Positives of FCPS

[Anonymous]

Op is a plant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you see it all the time. There are so many harsh critics of FCPS hiding behind anonymity. You asked for positives. They offered negatives. As someone who grew up in another state, I see how good we have it here. No it's not perfect. No system is, including private.

We have one in AAP since 3rd and one in Gen Ed. Both are receiving a fabulous education targeted just for them. We have only experienced ES and MS so far. We've had opportunities to move for work. We have decided to stay put in FCPS until the kids finish school. We have not considered private (although we did do private K), but we know others who have considered private then chose FCPS and were very happy with the decision. Our positives are:

Fantastic, energetic, and dedicated teachers and administrators. I see the teachers constantly learning and adding to their skill sets. I also have seen a good teacher support/mentor network.

Good, creative, and interesting curriculum and extensions where warranted.

Pull outs for more rigorous and challenging work where warranted.

Special services, e.g., IEPs, speech, reading, etc., where needed.

Good, safe environment.

Engaged parents and dynamic PTAs.

Many before and after school opportunities for no or minimal cost.

Diverse community, teaching our children the very important skill of how to interact with all kinds of people - people from other countries and other parts of this country, poor people, rich people, brilliant people, physically disabled people, people challenged in other ways, those just learning English. What a tapestry we have in FCPS!

The ability for practically all types of kids to find their clique.

Any kind of academic team you can think of.

Top notch sports teams in many different sports.

Pyramid structure breaks down the hugeness of FCPS into a real community feel for ES through HS. So, even though FCPS is an enormous school system, those schools on the other side of the county might as well be in southern VA.

I honestly don't know what else people are expecting. My kids have had small class sizes and larger class sizes. They learned just the same and it doesn't seem to phase the kids. What you won't find in FCPS or any other public school is the system coddling the parents. Maybe that's why so many DCUM posters feel let down and the need for private. While not perfect, I believe FCPS is doing a great job of meeting the needs of the most children possible within the constrains imposed upon it. My kids are not being denied a good education because of the challenges facing FCPS. I say don't listen to the negativity, give it a try, and judge for yourself.

Since you think it's so great, why don't you mention your ES, MS, and HS? Many people don't hide behind anonymity and at least name their own schools here or if they do it's just because they fear retribution.

I'll do that (not the PP).

Orange Hunt
Irving
WSHS

Orange Hunt has an immersion program. They get smaller class sizes because of this. Orange Hunt as far as I know has not had classes over 30 like many other FCPS schools. Also, it has no LLIV or AAP program so it doesn't have to deal with any differentiation. The only differentiation they say they provide is advanced math in 5th and 6th grades which isn't much. Looking on great schools, many people do not have positive things to say about the school. The entire PTA board resigned? Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you see it all the time. There are so many harsh critics of FCPS hiding behind anonymity. You asked for positives. They offered negatives. As someone who grew up in another state, I see how good we have it here. No it's not perfect. No system is, including private.

We have one in AAP since 3rd and one in Gen Ed. Both are receiving a fabulous education targeted just for them. We have only experienced ES and MS so far. We've had opportunities to move for work. We have decided to stay put in FCPS until the kids finish school. We have not considered private (although we did do private K), but we know others who have considered private then chose FCPS and were very happy with the decision. Our positives are:

Fantastic, energetic, and dedicated teachers and administrators. I see the teachers constantly learning and adding to their skill sets. I also have seen a good teacher support/mentor network.
I
Good, creative, and interesting curriculum and extensions where warranted.

Pull outs for more rigorous and challenging work where warranted.

Special services, e.g., IEPs, speech, reading, etc., where needed.

Good, safe environment.

Engaged parents and dynamic PTAs.

Many before and after school opportunities for no or minimal cost.

Diverse community, teaching our children the very important skill of how to interact with all kinds of people - people from other countries and other parts of this country, poor people, rich people, brilliant people, physically disabled people, people challenged in other ways, those just learning English. What a tapestry we have in FCPS!

The ability for practically all types of kids to find their clique.

Any kind of academic team you can think of.

Top notch sports teams in many different sports.

Pyramid structure breaks down the hugeness of FCPS into a real community feel for ES through HS. So, even though FCPS is an enormous school system, those schools on the other side of the county might as well be in southern VA.

I honestly don't know what else people are expecting. My kids have had small class sizes and larger class sizes. They learned just the same and it doesn't seem to phase the kids. What you won't find in FCPS or any other public school is the system coddling the parents. Maybe that's why so many DCUM posters feel let down and the need for private. While not perfect, I believe FCPS is doing a great job of meeting the needs of the most children possible within the constrains imposed upon it. My kids are not being denied a good education because of the challenges facing FCPS. I say don't listen to the negativity, give it a try, and judge for yourself.

Since you think it's so great, why don't you mention your ES, MS, and HS? Many people don't hide behind anonymity and at least name their own schools here or if they do it's just because they fear retribution.

I'll do that (not the PP).

Orange Hunt
Irving
WSHS

Orange Hunt has an immersion program. They get smaller class sizes because of this. Orange Hunt as far as I know has not had classes over 30 like many other FCPS schools. Also, it has no LLIV or AAP program so it doesn't have to deal with any differentiation. The only differentiation they say they provide is advanced math in 5th and 6th grades which isn't much. Looking on great schools, many people do not have positive things to say about the school. The entire PTA board resigned? Why?

08:45 asked for someone to name schools people were happy with. I did, so why knock it?

Every school differentiates. Differentiation is not just enrichment.

My DD is now in HS. Other than a few instances and teachers, we have been very happy with the three schools. I don't know about the current ES PTA, sorry. I just looked at the first page of comments on GS and the majority look pretty good.

[Anonymous]

I'm glad you've been happy, but obviously others at your school are not. Possibly your child has been through better years than what people are seeing now? FCPS has reduced teachers many times over the last 5 years. I'm not sure what it's like at your high school, but ours has huge class sizes and this problem repeats itself all the way down to the elementary level. It's concerning to parents that there could be issues for all 13 years of a child's schooling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad you've been happy, but obviously others at your school are not.

It's just as obvious that others (perhaps a larger percentage) are/were happy.

It hasn't been perfect, but I find it difficult to believe that anyone has "issues" for all 13 years of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad you've been happy, but obviously others at your school are not.

It's just as obvious that others (perhaps a larger percentage) are/were happy.

It hasn't been perfect, but I find it difficult to believe that anyone has "issues" for all 13 years of school.

+1000. Obviously, there is a Fairfax/FCPS basher on the thread who doesn't want to accept the views of those reporting positive experiences. It was clear you were discussing your own experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad you've been happy, but obviously others at your school are not.

It's just as obvious that others (perhaps a larger percentage) are/were happy.

It hasn't been perfect, but I find it difficult to believe that anyone has "issues" for all 13 years of school.

+1000. Obviously, there is a Fairfax/FCPS basher on the thread who doesn't want to accept the views of those reporting positive experiences. It was clear you were discussing your own experience.

She was not just discussing her positive experience. She was saying that FCPS does not cater to parents and basically dismissing anyone who has ever had an issue with FCPS. My child hasn't been in a class under 28 since the start of school. Yes, I can see there could be issues through all 13 years of schooling.

[Anonymous]

What you won't find in FCPS or any other public school is the system coddling the parents. Maybe that's why so many DCUM posters feel let down and the need for private.

This was the comment I found patronizing. And while PP's children may have done fine in large classes, many children do not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad you've been happy, but obviously others at your school are not.

It's just as obvious that others (perhaps a larger percentage) are/were happy.

It hasn't been perfect, but I find it difficult to believe that anyone has "issues" for all 13 years of school.

+1000. Obviously, there is a Fairfax/FCPS basher on the thread who doesn't want to accept the views of those reporting positive experiences. It was clear you were discussing your own experience.

She was not just discussing her positive experience. She was saying that FCPS does not cater to parents and basically dismissing anyone who has ever had an issue with FCPS.

I didn't read any of that into the above. How did you get that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you see it all the time. There are so many harsh critics of FCPS hiding behind anonymity. You asked for positives. They offered negatives. As someone who grew up in another state, I see how good we have it here. No it's not perfect. No system is, including private.

We have one in AAP since 3rd and one in Gen Ed. Both are receiving a fabulous education targeted just for them. We have only experienced ES and MS so far. We've had opportunities to move for work. We have decided to stay put in FCPS until the kids finish school. We have not considered private (although we did do private K), but we know others who have considered private then chose FCPS and were very happy with the decision. Our positives are:

Fantastic, energetic, and dedicated teachers and administrators. I see the teachers constantly learning and adding to their skill sets. I also have seen a good teacher support/mentor network.

Good, creative, and interesting curriculum and extensions where warranted.

Pull outs for more rigorous and challenging work where warranted.

Special services, e.g., IEPs, speech, reading, etc., where needed.

Good, safe environment.

Engaged parents and dynamic PTAs.

Many before and after school opportunities for no or minimal cost.

Diverse community, teaching our children the very important skill of how to interact with all kinds of people - people from other countries and other parts of this country, poor people, rich people, brilliant people, physically disabled people, people challenged in other ways, those just learning English. What a tapestry we have in FCPS!

The ability for practically all types of kids to find their clique.

Any kind of academic team you can think of.

Top notch sports teams in many different sports.

Pyramid structure breaks down the hugeness of FCPS into a real community feel for ES through HS. So, even though FCPS is an enormous school system, those schools on the other side of the county might as well be in southern VA.

I honestly don't know what else people are expecting. My kids have had small class sizes and larger class sizes. They learned just the same and it doesn't seem to phase the kids. What you won't find in FCPS or any other public school is the system coddling the parents. Maybe that's why so many DCUM posters feel let down and the need for private. While not perfect, I believe FCPS is doing a great job of meeting the needs of the most children possible within the constrains imposed upon it. My kids are not being denied a good education because of the challenges facing FCPS. I say don't listen to the negativity, give it a try, and judge for yourself.

Since you think it's so great, why don't you mention your ES, MS, and HS? Many people don't hide behind anonymity and at least name their own schools here or if they do it's just because they fear retribution.

I'll do that (not the PP).

Orange Hunt
Irving
WSHS

Orange Hunt has an immersion program. They get smaller class sizes because of this. Orange Hunt as far as I know has not had classes over 30 like many other FCPS schools. Also, it has no LLIV or AAP program so it doesn't have to deal with any differentiation. The only differentiation they say they provide is advanced math in 5th and 6th grades which isn't much. Looking on great schools, many people do not have positive things to say about the school. The entire PTA board resigned? Why?

I know there are at least two grade levels at that school that have classes at 30+.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you see it all the time. There are so many harsh critics of FCPS hiding behind anonymity. You asked for positives. They offered negatives. As someone who grew up in another state, I see how good we have it here. No it's not perfect. No system is, including private.

We have one in AAP since 3rd and one in Gen Ed. Both are receiving a fabulous education targeted just for them. We have only experienced ES and MS so far. We've had opportunities to move for work. We have decided to stay put in FCPS until the kids finish school. We have not considered private (although we did do private K), but we know others who have considered private then chose FCPS and were very happy with the decision. Our positives are:

Fantastic, energetic, and dedicated teachers and administrators. I see the teachers constantly learning and adding to their skill sets. I also have seen a good teacher support/mentor network.

Good, creative, and interesting curriculum and extensions where warranted.

Pull outs for more rigorous and challenging work where warranted.

Special services, e.g., IEPs, speech, reading, etc., where needed.

Good, safe environment.

Engaged parents and dynamic PTAs.

Many before and after school opportunities for no or minimal cost.

Diverse community, teaching our children the very important skill of how to interact with all kinds of people - people from other countries and other parts of this country, poor people, rich people, brilliant people, physically disabled people, people challenged in other ways, those just learning English. What a tapestry we have in FCPS!

The ability for practically all types of kids to find their clique.

Any kind of academic team you can think of.

Top notch sports teams in many different sports.

Pyramid structure breaks down the hugeness of FCPS into a real community feel for ES through HS. So, even though FCPS is an enormous school system, those schools on the other side of the county might as well be in southern VA.

I honestly don't know what else people are expecting. My kids have had small class sizes and larger class sizes. They learned just the same and it doesn't seem to phase the kids. What you won't find in FCPS or any other public school is the system coddling the parents. Maybe that's why so many DCUM posters feel let down and the need for private. While not perfect, I believe FCPS is doing a great job of meeting the needs of the most children possible within the constrains imposed upon it. My kids are not being denied a good education because of the challenges facing FCPS. I say don't listen to the negativity, give it a try, and judge for yourself.

Since you think it's so great, why don't you mention your ES, MS, and HS? Many people don't hide behind anonymity and at least name their own schools here or if they do it's just because they fear retribution.

I'll do that (not the PP).

Orange Hunt
Irving
WSHS

Not PP either but we were very happy with Sangster and Lake Braddock. Some teachers and some years were better than others but overall our DCs had great experiences.