FCPS Boundary Review Updates

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can I get a TL;DR on what the worst case scenario here is? Is there some sort of specific secret map somewhere that they are trying to get passed? Considering all the “DEI” being thrown around as I’m skimming, my spidey senses tell me this all boils down to parents being afraid they will be redistricted to a “too poor” or “too brown” school, but honestly I’m having trouble figuring out exactly what all the uproar is over given the lack of details available (that I’ve seen, and admittedly have been paying very little attention).

B-B-Bingo!
Also, some are leveraging that concern to rile people up with fake news and worries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McLean would prefer an expansion, but given we're not going to get one anytime soon, a bigger move to Langley (adding the Spring Hill split feeder that staff recommended) was the best option and what we expressed preference for.

So which Mclean HS pyramid elementary school would you support converting to a 6-8 middle school? Which one in other pyramids?

Reid omitted 6-8 middle schools from the massive number of community and virtual meetings as a topic. General public was not apparently aware of the intent to pursue on this level so it is not reflected in the comments. Including the easy to read 2025 virtual sessions. Also omitted is FCPS for the 1st time to my knowlwdge planning to run a single pyramid magnet. Free Montessori pre K targeting non Hispanic and affluent. This is a countywide school division and that's Bucknell in West Potomac. In boundary opt outs will ride the AAP bus to Stratford Landing. Does this mean continuing mega feeders for AAP? Programming equity?

It might have been best for Mclean to get rid of the most but what would you do with a huge chunk of a Route 7 -Shouse Village and neighboring dev? Madison? South Lakes? Marshall? Your option C moved more out of Mclean but would have left the huge Shouse Village Island which is further from Mclean HS than the remaining Spring Hill Island. Colvin Run and Spring Hill serve significant portions of lower density areas in Mclean and Great Falls. In the boundary review process I assume Westbriar will be cleaned up - a 20 plus year process and it is possible there could be from Westbriar to Colvin Run and Spring Hill to Westbriar. IDK

Mclean to Langley change - option B
https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/FINAL_Presentation%20for%20McLean%20Langley%20Dec%207%202020.pdf
Option A=131=Colvin Run ES split feeder area and a portion of Westbriar ES
Option B=190=Option A 131 + small western barbell of Springhill split feed 59
Option C=240=small western barbell of Springhill split feed 59 + current SH split 181

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I get a TL;DR on what the worst case scenario here is? Is there some sort of specific secret map somewhere that they are trying to get passed? Considering all the “DEI” being thrown around as I’m skimming, my spidey senses tell me this all boils down to parents being afraid they will be redistricted to a “too poor” or “too brown” school, but honestly I’m having trouble figuring out exactly what all the uproar is over given the lack of details available (that I’ve seen, and admittedly have been paying very little attention).

B-B-Bingo!
Also, some are leveraging that concern to rile people up with fake news and worries.

That's right--when you don't have a good argument for redistricting, then pull the racist card.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I get a TL;DR on what the worst case scenario here is? Is there some sort of specific secret map somewhere that they are trying to get passed? Considering all the “DEI” being thrown around as I’m skimming, my spidey senses tell me this all boils down to parents being afraid they will be redistricted to a “too poor” or “too brown” school, but honestly I’m having trouble figuring out exactly what all the uproar is over given the lack of details available (that I’ve seen, and admittedly have been paying very little attention).

TLR parents don’t want their kids moved. Particularly parents of current middle schoolhigh school kids whose kids may be moved in the middle of high school.

Most schools in FCPS are majority “brown and black” or majority minority.

I’ll add that I have children still in daycare and I’m against this! When considering job locations, we decided on northern Virginia for their schools and bought our home in the pyramid we wanted. We’ve made sacrifices to be here. I envisioned my kids going to these schools and growing up in these communities for the next 14-18 years like I did.

I know someone will mention “but you should know it could be redistricted” and/or “your mistake for tying home value to something that could change” yada yada. But the vision I had for my very young family already feels so swiped over this SB’s pettiness and stubbornness to listen to their community.

I've noticed a few motivations for a plan that hasn't come out yet:

1. The rally cry to vote the Dems out - this will be the next: Critical Race Theory.
2. People think that one HS building is better than another HS building in Fairfax; the boundary change is a form of revenge.
3. DEI - a racial balancing which is illegal.

I think the redistrict will be based on bus and capacity. If you are near the border and might be easier to bus your kid to a different school then maybe affected. Otherwise it's safe. majority of kids will not be affected. We had a boundary changes before.

This is the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they intent on 6th to MS? Besides Anderson’s campaigning on it I mean?

Is it just to make room for the expanded Pre K program FCPS can’t afford?

Our favorite school board shill and extra special totally randomly selected pyramid representative came on one of the local FB groups to talk about it today. 1, they are hiding the UPK program. They know they probably don’t have the money for it at this point. So there is no official mention of PK and this person also did not mention it. But 2, it’s to align FCPS to neighboring districts that have MS 6-8 and to give 6th graders access to advanced math and help more kids get on track to take Algebra I in 8th/Calc as a HS senior, which is one of FCPS’s goals. Also to give 6th graders access to MS extra-curriculars and electives.

To be fair - I am agnostic on the subject of 6th in middle. That is how I grew up and I do feel that overall, 6th graders are tweens and are “closer” to 7th and 8th than to K-5. But I don’t see how FCPS can do it right now without funding huge expansions at the middle schools, putting a whole grade permanently in trailers or modulars, or converting some elementary schools to middle schools. I also don’t know how it would affect current 6th grade teachers - would they need to get different licenses? This subject needs to be a totally different study than boundary changes and needs to be phased in completely separately.

The responsible thing to do would be to do the boundary changes that they planned on, and then over the next 10 years, figure out how to get 6th into the middle schools, so that those changes can be made 10 years from now (2 review cycles if they are reviewing boundaries every 5 years) and minimize disruption to families.

(But also - how do not all ES have advanced math? I thought advanced math was just either AAP level 2 or 3 math and all schools have at least LIII, even if they don’t have LLIV …)

Fascists from Fairfax Parents Association are in da house!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grandfathering only seniors is bullsh*t. All sophomores, juniors and seniors deserve to be grandfathered. As well as rising 8th graders and 6th graders. Hell no one deserves to be yanked out of their schools.

Disagree. It's unfortunate but the line has to be drawn somewhere, and that makes sense. There can't be accommodations for grade levels, siblings, etc. It'll hurt in the moment, but rip the band-aid off.

Junior year is a critical year for college bound students. Moving them between 10th and 11th grade is unconscionable. There is a risk for academics to suffer, the loss of relationships with teachers and guidance counsellors as well as likely loss of leadership roles in clubs and sports due to being new. Not to mention not being able to finish study of a foreign language started in middle school and the IB vs AP issues. The class and of ‘28 is going to hurt significantly if grandfathering is not expanded.

Kids in high school should be allowed ro stay in their high school. There is no reason to upend them and their college futures. Phasing has been used for the last 20 years and high school.
Whoever says "ripping the bandaid off" has no idea how hard high school is for kids. Academically, socially, and emotionally, those kids need as much stability as possible to succeed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grandfathering only seniors is bullsh*t. All sophomores, juniors and seniors deserve to be grandfathered. As well as rising 8th graders and 6th graders. Hell no one deserves to be yanked out of their schools.

Disagree. It's unfortunate but the line has to be drawn somewhere, and that makes sense. There can't be accommodations for grade levels, siblings, etc. It'll hurt in the moment, but rip the band-aid off.

Junior year is a critical year for college bound students. Moving them between 10th and 11th grade is unconscionable. There is a risk for academics to suffer, the loss of relationships with teachers and guidance counsellors as well as likely loss of leadership roles in clubs and sports due to being new. Not to mention not being able to finish study of a foreign language started in middle school and the IB vs AP issues. The class and of ‘28 is going to hurt significantly if grandfathering is not expanded.

My family moved between 11th and 12th. I lost access to the language I had studied and the sport that I played, due to them not being offered. I overcame that obstacle and was offered admission to multiple T25 schools. I pivoted and joined new organizations and excelled.

They redistricted my neighborhood (we were about 1/2 of a split feeder) right before freshman year. We’d already signed up for courses at one HS when FCPS changed the boundaries and made us sign up for courses at a different school.

The only kids we knew were kids from our ES who’d gone to a different middle school. Freshman year sucked for most of us. We felt like unwelcome interlopers at someone else’s party, since most of the other kids had attended another middle school. I recall constantly finding out about events and tryouts after they’d already occurred. Things did get better by the time we graduated, but the transition wasn’t ideal and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. And that was even with grandfathering, since the older kids got to stay at the high school we’d expected to attend.

See, I don't see this being an issue in FCPS because a lot of the schools are fed by different middle schools, so there will be always be a large group of kids you don't know.

You really are an idiot if you think just sending 1/2 of one ES to a different HS than the rest of their MS peers is OK. Go back to troll school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grandfathering only seniors is bullsh*t. All sophomores, juniors and seniors deserve to be grandfathered. As well as rising 8th graders and 6th graders. Hell no one deserves to be yanked out of their schools.

Disagree. It's unfortunate but the line has to be drawn somewhere, and that makes sense. There can't be accommodations for grade levels, siblings, etc. It'll hurt in the moment, but rip the band-aid off.

Junior year is a critical year for college bound students. Moving them between 10th and 11th grade is unconscionable. There is a risk for academics to suffer, the loss of relationships with teachers and guidance counsellors as well as likely loss of leadership roles in clubs and sports due to being new. Not to mention not being able to finish study of a foreign language started in middle school and the IB vs AP issues. The class and of ‘28 is going to hurt significantly if grandfathering is not expanded.

My family moved between 11th and 12th. I lost access to the language I had studied and the sport that I played, due to them not being offered. I overcame that obstacle and was offered admission to multiple T25 schools. I pivoted and joined new organizations and excelled.

They redistricted my neighborhood (we were about 1/2 of a split feeder) right before freshman year. We’d already signed up for courses at one HS when FCPS changed the boundaries and made us sign up for courses at a different school.

The only kids we knew were kids from our ES who’d gone to a different middle school. Freshman year sucked for most of us. We felt like unwelcome interlopers at someone else’s party, since most of the other kids had attended another middle school. I recall constantly finding out about events and tryouts after they’d already occurred. Things did get better by the time we graduated, but the transition wasn’t ideal and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. And that was even with grandfathering, since the older kids got to stay at the high school we’d expected to attend.

See, I don't see this being an issue in FCPS because a lot of the schools are fed by different middle schools, so there will be always be a large group of kids you don't know.

Fox Mill ES kids attend Carson and then SLHS. The only kids that they know at SLHS are the kids from Fox Mill ES and maybe a few others from Floris, I think. They start over in MS and HS and they do just fine.

Redistricting is unpopular for most families. Most people don't want to move from the schools that they know. The excuses for not redistricting are evolving because the people on the edges of their schools grow more desperate to not have their kids move.

Redistricting is needed, there are schools that are under enrolled and schools over enrolled at all levels.

We don't need universal PreK in the Public schools. It is a nice to have but it is not a must have. We have space constraints and budget issues.

We don't need 6th graders in MS. There are school systems that are 7-8, 6-8, and even 5-8. Most of the MS don't have the space for 6th graders. The small number of kids that would benefit from being able to take Algebra 1 in 6th grade is not a great reason to for this and the likelihood that schools like Poe and Herndon see a real uptick in kids taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade because 6th grade is at MS is minimal. The reality is that the Title 1 ES don't have a lot of kids in Advanced Math because the majority of the kids come from families that did not graduate from high school and the kids are starting Kindergarten behind the MC and UMC compatriots. These are the kids that need free PreK and I think that they are the ones who are eligible already.

We can get rid of AAP centers, but I doubt that really frees up that many busses and influences the class size at many schools. I can see it being help at the MS level, especially at schools like Carson.

We don't need Dunn Loring. Seriously, why this is a thing I have no clue. Maybe if it is being used as a SPED school for the kids that need specialized services that the County is struggling to provide for space issues.

We don't need a Montessori program. Seriously? Why does anyone think that this is a good idea.

But change sucks, no one likes it. I get it. That doesn't mean you don't make changes where it is needed. FCPS is handling this awfully and their priorities are questionable. Stick to shifting students based on overcrowding and stop with the income balancing. And get rid of IB, which wastes money and is underutilized.

[Anonymous]

I agree that resilience is extremely important. However, so is stability.

There are lots of opportunities to build resilience without upsetting the applecart.

Good grief: a few years ago the big discussion in FCPS was about suspending kids and sending them to other schools. They decided to re look at it because of the sad impact it had on a handful of kids. I would not be surprised if there are some old threads on this.

And, now, they want to do this on a huge scale just because of an address where the child lives?

[Anonymous]

But change sucks, no one likes it. I get it. That doesn't mean you don't make changes where it is needed. FCPS is handling this awfully and their priorities are questionable. Stick to shifting students based on overcrowding and stop with the income balancing. And get rid of IB, which wastes money and is underutilized.

The question is: is this needed?
No need
Underutilized and overutilized are vague statements. If there are truly program disparities: address those.

When you have 100+ students transferring out of a school for AP/IB, it is a problem. And, when it appears that AP/IB is the excuse to transfer, it is a much bigger problem.
Eliminate IB ASAP.

That will add students to some of the underperforming schools --maybe all of them. No need to redraw boundaries.

That brings equity to the programming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sign up to speak before the Board of Supervisors.

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/bosclerk/speakers-form

The Board of Supervisors overseas the FCPS budget.

Th BOS doesn’t give a hoot about FCPS. I remember containing them during COVID closures and I got crickets back. They fund the schools but they don’t care what the people want. They are lock in step with the school board (except maybe Herrity).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sign up to speak before the Board of Supervisors.

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/bosclerk/speakers-form

The Board of Supervisors overseas the FCPS budget.

Th BOS doesn’t give a hoot about FCPS. I remember containing them during COVID closures and I got crickets back. They fund the schools but they don’t care what the people want. They are lock in step with the school board (except maybe Herrity).

At least two of them are former SB members: Dalia Palchik and Kathy Smith. I imagine both support redrawing boundaries. Neither has ever shown much restraint when it comes to budgets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sign up to speak before the Board of Supervisors.

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/bosclerk/speakers-form

The Board of Supervisors overseas the FCPS budget.

Th BOS doesn’t give a hoot about FCPS. I remember containing them during COVID closures and I got crickets back. They fund the schools but they don’t care what the people want. They are lock in step with the school board (except maybe Herrity).

At least two of them are former SB members: Dalia Palchik and Kathy Smith. I imagine both support redrawing boundaries. Neither has ever shown much restraint when it comes to budgets.

PP. Woops! Forgot Dan Storck--that makes three former SB members on Bos

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grandfathering only seniors is bullsh*t. All sophomores, juniors and seniors deserve to be grandfathered. As well as rising 8th graders and 6th graders. Hell no one deserves to be yanked out of their schools.

Disagree. It's unfortunate but the line has to be drawn somewhere, and that makes sense. There can't be accommodations for grade levels, siblings, etc. It'll hurt in the moment, but rip the band-aid off.

Junior year is a critical year for college bound students. Moving them between 10th and 11th grade is unconscionable. There is a risk for academics to suffer, the loss of relationships with teachers and guidance counsellors as well as likely loss of leadership roles in clubs and sports due to being new. Not to mention not being able to finish study of a foreign language started in middle school and the IB vs AP issues. The class and of ‘28 is going to hurt significantly if grandfathering is not expanded.

My family moved between 11th and 12th. I lost access to the language I had studied and the sport that I played, due to them not being offered. I overcame that obstacle and was offered admission to multiple T25 schools. I pivoted and joined new organizations and excelled.

They redistricted my neighborhood (we were about 1/2 of a split feeder) right before freshman year. We’d already signed up for courses at one HS when FCPS changed the boundaries and made us sign up for courses at a different school.

The only kids we knew were kids from our ES who’d gone to a different middle school. Freshman year sucked for most of us. We felt like unwelcome interlopers at someone else’s party, since most of the other kids had attended another middle school. I recall constantly finding out about events and tryouts after they’d already occurred. Things did get better by the time we graduated, but the transition wasn’t ideal and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. And that was even with grandfathering, since the older kids got to stay at the high school we’d expected to attend.

See, I don't see this being an issue in FCPS because a lot of the schools are fed by different middle schools, so there will be always be a large group of kids you don't know.

Fox Mill ES kids attend Carson and then SLHS. The only kids that they know at SLHS are the kids from Fox Mill ES and maybe a few others from Floris, I think. They start over in MS and HS and they do just fine.

Redistricting is unpopular for most families. Most people don't want to move from the schools that they know. The excuses for not redistricting are evolving because the people on the edges of their schools grow more desperate to not have their kids move.

Redistricting is needed, there are schools that are under enrolled and schools over enrolled at all levels.

We don't need universal PreK in the Public schools. It is a nice to have but it is not a must have. We have space constraints and budget issues.

We don't need 6th graders in MS. There are school systems that are 7-8, 6-8, and even 5-8. Most of the MS don't have the space for 6th graders. The small number of kids that would benefit from being able to take Algebra 1 in 6th grade is not a great reason to for this and the likelihood that schools like Poe and Herndon see a real uptick in kids taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade because 6th grade is at MS is minimal. The reality is that the Title 1 ES don't have a lot of kids in Advanced Math because the majority of the kids come from families that did not graduate from high school and the kids are starting Kindergarten behind the MC and UMC compatriots. These are the kids that need free PreK and I think that they are the ones who are eligible already.

We can get rid of AAP centers, but I doubt that really frees up that many busses and influences the class size at many schools. I can see it being help at the MS level, especially at schools like Carson.

We don't need Dunn Loring. Seriously, why this is a thing I have no clue. Maybe if it is being used as a SPED school for the kids that need specialized services that the County is struggling to provide for space issues.

We don't need a Montessori program. Seriously? Why does anyone think that this is a good idea.

But change sucks, no one likes it. I get it. That doesn't mean you don't make changes where it is needed. FCPS is handling this awfully and their priorities are questionable. Stick to shifting students based on overcrowding and stop with the income balancing. And get rid of IB, which wastes money and is underutilized.

TL; DR. Unless you’re calling the shots no one needs a complete rundown of all your opinions.

[Anonymous]

Someone up-thread wrote:

“ Is there some sort of specific secret map somewhere that they are trying to get passed? Considering all the “DEI” being thrown around as I’m skimming, my spidey senses tell me this all boils down to parents being afraid they will be redistricted to a “too poor” or “too brown” school, but honestly I’m having trouble figuring out exactly what all the uproar is over given the lack of details available (that I’ve seen, and admittedly have been paying very little attention).”

Thanks for calling every concerned parent a racist or classist.

The reality is every parent wants the best available education for their child. That is not unreasonable.

If a parents’ desire for the best for their child happens to coincide with a wealthier school, or for example, a predominantly Asian school, it really horrible of you, PP, to bluntly hurl unfounded charges of racism and classism.