Applying to APS from FCPS
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Anonymous
APS has a better retiree healthcare plan as far as retiree premiums. Does APS have a supplemental retirement pension plan like FCPs has? |
Anonymous
| Don't do it. They're all the same in the end...same problems in terms of management, etc. |
Anonymous
LCPS pays their inexperienced teachers well but beyond 15 years their pay scale is pretty terrible. If APS makes all the changes they are talking about they will be top 3 highest for a lot of different career points. |
Anonymous
| I switched from FCPS to APS. I live here, so the commute is better, and the pay was better for me, but benefits were not. My first few years were rough, but I love it now. Be prepared to work your tail off in the beginning- APS is not as organized in how they prepare teachers new to the district, and does not have as many curriculum resources. |
Anonymous
No, unfortunately. |
Anonymous
APS benefits are quite expensive compared to ACPS and FCPS |
Anonymous
As an active employee or as a retiree? As a retiree they are much lower from APS. |
Anonymous
I'm comparing Kaiser Permanente and they look similar: (2020) APS employee only: $131.52 APS employee plus spouse: $318.62 APS family: $555.96 https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2020-Arlington-Benefits-Guide_print-version-via-APS_rev-12-27-19.pdf FCPS employee only: $127.17 FCPS employee plus one: $423.90 FCPS family: $529.88 https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/employee-benefits-premiums.pdf Look at the retiree rates. APS is much lower. https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2022-Retiree-Rates-Final.pdf https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/retiree-benefits-premiums.pdf A FCPS retiree pays $606.50/month as an individual under Kaiser. An APS retiree pays $140.73 A FCPS retiree pays $1313/month for retiree plus one. APS retiree pays $465.51 A FCPS retiree pays $1,666/month for a family. APS retiree pays $420.09 |
Anonymous
Those numbers are a little outdated for APS Kaiser family plan is now $611. Retiree benefits are definitely better. ACPS covers more premium than FCPS |
Anonymous
Is this really true? My DC's school had two teachers leave for DCPS and LCPS AFTER teachers and already been assigned in August. There was a mad scramble to find new teachers at the last minute. |
Anonymous
| I think the biggest issue in switching is commute. A lot of FCPS teachers live in the western part of the county or in PWC or LC. Driving to Arlington would be awful. |
Anonymous
Yes, DCPS is not part of it, I'm not sure about LCPS. |
Anonymous
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FCPS is more of a school system and APS is a system of schools. Think of APS as a collection of Greek city states doing their own thing. It has been trying in some ways to become more of a school system but old habits die hard. I was hoping for more changes with the new APS supe but the pandemic has not helped.
Every district/family has dysfunction. The central office/HR in FCPS is more organized and efficient. It has to be because the county is so big. In APS you are lucky if HR picks up the phone. APS is giving elem teachers especially the primary teachers whiplash by switching programs and introducing new things so frequently especially during the pandemic. When I left FCPS 7 years ago, my pay went up 20k and to be closer to home. Since then FCPS has caught up with the pay I believe. My best advice is try to find a principal you love and has a real vision. In the end you will need to walk your own walk and try not to get caught up in the fear and the data collection. Just be a positive force in the lives of kids. In the big picture of life most of it does not really matter. |
Anonymous
Yes WOW! this is good to know. At ACPS I pay $316 a month for my family for KAISER HMO and I almost never have any out of pocket expenses or even copays. Love my Kaiser! |
Anonymous
What are your overall thoughts on the district? |