FCPS comprehensive boundary review

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m appalled by much of what the SB has done (or how little it has done in terms of improving educational outcomes). However, the redistricting is not the thing we should be fighting about. There are bigger issues like grading and how to bring out the best of every student, not by lowering standards, but by finding ways to bringing everyone up. So stop with the leery fighting about boundary changes and focus on something meaningful.

What’s important to you may not be so important to other people, and vice versa. And obviously the School Board has prioritized a boundary review, so it’s not something people will ignore.

Most people making a big deal about it have mixed up priorities and/or are afraid of poor brown people. They are reaping what they’ve shown as far as the SB, and live with results of their poor decisions.

I wouldn’t toss out a malapropism like “reaping what they’ve shown” and then criticize the judgment of other people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:55% are low income. Typically that means Title 1 services which give a lower teacher-student ratio. That is exactly what Lewis has so why add more kids unless they expect those kids to pump up test scores?

People are too obsessed with test scores. Don’t worry about the average or median score. It is meaningless if you have for example a center that pulls students from other schools or a large number of low SES or ESL students. Truly, the average and median scores tell you nothing about how good the school is.

Good luck changing that. Start with the new VDOE accreditation system, the. The FCPS school board ,and hit Redfin, Zillow and great schools next.

They push that narrative for marketing but doesn’t mean it is a good metric o evaluate a school. When you see an ad or commercial for a floor cleaner, and you see people ecstatic about cleaning just because they use that product and that it solves all their problems, do you believe you’ll be dancing through life if you use it?

Forgot to add old/new, the VDOE isn’t measuring the right things.

My friend, we agree test scores are a bad measure of a school or even how educated and ready for adulthood and citizenship a child/teen may be.

We disagree that anything or anyone is going to change that anytime soon.

I didn’t say anyone would change the metric, but a good analyst understands that those measures are not what should be used.

For example, average SAT score at Langley HS with very little poverty or at-risk students (less than 5%) is 1314 in 2022
(92nd-93rd percentile), while at Herndon HS with a high number of at-risk (FARMS) students (55%) is 1187 (80th percentile) still well above the average. Can you honestly say Langley is doing a great job based on these scores given its demographics? And can you say with a straight face that Herndon is a FAILING school (per some on DCUM) with that average score particularly with the number of at-risk students with presumably dragging down the average?

One could argue that Langley HS is underachieving and Herndon HS is overachieving.

Lewis HS — which has a similar number of at risk kids as Herndon HS (55%) AND uses IB — has an average SAT of 1063 (60th percentile). A lower average score but still NOT FAILING. This could likely be due to the use of IB versus AP.

South Lakes HS, which also has IB but fewer at risk students (35 percent) than Herndon or Lewis, has an average SAT score of 1205 similar to Herndon. However, one could argue it is also underperforming given it has IB like Lewis and fewer at risk kids than either Herndon or Lewis.

About 18% of West Springfield’s students are at risk. Its average SAT score is 1195 (81st percentile) which is very close to Herndon and South Lakes average scores. WSHS is underperforming compared to its neighbor Lewis HS given the IB and higher poverty. Seems WSHS parents would get a better bang for their buck at Herndon HS.



This was all back of the napkin using data from:

https://www.fcps.edu/news/fairfax-county-sat-scores-continue-surpass-state-and-global-averages

https://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108%3A8

https://research.collegeboard.org/reports/sat-suite/understanding-scores/sat

All this back and forth about not sending their kids to Lewis and that's the average SAT score? LMAO

So to prove that we shouldn’t use test scores, you are using test scores?

See the reason I don’t want to use them is because I think the kids themselves are more important than the tests. The relationships and built around neighborhoods, sports activities, parks and communities are what make a home for me.

I think my kids would be fine anywhere. I do think strong communities, businesses and keeping things local are better for everyone. That isn’t just reflected in test scores.

I am whole heartedly against traveling further, losing the ability to walk to my kids schools and/or uprooting my kids in the middle of their school careers precisely because i think the relationships they have built are more important than test scores.

Many people here DONT think their kid will be fine anywhere. That’s the issue.

Also, boundaries changes are on the edges. If you’re walking distance, you are 99% unlikely to have to switch to a different school.

And no, test score are not the only metric to look at. Again, people are arguing that they don’t want their children to go to failing schools, and the data shows that two of the schools regularly dumped on are not failing.

Which is why I think having Lewis and Herndon as smaller schools is beneficial for the kids there and should be looked at as a positive. Many places give smaller class sizes and extra staffing to Title 1 schools. Adding more kids into those schools won’t help anyone. It will help overall test score averages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:55% are low income. Typically that means Title 1 services which give a lower teacher-student ratio. That is exactly what Lewis has so why add more kids unless they expect those kids to pump up test scores?

People are too obsessed with test scores. Don’t worry about the average or median score. It is meaningless if you have for example a center that pulls students from other schools or a large number of low SES or ESL students. Truly, the average and median scores tell you nothing about how good the school is.

Good luck changing that. Start with the new VDOE accreditation system, the. The FCPS school board ,and hit Redfin, Zillow and great schools next.

They push that narrative for marketing but doesn’t mean it is a good metric o evaluate a school. When you see an ad or commercial for a floor cleaner, and you see people ecstatic about cleaning just because they use that product and that it solves all their problems, do you believe you’ll be dancing through life if you use it?

Forgot to add old/new, the VDOE isn’t measuring the right things.

My friend, we agree test scores are a bad measure of a school or even how educated and ready for adulthood and citizenship a child/teen may be.

We disagree that anything or anyone is going to change that anytime soon.

I didn’t say anyone would change the metric, but a good analyst understands that those measures are not what should be used.

For example, average SAT score at Langley HS with very little poverty or at-risk students (less than 5%) is 1314 in 2022
(92nd-93rd percentile), while at Herndon HS with a high number of at-risk (FARMS) students (55%) is 1187 (80th percentile) still well above the average. Can you honestly say Langley is doing a great job based on these scores given its demographics? And can you say with a straight face that Herndon is a FAILING school (per some on DCUM) with that average score particularly with the number of at-risk students with presumably dragging down the average?

One could argue that Langley HS is underachieving and Herndon HS is overachieving.

Lewis HS — which has a similar number of at risk kids as Herndon HS (55%) AND uses IB — has an average SAT of 1063 (60th percentile). A lower average score but still NOT FAILING. This could likely be due to the use of IB versus AP.

South Lakes HS, which also has IB but fewer at risk students (35 percent) than Herndon or Lewis, has an average SAT score of 1205 similar to Herndon. However, one could argue it is also underperforming given it has IB like Lewis and fewer at risk kids than either Herndon or Lewis.

About 18% of West Springfield’s students are at risk. Its average SAT score is 1195 (81st percentile) which is very close to Herndon and South Lakes average scores. WSHS is underperforming compared to its neighbor Lewis HS given the IB and higher poverty. Seems WSHS parents would get a better bang for their buck at Herndon HS.



This was all back of the napkin using data from:

https://www.fcps.edu/news/fairfax-county-sat-scores-continue-surpass-state-and-global-averages

https://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108%3A8

https://research.collegeboard.org/reports/sat-suite/understanding-scores/sat

All this back and forth about not sending their kids to Lewis and that's the average SAT score? LMAO

So to prove that we shouldn’t use test scores, you are using test scores?

See the reason I don’t want to use them is because I think the kids themselves are more important than the tests. The relationships and built around neighborhoods, sports activities, parks and communities are what make a home for me.

I think my kids would be fine anywhere. I do think strong communities, businesses and keeping things local are better for everyone. That isn’t just reflected in test scores.

I am whole heartedly against traveling further, losing the ability to walk to my kids schools and/or uprooting my kids in the middle of their school careers precisely because i think the relationships they have built are more important than test scores.

Many people here DONT think their kid will be fine anywhere. That’s the issue.

Also, boundaries changes are on the edges. If you’re walking distance, you are 99% unlikely to have to switch to a different school.

And no, test score are not the only metric to look at. Again, people are arguing that they don’t want their children to go to failing schools, and the data shows that two of the schools regularly dumped on are not failing.

Which is why I think having Lewis and Herndon as smaller schools is beneficial for the kids there and should be looked at as a positive. Many places give smaller class sizes and extra staffing to Title 1 schools. Adding more kids into those schools won’t help anyone. It will help overall test score averages.

The only two high schools in FCPS that are Title I schools are Bryant (alternative HS) and Justice.

Also, class sizes aren’t smaller just because a high school’s total enrollment is lower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:55% are low income. Typically that means Title 1 services which give a lower teacher-student ratio. That is exactly what Lewis has so why add more kids unless they expect those kids to pump up test scores?

People are too obsessed with test scores. Don’t worry about the average or median score. It is meaningless if you have for example a center that pulls students from other schools or a large number of low SES or ESL students. Truly, the average and median scores tell you nothing about how good the school is.

Good luck changing that. Start with the new VDOE accreditation system, the. The FCPS school board ,and hit Redfin, Zillow and great schools next.

They push that narrative for marketing but doesn’t mean it is a good metric o evaluate a school. When you see an ad or commercial for a floor cleaner, and you see people ecstatic about cleaning just because they use that product and that it solves all their problems, do you believe you’ll be dancing through life if you use it?

Forgot to add old/new, the VDOE isn’t measuring the right things.

My friend, we agree test scores are a bad measure of a school or even how educated and ready for adulthood and citizenship a child/teen may be.

We disagree that anything or anyone is going to change that anytime soon.

I didn’t say anyone would change the metric, but a good analyst understands that those measures are not what should be used.

For example, average SAT score at Langley HS with very little poverty or at-risk students (less than 5%) is 1314 in 2022
(92nd-93rd percentile), while at Herndon HS with a high number of at-risk (FARMS) students (55%) is 1187 (80th percentile) still well above the average. Can you honestly say Langley is doing a great job based on these scores given its demographics? And can you say with a straight face that Herndon is a FAILING school (per some on DCUM) with that average score particularly with the number of at-risk students with presumably dragging down the average?

One could argue that Langley HS is underachieving and Herndon HS is overachieving.

Lewis HS — which has a similar number of at risk kids as Herndon HS (55%) AND uses IB — has an average SAT of 1063 (60th percentile). A lower average score but still NOT FAILING. This could likely be due to the use of IB versus AP.

South Lakes HS, which also has IB but fewer at risk students (35 percent) than Herndon or Lewis, has an average SAT score of 1205 similar to Herndon. However, one could argue it is also underperforming given it has IB like Lewis and fewer at risk kids than either Herndon or Lewis.

About 18% of West Springfield’s students are at risk. Its average SAT score is 1195 (81st percentile) which is very close to Herndon and South Lakes average scores. WSHS is underperforming compared to its neighbor Lewis HS given the IB and higher poverty. Seems WSHS parents would get a better bang for their buck at Herndon HS.



This was all back of the napkin using data from:

https://www.fcps.edu/news/fairfax-county-sat-scores-continue-surpass-state-and-global-averages

https://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108%3A8

https://research.collegeboard.org/reports/sat-suite/understanding-scores/sat

All this back and forth about not sending their kids to Lewis and that's the average SAT score? LMAO

So to prove that we shouldn’t use test scores, you are using test scores?

See the reason I don’t want to use them is because I think the kids themselves are more important than the tests. The relationships and built around neighborhoods, sports activities, parks and communities are what make a home for me.

I think my kids would be fine anywhere. I do think strong communities, businesses and keeping things local are better for everyone. That isn’t just reflected in test scores.

I am whole heartedly against traveling further, losing the ability to walk to my kids schools and/or uprooting my kids in the middle of their school careers precisely because i think the relationships they have built are more important than test scores.

Many people here DONT think their kid will be fine anywhere. That’s the issue.

Also, boundaries changes are on the edges. If you’re walking distance, you are 99% unlikely to have to switch to a different school.

And no, test score are not the only metric to look at. Again, people are arguing that they don’t want their children to go to failing schools, and the data shows that two of the schools regularly dumped on are not failing.

Which is why I think having Lewis and Herndon as smaller schools is beneficial for the kids there and should be looked at as a positive. Many places give smaller class sizes and extra staffing to Title 1 schools. Adding more kids into those schools won’t help anyone. It will help overall test score averages.

I agree schools are too big. That’s one reasons expansions should be out of the question. But LOLOL. Now you’re arguing that boundaries shouldn’t change for the benefit of schools like Justice and Herndon and … . Hey, I’m good with keeping them small, but let’s be honest, that is 10000% not why people don’t want the boundaries changed.

I’m laughing so hard, my sides are hurting. That’s is prime time gaslighting what’s happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:55% are low income. Typically that means Title 1 services which give a lower teacher-student ratio. That is exactly what Lewis has so why add more kids unless they expect those kids to pump up test scores?

People are too obsessed with test scores. Don’t worry about the average or median score. It is meaningless if you have for example a center that pulls students from other schools or a large number of low SES or ESL students. Truly, the average and median scores tell you nothing about how good the school is.

Good luck changing that. Start with the new VDOE accreditation system, the. The FCPS school board ,and hit Redfin, Zillow and great schools next.

They push that narrative for marketing but doesn’t mean it is a good metric o evaluate a school. When you see an ad or commercial for a floor cleaner, and you see people ecstatic about cleaning just because they use that product and that it solves all their problems, do you believe you’ll be dancing through life if you use it?

Forgot to add old/new, the VDOE isn’t measuring the right things.

My friend, we agree test scores are a bad measure of a school or even how educated and ready for adulthood and citizenship a child/teen may be.

We disagree that anything or anyone is going to change that anytime soon.

I didn’t say anyone would change the metric, but a good analyst understands that those measures are not what should be used.

For example, average SAT score at Langley HS with very little poverty or at-risk students (less than 5%) is 1314 in 2022
(92nd-93rd percentile), while at Herndon HS with a high number of at-risk (FARMS) students (55%) is 1187 (80th percentile) still well above the average. Can you honestly say Langley is doing a great job based on these scores given its demographics? And can you say with a straight face that Herndon is a FAILING school (per some on DCUM) with that average score particularly with the number of at-risk students with presumably dragging down the average?

One could argue that Langley HS is underachieving and Herndon HS is overachieving.

Lewis HS — which has a similar number of at risk kids as Herndon HS (55%) AND uses IB — has an average SAT of 1063 (60th percentile). A lower average score but still NOT FAILING. This could likely be due to the use of IB versus AP.

South Lakes HS, which also has IB but fewer at risk students (35 percent) than Herndon or Lewis, has an average SAT score of 1205 similar to Herndon. However, one could argue it is also underperforming given it has IB like Lewis and fewer at risk kids than either Herndon or Lewis.

About 18% of West Springfield’s students are at risk. Its average SAT score is 1195 (81st percentile) which is very close to Herndon and South Lakes average scores. WSHS is underperforming compared to its neighbor Lewis HS given the IB and higher poverty. Seems WSHS parents would get a better bang for their buck at Herndon HS.



This was all back of the napkin using data from:

https://www.fcps.edu/news/fairfax-county-sat-scores-continue-surpass-state-and-global-averages

https://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108%3A8

https://research.collegeboard.org/reports/sat-suite/understanding-scores/sat

Great, now let’s hear about the student safety and incident data from Langley vs. Lewis. VDOE hides it now because they don’t want parents to know what is really going on at some of these schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:55% are low income. Typically that means Title 1 services which give a lower teacher-student ratio. That is exactly what Lewis has so why add more kids unless they expect those kids to pump up test scores?

People are too obsessed with test scores. Don’t worry about the average or median score. It is meaningless if you have for example a center that pulls students from other schools or a large number of low SES or ESL students. Truly, the average and median scores tell you nothing about how good the school is.

Good luck changing that. Start with the new VDOE accreditation system, the. The FCPS school board ,and hit Redfin, Zillow and great schools next.

They push that narrative for marketing but doesn’t mean it is a good metric o evaluate a school. When you see an ad or commercial for a floor cleaner, and you see people ecstatic about cleaning just because they use that product and that it solves all their problems, do you believe you’ll be dancing through life if you use it?

Forgot to add old/new, the VDOE isn’t measuring the right things.

My friend, we agree test scores are a bad measure of a school or even how educated and ready for adulthood and citizenship a child/teen may be.

We disagree that anything or anyone is going to change that anytime soon.

I didn’t say anyone would change the metric, but a good analyst understands that those measures are not what should be used.

For example, average SAT score at Langley HS with very little poverty or at-risk students (less than 5%) is 1314 in 2022
(92nd-93rd percentile), while at Herndon HS with a high number of at-risk (FARMS) students (55%) is 1187 (80th percentile) still well above the average. Can you honestly say Langley is doing a great job based on these scores given its demographics? And can you say with a straight face that Herndon is a FAILING school (per some on DCUM) with that average score particularly with the number of at-risk students with presumably dragging down the average?

One could argue that Langley HS is underachieving and Herndon HS is overachieving.

Lewis HS — which has a similar number of at risk kids as Herndon HS (55%) AND uses IB — has an average SAT of 1063 (60th percentile). A lower average score but still NOT FAILING. This could likely be due to the use of IB versus AP.

South Lakes HS, which also has IB but fewer at risk students (35 percent) than Herndon or Lewis, has an average SAT score of 1205 similar to Herndon. However, one could argue it is also underperforming given it has IB like Lewis and fewer at risk kids than either Herndon or Lewis.

About 18% of West Springfield’s students are at risk. Its average SAT score is 1195 (81st percentile) which is very close to Herndon and South Lakes average scores. WSHS is underperforming compared to its neighbor Lewis HS given the IB and higher poverty. Seems WSHS parents would get a better bang for their buck at Herndon HS.



This was all back of the napkin using data from:

https://www.fcps.edu/news/fairfax-county-sat-scores-continue-surpass-state-and-global-averages

https://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108%3A8

https://research.collegeboard.org/reports/sat-suite/understanding-scores/sat

All this back and forth about not sending their kids to Lewis and that's the average SAT score? LMAO

So to prove that we shouldn’t use test scores, you are using test scores?

See the reason I don’t want to use them is because I think the kids themselves are more important than the tests. The relationships and built around neighborhoods, sports activities, parks and communities are what make a home for me.

I think my kids would be fine anywhere. I do think strong communities, businesses and keeping things local are better for everyone. That isn’t just reflected in test scores.

I am whole heartedly against traveling further, losing the ability to walk to my kids schools and/or uprooting my kids in the middle of their school careers precisely because i think the relationships they have built are more important than test scores.

Many people here DONT think their kid will be fine anywhere. That’s the issue.

Also, boundaries changes are on the edges. If you’re walking distance, you are 99% unlikely to have to switch to a different school.

And no, test score are not the only metric to look at. Again, people are arguing that they don’t want their children to go to failing schools, and the data shows that two of the schools regularly dumped on are not failing.

Which is why I think having Lewis and Herndon as smaller schools is beneficial for the kids there and should be looked at as a positive. Many places give smaller class sizes and extra staffing to Title 1 schools. Adding more kids into those schools won’t help anyone. It will help overall test score averages.

I agree schools are too big. That’s one reasons expansions should be out of the question. But LOLOL. Now you’re arguing that boundaries shouldn’t change for the benefit of schools like Justice and Herndon and … . Hey, I’m good with keeping them small, but let’s be honest, that is 10000% not why people don’t want the boundaries changed.

I’m laughing so hard, my sides are hurting. That’s is prime time gaslighting what’s happening.

I am and I say that as a teacher with 25 years experience teaching low income ESL children. IN MCPS, where I began teaching in 1999, they lowered the class sizes for all highly impacted schools and it definitely helps.

Laugh all you want to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:55% are low income. Typically that means Title 1 services which give a lower teacher-student ratio. That is exactly what Lewis has so why add more kids unless they expect those kids to pump up test scores?

People are too obsessed with test scores. Don’t worry about the average or median score. It is meaningless if you have for example a center that pulls students from other schools or a large number of low SES or ESL students. Truly, the average and median scores tell you nothing about how good the school is.

Good luck changing that. Start with the new VDOE accreditation system, the. The FCPS school board ,and hit Redfin, Zillow and great schools next.

They push that narrative for marketing but doesn’t mean it is a good metric o evaluate a school. When you see an ad or commercial for a floor cleaner, and you see people ecstatic about cleaning just because they use that product and that it solves all their problems, do you believe you’ll be dancing through life if you use it?

Forgot to add old/new, the VDOE isn’t measuring the right things.

My friend, we agree test scores are a bad measure of a school or even how educated and ready for adulthood and citizenship a child/teen may be.

We disagree that anything or anyone is going to change that anytime soon.

I didn’t say anyone would change the metric, but a good analyst understands that those measures are not what should be used.

For example, average SAT score at Langley HS with very little poverty or at-risk students (less than 5%) is 1314 in 2022
(92nd-93rd percentile), while at Herndon HS with a high number of at-risk (FARMS) students (55%) is 1187 (80th percentile) still well above the average. Can you honestly say Langley is doing a great job based on these scores given its demographics? And can you say with a straight face that Herndon is a FAILING school (per some on DCUM) with that average score particularly with the number of at-risk students with presumably dragging down the average?

One could argue that Langley HS is underachieving and Herndon HS is overachieving.

Lewis HS — which has a similar number of at risk kids as Herndon HS (55%) AND uses IB — has an average SAT of 1063 (60th percentile). A lower average score but still NOT FAILING. This could likely be due to the use of IB versus AP.

South Lakes HS, which also has IB but fewer at risk students (35 percent) than Herndon or Lewis, has an average SAT score of 1205 similar to Herndon. However, one could argue it is also underperforming given it has IB like Lewis and fewer at risk kids than either Herndon or Lewis.

About 18% of West Springfield’s students are at risk. Its average SAT score is 1195 (81st percentile) which is very close to Herndon and South Lakes average scores. WSHS is underperforming compared to its neighbor Lewis HS given the IB and higher poverty. Seems WSHS parents would get a better bang for their buck at Herndon HS.



This was all back of the napkin using data from:

https://www.fcps.edu/news/fairfax-county-sat-scores-continue-surpass-state-and-global-averages

https://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108%3A8

https://research.collegeboard.org/reports/sat-suite/understanding-scores/sat

Great, now let’s hear about the student safety and incident data from Langley vs. Lewis. VDOE hides it now because they don’t want parents to know what is really going on at some of these schools.

Sure. Let’s talk about it. Or how the superintendent called for security to be in place to meet with … football coaches. The point of this post is that arguemwnts about how bad the academics are and/or the conditions at many DCUM hated schools prevent academic achievement on a wide scale are not true.

Why aren’t WSHS parents peeved that their SAT scores are so low?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:55% are low income. Typically that means Title 1 services which give a lower teacher-student ratio. That is exactly what Lewis has so why add more kids unless they expect those kids to pump up test scores?

People are too obsessed with test scores. Don’t worry about the average or median score. It is meaningless if you have for example a center that pulls students from other schools or a large number of low SES or ESL students. Truly, the average and median scores tell you nothing about how good the school is.

Good luck changing that. Start with the new VDOE accreditation system, the. The FCPS school board ,and hit Redfin, Zillow and great schools next.

They push that narrative for marketing but doesn’t mean it is a good metric o evaluate a school. When you see an ad or commercial for a floor cleaner, and you see people ecstatic about cleaning just because they use that product and that it solves all their problems, do you believe you’ll be dancing through life if you use it?

Forgot to add old/new, the VDOE isn’t measuring the right things.

My friend, we agree test scores are a bad measure of a school or even how educated and ready for adulthood and citizenship a child/teen may be.

We disagree that anything or anyone is going to change that anytime soon.

I didn’t say anyone would change the metric, but a good analyst understands that those measures are not what should be used.

For example, average SAT score at Langley HS with very little poverty or at-risk students (less than 5%) is 1314 in 2022
(92nd-93rd percentile), while at Herndon HS with a high number of at-risk (FARMS) students (55%) is 1187 (80th percentile) still well above the average. Can you honestly say Langley is doing a great job based on these scores given its demographics? And can you say with a straight face that Herndon is a FAILING school (per some on DCUM) with that average score particularly with the number of at-risk students with presumably dragging down the average?

One could argue that Langley HS is underachieving and Herndon HS is overachieving.

Lewis HS — which has a similar number of at risk kids as Herndon HS (55%) AND uses IB — has an average SAT of 1063 (60th percentile). A lower average score but still NOT FAILING. This could likely be due to the use of IB versus AP.

South Lakes HS, which also has IB but fewer at risk students (35 percent) than Herndon or Lewis, has an average SAT score of 1205 similar to Herndon. However, one could argue it is also underperforming given it has IB like Lewis and fewer at risk kids than either Herndon or Lewis.

About 18% of West Springfield’s students are at risk. Its average SAT score is 1195 (81st percentile) which is very close to Herndon and South Lakes average scores. WSHS is underperforming compared to its neighbor Lewis HS given the IB and higher poverty. Seems WSHS parents would get a better bang for their buck at Herndon HS.



This was all back of the napkin using data from:

https://www.fcps.edu/news/fairfax-county-sat-scores-continue-surpass-state-and-global-averages

https://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108%3A8

https://research.collegeboard.org/reports/sat-suite/understanding-scores/sat

Great, now let’s hear about the student safety and incident data from Langley vs. Lewis. VDOE hides it now because they don’t want parents to know what is really going on at some of these schools.

Sure. Let’s talk about it. Or how the superintendent called for security to be in place to meet with … football coaches. The point of this post is that arguemwnts about how bad the academics are and/or the conditions at many DCUM hated schools prevent academic achievement on a wide scale are not true.

Why aren’t WSHS parents peeved that their SAT scores are so low?

For all you know, the non-FARMS population at Herndon is wealthier and more inclined to spend money on SAT prep than the non-FARMS population at West Springfield.

People really do tend to resort to claiming data supports whatever view they already harbor and would like to further socialize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:55% are low income. Typically that means Title 1 services which give a lower teacher-student ratio. That is exactly what Lewis has so why add more kids unless they expect those kids to pump up test scores?

People are too obsessed with test scores. Don’t worry about the average or median score. It is meaningless if you have for example a center that pulls students from other schools or a large number of low SES or ESL students. Truly, the average and median scores tell you nothing about how good the school is.

Good luck changing that. Start with the new VDOE accreditation system, the. The FCPS school board ,and hit Redfin, Zillow and great schools next.

They push that narrative for marketing but doesn’t mean it is a good metric o evaluate a school. When you see an ad or commercial for a floor cleaner, and you see people ecstatic about cleaning just because they use that product and that it solves all their problems, do you believe you’ll be dancing through life if you use it?

Forgot to add old/new, the VDOE isn’t measuring the right things.

My friend, we agree test scores are a bad measure of a school or even how educated and ready for adulthood and citizenship a child/teen may be.

We disagree that anything or anyone is going to change that anytime soon.

I didn’t say anyone would change the metric, but a good analyst understands that those measures are not what should be used.

For example, average SAT score at Langley HS with very little poverty or at-risk students (less than 5%) is 1314 in 2022
(92nd-93rd percentile), while at Herndon HS with a high number of at-risk (FARMS) students (55%) is 1187 (80th percentile) still well above the average. Can you honestly say Langley is doing a great job based on these scores given its demographics? And can you say with a straight face that Herndon is a FAILING school (per some on DCUM) with that average score particularly with the number of at-risk students with presumably dragging down the average?

One could argue that Langley HS is underachieving and Herndon HS is overachieving.

Lewis HS — which has a similar number of at risk kids as Herndon HS (55%) AND uses IB — has an average SAT of 1063 (60th percentile). A lower average score but still NOT FAILING. This could likely be due to the use of IB versus AP.

South Lakes HS, which also has IB but fewer at risk students (35 percent) than Herndon or Lewis, has an average SAT score of 1205 similar to Herndon. However, one could argue it is also underperforming given it has IB like Lewis and fewer at risk kids than either Herndon or Lewis.

About 18% of West Springfield’s students are at risk. Its average SAT score is 1195 (81st percentile) which is very close to Herndon and South Lakes average scores. WSHS is underperforming compared to its neighbor Lewis HS given the IB and higher poverty. Seems WSHS parents would get a better bang for their buck at Herndon HS.



This was all back of the napkin using data from:

https://www.fcps.edu/news/fairfax-county-sat-scores-continue-surpass-state-and-global-averages

https://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108%3A8

https://research.collegeboard.org/reports/sat-suite/understanding-scores/sat

All this back and forth about not sending their kids to Lewis and that's the average SAT score? LMAO

So to prove that we shouldn’t use test scores, you are using test scores?

See the reason I don’t want to use them is because I think the kids themselves are more important than the tests. The relationships and built around neighborhoods, sports activities, parks and communities are what make a home for me.

I think my kids would be fine anywhere. I do think strong communities, businesses and keeping things local are better for everyone. That isn’t just reflected in test scores.

I am whole heartedly against traveling further, losing the ability to walk to my kids schools and/or uprooting my kids in the middle of their school careers precisely because i think the relationships they have built are more important than test scores.

Many people here DONT think their kid will be fine anywhere. That’s the issue.

Also, boundaries changes are on the edges. If you’re walking distance, you are 99% unlikely to have to switch to a different school.

And no, test score are not the only metric to look at. Again, people are arguing that they don’t want their children to go to failing schools, and the data shows that two of the schools regularly dumped on are not failing.

Which is why I think having Lewis and Herndon as smaller schools is beneficial for the kids there and should be looked at as a positive. Many places give smaller class sizes and extra staffing to Title 1 schools. Adding more kids into those schools won’t help anyone. It will help overall test score averages.

I agree schools are too big. That’s one reasons expansions should be out of the question. But LOLOL. Now you’re arguing that boundaries shouldn’t change for the benefit of schools like Justice and Herndon and … . Hey, I’m good with keeping them small, but let’s be honest, that is 10000% not why people don’t want the boundaries changed.

I’m laughing so hard, my sides are hurting. That’s is prime time gaslighting what’s happening.

It's easy to say additions should be out of the question, but it's not like FCPS has land set aside for new high schools. In some cases they are the only sensible approach, and since FCPS has already expanded most of its high schools it's kind of absurd to switch gears and screw over the few remaining schools that haven't been similarly expanded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:55% are low income. Typically that means Title 1 services which give a lower teacher-student ratio. That is exactly what Lewis has so why add more kids unless they expect those kids to pump up test scores?

People are too obsessed with test scores. Don’t worry about the average or median score. It is meaningless if you have for example a center that pulls students from other schools or a large number of low SES or ESL students. Truly, the average and median scores tell you nothing about how good the school is.

Good luck changing that. Start with the new VDOE accreditation system, the. The FCPS school board ,and hit Redfin, Zillow and great schools next.

They push that narrative for marketing but doesn’t mean it is a good metric o evaluate a school. When you see an ad or commercial for a floor cleaner, and you see people ecstatic about cleaning just because they use that product and that it solves all their problems, do you believe you’ll be dancing through life if you use it?

Forgot to add old/new, the VDOE isn’t measuring the right things.

My friend, we agree test scores are a bad measure of a school or even how educated and ready for adulthood and citizenship a child/teen may be.

We disagree that anything or anyone is going to change that anytime soon.

I didn’t say anyone would change the metric, but a good analyst understands that those measures are not what should be used.

For example, average SAT score at Langley HS with very little poverty or at-risk students (less than 5%) is 1314 in 2022
(92nd-93rd percentile), while at Herndon HS with a high number of at-risk (FARMS) students (55%) is 1187 (80th percentile) still well above the average. Can you honestly say Langley is doing a great job based on these scores given its demographics? And can you say with a straight face that Herndon is a FAILING school (per some on DCUM) with that average score particularly with the number of at-risk students with presumably dragging down the average?

One could argue that Langley HS is underachieving and Herndon HS is overachieving.

Lewis HS — which has a similar number of at risk kids as Herndon HS (55%) AND uses IB — has an average SAT of 1063 (60th percentile). A lower average score but still NOT FAILING. This could likely be due to the use of IB versus AP.

South Lakes HS, which also has IB but fewer at risk students (35 percent) than Herndon or Lewis, has an average SAT score of 1205 similar to Herndon. However, one could argue it is also underperforming given it has IB like Lewis and fewer at risk kids than either Herndon or Lewis.

About 18% of West Springfield’s students are at risk. Its average SAT score is 1195 (81st percentile) which is very close to Herndon and South Lakes average scores. WSHS is underperforming compared to its neighbor Lewis HS given the IB and higher poverty. Seems WSHS parents would get a better bang for their buck at Herndon HS.



This was all back of the napkin using data from:

https://www.fcps.edu/news/fairfax-county-sat-scores-continue-surpass-state-and-global-averages

https://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108%3A8

https://research.collegeboard.org/reports/sat-suite/understanding-scores/sat

All this back and forth about not sending their kids to Lewis and that's the average SAT score? LMAO

So to prove that we shouldn’t use test scores, you are using test scores?

See the reason I don’t want to use them is because I think the kids themselves are more important than the tests. The relationships and built around neighborhoods, sports activities, parks and communities are what make a home for me.

I think my kids would be fine anywhere. I do think strong communities, businesses and keeping things local are better for everyone. That isn’t just reflected in test scores.

I am whole heartedly against traveling further, losing the ability to walk to my kids schools and/or uprooting my kids in the middle of their school careers precisely because i think the relationships they have built are more important than test scores.

Many people here DONT think their kid will be fine anywhere. That’s the issue.

Also, boundaries changes are on the edges. If you’re walking distance, you are 99% unlikely to have to switch to a different school.

And no, test score are not the only metric to look at. Again, people are arguing that they don’t want their children to go to failing schools, and the data shows that two of the schools regularly dumped on are not failing.

Which is why I think having Lewis and Herndon as smaller schools is beneficial for the kids there and should be looked at as a positive. Many places give smaller class sizes and extra staffing to Title 1 schools. Adding more kids into those schools won’t help anyone. It will help overall test score averages.

I agree schools are too big. That’s one reasons expansions should be out of the question. But LOLOL. Now you’re arguing that boundaries shouldn’t change for the benefit of schools like Justice and Herndon and … . Hey, I’m good with keeping them small, but let’s be honest, that is 10000% not why people don’t want the boundaries changed.

I’m laughing so hard, my sides are hurting. That’s is prime time gaslighting what’s happening.

Neither Justice nor Herndon is small, but they have both been expanded (Justice to 2500 seats and Herndon to over 2700). The time to argue these should be "small" schools has passed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:55% are low income. Typically that means Title 1 services which give a lower teacher-student ratio. That is exactly what Lewis has so why add more kids unless they expect those kids to pump up test scores?

People are too obsessed with test scores. Don’t worry about the average or median score. It is meaningless if you have for example a center that pulls students from other schools or a large number of low SES or ESL students. Truly, the average and median scores tell you nothing about how good the school is.

Good luck changing that. Start with the new VDOE accreditation system, the. The FCPS school board ,and hit Redfin, Zillow and great schools next.

They push that narrative for marketing but doesn’t mean it is a good metric o evaluate a school. When you see an ad or commercial for a floor cleaner, and you see people ecstatic about cleaning just because they use that product and that it solves all their problems, do you believe you’ll be dancing through life if you use it?

Forgot to add old/new, the VDOE isn’t measuring the right things.

My friend, we agree test scores are a bad measure of a school or even how educated and ready for adulthood and citizenship a child/teen may be.

We disagree that anything or anyone is going to change that anytime soon.

I didn’t say anyone would change the metric, but a good analyst understands that those measures are not what should be used.

For example, average SAT score at Langley HS with very little poverty or at-risk students (less than 5%) is 1314 in 2022
(92nd-93rd percentile), while at Herndon HS with a high number of at-risk (FARMS) students (55%) is 1187 (80th percentile) still well above the average. Can you honestly say Langley is doing a great job based on these scores given its demographics? And can you say with a straight face that Herndon is a FAILING school (per some on DCUM) with that average score particularly with the number of at-risk students with presumably dragging down the average?

One could argue that Langley HS is underachieving and Herndon HS is overachieving.

Lewis HS — which has a similar number of at risk kids as Herndon HS (55%) AND uses IB — has an average SAT of 1063 (60th percentile). A lower average score but still NOT FAILING. This could likely be due to the use of IB versus AP.

South Lakes HS, which also has IB but fewer at risk students (35 percent) than Herndon or Lewis, has an average SAT score of 1205 similar to Herndon. However, one could argue it is also underperforming given it has IB like Lewis and fewer at risk kids than either Herndon or Lewis.

About 18% of West Springfield’s students are at risk. Its average SAT score is 1195 (81st percentile) which is very close to Herndon and South Lakes average scores. WSHS is underperforming compared to its neighbor Lewis HS given the IB and higher poverty. Seems WSHS parents would get a better bang for their buck at Herndon HS.



This was all back of the napkin using data from:

https://www.fcps.edu/news/fairfax-county-sat-scores-continue-surpass-state-and-global-averages

https://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108%3A8

https://research.collegeboard.org/reports/sat-suite/understanding-scores/sat

Great, now let’s hear about the student safety and incident data from Langley vs. Lewis. VDOE hides it now because they don’t want parents to know what is really going on at some of these schools.

Sure. Let’s talk about it. Or how the superintendent called for security to be in place to meet with … football coaches. The point of this post is that arguemwnts about how bad the academics are and/or the conditions at many DCUM hated schools prevent academic achievement on a wide scale are not true.

Why aren’t WSHS parents peeved that their SAT scores are so low?

For all you know, the non-FARMS population at Herndon is wealthier and more inclined to spend money on SAT prep than the non-FARMS population at West Springfield.

People really do tend to resort to claiming data supports whatever view they already harbor and would like to further socialize.

Love all the HHS defenders now like PP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:55% are low income. Typically that means Title 1 services which give a lower teacher-student ratio. That is exactly what Lewis has so why add more kids unless they expect those kids to pump up test scores?

People are too obsessed with test scores. Don’t worry about the average or median score. It is meaningless if you have for example a center that pulls students from other schools or a large number of low SES or ESL students. Truly, the average and median scores tell you nothing about how good the school is.

Good luck changing that. Start with the new VDOE accreditation system, the. The FCPS school board ,and hit Redfin, Zillow and great schools next.

They push that narrative for marketing but doesn’t mean it is a good metric o evaluate a school. When you see an ad or commercial for a floor cleaner, and you see people ecstatic about cleaning just because they use that product and that it solves all their problems, do you believe you’ll be dancing through life if you use it?

Forgot to add old/new, the VDOE isn’t measuring the right things.

My friend, we agree test scores are a bad measure of a school or even how educated and ready for adulthood and citizenship a child/teen may be.

We disagree that anything or anyone is going to change that anytime soon.

I didn’t say anyone would change the metric, but a good analyst understands that those measures are not what should be used.

For example, average SAT score at Langley HS with very little poverty or at-risk students (less than 5%) is 1314 in 2022
(92nd-93rd percentile), while at Herndon HS with a high number of at-risk (FARMS) students (55%) is 1187 (80th percentile) still well above the average. Can you honestly say Langley is doing a great job based on these scores given its demographics? And can you say with a straight face that Herndon is a FAILING school (per some on DCUM) with that average score particularly with the number of at-risk students with presumably dragging down the average?

One could argue that Langley HS is underachieving and Herndon HS is overachieving.

Lewis HS — which has a similar number of at risk kids as Herndon HS (55%) AND uses IB — has an average SAT of 1063 (60th percentile). A lower average score but still NOT FAILING. This could likely be due to the use of IB versus AP.

South Lakes HS, which also has IB but fewer at risk students (35 percent) than Herndon or Lewis, has an average SAT score of 1205 similar to Herndon. However, one could argue it is also underperforming given it has IB like Lewis and fewer at risk kids than either Herndon or Lewis.

About 18% of West Springfield’s students are at risk. Its average SAT score is 1195 (81st percentile) which is very close to Herndon and South Lakes average scores. WSHS is underperforming compared to its neighbor Lewis HS given the IB and higher poverty. Seems WSHS parents would get a better bang for their buck at Herndon HS.



This was all back of the napkin using data from:

https://www.fcps.edu/news/fairfax-county-sat-scores-continue-surpass-state-and-global-averages

https://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108%3A8

https://research.collegeboard.org/reports/sat-suite/understanding-scores/sat

Great, now let’s hear about the student safety and incident data from Langley vs. Lewis. VDOE hides it now because they don’t want parents to know what is really going on at some of these schools.

Sure. Let’s talk about it. Or how the superintendent called for security to be in place to meet with … football coaches. The point of this post is that arguemwnts about how bad the academics are and/or the conditions at many DCUM hated schools prevent academic achievement on a wide scale are not true.

Why aren’t WSHS parents peeved that their SAT scores are so low?

For all you know, the non-FARMS population at Herndon is wealthier and more inclined to spend money on SAT prep than the non-FARMS population at West Springfield.

People really do tend to resort to claiming data supports whatever view they already harbor and would like to further socialize.

Love all the HHS defenders now like PP!

If anything, this was a defense of WSHS, which was being attacked for its supposedly low SAT scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:55% are low income. Typically that means Title 1 services which give a lower teacher-student ratio. That is exactly what Lewis has so why add more kids unless they expect those kids to pump up test scores?

People are too obsessed with test scores. Don’t worry about the average or median score. It is meaningless if you have for example a center that pulls students from other schools or a large number of low SES or ESL students. Truly, the average and median scores tell you nothing about how good the school is.

Good luck changing that. Start with the new VDOE accreditation system, the. The FCPS school board ,and hit Redfin, Zillow and great schools next.

They push that narrative for marketing but doesn’t mean it is a good metric o evaluate a school. When you see an ad or commercial for a floor cleaner, and you see people ecstatic about cleaning just because they use that product and that it solves all their problems, do you believe you’ll be dancing through life if you use it?

Forgot to add old/new, the VDOE isn’t measuring the right things.

My friend, we agree test scores are a bad measure of a school or even how educated and ready for adulthood and citizenship a child/teen may be.

We disagree that anything or anyone is going to change that anytime soon.

I didn’t say anyone would change the metric, but a good analyst understands that those measures are not what should be used.

For example, average SAT score at Langley HS with very little poverty or at-risk students (less than 5%) is 1314 in 2022
(92nd-93rd percentile), while at Herndon HS with a high number of at-risk (FARMS) students (55%) is 1187 (80th percentile) still well above the average. Can you honestly say Langley is doing a great job based on these scores given its demographics? And can you say with a straight face that Herndon is a FAILING school (per some on DCUM) with that average score particularly with the number of at-risk students with presumably dragging down the average?

One could argue that Langley HS is underachieving and Herndon HS is overachieving.

Lewis HS — which has a similar number of at risk kids as Herndon HS (55%) AND uses IB — has an average SAT of 1063 (60th percentile). A lower average score but still NOT FAILING. This could likely be due to the use of IB versus AP.

South Lakes HS, which also has IB but fewer at risk students (35 percent) than Herndon or Lewis, has an average SAT score of 1205 similar to Herndon. However, one could argue it is also underperforming given it has IB like Lewis and fewer at risk kids than either Herndon or Lewis.

About 18% of West Springfield’s students are at risk. Its average SAT score is 1195 (81st percentile) which is very close to Herndon and South Lakes average scores. WSHS is underperforming compared to its neighbor Lewis HS given the IB and higher poverty. Seems WSHS parents would get a better bang for their buck at Herndon HS.



This was all back of the napkin using data from:

https://www.fcps.edu/news/fairfax-county-sat-scores-continue-surpass-state-and-global-averages

https://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108%3A8

https://research.collegeboard.org/reports/sat-suite/understanding-scores/sat

All this back and forth about not sending their kids to Lewis and that's the average SAT score? LMAO

So to prove that we shouldn’t use test scores, you are using test scores?

See the reason I don’t want to use them is because I think the kids themselves are more important than the tests. The relationships and built around neighborhoods, sports activities, parks and communities are what make a home for me.

I think my kids would be fine anywhere. I do think strong communities, businesses and keeping things local are better for everyone. That isn’t just reflected in test scores.

I am whole heartedly against traveling further, losing the ability to walk to my kids schools and/or uprooting my kids in the middle of their school careers precisely because i think the relationships they have built are more important than test scores.

Many people here DONT think their kid will be fine anywhere. That’s the issue.

Also, boundaries changes are on the edges. If you’re walking distance, you are 99% unlikely to have to switch to a different school.

And no, test score are not the only metric to look at. Again, people are arguing that they don’t want their children to go to failing schools, and the data shows that two of the schools regularly dumped on are not failing.

Which is why I think having Lewis and Herndon as smaller schools is beneficial for the kids there and should be looked at as a positive. Many places give smaller class sizes and extra staffing to Title 1 schools. Adding more kids into those schools won’t help anyone. It will help overall test score averages.

I agree schools are too big. That’s one reasons expansions should be out of the question. But LOLOL. Now you’re arguing that boundaries shouldn’t change for the benefit of schools like Justice and Herndon and … . Hey, I’m good with keeping them small, but let’s be honest, that is 10000% not why people don’t want the boundaries changed.

I’m laughing so hard, my sides are hurting. That’s is prime time gaslighting what’s happening.

It's easy to say additions should be out of the question, but it's not like FCPS has land set aside for new high schools. In some cases they are the only sensible approach, and since FCPS has already expanded most of its high schools it's kind of absurd to switch gears and screw over the few remaining schools that haven't been similarly expanded.

FCPS doesn’t need more land. It has capacity. If we build out and population drops, we are left with sad empty buildings like the shopping malls and strip store malls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:55% are low income. Typically that means Title 1 services which give a lower teacher-student ratio. That is exactly what Lewis has so why add more kids unless they expect those kids to pump up test scores?

People are too obsessed with test scores. Don’t worry about the average or median score. It is meaningless if you have for example a center that pulls students from other schools or a large number of low SES or ESL students. Truly, the average and median scores tell you nothing about how good the school is.

Good luck changing that. Start with the new VDOE accreditation system, the. The FCPS school board ,and hit Redfin, Zillow and great schools next.

They push that narrative for marketing but doesn’t mean it is a good metric o evaluate a school. When you see an ad or commercial for a floor cleaner, and you see people ecstatic about cleaning just because they use that product and that it solves all their problems, do you believe you’ll be dancing through life if you use it?

Forgot to add old/new, the VDOE isn’t measuring the right things.

My friend, we agree test scores are a bad measure of a school or even how educated and ready for adulthood and citizenship a child/teen may be.

We disagree that anything or anyone is going to change that anytime soon.

I didn’t say anyone would change the metric, but a good analyst understands that those measures are not what should be used.

For example, average SAT score at Langley HS with very little poverty or at-risk students (less than 5%) is 1314 in 2022
(92nd-93rd percentile), while at Herndon HS with a high number of at-risk (FARMS) students (55%) is 1187 (80th percentile) still well above the average. Can you honestly say Langley is doing a great job based on these scores given its demographics? And can you say with a straight face that Herndon is a FAILING school (per some on DCUM) with that average score particularly with the number of at-risk students with presumably dragging down the average?

One could argue that Langley HS is underachieving and Herndon HS is overachieving.

Lewis HS — which has a similar number of at risk kids as Herndon HS (55%) AND uses IB — has an average SAT of 1063 (60th percentile). A lower average score but still NOT FAILING. This could likely be due to the use of IB versus AP.

South Lakes HS, which also has IB but fewer at risk students (35 percent) than Herndon or Lewis, has an average SAT score of 1205 similar to Herndon. However, one could argue it is also underperforming given it has IB like Lewis and fewer at risk kids than either Herndon or Lewis.

About 18% of West Springfield’s students are at risk. Its average SAT score is 1195 (81st percentile) which is very close to Herndon and South Lakes average scores. WSHS is underperforming compared to its neighbor Lewis HS given the IB and higher poverty. Seems WSHS parents would get a better bang for their buck at Herndon HS.



This was all back of the napkin using data from:

https://www.fcps.edu/news/fairfax-county-sat-scores-continue-surpass-state-and-global-averages

https://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108%3A8

https://research.collegeboard.org/reports/sat-suite/understanding-scores/sat

All this back and forth about not sending their kids to Lewis and that's the average SAT score? LMAO

So to prove that we shouldn’t use test scores, you are using test scores?

See the reason I don’t want to use them is because I think the kids themselves are more important than the tests. The relationships and built around neighborhoods, sports activities, parks and communities are what make a home for me.

I think my kids would be fine anywhere. I do think strong communities, businesses and keeping things local are better for everyone. That isn’t just reflected in test scores.

I am whole heartedly against traveling further, losing the ability to walk to my kids schools and/or uprooting my kids in the middle of their school careers precisely because i think the relationships they have built are more important than test scores.

Many people here DONT think their kid will be fine anywhere. That’s the issue.

Also, boundaries changes are on the edges. If you’re walking distance, you are 99% unlikely to have to switch to a different school.

And no, test score are not the only metric to look at. Again, people are arguing that they don’t want their children to go to failing schools, and the data shows that two of the schools regularly dumped on are not failing.

Which is why I think having Lewis and Herndon as smaller schools is beneficial for the kids there and should be looked at as a positive. Many places give smaller class sizes and extra staffing to Title 1 schools. Adding more kids into those schools won’t help anyone. It will help overall test score averages.

I agree schools are too big. That’s one reasons expansions should be out of the question. But LOLOL. Now you’re arguing that boundaries shouldn’t change for the benefit of schools like Justice and Herndon and … . Hey, I’m good with keeping them small, but let’s be honest, that is 10000% not why people don’t want the boundaries changed.

I’m laughing so hard, my sides are hurting. That’s is prime time gaslighting what’s happening.

Neither Justice nor Herndon is small, but they have both been expanded (Justice to 2500 seats and Herndon to over 2700). The time to argue these should be "small" schools has passed.

I did, but the SB around here had to listen to the people. —HHS parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:55% are low income. Typically that means Title 1 services which give a lower teacher-student ratio. That is exactly what Lewis has so why add more kids unless they expect those kids to pump up test scores?

People are too obsessed with test scores. Don’t worry about the average or median score. It is meaningless if you have for example a center that pulls students from other schools or a large number of low SES or ESL students. Truly, the average and median scores tell you nothing about how good the school is.

Good luck changing that. Start with the new VDOE accreditation system, the. The FCPS school board ,and hit Redfin, Zillow and great schools next.

They push that narrative for marketing but doesn’t mean it is a good metric o evaluate a school. When you see an ad or commercial for a floor cleaner, and you see people ecstatic about cleaning just because they use that product and that it solves all their problems, do you believe you’ll be dancing through life if you use it?

Forgot to add old/new, the VDOE isn’t measuring the right things.

My friend, we agree test scores are a bad measure of a school or even how educated and ready for adulthood and citizenship a child/teen may be.

We disagree that anything or anyone is going to change that anytime soon.

I didn’t say anyone would change the metric, but a good analyst understands that those measures are not what should be used.

For example, average SAT score at Langley HS with very little poverty or at-risk students (less than 5%) is 1314 in 2022
(92nd-93rd percentile), while at Herndon HS with a high number of at-risk (FARMS) students (55%) is 1187 (80th percentile) still well above the average. Can you honestly say Langley is doing a great job based on these scores given its demographics? And can you say with a straight face that Herndon is a FAILING school (per some on DCUM) with that average score particularly with the number of at-risk students with presumably dragging down the average?

One could argue that Langley HS is underachieving and Herndon HS is overachieving.

Lewis HS — which has a similar number of at risk kids as Herndon HS (55%) AND uses IB — has an average SAT of 1063 (60th percentile). A lower average score but still NOT FAILING. This could likely be due to the use of IB versus AP.

South Lakes HS, which also has IB but fewer at risk students (35 percent) than Herndon or Lewis, has an average SAT score of 1205 similar to Herndon. However, one could argue it is also underperforming given it has IB like Lewis and fewer at risk kids than either Herndon or Lewis.

About 18% of West Springfield’s students are at risk. Its average SAT score is 1195 (81st percentile) which is very close to Herndon and South Lakes average scores. WSHS is underperforming compared to its neighbor Lewis HS given the IB and higher poverty. Seems WSHS parents would get a better bang for their buck at Herndon HS.



This was all back of the napkin using data from:

https://www.fcps.edu/news/fairfax-county-sat-scores-continue-surpass-state-and-global-averages

https://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108%3A8

https://research.collegeboard.org/reports/sat-suite/understanding-scores/sat

The numbers are actually even worse than this at Herndon because many of the lowest performers don’t take the SAT at all. The SAT participation rate is much higher at Langley than Herndon.