Comparing and contrasting the culture at different FCPS high schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And how crowded are they? Utilization Efficiency numbers from Dashboard (most crowded to least crowded):

Oakton 2 of 25
McLean 6 of 25
Woodson 8 of 25
West Springfield 10 of 25
Marshall 11 of 25
Madison 12 of 25
Langley 15 of 25
Robinson 16 of 25
Lake Braddock 20 of 25

Thanks for sharing. Does that suggest that people have reservations about sending their children to school that theoretically can accommodate over 3100 HS students, as in the case of Lake Braddock? I know FCPS made a decision at some point not to build any more schools that big.

[Anonymous]

I think it has more to do with the age of the neighborhoods. As more retirees move out, more young families move in. Ebb and flow of any school district...
The only thing I think they regretted about LB, was the hippy dippy 70's, bean bag sitting, "open concept" design.
They renovated that several years back. It's great now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Madison=band/goth/emo
Langley=drugs
Oakton=poor kids
Marshall=gangs
McLean=competition

I agree with this, but a few slight changes

Madison=maybe 60% goth, and 40% band and jocks
Langley = drugs/snobs
Oakton=poor kids
Marshall=gangs
McLean=band

So, you actually have kids in all five schools, or you're just randomly throwing out old (and false) stereotypes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Madison=band/goth/emo
Langley=drugs
Oakton=poor kids
Marshall=gangs
McLean=competition

I agree with this, but a few slight changes

Madison=maybe 60% goth, and 40% band and jocks
Langley = drugs/snobs
Oakton=poor kids
Marshall=gangs
McLean=band

So, you actually have kids in all five schools, or you're just randomly throwing out old (and false) stereotypes?

apparently there are no kids outside of these two groups? bad news for my non-goth, non-band/jock kids! I guess they will be the first of their nerdy kind at Madison!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Madison=band/goth/emo
Langley=drugs
Oakton=poor kids
Marshall=gangs
McLean=competition

I agree with this, but a few slight changes

Madison=maybe 60% goth, and 40% band and jocks
Langley = drugs/snobs
Oakton=poor kids
Marshall=gangs
McLean=band

So, you actually have kids in all five schools, or you're just randomly throwing out old (and false) stereotypes?

apparently there are no kids outside of these two groups? bad news for my non-goth, non-band/jock kids! I guess they will be the first of their nerdy kind at Madison!

And they'll be joined by my kids, PP!

I had heard in years previous that, due to the principal/administration, Madison was a "jock" school. But I've talked to parents whose non-jock kids are there currently, and their kids are enjoying it. And they don't feel marginalized because they don't play sports (and aren't in band).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And how crowded are they? Utilization Efficiency numbers from Dashboard (most crowded to least crowded):

Oakton 2 of 25
McLean 6 of 25
Woodson 8 of 25
West Springfield 10 of 25
Marshall 11 of 25
Madison 12 of 25
Langley 15 of 25
Robinson 16 of 25
Lake Braddock 20 of 25

Thanks for sharing. Does that suggest that people have reservations about sending their children to school that theoretically can accommodate over 3100 HS students, as in the case of Lake Braddock? I know FCPS made a decision at some point not to build any more schools that big.

The latest recommendation from Facilities is to increase design capacity at all school levels.
http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/9UJGR5621281/$file/Attachment%20A%20-%20School%20Size%20Summary%20Report.pdf

As far as I know, the School Board has not moved towards approving this recommendation, however. See Policy 8120: http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/97ZHNY492B26/$file/P8120.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And how crowded are they? Utilization Efficiency numbers from Dashboard (most crowded to least crowded):

Oakton 2 of 25
McLean 6 of 25
Woodson 8 of 25
West Springfield 10 of 25
Marshall 11 of 25
Madison 12 of 25
Langley 15 of 25
Robinson 16 of 25
Lake Braddock 20 of 25

Thanks for sharing. Does that suggest that people have reservations about sending their children to school that theoretically can accommodate over 3100 HS students, as in the case of Lake Braddock? I know FCPS made a decision at some point not to build any more schools that big.

The latest recommendation from Facilities is to increase design capacity at all school levels.
http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/9UJGR5621281/$file/Attachment%20A%20-%20School%20Size%20Summary%20Report.pdf

As far as I know, the School Board has not moved towards approving this recommendation, however. See Policy 8120: http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/97ZHNY492B26/$file/P8120.pdf

Interesting. It seems the recommendation from Facilities is based on costs and their difficulty finding additional sites where schools can be built, not what's best from an educational perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And how crowded are they? Utilization Efficiency numbers from Dashboard (most crowded to least crowded):

Oakton 2 of 25
McLean 6 of 25
Woodson 8 of 25
West Springfield 10 of 25
Marshall 11 of 25
Madison 12 of 25
Langley 15 of 25
Robinson 16 of 25
Lake Braddock 20 of 25

Thanks for sharing. Does that suggest that people have reservations about sending their children to school that theoretically can accommodate over 3100 HS students, as in the case of Lake Braddock? I know FCPS made a decision at some point not to build any more schools that big.

The latest recommendation from Facilities is to increase design capacity at all school levels.
http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/9UJGR5621281/$file/Attachment%20A%20-%20School%20Size%20Summary%20Report.pdf

As far as I know, the School Board has not moved towards approving this recommendation, however. See Policy 8120: http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/97ZHNY492B26/$file/P8120.pdf

Interesting. It seems the recommendation from Facilities is based on costs and their difficulty finding additional sites where schools can be built, not what's best from an educational perspective.

Absolutely correct. Facilities always focuses on cost efficiencies and never looks at instructional program requirements.