DC NW vs Fairfax County elementary schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, the upper NW elementary schools have better scores than FCPS. Take a look at the following analysis of standardized test data. (White students in DC is an easy proxy for upper NW schools.) Notice how DC has better scores than anyone else in the country. Interesting, right?

http://www.schoolinfosystem.org/archives/2007/10/a_different_loo.php

No, that states that white children in DC have better scores than white children in Virginia. That is very different than a comparison to white children in fairfax county. I would suspect there is a much broader range of socioeconomic circumstances for white children across the entire state of Virginia than there is for DC, where the vast majority of white children in dc public schools are well off financially and being raised by educated parents. I suspect the demographics for white children in DCPS is actually a huge advantage in this comparison.

A fact that has been pointed out to the PP a number of times now on other threads when she's trotted out this same argument. Makes you wonder why she feels compelled to keep repeating the claim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IMHO, good is good no matter which school system with involved parents.

So we moved from DC to FFX this summer. We did not move because of schools.

Our DDs had been at Shepherd ES in PK and 2nd where we our girls had an exceptional experience in the classroom (skip the other spin that was going on there the past few years). And yes, the test scores were in the high 70s last year, whatever (test scores don't show everything; that's a different thread for a different time).

All the upper NW, west of the parkers on this list probably have had great experiences at their school too.

This fall our DDs started started all-day K and 3rd at Freedom Hill ES in Tysons Conrner. Freedom Hill was just completely rebuilt and has a very diverse ethnic and racial demographics (AS 30, BL 5, HIS 22, WH 37 OTH 7) and a high mobility rate (38pct). It is also an FCPS community centered advanced academics program school (aka G&T 12pct). Test scores are 10-15 pts higher though the new school has a much higher ESL pct (33 that is split Spanish, Arabic, Hindi and Korean). Classes are about 2 kids bigger than last year. The girls are thriving and my older DD is in adv acad for language arts/reading.

Another big difference DCPS -- all day Pre-K and K. FCPS -- no PK and only some schools have all day K. Also, FCPS has very strict rules on visiting the schools, especially in the classroom during the teaching day (you can't). The before/after care wait list is a mile long at many schools. Also, the FCPS school day is 2 hours shorter on Mondays for teacher planning periods (try doing that on a 9-5 job).

My take from this is that even DC schools with middling "official" DC-CAS scores, do indeed prepare children to be succesful academically assuming involved parents. The issue is that DC schools have limited options to further challenge children in the proficient or advanced groups. Those programs end up being PTA supported or specialty program schools (not "neighborhood" schools).

What do we not miss? All the school-based budget angst of who/what may be cut, etc. if enrollment isn't reached... central office bureaucracy... M Rhee...

What do we miss? Ken Giles and the music program at Shepherd. You CAN NOT find what he does at the ES level in school anywhere else.

OP here. Thank you very much for this answer. It does indeed articulate what might be missed by simply comparing scores.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think that you've gotten some very good feedback here. I'd also add that this is a decision that is best made in the context of your entire lives, and not only the differences in schools. How will your commutes change? How much time with the kids would you and your husband lose because of it? What are the amenities in each neighborhood (giving up Wilson Pool would be tough)? How much do you currently use the uniquely DC features such as the museums, Zoo, various urban things? How happy does city living make you and your DH, and in particular, who much easier is it for you to get some adult stimulation? Do you consider yourself suburban in nature or more drawn to cities? How much do you like driving? These are big-ticket items. If you were choosing between failing schools and great schools, these things probably wouldn't matter so much. But between two sets of schools that provide a good education-- I think that at that point you look at the big picture too.

For us, this holistic analysis put us squarely in the DC camp. We use DC itself as a classroom, and the minimal commute feels like a gift of time that moving would take away. Our school is one of the good west of the park elementary schools, so the decision wasn't all that hard.

Good luck.