Why are Fairfax County schools 'the best'?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my opionon Fairfax County - mclean and langley high schools are horrible. The bathrooms at Langley are disgusting, they have a hugh drug problem and the average student does not excell there. We could be doing so much better.

And your opinion is based on what? Was it at Langley that you failed to learn how to spell simple worlds like "excel"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But Arlington schools are so overcrowded now, I am no longer sure if Arlington is an equivalent choice......

The more "desirable" Fairfax schools are just as crowded. They have had trailers for much longer than the Arlington schools.

Arlington, so far, has still placed a high value on keeping class sizes small. That doesn't seem to be the case in Fairfax.

Empirical research proves no correlation between class size and achievement, except in very limited circumstances. The decline in "social capital" is far more important.

My K has 18 kids in her class at Arlington Science Focus. I think this school is fantastic. We couldn't be happier. I grew up in Fairfax Co. and there are plenty of schools (it is a very large county!) that aren't so good (as well as some that downright suck(. My HS was one of the sucky ones. I don't even remember having to 'study'. Luckily, I got into a great university anyways. I have some friends that are from out of the area that picked a school because it was in Fairfax County. I was in a quandry because the school is not good. They had already bought so I kept my mouth shut...now as their kids approach middle and HS they are discussing moving because those schools are not good. Of course, Arlington has a few non-winners as well. It's a very broad brush when you say a county has the best schools...that just ain't so.

The best is relative. Arlington County schools are on some of the same best in the county lists, Governor's award, etc. After growing up in enormous Fairfax Co.---I prefer Arlington schools where it is a more personal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My K has 18 kids in her class at Arlington Science Focus. I think this school is fantastic. We couldn't be happier. I grew up in Fairfax Co. and there are plenty of schools (it is a very large county!) that aren't so good (as well as some that downright suck(. My HS was one of the sucky ones. I don't even remember having to 'study'. Luckily, I got into a great university anyways. I have some friends that are from out of the area that picked a school because it was in Fairfax County. I was in a quandry because the school is not good. They had already bought so I kept my mouth shut...now as their kids approach middle and HS they are discussing moving because those schools are not good. Of course, Arlington has a few non-winners as well. It's a very broad brush when you say a county has the best schools...that just ain't so.

The best is relative. Arlington County schools are on some of the same best in the county lists, Governor's award, etc. After growing up in enormous Fairfax Co.---I prefer Arlington schools where it is a more personal.

I don't understand - why is ASF so different? the max # is 23 for everyone else.

[Anonymous]

The OP has a great point. Even Montgomery County schools are better than FCPS.

The only thing holding FCPS up in rankings is TJ - other than that, FCPS is average.

Heck, even Loundon, with better socio-economic factors ( ie more rich parents) might provide a better schooling environment than an average FCPS school.

Overall as some others have eluded, FCPS is a BIG, BUNGLING system and kids suffer. If you are lucky you can find some gem schools and better some amazing teachers - but overall don't get seduced by the 'best' in nation claim.

[Anonymous]

Objectively, FCPS schools are the "best" because, on average, they have the highest performing students. No more and no less. Every local system has many schools that DCUMers would not let their kids attend.

[Anonymous]

Choose the best school fit in FCPS and there won't be an issue. Just like there are many duds in moco and arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My K has 18 kids in her class at Arlington Science Focus. I think this school is fantastic. We couldn't be happier. I grew up in Fairfax Co. and there are plenty of schools (it is a very large county!) that aren't so good (as well as some that downright suck(. My HS was one of the sucky ones. I don't even remember having to 'study'. Luckily, I got into a great university anyways. I have some friends that are from out of the area that picked a school because it was in Fairfax County. I was in a quandry because the school is not good. They had already bought so I kept my mouth shut...now as their kids approach middle and HS they are discussing moving because those schools are not good. Of course, Arlington has a few non-winners as well. It's a very broad brush when you say a county has the best schools...that just ain't so.

The best is relative. Arlington County schools are on some of the same best in the county lists, Governor's award, etc. After growing up in enormous Fairfax Co.---I prefer Arlington schools where it is a more personal.

I don't understand - why is ASF so different? the max # is 23 for everyone else.

They aren't - it just depends how many students there are total in each grade level - if you get just one more student than the 23 students max in a class, they have to create a new class. My son was in K at another N. Arlington school last year and there were 22 students in his class, but another had only 18. This year in 1st grade, there are 19 in his class. Students come and go throughout the year as well, so the number can be fluid.

As for the PP, our nanny's daughter just graduated from Yorktown and is at a very good university in Pennsylvania this year. She is STRUGGLING - says it is really hard and admitted that she didn't feel Yorktown prepared her for the rigors of college. Much of her problem is that she feels like she doesn't know how to study and isn't used to having to rely on herself to prepare for class/exams so much (rather than the teachers always checking up on her). She is a really good student and took several AP classes in high school. Arlington County is smaller and more personal, but going to the best school does not guarantee success, even if you are a good student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The OP has a great point. Even Montgomery County schools are better than FCPS.

The only thing holding FCPS up in rankings is TJ - other than that, FCPS is average.

Heck, even Loundon, with better socio-economic factors ( ie more rich parents) might provide a better schooling environment than an average FCPS school.

Overall as some others have eluded, FCPS is a BIG, BUNGLING system and kids suffer. If you are lucky you can find some gem schools and better some amazing teachers - but overall don't get seduced by the 'best' in nation claim.

you spelled alluded wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My K has 18 kids in her class at Arlington Science Focus. I think this school is fantastic. We couldn't be happier. I grew up in Fairfax Co. and there are plenty of schools (it is a very large county!) that aren't so good (as well as some that downright suck(. My HS was one of the sucky ones. I don't even remember having to 'study'. Luckily, I got into a great university anyways. I have some friends that are from out of the area that picked a school because it was in Fairfax County. I was in a quandry because the school is not good. They had already bought so I kept my mouth shut...now as their kids approach middle and HS they are discussing moving because those schools are not good. Of course, Arlington has a few non-winners as well. It's a very broad brush when you say a county has the best schools...that just ain't so.

The best is relative. Arlington County schools are on some of the same best in the county lists, Governor's award, etc. After growing up in enormous Fairfax Co.---I prefer Arlington schools where it is a more personal.

I don't understand - why is ASF so different? the max # is 23 for everyone else.

They aren't - it just depends how many students there are total in each grade level - if you get just one more student than the 23 students max in a class, they have to create a new class. My son was in K at another N. Arlington school last year and there were 22 students in his class, but another had only 18. This year in 1st grade, there are 19 in his class. Students come and go throughout the year as well, so the number can be fluid.

no but doesn't ASF also have transfer/lottery waitlist? if so why aren't they taking as many kids as allowed?

btw i think it's time stop this " if you get just one more student than the 23 students max in a class, they have to create a new class" nonsense. huge drain on the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My K has 18 kids in her class at Arlington Science Focus. I think this school is fantastic. We couldn't be happier. I grew up in Fairfax Co. and there are plenty of schools (it is a very large county!) that aren't so good (as well as some that downright suck(. My HS was one of the sucky ones. I don't even remember having to 'study'. Luckily, I got into a great university anyways. I have some friends that are from out of the area that picked a school because it was in Fairfax County. I was in a quandry because the school is not good. They had already bought so I kept my mouth shut...now as their kids approach middle and HS they are discussing moving because those schools are not good. Of course, Arlington has a few non-winners as well. It's a very broad brush when you say a county has the best schools...that just ain't so.

The best is relative. Arlington County schools are on some of the same best in the county lists, Governor's award, etc. After growing up in enormous Fairfax Co.---I prefer Arlington schools where it is a more personal.

I don't understand - why is ASF so different? the max # is 23 for everyone else.

They aren't - it just depends how many students there are total in each grade level - if you get just one more student than the 23 students max in a class, they have to create a new class. My son was in K at another N. Arlington school last year and there were 22 students in his class, but another had only 18. This year in 1st grade, there are 19 in his class. Students come and go throughout the year as well, so the number can be fluid.

no but doesn't ASF also have transfer/lottery waitlist? if so why aren't they taking as many kids as allowed?

btw i think it's time stop this " if you get just one more student than the 23 students max in a class, they have to create a new class" nonsense. huge drain on the system.

APS has announced that all of the county-wide schools (ASF, Arlington Traditional, etc) will be required to take more students b/c of capacity issues in the district.

Keep in mind though that the empirical research finds no correlation between class size and achievement. Teachers are proven not to change their methods depending on class size. And there are other "social capital" issues responsible for the generalized decline in achievement, chiefly: 1) Rising poverty levels 2) More kids for whom English isn't a first language 3) More single-parent homes and 4) More women in the workforce.

[Anonymous]

My dd is in 5th grade with 30 kids in her class this year. Thus far this year, she has learned more and progressed more than she ever has before. It has little to do with class size and a ton to do with enthusiastic teachers and innovative teaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dd is in 5th grade with 30 kids in her class this year. Thus far this year, she has learned more and progressed more than she ever has before. It has little to do with class size and a ton to do with enthusiastic teachers and innovative teaching.

Teacher here. It also has a ton to do with the students in the class. I would take 30 well-behaved, motivated students over 10 disruptive kids any day. I am an ESOL teacher and I have one class of 23 this year that is a dream - motivated, curious, and hard-working. I have another class of 16 that I dread each time I have them - about 4 of the 16 kids are really immature and are constantly trying to get the rest of the class off task. It is amazing to me how only 4 kids can make a class so challenging to teach. I would take the bigger class any day.