FCPS high school party culture?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sports helps for sure. I always hear parents sneer at those of us who have our kiddos enrolled in sports but those kids for the most part are typically late to the party (hehe) since they have so many sporting commitments.

I think that you would be surprised how wrong you are about sports, if you were to have an honest conversation with the kids.

[Anonymous]

I don't know anyone at our high school in those sports who acts that way. There may be some outliers but unless talking about some end of season get together for the team, this doesn't happen.

[Anonymous]

HS teacher

Parties aren't nearly the issue vaping is. The kids are so overscheduled (for better or for worse) that there aren't free weekends where they can be out super late drinking and be hungover all Sunday. Vaping happens all day during school though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know anyone at our high school in those sports who acts that way. There may be some outliers but unless talking about some end of season get together for the team, this doesn't happen.

You are wrong.

[Anonymous]

These schools are huge and very dependent on the group of friends.

[Anonymous]

The HS are big enough that there are all types and like finds like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From what I’ve seen, teens are way less crazy than we were in the 90s (I am comparing FCPS to FCPS.) I don’t know if it’s just my kids, or I’m not in the loop or what, but it’s a lot less wild.

it still happens, but yes. overscheduled + phones = less risk-taking, for better and worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax County native here. Over 20 years in “nice” Fairfax County neighborhood. Raised 4DC - now college graduates and students.

Most shocking are parents who buy booze, host coed sleepovers, host or organize happy hours and or tailgate ahead of youth sports games.

Several years ago EMTs extricated both a drunk mom AND a HS student from the stadium bathroom and had to triage/prioritize the student and transport her first - both were vomiting.

The parents throw huge parties for themselves early on and so this grows to involve their preteens so by middle school the partying parents have socially engineered, set expectations and paved the way to have a party house for DC!

What’s changed since DH and I were Fairfax County teenagers: parents are home for the parties. They buy and supply it all.

The whole mindset of HS social life equivalent to a Tailgate State college experience! Parents fully invested in this and drive the narrative; tailgating, pre-partying, after-parties, etc.

Can think of a few HS students who had DWI charges by senior year.

Or, parents take a vacation and leave the teens home alone and low key encouraging DC to have a few friends over, no questions asked.

When I was at TJ in the early 00s there was a family that was notorious for enabling the biggest parties at the school. I don't think parents being involved is that new.

PP and maybe I’m way out of date but my long ago church group had a speakers series including FC police officers who stated now unusual to break up teen parties WITHOUT a parent present.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports helps for sure. I always hear parents sneer at those of us who have our kiddos enrolled in sports but those kids for the most part are typically late to the party (hehe) since they have so many sporting commitments.

The athletes are the biggest partiers out of all the students, particularly sports like football, lacrosse, baseball, cheerleading and swimming.

The distance runners seem to be the exception.

But, honestly, having a high school athlete in those 5 sports listed above significantly increases the likelihood of having a kid who parties, drinks and experiments with drugs.

Add to the party list: student government leaders (ersatz popularity contest) and girls’ sports of FH, basketball.

[bbb863]

OP here. So partying is eternal, noted. I'll just be over here hoping my kids stay busy with orchestra and a good book instead of keg stands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports helps for sure. I always hear parents sneer at those of us who have our kiddos enrolled in sports but those kids for the most part are typically late to the party (hehe) since they have so many sporting commitments.

I think that you would be surprised how wrong you are about sports, if you were to have an honest conversation with the kids.

The sport kids I know are too busy to get caught up in it. Tourneys every weekend, practices every night, trainings, private coaching etc. But I don't know the football crowd. That seems HS specific.

[Anonymous]

bbb863 wrote:OP here. So partying is eternal, noted. I'll just be over here hoping my kids stay busy with orchestra and a good book instead of keg stands.

Orchestra is a good option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports helps for sure. I always hear parents sneer at those of us who have our kiddos enrolled in sports but those kids for the most part are typically late to the party (hehe) since they have so many sporting commitments.

I think that you would be surprised how wrong you are about sports, if you were to have an honest conversation with the kids.

The sport kids I know are too busy to get caught up in it. Tourneys every weekend, practices every night, trainings, private coaching etc. But I don't know the football crowd. That seems HS specific.

Our neighbors would say this,but their kid has been known as huge partier for years, on the wildest team at out high school.

[Anonymous]

Kids here are too busy to be hedonistic. You can't get take 12 AP's, save the whales, play three sports, and start your own business when you're high and doing the walk of shame every weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports helps for sure. I always hear parents sneer at those of us who have our kiddos enrolled in sports but those kids for the most part are typically late to the party (hehe) since they have so many sporting commitments.

The athletes are the biggest partiers out of all the students, particularly sports like football, lacrosse, baseball, cheerleading and swimming.

The distance runners seem to be the exception.

But, honestly, having a high school athlete in those 5 sports listed above significantly increases the likelihood of having a kid who parties, drinks and experiments with drugs.

+1,000 the athletes come from upper middle class wealth. Not surprising. They all stick together.