comments contrasting mcps and fcps experiences, approaches, or curricula

[Anonymous]

The two folks in Fairfax, we are currently in Fairfax but considering moving to MoCo to be closer to my work. (Same area as the OP so this thread is of great interest to me.) What was it that you didn't like about MoCo compared to Fairfax?

we're in a similar boat - any comments contrasting mcps and fcps experiences, approaches, or curricula would be very helpful to us

I think you should start a new topic...

So new topic - what's your opinion? compare MCPS to FCPS? compare FCPS top-10% "AAP" to MCPS green zone or red zone or HG magnets or middle school magnets? Compare TJ to Blair? Langley to whitman/churchill? Takoma park middle school to longfellow or carson? what about elementary school - is the curriculum narrower at MCPS because it doesn't have state standards testing on science/social studies like virginia does in elementary? What about grade 6 in elementary schools in FCPS - is it better to have the middle school academics for 6th graders in MCPS versus the elementary school 6th grades in FCPS? what about math in either place - how deep is the curriculum versus how accelerated? what about class sizes? teacher's skills/salaries? so how would an top, average/hard-working, or extra-needs kids fair in each system - which is better?

etc... - any comments welcome - especially if you have personal experience with each

[Anonymous]

Bump because I would like to know too.
The one thing I know (heard from a friend with kid there) about Fairfax that I really like is the fact that the HS uses a block schedule. Churchill HS, and other MCPS schools as far as I know, do not. Churchill has 7 or 8 classes every day and most classes have lots of homework. In addition, Churchill is large and really crowded so getting to each class on time can be a major challenge. Forget about using lockers, there is no time.

Churchill's classes are only 45 to 50 mins long minus the time it takes to get settled in your seat and get your notebook out. My friends daughter at Herndon HS only has 4 or 5 classes a day, about 1 hour 15 or 20 min each. So there is always a break from a class or two. It just seems much more sane and way less frenetic than what my DC experiences at Churchill. It also seems like it would be a better way to impart information than just throwing it at them and counting on them to figure it out at home because there is no time to process in class.

Everyday at Churchill is the same. So if you have Math first thing and you aren't a morning person, well tough luck. With a block schedule every day is different. It really helps to alternate the time of day subjects are taught. I wish we would adopt Fairfax's approach. I think Fairfax has a later start time that MC. Churchill starts at 7:25. Bus picks up at 6:45 and bus stop is a 15 min. walk from our house. DC leaves our house a 6:20. When I was growing up the only kids that got picked up that early lived 40 miles from school. We live 4.5 miles from school

I would like to hear what Fairfax parents have to say.

[Anonymous]

To a large degree you are also comparing MD state curriculum and the MSAs with Virginia Curriculum, and the SOLs. They are different in some important ways -- in particular VA has a greater focus on Social Studies and Science, which gets crowded out right now in MD in the elementary years as social isn't tested at all and science not until grade 5.

[Anonymous]

You will great a great education from MCPS or FCPS. The difference is when you apply to college, Virginia has fabulous in-state choices for students compared to Maryland.

[Anonymous]

Have to agree that VA college choices are much better. We are actually thinking of moving for that reason.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax does not have a later start time than MoCo schools like Churchill. A parents' group tried to get this changed and was not successful. The start times in Arlington and Loudoun Counties are about an hour later. We do prefer the block scheduling, however, to 6-8 classes every day.

[Anonymous]

How is the elementary/middle school writing curriculum in mcps and fcps? Are there essays, creative writing, or is it structured response? What's the usual length of essays at a particular grade level? Any comparisons with the good privates around DC? We're in early elementary school and I don't have a good sense of how well the kids are learning to write in each of these systems (our DC is in private in VA right now thinking of GT for 3rd grade or moving to bethesda/potomac for middle versus longfellow.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is the elementary/middle school writing curriculum in mcps and fcps? Are there essays, creative writing, or is it structured response? What's the usual length of essays at a particular grade level? Any comparisons with the good privates around DC? We're in early elementary school and I don't have a good sense of how well the kids are learning to write in each of these systems (our DC is in private in VA right now thinking of GT for 3rd grade or moving to bethesda/potomac for middle versus longfellow.)

The most control over writing in FCPS is for IB at the diploma candidate level. I doubt anyone knows the answer to your question--even at FCPS headquarters. Longfellow is a stable school with a strong academic history.

[Anonymous]

Any longfellow parents out there who can attest to what you kids are doing re: writing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax does not have a later start time than MoCo schools like Churchill. A parents' group tried to get this changed and was not successful. The start times in Arlington and Loudoun Counties are about an hour later. We do prefer the block scheduling, however, to 6-8 classes every day.

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I misunderstood about the start time.