be very grateful to hear that FCPS is stopping transfers into that closed school, if they are indeed disallowing new German language transfers going forward. If you are trying to switch into a school with capacity, such as Lake Braddock for Japanese, then I am not sure if the transfers are still allowed. They might be locking down the entire high school transfer system after the rezoning outcry, where abuse of the foreign language transfers and IB loophole transfers was a huge point of contention. What language and school are you trying to transfer into? |
Anonymous
I doubt that FCPS would allow a sophomore to use the language transfer loophole to start a new language. |
Anonymous
They could probably take an online option. Or, you could ask for your student to be allowed to go to the school for just one period like students do for academy classes, then return to your neighborhood school for everything else. You would need to provide transportation to and fro, which can be a hassle, but if your kid has a strong interest in the language the hassle might be worth it to you. |
Anonymous
What about IB to AP for that language DC is already taking? The closest AP option does not have the language. |
Anonymous
| The language transfer option was removed in the past month. It’s a shame that so many people seem to have abused that option, and now kids who legitimately have an interest in a particular language won’t be able to transfer. |
Anonymous
“Abused” that option? Why is this worse than using the remaining option of IB/AP transfers? |
Anonymous
How do you distinguish between abuse and a legitimate interest in a language? The elimination of the foreign language transfer option was a major goal of Robyn Lady. She can barely speak English, so of course she looks at kids transferring to take a foreign language with suspicion. It’s a shame she didn’t just retire and go play golf with the rest of her crowd. |
Anonymous
If she is already taking the language at her current school, fcps won't let her transfer to a different school since her school already offers the language. She could transfer using the IB loophole, but only if the receiving school is open to transfers. For example, you cannot use IB to AP to transfer into WSHS, but you might be able to use it to transfer into South County. Fcps is also adding more AP classes to IB schools with high transfer out rates like Lewis, to eliminate the hemorrhaging of high performing students out of those schools. I have been following the school board intently on anything rezoning related. It sounds like the rezoning brought to light the glaring issues of families abusing high school transfer loopholes, along with the absolute gutting of high performing students out of schools like Lewis due to these loopholes. FCPS is trying to stop the hemorrhaging of high performing students going forward, by adding more AP classes to these low pefforming schools, ending the IB transfer loophole. They are also going to add AAP level 4 to schools like Key so high schools like Lewis stop losing all their high performing AAP students to other high schools because the AAP kids want to stay with their AAP friends in other pyramids. I am assuming, perhaps incorrectly, that your family is zoned for Lewis or a school like Lewis. Look at your high school course offerings for next year. If your school is now offering all the underclassmen AP classes, such as AP World History, Computer Science and Human Geography, and has increased some of the upperclassmen AP options, such as adding AP Lang, Chemistry or Biology, US History and AB Calculus (traditional 11th grade offerings), then it is very likely that they are phasing out the IB to AP transfer loophole for your school, and that freshman/sophomore IB to AP transfers will no longer be allowed since you can now get all of the available AP classes offered at every AP high school for 9th and 10th grades at your zoned high school. This would be a huge step in the right direction, especially for students zoned to a school like Lewis that loses around 15% of its students, all higher performing, every school year. |
Anonymous
It is not worse, but it is easier to halt the language transfers quickly since the base high school can offer the desired language online or remotely. IB elimination involves an entire program where the classes are multi year courses, so phasing out or completely restructuring IB to only 1-2 high schools will take a couple years. |
Anonymous
| OP here. So if the option has been removed yet the child still wants to take the language course and the course isn't available via FCPS Online or Virtual VA, what are the options for the child? My child is interested in Russian and we are in the Mclean HS district so we weren't thinking of doing this solely to get to Langley (because there's no difference in my mind between the two, except for capacity issues which I don't consider excessive) but my kid really wants to add Russian as a language when he gets to high school. What are the options on this? |
Anonymous
OP here: can you explain how this is achieved? FCPS Online doesn't offer all languages. So are we talking about a paid private class? |
Anonymous
Demand an online option. Langley should not be allowed to offer a language in person that isn’t available online, and then not be allowed to accept pupil placements from students from other schools interested in that language. That’s the definition of inequitable access to programming. Take this up with both Robyn Lady and Karl Frisch. They should at least occasionally be expected to do their jobs. |