High Schools To Avoid In Fairfax County & Other Questions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a PP noted, Edison is one people will tell you to avoid. It, however, is our high school and we like it a lot. Our kids do well and the kids in our neighborhood who have graduated from there have gone to great schools - W&M, UVA, Stanford, etc. Of course, you'll find kids there who are growing up rough but we don't know anyone who has been negatively impacted by that group. Edison also has a VoTech program which I think a lot of people in this area looks down upon - like if you're not going to college you must not be worth anything. Too bad. It's a good program and no shame in it.

My two cousins went to Edison, both went to UVA, are successful & maintain good friendships from high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I don't know where you are getting the 8.6%, the FCPS.edu website shows 10.18%. It is a year old and sholdbe updated shortly, but I doubt it has dropped that much as it has been steadliy rising the past few years. There are also apartments near the new "McLean" metro station. The Rotunda in Tyson's is also in McLean's district, they don't tend to quaify for free meals, but the cost of an apartment is much lower.. There is also talk of a new apartment complex at the corner of Westmoreland and Kirby/Idlewood where a closed church now sits, which I think it great as the area need lower and middle cost housing.

It's from the latest state report: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/nutrition/statistics/free_reduced_eligibility/2012-2013/schools/frpe_sch_report_sy2012-13.pdf

The percentage of students at McLean receiving free and reduced meals was down in 2012-13 compared to the prior year, not up, which isn't surprising given the improving economy. The percentage of FARMS students at McLean is higher than at Langley and Madison, and lower than at Marshall, Oakton and Woodson (or, for that matter, at any of the Arlington County high schools).

Maybe there will be more townhouses at the Westmoreland/Kirby site. I'd be surprised if they could be called "lower and middle income housing" under any conventional definition of the term. There are already quite a few townhouses in the Haycock and Kent Gardens district, where the percentage of FARMS students is a whopping 3-4% at each school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don't know where you are getting the 8.6%, the FCPS.edu website shows 10.18%. It is a year old and sholdbe updated shortly, but I doubt it has dropped that much as it has been steadliy rising the past few years. There are also apartments near the new "McLean" metro station. The Rotunda in Tyson's is also in McLean's district, they don't tend to quaify for free meals, but the cost of an apartment is much lower.. There is also talk of a new apartment complex at the corner of Westmoreland and Kirby/Idlewood where a closed church now sits, which I think it great as the area need lower and middle cost housing.

It's from the latest state report: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/nutrition/statistics/free_reduced_eligibility/2012-2013/schools/frpe_sch_report_sy2012-13.pdf

The percentage of students at McLean receiving free and reduced meals was down in 2012-13 compared to the prior year, not up, which isn't surprising given the improving economy. The percentage of FARMS students at McLean is higher than at Langley and Madison, and lower than at Marshall, Oakton and Woodson (or, for that matter, at any of the Arlington County high schools).

Maybe there will be more townhouses at the Westmoreland/Kirby site. I'd be surprised if they could be called "lower and middle income housing" under any conventional definition of the term. There are already quite a few townhouses in the Haycock and Kent Gardens district, where the percentage of FARMS students is a whopping 3-4% at each school.

Thanks fo rthe updated info. The site meets the requirements the County set up for more affordable housing projects. There is currently a plan circulating for rentals for that site. Discussion of which was one of the agenda items at our lasat neighborhood association meeting.

[Anonymous]

Lake Braddock, Chantilly , Fairfax , and West Springfield are rated slightly lower but good as well, anything else is lower

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lake Braddock, Chantilly , Fairfax , and West Springfield are rated slightly lower but good as well, anything else is lower

Robinson?

[Anonymous]

The really large schools have more lower income kids--but they also have plenty of higher income kids, too. Maybe not quite like Langley, but there are plenty of kids who take very competitive classes and get into great schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lake Braddock, Chantilly , Fairfax , and West Springfield are rated slightly lower but good as well, anything else is lower

Robinson?

Yes forgot that one Robinson should also be on the list above

[Anonymous]

What is interesting is that the dcps schools with the highest ratings are lower than the fcps lowest schools

[Anonymous]

Op, you asked why the other fairfax schools don't get as much dcum time as Langley, McLean, Marshall, etc. I believe those parents are just not on dcum to boost their schools. It's as simple as that.

[Anonymous]

Thank you to everyone that has responded to my questions! Keep them coming.

I like the socio-economic, cultural, and racial diversity that some of the high schools have that rarely gets mentioned on this forum. It's interesting that quite a few of you mentioned Chantilly, Fairfax, Robinson, West Springfield, and Lake Braddock because those were the high schools that I was researching. I saw some of the academic courses and student clubs at those schools and they seem to offer plenty to choose from. It's great to know that parents are happy with their child's school.

By the way, does anyone know about the Governor's Stem Program at Chantilly?

Also, I see that Lake Braddock and Robinson are both secondary schools? Are the middle and high school students in separate buildings? Explain the concept of secondary schools because I'm not familiar with them. Will a student get the attention that they need from such large schools or does it make the transition from middle to high school easier for students?


Thanks Again!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you to everyone that has responded to my questions! Keep them coming.

I like the socio-economic, cultural, and racial diversity that some of the high schools have that rarely gets mentioned on this forum. It's interesting that quite a few of you mentioned Chantilly, Fairfax, Robinson, West Springfield, and Lake Braddock because those were the high schools that I was researching. I saw some of the academic courses and student clubs at those schools and they seem to offer plenty to choose from. It's great to know that parents are happy with their child's school.

By the way, does anyone know about the Governor's Stem Program at Chantilly?

Also, I see that Lake Braddock and Robinson are both secondary schools? Are the middle and high school students in separate buildings? Explain the concept of secondary schools because I'm not familiar with them. Will a student get the attention that they need from such large schools or does it make the transition from middle to high school easier for students?


Thanks Again!

chantilly and now Marshall have the governor's stem program. What is very cool is that you can actually take those courses towards your high school diploma and get college credit or real certifications

[Anonymous]

Avoid South Lakes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Avoid South Lakes

Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:West Springfield
Lake Braddock
Robinson
all great schools

I also know families who are very happy with Falls Church and Jeb Stuart. Some of the most motivated and enthusiastic teachers choose to work with more diverse populations.

I have a son at McLean who is an A/B student, takes a mix of AP and non-AP courses and is generally happy there. But the one course he is looking forward to the most this fall is an Academy class over at Falls Church.

People need to be open-minded and realize all these schools have plenty to offer.

+100 I think this forum tends to attract folks who worry about this type of thing and get caught up in having to go to a school in the richest part of the county with the best reputation. Truth is things are constantly changing in this area and all the schools are improving. Some of the best things are happening at schools that don't get the press. Do your own research and don't get up in the anti-FARMS snobbery.

[Anonymous]

Annandale High
Anything in Alexandria
Falls Church High & Edison High???