FCPS High School Poverty and Enrollment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we can all agree that the first step to boundary changes at the high school level would be to standardize on AP at all schools. Only then can the discussion of boundaries even happen.

I know the IB fans will protest, but AP is already in 2/3rds of the schools and is less expensive. AP is more flexible and has a simpler course structure (for example, no two year courses).

But there are people out there who cheer for IB to stay either so they can pupil place or use it as a tool to fight boundary changes. They couldn't care less about the IB program itself.

Why do some parents not believe that some people want IB? I know it’s not the majority but we are out there. I do agree that they should just keep the 3 strongest programs in the county. But the people who cheer AP as a better fit for poor students are just as full of crap. You think poor student X who won’t do IB, will all of a sudden be taking tons of AP classes? And don’t parents also use AP to get out of their local IB school?

DP but the bigger point is that the general preference for AP will continue to paralyze FCPS with respect to potential HS boundary changes involving schools that are currently IB schools. Yes, they could have a couple of IB schools to accommodate the families that prefer IB but there’s no clear justification for having 8 and good reason to believe that it’s contributed to the ongoing decline of multiple pyramids.

It not the preference for AP, it's the preference to not have your kid in a failing school. It doesn't matter what program MVHS offers - Hayfield parents would never want their kids sent there

I think what PP and others are saying is that if you get rid of the IB at some of the lower schools, and put AP in, students will not have the choice to "opt out" of those lower schools, and with the right communication, perhaps those families will go back to their base schools in enough numbers that the schools won't be considered so bad. By having IB, FCPS is giving parents a way to get out of certain schools ... which causes them to have an abundance of low-performing kids, and few high-performing kids... which becomes a vicious cycle.

What are the numbers though? People who pupil place have to provide their own transportation--and they can only go if the receiving school has room. I'd want to see how many people pupil place to know whether would make a measurable difference. In addition, if it's not an option, how many people would just move out at HS then. The people who have the means to pupil place and provide transportation are the people who have the means to move (and who would be more likely prioritize education to move on that basis). I think the issue is not IB/AP, it's that high poverty schools are challenging.

Which is why it was so bad for Fairfax to concentrate poverty in the first place. They actively made changes to boundaries that took wealthier families out of poorer schools and moved them to wealthier schools. The School Board and Superintendent weren't just innocent bystanders. Now it is broken beyond repair.

Where/when did they do this?

Annandale to both Woodson and Lake Braddock, Lee (Lewis) to West Springfield.

Also refused to use the available space at Mount Vernon and instead enlarged West Potomac to 3000.

Fairfax has fed the vicious cycle - they have essentially written off certain pyramids.

What does adding even 20% MC/UMC do for a school like Lewis?

At this point it would probably only bring the F/R lunch rate down to about 50%. That is how crazy out of control Fairfax let this get. Like I said, it is broken beyond repair at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we can all agree that the first step to boundary changes at the high school level would be to standardize on AP at all schools. Only then can the discussion of boundaries even happen.

I know the IB fans will protest, but AP is already in 2/3rds of the schools and is less expensive. AP is more flexible and has a simpler course structure (for example, no two year courses).

But there are people out there who cheer for IB to stay either so they can pupil place or use it as a tool to fight boundary changes. They couldn't care less about the IB program itself.

Why do some parents not believe that some people want IB? I know it’s not the majority but we are out there. I do agree that they should just keep the 3 strongest programs in the county. But the people who cheer AP as a better fit for poor students are just as full of crap. You think poor student X who won’t do IB, will all of a sudden be taking tons of AP classes? And don’t parents also use AP to get out of their local IB school?

DP but the bigger point is that the general preference for AP will continue to paralyze FCPS with respect to potential HS boundary changes involving schools that are currently IB schools. Yes, they could have a couple of IB schools to accommodate the families that prefer IB but there’s no clear justification for having 8 and good reason to believe that it’s contributed to the ongoing decline of multiple pyramids.

It not the preference for AP, it's the preference to not have your kid in a failing school. It doesn't matter what program MVHS offers - Hayfield parents would never want their kids sent there

I think what PP and others are saying is that if you get rid of the IB at some of the lower schools, and put AP in, students will not have the choice to "opt out" of those lower schools, and with the right communication, perhaps those families will go back to their base schools in enough numbers that the schools won't be considered so bad. By having IB, FCPS is giving parents a way to get out of certain schools ... which causes them to have an abundance of low-performing kids, and few high-performing kids... which becomes a vicious cycle.

What are the numbers though? People who pupil place have to provide their own transportation--and they can only go if the receiving school has room. I'd want to see how many people pupil place to know whether would make a measurable difference. In addition, if it's not an option, how many people would just move out at HS then. The people who have the means to pupil place and provide transportation are the people who have the means to move (and who would be more likely prioritize education to move on that basis). I think the issue is not IB/AP, it's that high poverty schools are challenging.

Which is why it was so bad for Fairfax to concentrate poverty in the first place. They actively made changes to boundaries that took wealthier families out of poorer schools and moved them to wealthier schools. The School Board and Superintendent weren't just innocent bystanders. Now it is broken beyond repair.

Where/when did they do this?

Annandale to both Woodson and Lake Braddock, Lee (Lewis) to West Springfield.

Also refused to use the available space at Mount Vernon and instead enlarged West Potomac to 3000.

Fairfax has fed the vicious cycle - they have essentially written off certain pyramids.

What does adding even 20% MC/UMC do for a school like Lewis?

Allows it to have a baseball team? Didn’t Lewis have to cancel some sports last year due to lack of interest?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we can all agree that the first step to boundary changes at the high school level would be to standardize on AP at all schools. Only then can the discussion of boundaries even happen.

I know the IB fans will protest, but AP is already in 2/3rds of the schools and is less expensive. AP is more flexible and has a simpler course structure (for example, no two year courses).

But there are people out there who cheer for IB to stay either so they can pupil place or use it as a tool to fight boundary changes. They couldn't care less about the IB program itself.

Why do some parents not believe that some people want IB? I know it’s not the majority but we are out there. I do agree that they should just keep the 3 strongest programs in the county. But the people who cheer AP as a better fit for poor students are just as full of crap. You think poor student X who won’t do IB, will all of a sudden be taking tons of AP classes? And don’t parents also use AP to get out of their local IB school?

DP but the bigger point is that the general preference for AP will continue to paralyze FCPS with respect to potential HS boundary changes involving schools that are currently IB schools. Yes, they could have a couple of IB schools to accommodate the families that prefer IB but there’s no clear justification for having 8 and good reason to believe that it’s contributed to the ongoing decline of multiple pyramids.

It not the preference for AP, it's the preference to not have your kid in a failing school. It doesn't matter what program MVHS offers - Hayfield parents would never want their kids sent there

I think what PP and others are saying is that if you get rid of the IB at some of the lower schools, and put AP in, students will not have the choice to "opt out" of those lower schools, and with the right communication, perhaps those families will go back to their base schools in enough numbers that the schools won't be considered so bad. By having IB, FCPS is giving parents a way to get out of certain schools ... which causes them to have an abundance of low-performing kids, and few high-performing kids... which becomes a vicious cycle.

What are the numbers though? People who pupil place have to provide their own transportation--and they can only go if the receiving school has room. I'd want to see how many people pupil place to know whether would make a measurable difference. In addition, if it's not an option, how many people would just move out at HS then. The people who have the means to pupil place and provide transportation are the people who have the means to move (and who would be more likely prioritize education to move on that basis). I think the issue is not IB/AP, it's that high poverty schools are challenging.

Which is why it was so bad for Fairfax to concentrate poverty in the first place. They actively made changes to boundaries that took wealthier families out of poorer schools and moved them to wealthier schools. The School Board and Superintendent weren't just innocent bystanders. Now it is broken beyond repair.

Where/when did they do this?

Annandale to both Woodson and Lake Braddock, Lee (Lewis) to West Springfield.

Also refused to use the available space at Mount Vernon and instead enlarged West Potomac to 3000.

Fairfax has fed the vicious cycle - they have essentially written off certain pyramids.

What does adding even 20% MC/UMC do for a school like Lewis?

Allows it to have a baseball team? Didn’t Lewis have to cancel some sports last year due to lack of interest?

All levels of baseball and softball were outright canceled. Field hockey had 5 or 6 girls total at the end but they still played their games. The football roster shrinks every year as enrollment has fallen. Quite disheartening actually. It isn't even about the racial-political games, Lewis kids don't deserve to be so under-enrolled in such a large county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we can all agree that the first step to boundary changes at the high school level would be to standardize on AP at all schools. Only then can the discussion of boundaries even happen.

I know the IB fans will protest, but AP is already in 2/3rds of the schools and is less expensive. AP is more flexible and has a simpler course structure (for example, no two year courses).

But there are people out there who cheer for IB to stay either so they can pupil place or use it as a tool to fight boundary changes. They couldn't care less about the IB program itself.

Why do some parents not believe that some people want IB? I know it’s not the majority but we are out there. I do agree that they should just keep the 3 strongest programs in the county. But the people who cheer AP as a better fit for poor students are just as full of crap. You think poor student X who won’t do IB, will all of a sudden be taking tons of AP classes? And don’t parents also use AP to get out of their local IB school?

DP but the bigger point is that the general preference for AP will continue to paralyze FCPS with respect to potential HS boundary changes involving schools that are currently IB schools. Yes, they could have a couple of IB schools to accommodate the families that prefer IB but there’s no clear justification for having 8 and good reason to believe that it’s contributed to the ongoing decline of multiple pyramids.

It not the preference for AP, it's the preference to not have your kid in a failing school. It doesn't matter what program MVHS offers - Hayfield parents would never want their kids sent there

I think what PP and others are saying is that if you get rid of the IB at some of the lower schools, and put AP in, students will not have the choice to "opt out" of those lower schools, and with the right communication, perhaps those families will go back to their base schools in enough numbers that the schools won't be considered so bad. By having IB, FCPS is giving parents a way to get out of certain schools ... which causes them to have an abundance of low-performing kids, and few high-performing kids... which becomes a vicious cycle.

What are the numbers though? People who pupil place have to provide their own transportation--and they can only go if the receiving school has room. I'd want to see how many people pupil place to know whether would make a measurable difference. In addition, if it's not an option, how many people would just move out at HS then. The people who have the means to pupil place and provide transportation are the people who have the means to move (and who would be more likely prioritize education to move on that basis). I think the issue is not IB/AP, it's that high poverty schools are challenging.

Which is why it was so bad for Fairfax to concentrate poverty in the first place. They actively made changes to boundaries that took wealthier families out of poorer schools and moved them to wealthier schools. The School Board and Superintendent weren't just innocent bystanders. Now it is broken beyond repair.

Where/when did they do this?

Annandale to both Woodson and Lake Braddock, Lee (Lewis) to West Springfield.

Also refused to use the available space at Mount Vernon and instead enlarged West Potomac to 3000.

Fairfax has fed the vicious cycle - they have essentially written off certain pyramids.

What does adding even 20% MC/UMC do for a school like Lewis?

Allows it to have a baseball team? Didn’t Lewis have to cancel some sports last year due to lack of interest?

I mean UMC kids aren’t draft picks for the school. If the students at Lewis aren’t interested, then they aren’t interested. UMC/MC kids are not meant to be enrichment or entertainment.

[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:I think we can all agree that the first step to boundary changes at the high school level would be to standardize on AP at all schools. Only then can the discussion of boundaries even happen.

I know the IB fans will protest, but AP is already in 2/3rds of the schools and is less expensive. AP is more flexible and has a simpler course structure (for example, no two year courses).

But there are people out there who cheer for IB to stay either so they can pupil place or use it as a tool to fight boundary changes. They couldn't care less about the IB program itself.

Why do some parents not believe that some people want IB? I know it’s not the majority but we are out there. I do agree that they should just keep the 3 strongest programs in the county. But the people who cheer AP as a better fit for poor students are just as full of crap. You think poor student X who won’t do IB, will all of a sudden be taking tons of AP classes? And don’t parents also use AP to get out of their local IB school?

DP but the bigger point is that the general preference for AP will continue to paralyze FCPS with respect to potential HS boundary changes involving schools that are currently IB schools. Yes, they could have a couple of IB schools to accommodate the families that prefer IB but there’s no clear justification for having 8 and good reason to believe that it’s contributed to the ongoing decline of multiple pyramids.

It not the preference for AP, it's the preference to not have your kid in a failing school. It doesn't matter what program MVHS offers - Hayfield parents would never want their kids sent there

I think what PP and others are saying is that if you get rid of the IB at some of the lower schools, and put AP in, students will not have the choice to "opt out" of those lower schools, and with the right communication, perhaps those families will go back to their base schools in enough numbers that the schools won't be considered so bad. By having IB, FCPS is giving parents a way to get out of certain schools ... which causes them to have an abundance of low-performing kids, and few high-performing kids... which becomes a vicious cycle.

What are the numbers though? People who pupil place have to provide their own transportation--and they can only go if the receiving school has room. I'd want to see how many people pupil place to know whether would make a measurable difference. In addition, if it's not an option, how many people would just move out at HS then. The people who have the means to pupil place and provide transportation are the people who have the means to move (and who would be more likely prioritize education to move on that basis). I think the issue is not IB/AP, it's that high poverty schools are challenging.

Which is why it was so bad for Fairfax to concentrate poverty in the first place. They actively made changes to boundaries that took wealthier families out of poorer schools and moved them to wealthier schools. The School Board and Superintendent weren't just innocent bystanders. Now it is broken beyond repair.

Where/when did they do this?

Annandale to both Woodson and Lake Braddock, Lee (Lewis) to West Springfield.

Also refused to use the available space at Mount Vernon and instead enlarged West Potomac to 3000.

Fairfax has fed the vicious cycle - they have essentially written off certain pyramids.

What does adding even 20% MC/UMC do for a school like Lewis?

Allows it to have a baseball team? Didn’t Lewis have to cancel some sports last year due to lack of interest?

All levels of baseball and softball were outright canceled. Field hockey had 5 or 6 girls total at the end but they still played their games. The football roster shrinks every year as enrollment has fallen. Quite disheartening actually. It isn't even about the racial-political games, Lewis kids don't deserve to be so under-enrolled in such a large county.

This really doesn’t make sense as there are 1690 kids there. Schools half that size field teams. I suspect some of these sports just are appealing to the student body.

[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:I think we can all agree that the first step to boundary changes at the high school level would be to standardize on AP at all schools. Only then can the discussion of boundaries even happen.

I know the IB fans will protest, but AP is already in 2/3rds of the schools and is less expensive. AP is more flexible and has a simpler course structure (for example, no two year courses).

But there are people out there who cheer for IB to stay either so they can pupil place or use it as a tool to fight boundary changes. They couldn't care less about the IB program itself.

Why do some parents not believe that some people want IB? I know it’s not the majority but we are out there. I do agree that they should just keep the 3 strongest programs in the county. But the people who cheer AP as a better fit for poor students are just as full of crap. You think poor student X who won’t do IB, will all of a sudden be taking tons of AP classes? And don’t parents also use AP to get out of their local IB school?

1690 is a typical high school size.

DP but the bigger point is that the general preference for AP will continue to paralyze FCPS with respect to potential HS boundary changes involving schools that are currently IB schools. Yes, they could have a couple of IB schools to accommodate the families that prefer IB but there’s no clear justification for having 8 and good reason to believe that it’s contributed to the ongoing decline of multiple pyramids.

It not the preference for AP, it's the preference to not have your kid in a failing school. It doesn't matter what program MVHS offers - Hayfield parents would never want their kids sent there

I think what PP and others are saying is that if you get rid of the IB at some of the lower schools, and put AP in, students will not have the choice to "opt out" of those lower schools, and with the right communication, perhaps those families will go back to their base schools in enough numbers that the schools won't be considered so bad. By having IB, FCPS is giving parents a way to get out of certain schools ... which causes them to have an abundance of low-performing kids, and few high-performing kids... which becomes a vicious cycle.

What are the numbers though? People who pupil place have to provide their own transportation--and they can only go if the receiving school has room. I'd want to see how many people pupil place to know whether would make a measurable difference. In addition, if it's not an option, how many people would just move out at HS then. The people who have the means to pupil place and provide transportation are the people who have the means to move (and who would be more likely prioritize education to move on that basis). I think the issue is not IB/AP, it's that high poverty schools are challenging.

Which is why it was so bad for Fairfax to concentrate poverty in the first place. They actively made changes to boundaries that took wealthier families out of poorer schools and moved them to wealthier schools. The School Board and Superintendent weren't just innocent bystanders. Now it is broken beyond repair.

Where/when did they do this?

Annandale to both Woodson and Lake Braddock, Lee (Lewis) to West Springfield.

Also refused to use the available space at Mount Vernon and instead enlarged West Potomac to 3000.

Fairfax has fed the vicious cycle - they have essentially written off certain pyramids.

What does adding even 20% MC/UMC do for a school like Lewis?

Allows it to have a baseball team? Didn’t Lewis have to cancel some sports last year due to lack of interest?

All levels of baseball and softball were outright canceled. Field hockey had 5 or 6 girls total at the end but they still played their games. The football roster shrinks every year as enrollment has fallen. Quite disheartening actually. It isn't even about the racial-political games, Lewis kids don't deserve to be so under-enrolled in such a large county.

This really doesn’t make sense as there are 1690 kids there. Schools half that size field teams. I suspect some of these sports just are appealing to the student body.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:I think we can all agree that the first step to boundary changes at the high school level would be to standardize on AP at all schools. Only then can the discussion of boundaries even happen.

I know the IB fans will protest, but AP is already in 2/3rds of the schools and is less expensive. AP is more flexible and has a simpler course structure (for example, no two year courses).

But there are people out there who cheer for IB to stay either so they can pupil place or use it as a tool to fight boundary changes. They couldn't care less about the IB program itself.

Why do some parents not believe that some people want IB? I know it’s not the majority but we are out there. I do agree that they should just keep the 3 strongest programs in the county. But the people who cheer AP as a better fit for poor students are just as full of crap. You think poor student X who won’t do IB, will all of a sudden be taking tons of AP classes? And don’t parents also use AP to get out of their local IB school?

Could be something to do with administration?

1690 is a typical high school size.

DP but the bigger point is that the general preference for AP will continue to paralyze FCPS with respect to potential HS boundary changes involving schools that are currently IB schools. Yes, they could have a couple of IB schools to accommodate the families that prefer IB but there’s no clear justification for having 8 and good reason to believe that it’s contributed to the ongoing decline of multiple pyramids.

It not the preference for AP, it's the preference to not have your kid in a failing school. It doesn't matter what program MVHS offers - Hayfield parents would never want their kids sent there

I think what PP and others are saying is that if you get rid of the IB at some of the lower schools, and put AP in, students will not have the choice to "opt out" of those lower schools, and with the right communication, perhaps those families will go back to their base schools in enough numbers that the schools won't be considered so bad. By having IB, FCPS is giving parents a way to get out of certain schools ... which causes them to have an abundance of low-performing kids, and few high-performing kids... which becomes a vicious cycle.

What are the numbers though? People who pupil place have to provide their own transportation--and they can only go if the receiving school has room. I'd want to see how many people pupil place to know whether would make a measurable difference. In addition, if it's not an option, how many people would just move out at HS then. The people who have the means to pupil place and provide transportation are the people who have the means to move (and who would be more likely prioritize education to move on that basis). I think the issue is not IB/AP, it's that high poverty schools are challenging.

Which is why it was so bad for Fairfax to concentrate poverty in the first place. They actively made changes to boundaries that took wealthier families out of poorer schools and moved them to wealthier schools. The School Board and Superintendent weren't just innocent bystanders. Now it is broken beyond repair.

Where/when did they do this?

Annandale to both Woodson and Lake Braddock, Lee (Lewis) to West Springfield.

Also refused to use the available space at Mount Vernon and instead enlarged West Potomac to 3000.

Fairfax has fed the vicious cycle - they have essentially written off certain pyramids.

What does adding even 20% MC/UMC do for a school like Lewis?

Allows it to have a baseball team? Didn’t Lewis have to cancel some sports last year due to lack of interest?

All levels of baseball and softball were outright canceled. Field hockey had 5 or 6 girls total at the end but they still played their games. The football roster shrinks every year as enrollment has fallen. Quite disheartening actually. It isn't even about the racial-political games, Lewis kids don't deserve to be so under-enrolled in such a large county.

This really doesn’t make sense as there are 1690 kids there. Schools half that size field teams. I suspect some of these sports just are appealing to the student body.

[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:I think we can all agree that the first step to boundary changes at the high school level would be to standardize on AP at all schools. Only then can the discussion of boundaries even happen.

I know the IB fans will protest, but AP is already in 2/3rds of the schools and is less expensive. AP is more flexible and has a simpler course structure (for example, no two year courses).

But there are people out there who cheer for IB to stay either so they can pupil place or use it as a tool to fight boundary changes. They couldn't care less about the IB program itself.

Why do some parents not believe that some people want IB? I know it’s not the majority but we are out there. I do agree that they should just keep the 3 strongest programs in the county. But the people who cheer AP as a better fit for poor students are just as full of crap. You think poor student X who won’t do IB, will all of a sudden be taking tons of AP classes? And don’t parents also use AP to get out of their local IB school?

DP but the bigger point is that the general preference for AP will continue to paralyze FCPS with respect to potential HS boundary changes involving schools that are currently IB schools. Yes, they could have a couple of IB schools to accommodate the families that prefer IB but there’s no clear justification for having 8 and good reason to believe that it’s contributed to the ongoing decline of multiple pyramids.

It not the preference for AP, it's the preference to not have your kid in a failing school. It doesn't matter what program MVHS offers - Hayfield parents would never want their kids sent there

I think what PP and others are saying is that if you get rid of the IB at some of the lower schools, and put AP in, students will not have the choice to "opt out" of those lower schools, and with the right communication, perhaps those families will go back to their base schools in enough numbers that the schools won't be considered so bad. By having IB, FCPS is giving parents a way to get out of certain schools ... which causes them to have an abundance of low-performing kids, and few high-performing kids... which becomes a vicious cycle.

What are the numbers though? People who pupil place have to provide their own transportation--and they can only go if the receiving school has room. I'd want to see how many people pupil place to know whether would make a measurable difference. In addition, if it's not an option, how many people would just move out at HS then. The people who have the means to pupil place and provide transportation are the people who have the means to move (and who would be more likely prioritize education to move on that basis). I think the issue is not IB/AP, it's that high poverty schools are challenging.

Which is why it was so bad for Fairfax to concentrate poverty in the first place. They actively made changes to boundaries that took wealthier families out of poorer schools and moved them to wealthier schools. The School Board and Superintendent weren't just innocent bystanders. Now it is broken beyond repair.

Where/when did they do this?

Annandale to both Woodson and Lake Braddock, Lee (Lewis) to West Springfield.

Also refused to use the available space at Mount Vernon and instead enlarged West Potomac to 3000.

Fairfax has fed the vicious cycle - they have essentially written off certain pyramids.

What does adding even 20% MC/UMC do for a school like Lewis?

Allows it to have a baseball team? Didn’t Lewis have to cancel some sports last year due to lack of interest?

All levels of baseball and softball were outright canceled. Field hockey had 5 or 6 girls total at the end but they still played their games. The football roster shrinks every year as enrollment has fallen. Quite disheartening actually. It isn't even about the racial-political games, Lewis kids don't deserve to be so under-enrolled in such a large county.

This really doesn’t make sense as there are 1690 kids there. Schools half that size field teams. I suspect some of these sports just are appealing to the student body.

Combination of poverty, school size, and culture, but there is no denying that Lewis is very different than the other FCPS schools. Not really fair to the students that are there.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:I think we can all agree that the first step to boundary changes at the high school level would be to standardize on AP at all schools. Only then can the discussion of boundaries even happen.

I know the IB fans will protest, but AP is already in 2/3rds of the schools and is less expensive. AP is more flexible and has a simpler course structure (for example, no two year courses).

But there are people out there who cheer for IB to stay either so they can pupil place or use it as a tool to fight boundary changes. They couldn't care less about the IB program itself.

Why do some parents not believe that some people want IB? I know it’s not the majority but we are out there. I do agree that they should just keep the 3 strongest programs in the county. But the people who cheer AP as a better fit for poor students are just as full of crap. You think poor student X who won’t do IB, will all of a sudden be taking tons of AP classes? And don’t parents also use AP to get out of their local IB school?

DP but the bigger point is that the general preference for AP will continue to paralyze FCPS with respect to potential HS boundary changes involving schools that are currently IB schools. Yes, they could have a couple of IB schools to accommodate the families that prefer IB but there’s no clear justification for having 8 and good reason to believe that it’s contributed to the ongoing decline of multiple pyramids.

It not the preference for AP, it's the preference to not have your kid in a failing school. It doesn't matter what program MVHS offers - Hayfield parents would never want their kids sent there

I think what PP and others are saying is that if you get rid of the IB at some of the lower schools, and put AP in, students will not have the choice to "opt out" of those lower schools, and with the right communication, perhaps those families will go back to their base schools in enough numbers that the schools won't be considered so bad. By having IB, FCPS is giving parents a way to get out of certain schools ... which causes them to have an abundance of low-performing kids, and few high-performing kids... which becomes a vicious cycle.

What are the numbers though? People who pupil place have to provide their own transportation--and they can only go if the receiving school has room. I'd want to see how many people pupil place to know whether would make a measurable difference. In addition, if it's not an option, how many people would just move out at HS then. The people who have the means to pupil place and provide transportation are the people who have the means to move (and who would be more likely prioritize education to move on that basis). I think the issue is not IB/AP, it's that high poverty schools are challenging.

Which is why it was so bad for Fairfax to concentrate poverty in the first place. They actively made changes to boundaries that took wealthier families out of poorer schools and moved them to wealthier schools. The School Board and Superintendent weren't just innocent bystanders. Now it is broken beyond repair.

Where/when did they do this?

Annandale to both Woodson and Lake Braddock, Lee (Lewis) to West Springfield.

Also refused to use the available space at Mount Vernon and instead enlarged West Potomac to 3000.

Fairfax has fed the vicious cycle - they have essentially written off certain pyramids.

What does adding even 20% MC/UMC do for a school like Lewis?

Allows it to have a baseball team? Didn’t Lewis have to cancel some sports last year due to lack of interest?

All levels of baseball and softball were outright canceled. Field hockey had 5 or 6 girls total at the end but they still played their games. The football roster shrinks every year as enrollment has fallen. Quite disheartening actually. It isn't even about the racial-political games, Lewis kids don't deserve to be so under-enrolled in such a large county.

This really doesn’t make sense as there are 1690 kids there. Schools half that size field teams. I suspect some of these sports just are appealing to the student body.

Combination of poverty, school size, and culture, but there is no denying that Lewis is very different than the other FCPS schools. Not really fair to the students that are there.

I still don’t see what’s not fair? They are getting an education and probably a good one. Hopefully smaller class sizes as well. They don’t have a few sports because there isn’t much interest, but I’m sure they are fielding teams for the sports the students are interested in.

I mean if the building is falling apart and there are unsanitary conditions, well that’s a different story.

[Anonymous]

And if a student wanted to play baseball? But the county has shrunk the school and made the demographics such that it can't field a team. But every other county school does have a team? You can't see how that is not fair?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And if a student wanted to play baseball? But the county has shrunk the school and made the demographics such that it can't field a team. But every other county school does have a team? You can't see how that is not fair?

I understand your point. However, there are plenty of schools where far more kids who want to play baseball cannot because they do not make the team. Baseball and basketball break lots of hearts of kids who thought they were going to play in high school.

Looking at the demographics of Lewis, it is clear that the Hispanic population is growing dramatically compared to the others. Maybe, since baseball is popular in Central America, a good coach could field a team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And if a student wanted to play baseball? But the county has shrunk the school and made the demographics such that it can't field a team. But every other county school does have a team? You can't see how that is not fair?

I would say the community as a whole has failed him. I don’t know what baseball demographics are? Lol but maybe that kid doesn’t make the team. Is that fair?

[Anonymous]

At Lewis the students lost the option to even try out. Unlike the other FCPS schools. Sucks to be them I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At Lewis the students lost the option to even try out. Unlike the other FCPS schools. Sucks to be them I guess.

Well, with the demographics at Lewis, I suspect that most of the kids wanted to play soccer.

But, again, this falls on the administration to get good coaches, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At Lewis the students lost the option to even try out. Unlike the other FCPS schools. Sucks to be them I guess.

Obviously it does suck for 5-10 kids not to try out for the sport they want at their high school. But I just dont see this as a very compelling case to adjust boundaries. Like the sad sack tone about Lewis resulted in an example of some kids not having a chance to try out for baseball. The kids are fine.

How about if the school doesnt offer a sport, then the kids can try out at a school nearby that doesnt have that sport, like AP/IB/Language. I think thats fair for the county to allow that.