Underwhelmed by FCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No adult in the working world is impressed that a colleague has a TJ diploma. I think when you're in the FCPS bubble with kids still in school, you think it's a big deal. Once you leave that phase behind, you realize it's an insignificant bit of information that no one really cares about. It's right up there with being captain of the football team in high school. After high school, no one cares and people think you're pathetic if you actually bring it up.

Not sure I agree....I think it is impressive, but only if the person also went to an impressive college. I would consider it odd if someone mentioned it before saying where they attended college.

Talking about where you went to high school is JV behavior in this area. Maybe not in some mid-sized city where most people stay put. Doesn't matter whether it's TJ or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No adult in the working world is impressed that a colleague has a TJ diploma. I think when you're in the FCPS bubble with kids still in school, you think it's a big deal. Once you leave that phase behind, you realize it's an insignificant bit of information that no one really cares about. It's right up there with being captain of the football team in high school. After high school, no one cares and people think you're pathetic if you actually bring it up.

Not sure I agree....I think it is impressive, but only if the person also went to an impressive college. I would consider it odd if someone mentioned it before saying where they attended college.

Talking about where you went to high school is JV behavior in this area. Maybe not in some mid-sized city where most people stay put. Doesn't matter whether it's TJ or not.

I'm the PP who wrote that the value of a TJ diploma has grown, and I agree. I'm not in a STEM field, so I don't know whether TJ should go on a pRofessional STEM CV or not, but I would think the college and grad school you attended and work experience are much more important than having gone to TJ. I also didn't mean value in terms of people being impressed at dinner parties when you are in your 30s. I more meant the value of the TJ diploma in terms of getting into a good, hardcore STEM program for college and getting merit scholarships, especially at STEM schools. So, I was equating value with name recognition in the educational world. And yes, I realize that Ivys can only admit so many TJ kids and UVA rejects a large number of TJ kids, etc. But I do think TJ and TJ grads are very highly regarded among colleges and universities. And that colleges recognize that jumpstart graduating with a TJ diploma is an accomplishment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No adult in the working world is impressed that a colleague has a TJ diploma. I think when you're in the FCPS bubble with kids still in school, you think it's a big deal. Once you leave that phase behind, you realize it's an insignificant bit of information that no one really cares about. It's right up there with being captain of the football team in high school. After high school, no one cares and people think you're pathetic if you actually bring it up.

Not sure I agree....I think it is impressive, but only if the person also went to an impressive college. I would consider it odd if someone mentioned it before saying where they attended college.

Talking about where you went to high school is JV behavior in this area. Maybe not in some mid-sized city where most people stay put. Doesn't matter whether it's TJ or not.

I'm the PP who wrote that the value of a TJ diploma has grown, and I agree. I'm not in a STEM field, so I don't know whether TJ should go on a pRofessional STEM CV or not, but I would think the college and grad school you attended and work experience are much more important than having gone to TJ. I also didn't mean value in terms of people being impressed at dinner parties when you are in your 30s. I more meant the value of the TJ diploma in terms of getting into a good, hardcore STEM program for college and getting merit scholarships, especially at STEM schools. So, I was equating value with name recognition in the educational world. And yes, I realize that Ivys can only admit so many TJ kids and UVA rejects a large number of TJ kids, etc. But I do think TJ and TJ grads are very highly regarded among colleges and universities. And that colleges recognize that jumpstart graduating with a TJ diploma is an accomplishment.

Nope, I don't think so. Former college professor here. We couldn't care less about TJ. Most TJ students are just ordinary when compared to students at any competitive college, and quite honestly, they don't stand out. I'm sure there are quite a few there who do, but they don't represent the majority of the graduating class.

[Anonymous]

We have kids in the Robinson Pyramid (One in HS, one in ES) and are generally pleased with their education. In particular, I appreciate the focus, support and encouragement our children have had on their writing across a range of classes. Journals and daily writing at the elementary level and extensive and diverse kinds of writing assignments in secondary. I also appreciate the range of extracurricular and "specials" in the elementary schools (e.g., strings, STEAM, language immersion).

There have been a number of assignments that I see as quite sophisticated for middle school/early high school (e.g., a 7th grade assignment included written analysis of the 13-15th amendments of the constitution and how they represented issues during Reconstruction, in 9th grade an integrative analysis of multiple primary documents on a topic of student choice in history and a detailed analysis of the reasoning in a peer-reviewed scientific journal article).

I didn't mind on-line textbooks, and the kids in our pyramid have regular computer skills classes and often use google classroom/docs/slides/sheets etc in addition to Blackboard. They also have access to excellent databases for research materials. These are all markers of high quality education. We were in two other highly-regarded school systems in our older child's younger years and FCPS seems stronger (though to be fair, I didn't get to experience middle school/high school in those systems).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have kids in the Robinson Pyramid (One in HS, one in ES) and are generally pleased with their education. In particular, I appreciate the focus, support and encouragement our children have had on their writing across a range of classes. Journals and daily writing at the elementary level and extensive and diverse kinds of writing assignments in secondary. I also appreciate the range of extracurricular and "specials" in the elementary schools (e.g., strings, STEAM, language immersion).

There have been a number of assignments that I see as quite sophisticated for middle school/early high school (e.g., a 7th grade assignment included written analysis of the 13-15th amendments of the constitution and how they represented issues during Reconstruction, in 9th grade an integrative analysis of multiple primary documents on a topic of student choice in history and a detailed analysis of the reasoning in a peer-reviewed scientific journal article).

I didn't mind on-line textbooks, and the kids in our pyramid have regular computer skills classes and often use google classroom/docs/slides/sheets etc in addition to Blackboard. They also have access to excellent databases for research materials. These are all markers of high quality education. We were in two other highly-regarded school systems in our older child's younger years and FCPS seems stronger (though to be fair, I didn't get to experience middle school/high school in those systems).


This sounds like a post from a FCPS administrator. You're impressed by the writing instruction in elementary school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have kids in the Robinson Pyramid (One in HS, one in ES) and are generally pleased with their education. In particular, I appreciate the focus, support and encouragement our children have had on their writing across a range of classes. Journals and daily writing at the elementary level and extensive and diverse kinds of writing assignments in secondary. I also appreciate the range of extracurricular and "specials" in the elementary schools (e.g., strings, STEAM, language immersion).

There have been a number of assignments that I see as quite sophisticated for middle school/early high school (e.g., a 7th grade assignment included written analysis of the 13-15th amendments of the constitution and how they represented issues during Reconstruction, in 9th grade an integrative analysis of multiple primary documents on a topic of student choice in history and a detailed analysis of the reasoning in a peer-reviewed scientific journal article).

I didn't mind on-line textbooks, and the kids in our pyramid have regular computer skills classes and often use google classroom/docs/slides/sheets etc in addition to Blackboard. They also have access to excellent databases for research materials. These are all markers of high quality education. We were in two other highly-regarded school systems in our older child's younger years and FCPS seems stronger (though to be fair, I didn't get to experience middle school/high school in those systems).

Which elementary school has daily writing?

[Anonymous]

My kid's middle has been wonderful. Elementary experience was mixed. Depends a lot on the teacher.
I supplement with an excellent tutor. Cheaper than private school, one-on-one attention. Best balance of both worlds IMHO

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP parent of two in Robinson Pyramid. (And, no, I'm not associated with FCPS other than as a parent). But, yes, I'm reasonably impressed by the amount and quality of writing instruction in ES (based on K-2nd grade now, my older child was in different school systems for early ES).

My 2nd grader has had daily writing at Laurel Ridge this year and last. Combination of: a journal that she's really excited about where she's encouraged to write whatever she wants, stacks of these pages that have a box for an illustration and blank lines on front and back (we literally have several hundred of these from the past two years that she wants to "save"--many of them multiple page long stories), and regular shorter form writing for science, social studies etc. She has also had multiple writing projects with different friends (heavily influenced by whatever book series they have both read) that were supported by her teachers both years. So I know it's not just her who is excited about writing. She also says things like "No authors write perfect the first time" and is encouraged to revise/edit (though not required) by comments/feedback from her teacher. I'm impressed that "edit" and "revise" are part of the my 2nd graders understanding of the writing process even if it's a pretty nascent idea of what that means.

They also do more canned grammar, writing activities/worksheets that seem fairly targeted at skills (e.g., highlighting mistakes in sentences, rewriting correct sentences), but the one time I saw this taught in action (I was there a bit early to see a play she was in) it seemed playful --kids would go up to the SMART board one-by-one quickly and "find another mistake" that they could mark and then they were all searching when it seemed like there were no mistakes left but there were (a new concept that was being taught that day). The teacher spent a few minutes showing them the concept and then they did a 5 or so minute worksheet on it. Seemed effective and fun-ish to me.


I'm not a complete booster of all things FCPS. I don't think there's enough hands-on science in ES and math instruction has been sometimes spotty. But I would say support for reading/writing/critical thinking/analysis has been solid and their art/music/STEAM/foreign language/extracurriculars are strong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the PP parent of two in Robinson Pyramid. (And, no, I'm not associated with FCPS other than as a parent). But, yes, I'm reasonably impressed by the amount and quality of writing instruction in ES (based on K-2nd grade now, my older child was in different school systems for early ES).

My 2nd grader has had daily writing at Laurel Ridge this year and last. Combination of: a journal that she's really excited about where she's encouraged to write whatever she wants, stacks of these pages that have a box for an illustration and blank lines on front and back (we literally have several hundred of these from the past two years that she wants to "save"--many of them multiple page long stories), and regular shorter form writing for science, social studies etc. She has also had multiple writing projects with different friends (heavily influenced by whatever book series they have both read) that were supported by her teachers both years. So I know it's not just her who is excited about writing. She also says things like "No authors write perfect the first time" and is encouraged to revise/edit (though not required) by comments/feedback from her teacher. I'm impressed that "edit" and "revise" are part of the my 2nd graders understanding of the writing process even if it's a pretty nascent idea of what that means.

They also do more canned grammar, writing activities/worksheets that seem fairly targeted at skills (e.g., highlighting mistakes in sentences, rewriting correct sentences), but the one time I saw this taught in action (I was there a bit early to see a play she was in) it seemed playful --kids would go up to the SMART board one-by-one quickly and "find another mistake" that they could mark and then they were all searching when it seemed like there were no mistakes left but there were (a new concept that was being taught that day). The teacher spent a few minutes showing them the concept and then they did a 5 or so minute worksheet on it. Seemed effective and fun-ish to me.


I'm not a complete booster of all things FCPS. I don't think there's enough hands-on science in ES and math instruction has been sometimes spotty. But I would say support for reading/writing/critical thinking/analysis has been solid and their art/music/STEAM/foreign language/extracurriculars are strong.

Sorry, but as a teacher I want to say that the writing instruction you describe is sub-par and outdated. It may be working for your daughter, but I'm sure there are many in the class, most likely boys, who are dying of boredom and not the least bit interested in journal writing with the same worksheet day after day. This is why parents are such poor judges of schools - they can't recognize poor instruction when they see it, and only look at their own children and not the effect on the class as a whole.