WWYD: Herndon/Reston Edition

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it me or is Fox Mill hot these days????

I had one kid at an AAP center school, and one kid in JI at Fox Mill, and pandemic-wise, Fox Mill absolutely blew the other school out of the water. FM provided quarterly packets of manipulatives and worksheets and so on(*), and seemed really on the ball as far as parent communication. AAP center provided nothing -- everything was done online, other than maybe art -- and said little.

(*) Another parent on this forum said that her child's grade only got one or two of those packets, but that's still one or two more than my child got at the other school.

For the parent of the kid in JI, are you planning to send said child to Carson and SLHS, or are you in another pyramid?

Not all of JI kids live on the Fox Mill boundary. As long as you provide transportation (and win a lottery), your kid can be enrolled in the JI program at Fox Mill. I have seen JI kids from Oakton, Chantilly, and Robinson boundaries.

That's kind of what I'm trying to figure out -- my daughter should have no problem testing into the program in a higher grade, so we don't expect we'd need to "win a lottery" for her to attend the school. So, with the reasonable assurance that she can go there, should I still try to land in-boundary so that she can be assured of going to SHLS, or are there better high school programs near enough nearby that we should aim for (even if they mean providing transport for her in ES and MS).

In that case, consider Crossfield - Carson - Oakton pyramid. Crossfield is close to Fox Mill and you don’t need to provide the transportation for MS.

SLHS is not bad if your daughter is interested in IB program.

I also have to mention that SLHS offers Japanese while Oakton doesn’t.

Oakton does offer Japanese. At least it did the last few school years.

Japanese is offered at the following schools:

Carson Middle School

Cooper Middle School

Falls Church High School

Hayfield Secondary School

Lake Braddock Secondary School

Langley High School

South County High School

South County Middle School

South Lakes High School

Thomas Jefferson High School

Westfield High School

https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high-school-academics-9-12/world-languages/japanese

[Anonymous]

Are the language offerings also a bit different based on if an immersion program feeds into a high school?

A kid who is in JI at Fox Mill can take Japanese at Carson that is different then regular Japanese. If you look at the course listings, there is a Japanese that is worth 1 credit and is Japanese Immersion vs a Japanese class that is not worth a credit. I would assume that there are additional Japanese language offerings at South Lakes for the immersion program kids so they can continue Japanese past sophomore year. Am I right about that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are the language offerings also a bit different based on if an immersion program feeds into a high school?

A kid who is in JI at Fox Mill can take Japanese at Carson that is different then regular Japanese. If you look at the course listings, there is a Japanese that is worth 1 credit and is Japanese Immersion vs a Japanese class that is not worth a credit. I would assume that there are additional Japanese language offerings at South Lakes for the immersion program kids so they can continue Japanese past sophomore year. Am I right about that?

Also wondering this. And if there are advanced options at all the HSs, is there a better HS on that list than South Lakes (other than Langley, which I know consistently ranks higher)?

[Anonymous]

I think Oakton was dropping Japanese.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Oakton was dropping Japanese.

When I clicked on a Japanese class at South Lakes, it showed that Oakton has Japanese there is no Japanese Teacher listed on the World Languages page.

[Anonymous]

PP above, let me retype that...

When you click on the Course Listings for World Languages you can click on a specific class. When I click on Japanese 1, you can click on the course description and a tab for schools. When you click on the schools tab, and scroll down, Oakton is listed as offering Japanese 1. But a look at the Oakton World Languages page does not include a Japanese Language teacher, which makes me think that it is not offered at Oakton any more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP above, let me retype that...

When you click on the Course Listings for World Languages you can click on a specific class. When I click on Japanese 1, you can click on the course description and a tab for schools. When you click on the schools tab, and scroll down, Oakton is listed as offering Japanese 1. But a look at the Oakton World Languages page does not include a Japanese Language teacher, which makes me think that it is not offered at Oakton any more.

It was up in the air if Oakton would have enough interest to offer Japanese 1 this fall: https://oaktonhs.fcps.edu/features/world-languages-course-map

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it me or is Fox Mill hot these days????

I had one kid at an AAP center school, and one kid in JI at Fox Mill, and pandemic-wise, Fox Mill absolutely blew the other school out of the water. FM provided quarterly packets of manipulatives and worksheets and so on(*), and seemed really on the ball as far as parent communication. AAP center provided nothing -- everything was done online, other than maybe art -- and said little.

(*) Another parent on this forum said that her child's grade only got one or two of those packets, but that's still one or two more than my child got at the other school.

For the parent of the kid in JI, are you planning to send said child to Carson and SLHS, or are you in another pyramid?

Not all of JI kids live on the Fox Mill boundary. As long as you provide transportation (and win a lottery), your kid can be enrolled in the JI program at Fox Mill. I have seen JI kids from Oakton, Chantilly, and Robinson boundaries.

That's kind of what I'm trying to figure out -- my daughter should have no problem testing into the program in a higher grade, so we don't expect we'd need to "win a lottery" for her to attend the school. So, with the reasonable assurance that she can go there, should I still try to land in-boundary so that she can be assured of going to SHLS, or are there better high school programs near enough nearby that we should aim for (even if they mean providing transport for her in ES and MS).

My understanding is that it's possible to place the kid into Carson and then SLHS, even if you are out of boundary. Carson has a decent rep, and is an AAP center. (Though whether AAP centers will still exist long term is unclear...) I do like Fox Mill quite a bit, but it isn't entirely able to paper over the weaknesses of the FCPS system and those are going to be more apparent as the kids get older. If we stay in public, then we'd continue on to Carson, then Oakton, our zoned HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it me or is Fox Mill hot these days????

I had one kid at an AAP center school, and one kid in JI at Fox Mill, and pandemic-wise, Fox Mill absolutely blew the other school out of the water. FM provided quarterly packets of manipulatives and worksheets and so on(*), and seemed really on the ball as far as parent communication. AAP center provided nothing -- everything was done online, other than maybe art -- and said little.

(*) Another parent on this forum said that her child's grade only got one or two of those packets, but that's still one or two more than my child got at the other school.

For the parent of the kid in JI, are you planning to send said child to Carson and SLHS, or are you in another pyramid?

Not all of JI kids live on the Fox Mill boundary. As long as you provide transportation (and win a lottery), your kid can be enrolled in the JI program at Fox Mill. I have seen JI kids from Oakton, Chantilly, and Robinson boundaries.

That's kind of what I'm trying to figure out -- my daughter should have no problem testing into the program in a higher grade, so we don't expect we'd need to "win a lottery" for her to attend the school. So, with the reasonable assurance that she can go there, should I still try to land in-boundary so that she can be assured of going to SHLS, or are there better high school programs near enough nearby that we should aim for (even if they mean providing transport for her in ES and MS).

My understanding is that it's possible to place the kid into Carson and then SLHS, even if you are out of boundary. Carson has a decent rep, and is an AAP center. (Though whether AAP centers will still exist long term is unclear...) I do like Fox Mill quite a bit, but it isn't entirely able to paper over the weaknesses of the FCPS system and those are going to be more apparent as the kids get older. If we stay in public, then we'd continue on to Carson, then Oakton, our zoned HS.

Thanks! Are there specific other Middle/HSs in the area you're considering?

[Anonymous]

Oakton had the high school level classes for the immersion students when Fox Mill was zoned for Oakton. It's been a few years since Fox Mill rezoned to South Lakes and now South Lakes has the post immersion program.


For what it's worth, Fox Mill is talked about a lot on the real estate forum because it's a nice community. It will never satisfy people who want a 5,000 sq foot houses. Most lots are a quarter acre and most homes are 3-4 bedrooms, around 2,000 sq feet. The elementary school is in the middle of the neighborhood - most kids walk though there are a couple of buses for kids more than one mile away. There are two community pools (with memberships), a shopping center, playgrounds, and generally people get to know each other very well.

I'm a big advocate of living in the boundary where you/r kids want to go to school. Why not make life easier and then they live by their friends, can easily do activities together, you get to know your neighbors, etc.

Fox Mill ES is a great school even outside of the JI program (two years of renovation coming up, FYI), Carson is a great middle school, and though the great school scores are lower, parents and students love South Lakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oakton had the high school level classes for the immersion students when Fox Mill was zoned for Oakton. It's been a few years since Fox Mill rezoned to South Lakes and now South Lakes has the post immersion program.


For what it's worth, Fox Mill is talked about a lot on the real estate forum because it's a nice community. It will never satisfy people who want a 5,000 sq foot houses. Most lots are a quarter acre and most homes are 3-4 bedrooms, around 2,000 sq feet. The elementary school is in the middle of the neighborhood - most kids walk though there are a couple of buses for kids more than one mile away. There are two community pools (with memberships), a shopping center, playgrounds, and generally people get to know each other very well.

I'm a big advocate of living in the boundary where you/r kids want to go to school. Why not make life easier and then they live by their friends, can easily do activities together, you get to know your neighbors, etc.

Fox Mill ES is a great school even outside of the JI program (two years of renovation coming up, FYI), Carson is a great middle school, and though the great school scores are lower, parents and students love South Lakes.

There was a topic about moving to Reston a little while back and I mentioned Fox Mill. The OP said “That is South Reston and I was told to avoid South Reston.” It made me laugh, like the area is massively crime ridden.

Fox Mill seems to me to be hidden from a lot of peoples view. It isn’t Reston or Herndon and not Vienna, so it is overlooked a lot. The neighborhood is walkable with a supermarket and several smaller, local restaurants that are good. There are play grounds that are easily walked to and the pools. I am seeing more kids out, more noticing it more, now that DS is getting older. The school community is close and the JI program is awesome. People are missing out when they look past it.

I know South Lakes is not seen as a great high school but the kids I have spoken to are enjoying their time at the school. There is one kid in my neighborhood who has said anything negative about the school.

We are very happy here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it me or is Fox Mill hot these days????

I had one kid at an AAP center school, and one kid in JI at Fox Mill, and pandemic-wise, Fox Mill absolutely blew the other school out of the water. FM provided quarterly packets of manipulatives and worksheets and so on(*), and seemed really on the ball as far as parent communication. AAP center provided nothing -- everything was done online, other than maybe art -- and said little.

(*) Another parent on this forum said that her child's grade only got one or two of those packets, but that's still one or two more than my child got at the other school.

For the parent of the kid in JI, are you planning to send said child to Carson and SLHS, or are you in another pyramid?

Not all of JI kids live on the Fox Mill boundary. As long as you provide transportation (and win a lottery), your kid can be enrolled in the JI program at Fox Mill. I have seen JI kids from Oakton, Chantilly, and Robinson boundaries.

That's kind of what I'm trying to figure out -- my daughter should have no problem testing into the program in a higher grade, so we don't expect we'd need to "win a lottery" for her to attend the school. So, with the reasonable assurance that she can go there, should I still try to land in-boundary so that she can be assured of going to SHLS, or are there better high school programs near enough nearby that we should aim for (even if they mean providing transport for her in ES and MS).

My understanding is that it's possible to place the kid into Carson and then SLHS, even if you are out of boundary. Carson has a decent rep, and is an AAP center. (Though whether AAP centers will still exist long term is unclear...) I do like Fox Mill quite a bit, but it isn't entirely able to paper over the weaknesses of the FCPS system and those are going to be more apparent as the kids get older. If we stay in public, then we'd continue on to Carson, then Oakton, our zoned HS.

Thanks! Are there specific other Middle/HSs in the area you're considering?

Too late for me to consider, but in the public realm, Madison, maybe. The zones are weird-looking and it's another high school that has a boundary relatively close to FMES. I know some people who profess to be happy there. A set of cousins seemed to like South Lakes, for what it's worth.

Honestly, the Fox Mill area is relatively inexpensive by our regionally insane real estate standards. I wish I'd bought there and then banked the savings into a private school tuition fund, for when that becomes necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are moving to the area. Older child is currently in a Japanese Immersion Program in SoCal (rising 3rd grader). One parent will work in Dulles area or surrounds. Other parent will work mostly-from-home. We bought our current home because we were satisfied with the elementary school, but don't want to have to move again until both kids are out of the house. Crazy expensive private schools are not in the budget.

Assuming older child is able to test in to JIP at Fox Mill, would you move into Fox Mill/Carson/SL pyramid or would you move nearby so that child later can go to Oakton HS (any other good option?) and we suck up driving her to Fox Mill now (and possibly Carson, if our house is not in that boundary). We have enough lead-time and budget that we should be able to afford an acceptable house in Oakton HS boundary or SL.

Do JIP at Great Falls. Much better schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are moving to the area. Older child is currently in a Japanese Immersion Program in SoCal (rising 3rd grader). One parent will work in Dulles area or surrounds. Other parent will work mostly-from-home. We bought our current home because we were satisfied with the elementary school, but don't want to have to move again until both kids are out of the house. Crazy expensive private schools are not in the budget.

Assuming older child is able to test in to JIP at Fox Mill, would you move into Fox Mill/Carson/SL pyramid or would you move nearby so that child later can go to Oakton HS (any other good option?) and we suck up driving her to Fox Mill now (and possibly Carson, if our house is not in that boundary). We have enough lead-time and budget that we should be able to afford an acceptable house in Oakton HS boundary or SL.

Do JIP at Great Falls. Much better schools.

…says someone who doesn’t commute there? GFES is hard to get to unless you live right there. And the Fox Mill immersion program is really supported by the community. I guess it depends on what you consider better.

Also, the list of schools offering Japanese is outdated, so if you are really interested in a middle/high school, I would call and ask about it offering Japanese next year. I know of two schools on the list that no longer offer Japanese. I think you should bank on staying on in the hs pyramid you choose for immersion if your kid ends up wanting to continue the Japanese into high school. With the rise of more schools offering Spanish 1 Part 1 and French 1 Part 1, fewer middle schools are able to offer the number of languages they once did. Demand was there to let 7th graders take the part 1 languages and schools can only support so many sections of languages.

[Anonymous]

SLHS this year had fantastic college admission results. IB kids did very well in college admissions.