DH doesn't care that we are in a crappy school district

[Anonymous]

We moved into the Falls Church HS pyramid knowing it's one of the lowest performing in the county.

Gotta say, I'm with your husband on this. Even some of the worst in the county are among the best in the state. We're very involved with our kids school life - events, PTA meetings, homework, etc. That's what is going to make the difference.

What's the feedback on the elementary school in the pyramid? That's what I would be concentrating on.

[Anonymous]

Exactly, PP. it's all about the parental involvement and parenting at home. We can argue about test scores and rankings all we want - these alone will not make a great student. Surrounding our kids with enriching experiences and wonderful role models is the key wherever you live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My biggest concern at our school is the peer group, and this isn't even a Title I school. The disrespectful and inappropriate language and behavior is unreal, starting as early as KG. I know that rich kids behave badly as well, but the additional challenges that the low-income kids and their families are dealing with definitely spills into the classroom. There are some problems even a wonderful staff cannot solve.

This would be my concern as well.

Mine, too. Our school is not a Title 1 school and is in a fairly nice area. However, the boundaries are such that a large lower-income apartment complex feeds into it. It is fairly obvious to me, which those kids are. An example: I went to a performance day at the school where the students in music class can "show off" their talents in singing, instrument, etc. Some of the kids were played classical violin or piano pieces. Others did cute pop songs as a group. A group of the lower-income kids performed a song with questionable lyrics that the music teacher had to cut them off because of the offensive words. It was not any type of music I would ever let my 3rd-grader listen to!

While I do agree that the suport at a lower-income school is good, you really need to stay on top of things as far as behavior/class vibe/language, etc. (not that there aren't problems at higher-income schools, just these are things I've noticed among lower-income kids as a whole).

My parents forced me to play classical piano since I was 3 years old. I wish my parents let me dance/sing to songs with questionable lyrics!

[Anonymous]

You are right to be concerned OP. Your kid won't get into as good a college coming from a h.s. that college counselors don't like or know. Get out now while the going is good. Maybe education isn't as important to your husband and is ok with your kids being average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved into the Falls Church HS pyramid knowing it's one of the lowest performing in the county.

Gotta say, I'm with your husband on this. Even some of the worst in the county are among the best in the state. We're very involved with our kids school life - events, PTA meetings, homework, etc. That's what is going to make the difference.

What's the feedback on the elementary school in the pyramid? That's what I would be concentrating on.

OP here, why did you move to Falls Church pyramid knowing it is one of the worst in the county? What elementary school are you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are right to be concerned OP. Your kid won't get into as good a college coming from a h.s. that college counselors don't like or know. Get out now while the going is good. Maybe education isn't as important to your husband and is ok with your kids being average.

Not necessarily true. Your kid has a much better chance (and less competition) being a good student in a lower performing school than being an average student in a high performing school where all the well to do kids are competing for the same top tier college slots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are right to be concerned OP. Your kid won't get into as good a college coming from a h.s. that college counselors don't like or know. Get out now while the going is good. Maybe education isn't as important to your husband and is ok with your kids being average.

Not necessarily true. Your kid has a much better chance (and less competition) being a good student in a lower performing school than being an average student in a high performing school where all the well to do kids are competing for the same top tier college slots.

YES! took the words right out of my mouth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are right to be concerned OP. Your kid won't get into as good a college coming from a h.s. that college counselors don't like or know. Get out now while the going is good. Maybe education isn't as important to your husband and is ok with your kids being average.

You are not OK with average kids? How do your kids feel about that? Are they OK with an average parent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are right to be concerned OP. Your kid won't get into as good a college coming from a h.s. that college counselors don't like or know. Get out now while the going is good. Maybe education isn't as important to your husband and is ok with your kids being average.

Not necessarily true. Your kid has a much better chance (and less competition) being a good student in a lower performing school than being an average student in a high performing school where all the well to do kids are competing for the same top tier college slots.

These posts cancel each other out - both have a bit of "suburban legend" to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved into the Falls Church HS pyramid knowing it's one of the lowest performing in the county.

Gotta say, I'm with your husband on this. Even some of the worst in the county are among the best in the state. We're very involved with our kids school life - events, PTA meetings, homework, etc. That's what is going to make the difference.
What's the feedback on the elementary school in the pyramid? That's what I would be concentrating on.

OP here, why did you move to Falls Church pyramid knowing it is one of the worst in the county? What elementary school are you?

I am not the PP who is in the Falls Church district, but I would assume she chose it because of what I bolded above.

NO high school in Fairfax County is awful and there are students at each one of them who do very well and go to great colleges. Like the PP said, parental and student involvement in the school are key. Falls Church HS also has honors classes and AP.

Here are their test results - still pretty high for being such a "bad" school.

http://www.greatschools.org/modperl/achievement/va/481

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved into the Falls Church HS pyramid knowing it's one of the lowest performing in the county.

Gotta say, I'm with your husband on this. Even some of the worst in the county are among the best in the state. We're very involved with our kids school life - events, PTA meetings, homework, etc. That's what is going to make the difference.
What's the feedback on the elementary school in the pyramid? That's what I would be concentrating on.

OP here, why did you move to Falls Church pyramid knowing it is one of the worst in the county? What elementary school are you?

I am not the PP who is in the Falls Church district, but I would assume she chose it because of what I bolded above.

NO high school in Fairfax County is awful and there are students at each one of them who do very well and go to great colleges. Like the PP said, parental and student involvement in the school are key. Falls Church HS also has honors classes and AP.

Here are their test results - still pretty high for being such a "bad" school.

http://www.greatschools.org/modperl/achievement/va/481

Oh, and here are those results broken down by sub-group:

http://www.greatschools.org/modperl/achievement/va/481#toc

Black students and students with disabilities seem to struggle the most as well as Hispanics in some areas, but everyone else is doing pretty well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved into the Falls Church HS pyramid knowing it's one of the lowest performing in the county.

Gotta say, I'm with your husband on this. Even some of the worst in the county are among the best in the state. We're very involved with our kids school life - events, PTA meetings, homework, etc. That's what is going to make the difference.

What's the feedback on the elementary school in the pyramid? That's what I would be concentrating on.

OP here, why did you move to Falls Church pyramid knowing it is one of the worst in the county? What elementary school are you?

Because we liked the house and the neighborhood. We knew from parents of kids who go there that it's not nearly as bad as people on this board would make you think. And because of the stuff that's bolded above.

FWIW, I went to a lower performing FFX HS - West Potomac - and did great. I was involved with sports, took GT and AP courses, etc. Because my parents were involved and guided me.

[Anonymous]

But where did you go to college pp?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not going to say which one it is, but it's one of the low preforming NOVA public school pyramid. I want to move to a better one before DS is 5 years old. DH says ALL fairfax county public schools are good and he thinks they are fine. he has done NO research and he went to Bethesda- Chevy Chase pyramid, so I am not sure he knows what a low performing school is like at all.

Anyway, do I just give up and deal with sending my kids to the lowest performing school in FX County? DH always says "Oh it's fine!! you are over-reacting!!"

Stop talking and get back in the kitchen.

[Anonymous]

I am the poster that occasionally chimes in when Falls Church is mentioned because I coach there. Honestly, I love that school and there are as many opportunities available to FCHS students as there are at Langley/McLean/Madison etc. I have coached kids who have gone on to UVA, Tech, Mason, JMU, University of Maryland, William and Mary etc. Please tour the school in question before you make a judgement base on inaccurate stereotypes.