Pine Springs/Luther Jackson/FCHS Pyramid - Any First Hand Experience?

[Anonymous]

We are in this pyramid and our oldest is starting K next year. We have lived in the area for 7 years and like the location, but are unsure about the schools. We have a few visits scheduled but I also wanted to reach out to parents with kids in this school pyramid for some feedback. What was your experience and what are some of the pros/cons that you see with this district? TIA!

[Anonymous]

We are in the same pyramid with a different ES.

My oldest is currently in 4th grade, so no first hand experience with the MS or HS yet, but I have many friends and neighbors with children at both. People seem to universally love Jackson, which I have to say did surprise me given it's reputation. The people I know with kids there love the school, the admins and the teachers. the people I know with kids at FCHS are more acquaintances than friends, but there are several kids in my neighborhood that go there. Again, people seem to like it and I have never heard them complain about the things I hear about on this board (filled with gangs and unsafe).

I think the biggest downside to them is the remarks you will get here and perhaps IRL from people who have no first hand experience with the schools.

I don't anything about Pine Spring.

[Anonymous]

I've only heard good things about Pine Springs, and increasingly positive comments about Jackson.

FCHS is probably a tougher call if you are trying to make a long-term decision about the school pyramid. There are a lot of students assigned to FCHS who transfer to other area high schools, and very few out-of-boundary students who transfer into FCHS. In the current school year, FCHS has a net loss of 103 students, the largest of any HS in the county. What that means in practical terms is that a fair number of your neighbors with kids in high school find a way to send them to other schools. If you don't want to rely on anonymous comments on an internet forum, talk to them and find out why they made that decision.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, PPs - this is helpful. I did hear from some of our neighbors that they transferred their kids out of FCHS, so that is definitely food for thought. We do intend to visit Pine Springs and Jackson at the very least and hopefully get some of our questions answered. We are doing other research as well, this is just another way of trying to find additional input so we can make an informed decision. I really appreciate all your insights, please keep them coming!

[Anonymous]

If you can afford a place in the Marshall or Woodson zones, and like the houses you see, are willing to move, etc., explore that option.

If you can't, don't sweat it, as you'd either have to commute forever from northern PWC/Loudoun/Stafford or go to even worse schools in eastern PWC. Pine Springs/Jackson/Falls Church is not the best pyramid FCPS offers, but "bad by Northern VA standards" is different from "bad by DC/PGC/Baltimore City standards."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you can afford a place in the Marshall or Woodson zones, and like the houses you see, are willing to move, etc., explore that option.

If you can't, don't sweat it, as you'd either have to commute forever from northern PWC/Loudoun/Stafford or go to even worse schools in eastern PWC. Pine Springs/Jackson/Falls Church is not the best pyramid FCPS offers, but "bad by Northern VA standards" is different from "bad by DC/PGC/Baltimore City standards."

If someone can afford a house in the Pine Spring district and wants to move, they have plenty of options in Fairfax County. They could live in an older rambler in the Town of Vienna, or in Burke or Chantilly, for example. Conversely, it might be difficult to find a comparable house in the Marshall district, since houses there tend to be either less expensive and attractive than the Pine Spring area (i.e., Pimmit Hills) or considerably more expensive (i.e., north Vienna/Tysons). But there is no reason to think the poster would have to relocate in PWC, Loudoun or Stafford for good schools.

[Anonymous]

I do not have a child at FCHS, however, I have coached there for six years and have NEVER encountered gang or other such problems. I think that the school has an unfortunate reputation that does not match the current atmosphere at all. The teachers are very involved, the principal is active, and the Activities Department is very dedicated.

[Anonymous]

For those with experience with Jackson, do they see a difference between the general program vs. the AAP program?

[Anonymous]

bump - does anyone have any first-hand experience in this pyramid and would like to share? Thanks!