FCCPS vs APS (WL)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCCPS’s Meridian HS is small, but as others have mentioned on this forum it can feel a bit cloistered as the majority of kids grew up together since elementary school. It may be harder for a new kid to find their niche. That is just a generalization based on past threads on this forum. W-L due to its large size offers many more options for fitting in and finding a friend group. The new W-L annex building helps break down the size of the school and gives the school a college campus like setting.

Regarding academics, W-L offers in-bounds students full AP and IB programs. Meridian only offers IB.

Both Meridian and W-L are highly regarded by their communities, so in general, the educational opportunities should be comparable. In that sense you can’t go wrong with either. (Both schools have new state of the art facilities.)

this is not true re FCC. A lot of kids come and go. your kid would not be the only new kid.

check out oakwood - lots of foreign service families there

[Anonymous]

there is someone here with a vendetta against fccps. I agree that for a student within fccps who has something bad happen to them, it can be hard to live down- since a lot of the same people are still around and remember. But there are lots of foreign service students who come in and out, and because it is small, it is easy to meet people (e.g. you are likely to have the same kids your classes.) Its also easy to get involved b/c tryouts for things like sports and drama are not nearly as competitive.
In terms of the asserted failure to communicate, with the example of the change to school start times- I seriously don't think there is even an outside chance that they change the bell times for the next school year. The school board has asked the staff to prepare 2 presentations regarding the possibility of changing the start times. They are looking at the benefits of more sleep for teenagers, as compared to the substantial logistical and other costs. If you watched the last meeting where this was discussed, you would know that the presentation ended with a slide about next steps including surveys and community engagement. Also, if you read the morning announcements, they include a link to the previous nights school board meeting, with the agenda and links to the specific minute where the agenda item was discussed. So it is really pretty easy to find information you are looking for.
We moved from APS to FCCPS. In my view FCCPS is head and shoulders above APS on all fronts.

[Anonymous]

There’s a whole other thread on FCCPS issues, particularly the HS/MS campus.

Administrators do what’s best for them and for a select group of parents, not students. Plan accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:there is someone here with a vendetta against fccps. I agree that for a student within fccps who has something bad happen to them, it can be hard to live down- since a lot of the same people are still around and remember. But there are lots of foreign service students who come in and out, and because it is small, it is easy to meet people (e.g. you are likely to have the same kids your classes.) Its also easy to get involved b/c tryouts for things like sports and drama are not nearly as competitive.
In terms of the asserted failure to communicate, with the example of the change to school start times- I seriously don't think there is even an outside chance that they change the bell times for the next school year. The school board has asked the staff to prepare 2 presentations regarding the possibility of changing the start times. They are looking at the benefits of more sleep for teenagers, as compared to the substantial logistical and other costs. If you watched the last meeting where this was discussed, you would know that the presentation ended with a slide about next steps including surveys and community engagement. Also, if you read the morning announcements, they include a link to the previous nights school board meeting, with the agenda and links to the specific minute where the agenda item was discussed. So it is really pretty easy to find information you are looking for.
We moved from APS to FCCPS. In my view FCCPS is head and shoulders above APS on all fronts.

Seems like there were multiple posters posting. So rather than asserting there is one poster with a vendetta, you might look in the mirror and ask whether there is one person with a particular incentive to be a cheerleader, having moved from APS to FCCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:there is someone here with a vendetta against fccps. I agree that for a student within fccps who has something bad happen to them, it can be hard to live down- since a lot of the same people are still around and remember. But there are lots of foreign service students who come in and out, and because it is small, it is easy to meet people (e.g. you are likely to have the same kids your classes.) Its also easy to get involved b/c tryouts for things like sports and drama are not nearly as competitive.
In terms of the asserted failure to communicate, with the example of the change to school start times- I seriously don't think there is even an outside chance that they change the bell times for the next school year. The school board has asked the staff to prepare 2 presentations regarding the possibility of changing the start times. They are looking at the benefits of more sleep for teenagers, as compared to the substantial logistical and other costs. If you watched the last meeting where this was discussed, you would know that the presentation ended with a slide about next steps including surveys and community engagement. Also, if you read the morning announcements, they include a link to the previous nights school board meeting, with the agenda and links to the specific minute where the agenda item was discussed. So it is really pretty easy to find information you are looking for.
We moved from APS to FCCPS. In my view FCCPS is head and shoulders above APS on all fronts.

NP/foreign service family here who also was disappointed by FCC and found it incredibly cliquish. We ended up moving to catholic.

[Anonymous]

It is not worth the cost of moving to avoid WL. In fact, many people would love to buy your house to get into WL!

[Anonymous]

Move to McLean. FCPS. RENT!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would move to FCPS. You have more options and although they have issues, not as many as APS or FCCPS. FCCPS is too small and the communication is poor.

Can you say more about the poor communication issue?

The district likes to send very long emails that do not tell important information. For example, they may change the start and end times of the high school next year to make both later. You would only know if you watch the school board meetings. All of the long emails did not a give warning about this. FCCPS sends a lot of surveys but not a mention of this and it’s such an important decision that affects so many students and families.

do you not get Morning Announcements or the weekly school newsletters or the PTA newsletters? All three highlighted the approved school calendars (which are now being approved two years at a time) within the week after the school board voted on the calendar.

I’m not talking about the school calendar. I’m talking about the start and end time of the high school being pushed back. They are going to vote soon if they will start later in the day and end later in the day next year. The bell schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:there is someone here with a vendetta against fccps. I agree that for a student within fccps who has something bad happen to them, it can be hard to live down- since a lot of the same people are still around and remember. But there are lots of foreign service students who come in and out, and because it is small, it is easy to meet people (e.g. you are likely to have the same kids your classes.) Its also easy to get involved b/c tryouts for things like sports and drama are not nearly as competitive.
In terms of the asserted failure to communicate, with the example of the change to school start times- I seriously don't think there is even an outside chance that they change the bell times for the next school year. The school board has asked the staff to prepare 2 presentations regarding the possibility of changing the start times. They are looking at the benefits of more sleep for teenagers, as compared to the substantial logistical and other costs. If you watched the last meeting where this was discussed, you would know that the presentation ended with a slide about next steps including surveys and community engagement. Also, if you read the morning announcements, they include a link to the previous nights school board meeting, with the agenda and links to the specific minute where the agenda item was discussed. So it is really pretty easy to find information you are looking for.
We moved from APS to FCCPS. In my view FCCPS is head and shoulders above APS on all fronts.

No vendetta at all but you illustrate my point. There are lots of emails that are long and important information is lost through never ending linked documents and videos embedded deep within.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s a whole other thread on FCCPS issues, particularly the HS/MS campus.

Administrators do what’s best for them and for a select group of parents, not students. Plan accordingly.

Can someone link to that thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:there is someone here with a vendetta against fccps. I agree that for a student within fccps who has something bad happen to them, it can be hard to live down- since a lot of the same people are still around and remember. But there are lots of foreign service students who come in and out, and because it is small, it is easy to meet people (e.g. you are likely to have the same kids your classes.) Its also easy to get involved b/c tryouts for things like sports and drama are not nearly as competitive.
In terms of the asserted failure to communicate, with the example of the change to school start times- I seriously don't think there is even an outside chance that they change the bell times for the next school year. The school board has asked the staff to prepare 2 presentations regarding the possibility of changing the start times. They are looking at the benefits of more sleep for teenagers, as compared to the substantial logistical and other costs. If you watched the last meeting where this was discussed, you would know that the presentation ended with a slide about next steps including surveys and community engagement. Also, if you read the morning announcements, they include a link to the previous nights school board meeting, with the agenda and links to the specific minute where the agenda item was discussed. So it is really pretty easy to find information you are looking for.
We moved from APS to FCCPS. In my view FCCPS is head and shoulders above APS on all fronts.

Can you say more about what you liked in FCCPS compared to APS? In APS, were you at WL?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a whole other thread on FCCPS issues, particularly the HS/MS campus.

Administrators do what’s best for them and for a select group of parents, not students. Plan accordingly.

Can someone link to that thread?

This might be it. https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1103393.page

There are a lot of benefits to FCCPS and I do like it there. If I could do it all over again knowing what I do, I would likely choose FCPS for more programs and AP over IB. But I do like most of the families and think the school staff have been really good, teachers and principals. I don’t agree that they don’t care about students. I think a lot are out of touch with students actually need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would move to FCPS. You have more options and although they have issues, not as many as APS or FCCPS. FCCPS is too small and the communication is poor.

Can you say more about the poor communication issue?

The district likes to send very long emails that do not tell important information. For example, they may change the start and end times of the high school next year to make both later. You would only know if you watch the school board meetings. All of the long emails did not a give warning about this. FCCPS sends a lot of surveys but not a mention of this and it’s such an important decision that affects so many students and families.

do you not get Morning Announcements or the weekly school newsletters or the PTA newsletters? All three highlighted the approved school calendars (which are now being approved two years at a time) within the week after the school board voted on the calendar.

I’m not talking about the school calendar. I’m talking about the start and end time of the high school being pushed back. They are going to vote soon if they will start later in the day and end later in the day next year. The bell schedule.

I guess "soon" is in the eye of the beholder. At the last meeting, the SB asked Noonan to present more details on what a later start and finish for the secondary campus would entail and look like. That presentation hasn't happened yet. The SB will also collect public comment before voting. I wouldn't call the decision "soon."

[Anonymous]

What’s nice about APS, is that most all the schools, including all three high schools, are walkable from the surrounding neighborhoods with decent pedestrian (and bike) infrastructure. While not the most important deciding factor, this does set APS apart from surrounding districts. Meridian HS, Langley HS, Alexandria City HS, Marshall HS, and the list goes on, are not comfortably walkable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s nice about APS, is that most all the schools, including all three high schools, are walkable from the surrounding neighborhoods with decent pedestrian (and bike) infrastructure. While not the most important deciding factor, this does set APS apart from surrounding districts. Meridian HS, Langley HS, Alexandria City HS, Marshall HS, and the list goes on, are not comfortably walkable.

And there are other schools in FCPS that are walkable from the surrounding neighborhoods, including Falls Church HS, McLean HS and Madison HS. I think you just picked some schools off Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) or another commuter route like Route 193 (Georgetown Pike) with heavy traffic.