School Board is Failing – Central High with 80% Poverty is Blowing McLean and Langley Out of the Water

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It says that Central High went from 39% free and reduced lunch to 81% free and reduced lunch within a year. Why is that?

The Wise school district does seem to be getting some things right but it's still a little strange why there is such a difference from one year to another. Also, this spending does not include the state spending. Can you show it along with the federal and state spending and then rate it comparatively to the cost of living of these two areas? Also when do the kids take these tests? Its really annoying to have comparisons of Algebra II but kids who take it in 8th grade compared to sophomore year as if it's the same type of student and school.

even at 39%, it's still higher than all the FCPS compared schools. FCPS is doing something wrong.

What scores are you comparing? Post something better, if you want a discussion.

Here are some statistics based on the data about test scores, spending, and poverty rates for each school:

Central High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0140
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0136
Spending: $5,947 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 80.7%
Average Test Score: 83.27

McLean High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0090
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0014
Spending: $8,768 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 12.2%
Average Test Score: 78.63

Langley High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0093
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0004
Spending: $8,882 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 3.9%
Average Test Score: 82.25

Falls Church High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0024
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0051
Spending: $11,958 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 61.4%
Average Test Score: 28.94

Justice High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0030
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0060
Spending: $11,096 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 66.8%
Average Test Score: 33.12

Key Insights:
Negative correlation (-0.88) between test scores and spending per pupil indicates that higher spending doesn't necessarily result in higher scores in these schools.
Moderate negative correlation (-0.47) between poverty rate and test scores shows that higher poverty is associated with lower test scores, but not as strongly as spending.

This shows that despite higher spending in schools like Falls Church and Justice High, there is no significant improvement in test scores. In fact, schools with lower spending, like Central High, are outperforming them, which suggests a failure in how FCPS allocates and utilizes its resources.

Average test score is a meaingless number. Your "Key Insights" are meaningless - bad data in, bad data out.

Saying average test scores are meaningless just isn’t true. They’re a valid way to see how well a school is teaching its students, especially in key subjects. Sure, no single number tells the whole story, but test scores are a big part of how schools, districts, and even states measure success.

Dismissing these numbers ignores how education is evaluated at every level. Plus, if schools are spending more but still scoring low, that’s a red flag about how resources are being used. It’s not "bad data"—it’s real info showing where things aren’t working.

What average test scores? SOLs? Which SOLs? That's why I said it's meaningless. You are not providing any useful information.

Interesting point, but the data I’m referring to comes directly from SchoolDigger, which compiles SOL (Standards of Learning) scores across various subjects—English, Math, Science, etc. These are the same metrics used by the state to evaluate school performance.

It seems like you’re pretty defensive about the data. Do you have a vested interest in this topic? I’m just sharing numbers that are publicly available to make a point about how FCPS is using its resources. If there’s something you think I’m missing, feel free to share your insights or data so we can have a clearer discussion.

I was asking you to provide your units, your context. This is what my DS keeps getting dinged for in math class right now, too. Sure, I could look up each school on the VA website, but I have other things to do with my time and other posters are providing more specific test score information for the various schools and districts.

+1

If you make a claim, you back it up.

And please learn about COL before talking about funding again.

Sure, Fairfax County has a higher cost of living, but let’s break down the spending-to-COL ratio:

Norton, VA: Cost of living is 79, and they spend $5,947 per pupil.

Spending-to-COL ratio: 75.28
Fairfax County, VA: Cost of living is 152, and they spend an average of $10,176 per pupil.

Spending-to-COL ratio: 66.95
This shows that even though Fairfax County is spending almost double what Norton spends per pupil, they aren’t getting the same value for that money. Norton’s lower cost of living allows them to use their resources more efficiently, and their spending translates to better student outcomes.

In contrast, Fairfax County’s higher spending doesn’t align with the higher cost of living, meaning they’re not using those extra resources effectively. This isn’t just a matter of funding—it’s a matter of resource management. With more money on hand, Fairfax County should be outperforming, but the data shows they’re falling short.

The spending in relation to COL shows Fairfax County is inefficient with its resources, and that’s the real problem here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It says that Central High went from 39% free and reduced lunch to 81% free and reduced lunch within a year. Why is that?

The Wise school district does seem to be getting some things right but it's still a little strange why there is such a difference from one year to another. Also, this spending does not include the state spending. Can you show it along with the federal and state spending and then rate it comparatively to the cost of living of these two areas? Also when do the kids take these tests? Its really annoying to have comparisons of Algebra II but kids who take it in 8th grade compared to sophomore year as if it's the same type of student and school.

even at 39%, it's still higher than all the FCPS compared schools. FCPS is doing something wrong.

What scores are you comparing? Post something better, if you want a discussion.

Here are some statistics based on the data about test scores, spending, and poverty rates for each school:

Central High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0140
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0136
Spending: $5,947 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 80.7%
Average Test Score: 83.27

McLean High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0090
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0014
Spending: $8,768 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 12.2%
Average Test Score: 78.63

Langley High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0093
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0004
Spending: $8,882 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 3.9%
Average Test Score: 82.25

Falls Church High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0024
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0051
Spending: $11,958 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 61.4%
Average Test Score: 28.94

Justice High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0030
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0060
Spending: $11,096 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 66.8%
Average Test Score: 33.12

Key Insights:
Negative correlation (-0.88) between test scores and spending per pupil indicates that higher spending doesn't necessarily result in higher scores in these schools.
Moderate negative correlation (-0.47) between poverty rate and test scores shows that higher poverty is associated with lower test scores, but not as strongly as spending.

This shows that despite higher spending in schools like Falls Church and Justice High, there is no significant improvement in test scores. In fact, schools with lower spending, like Central High, are outperforming them, which suggests a failure in how FCPS allocates and utilizes its resources.

Average test score is a meaingless number. Your "Key Insights" are meaningless - bad data in, bad data out.

Saying average test scores are meaningless just isn’t true. They’re a valid way to see how well a school is teaching its students, especially in key subjects. Sure, no single number tells the whole story, but test scores are a big part of how schools, districts, and even states measure success.

Dismissing these numbers ignores how education is evaluated at every level. Plus, if schools are spending more but still scoring low, that’s a red flag about how resources are being used. It’s not "bad data"—it’s real info showing where things aren’t working.

What average test scores? SOLs? Which SOLs? That's why I said it's meaningless. You are not providing any useful information.

Interesting point, but the data I’m referring to comes directly from SchoolDigger, which compiles SOL (Standards of Learning) scores across various subjects—English, Math, Science, etc. These are the same metrics used by the state to evaluate school performance.

It seems like you’re pretty defensive about the data. Do you have a vested interest in this topic? I’m just sharing numbers that are publicly available to make a point about how FCPS is using its resources. If there’s something you think I’m missing, feel free to share your insights or data so we can have a clearer discussion.

I was asking you to provide your units, your context. This is what my DS keeps getting dinged for in math class right now, too. Sure, I could look up each school on the VA website, but I have other things to do with my time and other posters are providing more specific test score information for the various schools and districts.

Here’s a response that addresses the snark without escalating the tone:

Got it! I’m pulling data directly from SchoolDigger, which compiles average SOL test scores (Standards of Learning) for each school. The comparison I’m making looks at these averages, poverty rates, and spending per pupil to show how FCPS schools like McLean and Langley are falling behind despite higher resources.

I get that looking up the info takes time, so I’m sharing it here to save people the hassle. If there’s something specific you want more context on, I’m happy to dig deeper. Let’s keep the discussion focused on what the data is showing.

Did you adjust the data for cost of living? FCPS has to pay teachers 50% more to live in NOVA

Yes, I did adjust for cost of living, but the difference isn't as simple as "50% more." The cost of living in Fairfax County is about 92% higher than in Norton (152 vs. 79), but FCPS is spending nearly double per pupil. Here's the breakdown:

Norton: Spending $5,947 per pupil, COL 79, ratio: 75.28
Fairfax County: Spending $10,176 per pupil, COL 152, ratio: 66.95
Even with the higher cost of living, Fairfax County is spending significantly more but getting less value out of that spending compared to Norton. It’s not just about paying teachers more—it’s about inefficient resource management.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It says that Central High went from 39% free and reduced lunch to 81% free and reduced lunch within a year. Why is that?

The Wise school district does seem to be getting some things right but it's still a little strange why there is such a difference from one year to another. Also, this spending does not include the state spending. Can you show it along with the federal and state spending and then rate it comparatively to the cost of living of these two areas? Also when do the kids take these tests? Its really annoying to have comparisons of Algebra II but kids who take it in 8th grade compared to sophomore year as if it's the same type of student and school.

even at 39%, it's still higher than all the FCPS compared schools. FCPS is doing something wrong.

What scores are you comparing? Post something better, if you want a discussion.

Here are some statistics based on the data about test scores, spending, and poverty rates for each school:

Central High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0140
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0136
Spending: $5,947 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 80.7%
Average Test Score: 83.27

McLean High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0090
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0014
Spending: $8,768 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 12.2%
Average Test Score: 78.63

Langley High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0093
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0004
Spending: $8,882 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 3.9%
Average Test Score: 82.25

Falls Church High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0024
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0051
Spending: $11,958 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 61.4%
Average Test Score: 28.94

Justice High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0030
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0060
Spending: $11,096 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 66.8%
Average Test Score: 33.12

Key Insights:
Negative correlation (-0.88) between test scores and spending per pupil indicates that higher spending doesn't necessarily result in higher scores in these schools.
Moderate negative correlation (-0.47) between poverty rate and test scores shows that higher poverty is associated with lower test scores, but not as strongly as spending.

This shows that despite higher spending in schools like Falls Church and Justice High, there is no significant improvement in test scores. In fact, schools with lower spending, like Central High, are outperforming them, which suggests a failure in how FCPS allocates and utilizes its resources.

Average test score is a meaingless number. Your "Key Insights" are meaningless - bad data in, bad data out.

Saying average test scores are meaningless just isn’t true. They’re a valid way to see how well a school is teaching its students, especially in key subjects. Sure, no single number tells the whole story, but test scores are a big part of how schools, districts, and even states measure success.

Dismissing these numbers ignores how education is evaluated at every level. Plus, if schools are spending more but still scoring low, that’s a red flag about how resources are being used. It’s not "bad data"—it’s real info showing where things aren’t working.

What average test scores? SOLs? Which SOLs? That's why I said it's meaningless. You are not providing any useful information.

Interesting point, but the data I’m referring to comes directly from SchoolDigger, which compiles SOL (Standards of Learning) scores across various subjects—English, Math, Science, etc. These are the same metrics used by the state to evaluate school performance.

It seems like you’re pretty defensive about the data. Do you have a vested interest in this topic? I’m just sharing numbers that are publicly available to make a point about how FCPS is using its resources. If there’s something you think I’m missing, feel free to share your insights or data so we can have a clearer discussion.

I was asking you to provide your units, your context. This is what my DS keeps getting dinged for in math class right now, too. Sure, I could look up each school on the VA website, but I have other things to do with my time and other posters are providing more specific test score information for the various schools and districts.

+1

If you make a claim, you back it up.

And please learn about COL before talking about funding again.

Sure, Fairfax County has a higher cost of living, but let’s break down the spending-to-COL ratio:

Norton, VA: Cost of living is 79, and they spend $5,947 per pupil.

Spending-to-COL ratio: 75.28
Fairfax County, VA: Cost of living is 152, and they spend an average of $10,176 per pupil.

Spending-to-COL ratio: 66.95
This shows that even though Fairfax County is spending almost double what Norton spends per pupil, they aren’t getting the same value for that money. Norton’s lower cost of living allows them to use their resources more efficiently, and their spending translates to better student outcomes.

In contrast, Fairfax County’s higher spending doesn’t align with the higher cost of living, meaning they’re not using those extra resources effectively. This isn’t just a matter of funding—it’s a matter of resource management. With more money on hand, Fairfax County should be outperforming, but the data shows they’re falling short.

The spending in relation to COL shows Fairfax County is inefficient with its resources, and that’s the real problem here.

Does it? What is their rate of college attendance? What colleges? How many are graduating college? All you've done is shown that a district that removes advanced course work to focus on the middle is great at getting their kids to score between 400 and 499 on SOLS. Personally I wouldn't see that as a successful outcome for my kid, but you do you

[Anonymous]

Isn’t it pretty likely that the kids in poverty in Wise, VA are native English speakers? And those in poverty in our area are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t it pretty likely that the kids in poverty in Wise, VA are native English speakers? And those in poverty in our area are not.

That’s why this thread reeks of troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The FCPS school board is failing miserably. They’re throwing money at failing schools like Falls Church and Justice, reducing teacher ratios, yet no results. Meanwhile, McLean and Langley, some of the top schools in the state, are being ignored. It’s time for Fairfax County taxpayers to demand better! Why are we funding failure and letting our best schools suffer? Here's the comparison:

Central High: 80.7% poverty, 83.27 score, $5,947 per pupil
McLean High: 12.2% poverty, 78.63 score, $8,768 per pupil
Langley High: 3.9% poverty, 82.25 score, $8,882 per pupil
Falls Church High: 61.4% poverty, 28.94 score, $11,958 per pupil
Justice High: 66.8% poverty, 33.12 score, $11,096 per pupil
It’s time to hold the school board accountable! What are your thoughts?

SchoolDigger Links:
Central High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0408001789/school.aspx
Falls Church High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0126000505/school.aspx
McLean High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0126000517/school.aspx
Langley High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0126000468/school.aspx

Cool, why don't you move there and enjoy the schools. Then you can let us know how amazing they are!

I expect a report back like the ones we saw in the "FCPS families moving to West Virginia" thread. A neighbor/friend was jealous of friends who had moved to WV, Cheaper houses! Less woke schools! Better ratios! FCPS is doomed! One month into the school year the WV friends were regretting their move and realized that the schools are crap.

From what i am reading, Central High does not offer AP classes, is tiny, and kids pass the SOLs. That sounds fine and like it is probably good for a high FARMs school but miserable for other kids. I doubt that anyone in FCPS would be ok with changing the course offerings at the high FARMs schools in FCPS. You are not going to get rid of the AP/IB classes at the high farm schools.

I would also guess that the FARMs kids there are different then the FARMs kids here. The rural/urban difference is pretty large and can greatly influence attitudes toward school. But one poor kid is not the same as another poor kid. Poor kids who come from generational poverty and who have parents who have not graduated from school, which is typical in urban areas, is different then rural poor where people are more likely to have graduated from high school and then worked on farms or factories or similar jobs that do not require a college degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The FCPS school board is failing miserably. They’re throwing money at failing schools like Falls Church and Justice, reducing teacher ratios, yet no results. Meanwhile, McLean and Langley, some of the top schools in the state, are being ignored. It’s time for Fairfax County taxpayers to demand better! Why are we funding failure and letting our best schools suffer? Here's the comparison:

Central High: 80.7% poverty, 83.27 score, $5,947 per pupil
McLean High: 12.2% poverty, 78.63 score, $8,768 per pupil
Langley High: 3.9% poverty, 82.25 score, $8,882 per pupil
Falls Church High: 61.4% poverty, 28.94 score, $11,958 per pupil
Justice High: 66.8% poverty, 33.12 score, $11,096 per pupil
It’s time to hold the school board accountable! What are your thoughts?

SchoolDigger Links:
Central High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0408001789/school.aspx
Falls Church High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0126000505/school.aspx
McLean High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0126000517/school.aspx
Langley High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0126000468/school.aspx

Cool, why don't you move there and enjoy the schools. Then you can let us know how amazing they are!

I expect a report back like the ones we saw in the "FCPS families moving to West Virginia" thread. A neighbor/friend was jealous of friends who had moved to WV, Cheaper houses! Less woke schools! Better ratios! FCPS is doomed! One month into the school year the WV friends were regretting their move and realized that the schools are crap.

From what i am reading, Central High does not offer AP classes, is tiny, and kids pass the SOLs. That sounds fine and like it is probably good for a high FARMs school but miserable for other kids. I doubt that anyone in FCPS would be ok with changing the course offerings at the high FARMs schools in FCPS. You are not going to get rid of the AP/IB classes at the high farm schools.

I would also guess that the FARMs kids there are different then the FARMs kids here. The rural/urban difference is pretty large and can greatly influence attitudes toward school. But one poor kid is not the same as another poor kid. Poor kids who come from generational poverty and who have parents who have not graduated from school, which is typical in urban areas, is different then rural poor where people are more likely to have graduated from high school and then worked on farms or factories or similar jobs that do not require a college degree.

I’m not interested in moving; we need to look beyond our bubble and recognize that FCPS isn’t what it used to be. The school board and its priorities aren’t delivering results, while schools with fewer resources, like Central High, are outperforming. It's not about eliminating AP or IB classes, but questioning why basic academics are falling behind despite more funding. Poverty is poverty, and while rural vs. urban differences exist, it doesn't excuse inefficient resource management in FCPS schools that should be doing better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The FCPS school board is failing miserably. They’re throwing money at failing schools like Falls Church and Justice, reducing teacher ratios, yet no results. Meanwhile, McLean and Langley, some of the top schools in the state, are being ignored. It’s time for Fairfax County taxpayers to demand better! Why are we funding failure and letting our best schools suffer? Here's the comparison:

Central High: 80.7% poverty, 83.27 score, $5,947 per pupil
McLean High: 12.2% poverty, 78.63 score, $8,768 per pupil
Langley High: 3.9% poverty, 82.25 score, $8,882 per pupil
Falls Church High: 61.4% poverty, 28.94 score, $11,958 per pupil
Justice High: 66.8% poverty, 33.12 score, $11,096 per pupil
It’s time to hold the school board accountable! What are your thoughts?

SchoolDigger Links:
Central High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0408001789/school.aspx
Falls Church High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0126000505/school.aspx
McLean High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0126000517/school.aspx
Langley High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0126000468/school.aspx

Cool, why don't you move there and enjoy the schools. Then you can let us know how amazing they are!

I expect a report back like the ones we saw in the "FCPS families moving to West Virginia" thread. A neighbor/friend was jealous of friends who had moved to WV, Cheaper houses! Less woke schools! Better ratios! FCPS is doomed! One month into the school year the WV friends were regretting their move and realized that the schools are crap.

From what i am reading, Central High does not offer AP classes, is tiny, and kids pass the SOLs. That sounds fine and like it is probably good for a high FARMs school but miserable for other kids. I doubt that anyone in FCPS would be ok with changing the course offerings at the high FARMs schools in FCPS. You are not going to get rid of the AP/IB classes at the high farm schools.

I would also guess that the FARMs kids there are different then the FARMs kids here. The rural/urban difference is pretty large and can greatly influence attitudes toward school. But one poor kid is not the same as another poor kid. Poor kids who come from generational poverty and who have parents who have not graduated from school, which is typical in urban areas, is different then rural poor where people are more likely to have graduated from high school and then worked on farms or factories or similar jobs that do not require a college degree.

I’m not interested in moving; we need to look beyond our bubble and recognize that FCPS isn’t what it used to be. The school board and its priorities aren’t delivering results, while schools with fewer resources, like Central High, are outperforming. It's not about eliminating AP or IB classes, but questioning why basic academics are falling behind despite more funding. Poverty is poverty, and while rural vs. urban differences exist, it doesn't excuse inefficient resource management in FCPS schools that should be doing better.

Want to compare AP scores? Oh, that's right, Central doesn't have any advanced classes.

[Anonymous]

So, despite spending less money on a CoL adjusted basis, and serving a linguistically and ethnically diverse community, McLean has similar overall performance in the low/middle and far higher overall student performance at the high end, compared to Central.

Central is doing a good job, but I'll take McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It says that Central High went from 39% free and reduced lunch to 81% free and reduced lunch within a year. Why is that?

The Wise school district does seem to be getting some things right but it's still a little strange why there is such a difference from one year to another. Also, this spending does not include the state spending. Can you show it along with the federal and state spending and then rate it comparatively to the cost of living of these two areas? Also when do the kids take these tests? Its really annoying to have comparisons of Algebra II but kids who take it in 8th grade compared to sophomore year as if it's the same type of student and school.

even at 39%, it's still higher than all the FCPS compared schools. FCPS is doing something wrong.

What scores are you comparing? Post something better, if you want a discussion.

Here are some statistics based on the data about test scores, spending, and poverty rates for each school:

Central High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0140
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0136
Spending: $5,947 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 80.7%
Average Test Score: 83.27

McLean High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0090
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0014
Spending: $8,768 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 12.2%
Average Test Score: 78.63

Langley High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0093
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0004
Spending: $8,882 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 3.9%
Average Test Score: 82.25

Falls Church High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0024
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0051
Spending: $11,958 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 61.4%
Average Test Score: 28.94

Justice High:
Test Score to Spending Ratio: 0.0030
Poverty to Spending Ratio: 0.0060
Spending: $11,096 per pupil
Poverty Rate: 66.8%
Average Test Score: 33.12

Key Insights:
Negative correlation (-0.88) between test scores and spending per pupil indicates that higher spending doesn't necessarily result in higher scores in these schools.
Moderate negative correlation (-0.47) between poverty rate and test scores shows that higher poverty is associated with lower test scores, but not as strongly as spending.

This shows that despite higher spending in schools like Falls Church and Justice High, there is no significant improvement in test scores. In fact, schools with lower spending, like Central High, are outperforming them, which suggests a failure in how FCPS allocates and utilizes its resources.

Average test score is a meaingless number. Your "Key Insights" are meaningless - bad data in, bad data out.

Saying average test scores are meaningless just isn’t true. They’re a valid way to see how well a school is teaching its students, especially in key subjects. Sure, no single number tells the whole story, but test scores are a big part of how schools, districts, and even states measure success.

Dismissing these numbers ignores how education is evaluated at every level. Plus, if schools are spending more but still scoring low, that’s a red flag about how resources are being used. It’s not "bad data"—it’s real info showing where things aren’t working.

What average test scores? SOLs? Which SOLs? That's why I said it's meaningless. You are not providing any useful information.

Interesting point, but the data I’m referring to comes directly from SchoolDigger, which compiles SOL (Standards of Learning) scores across various subjects—English, Math, Science, etc. These are the same metrics used by the state to evaluate school performance.

It seems like you’re pretty defensive about the data. Do you have a vested interest in this topic? I’m just sharing numbers that are publicly available to make a point about how FCPS is using its resources. If there’s something you think I’m missing, feel free to share your insights or data so we can have a clearer discussion.

I was asking you to provide your units, your context. This is what my DS keeps getting dinged for in math class right now, too. Sure, I could look up each school on the VA website, but I have other things to do with my time and other posters are providing more specific test score information for the various schools and districts.

+1

If you make a claim, you back it up.

And please learn about COL before talking about funding again.

Sure, Fairfax County has a higher cost of living, but let’s break down the spending-to-COL ratio:

Norton, VA: Cost of living is 79, and they spend $5,947 per pupil.

Spending-to-COL ratio: 75.28
Fairfax County, VA: Cost of living is 152, and they spend an average of $10,176 per pupil.

Spending-to-COL ratio: 66.95
This shows that even though Fairfax County is spending almost double what Norton spends per pupil, they aren’t getting the same value for that money. Norton’s lower cost of living allows them to use their resources more efficiently, and their spending translates to better student outcomes.

In contrast, Fairfax County’s higher spending doesn’t align with the higher cost of living, meaning they’re not using those extra resources effectively. This isn’t just a matter of funding—it’s a matter of resource management. With more money on hand, Fairfax County should be outperforming, but the data shows they’re falling short.

The spending in relation to COL shows Fairfax County is inefficient with its resources, and that’s the real problem here.

Where are you getting this spending per pupil? Seems like these are only county costs and not per pupil spending including state and federal money. The state pays on a percentage to other school districts different than fairfax County. Likely Wise County gets well more from the state than they put in and has all their teacher salaries paid for entirely by the state whereas Fairfax County only gets 25 cents back for ever dollar they give to the state and has to fund 70 percent or so of their teacher salaries.

[Anonymous]

Wise County spends $12k per pupil. These costs are in accurate.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax County median income is 3x Wise County

Paying only 2x for schools is an incredible bargain! Our wealthier residence can afford to pay more, and are getting fantastic results for their money, for their own kids and for the less wealthy neighbors they are honored to give a hand up to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wise County spends $12k per pupil. These costs are in accurate.

Data source?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The FCPS school board is failing miserably. They’re throwing money at failing schools like Falls Church and Justice, reducing teacher ratios, yet no results. Meanwhile, McLean and Langley, some of the top schools in the state, are being ignored. It’s time for Fairfax County taxpayers to demand better! Why are we funding failure and letting our best schools suffer? Here's the comparison:

Central High: 80.7% poverty, 83.27 score, $5,947 per pupil
McLean High: 12.2% poverty, 78.63 score, $8,768 per pupil
Langley High: 3.9% poverty, 82.25 score, $8,882 per pupil
Falls Church High: 61.4% poverty, 28.94 score, $11,958 per pupil
Justice High: 66.8% poverty, 33.12 score, $11,096 per pupil
It’s time to hold the school board accountable! What are your thoughts?

SchoolDigger Links:
Central High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0408001789/school.aspx
Falls Church High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0126000505/school.aspx
McLean High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0126000517/school.aspx
Langley High: www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0126000468/school.aspx

Cool, why don't you move there and enjoy the schools. Then you can let us know how amazing they are!

I expect a report back like the ones we saw in the "FCPS families moving to West Virginia" thread. A neighbor/friend was jealous of friends who had moved to WV, Cheaper houses! Less woke schools! Better ratios! FCPS is doomed! One month into the school year the WV friends were regretting their move and realized that the schools are crap.

From what i am reading, Central High does not offer AP classes, is tiny, and kids pass the SOLs. That sounds fine and like it is probably good for a high FARMs school but miserable for other kids. I doubt that anyone in FCPS would be ok with changing the course offerings at the high FARMs schools in FCPS. You are not going to get rid of the AP/IB classes at the high farm schools.

I would also guess that the FARMs kids there are different then the FARMs kids here. The rural/urban difference is pretty large and can greatly influence attitudes toward school. But one poor kid is not the same as another poor kid. Poor kids who come from generational poverty and who have parents who have not graduated from school, which is typical in urban areas, is different then rural poor where people are more likely to have graduated from high school and then worked on farms or factories or similar jobs that do not require a college degree.

I’m not interested in moving; we need to look beyond our bubble and recognize that FCPS isn’t what it used to be. The school board and its priorities aren’t delivering results, while schools with fewer resources, like Central High, are outperforming. It's not about eliminating AP or IB classes, but questioning why basic academics are falling behind despite more funding. Poverty is poverty, and while rural vs. urban differences exist, it doesn't excuse inefficient resource management in FCPS schools that should be doing better.

If you are an FCPS grad, then I certainly would be questioning FCPS educational quality.

[Anonymous]

Why is anyone holding up a high school in Wise as an aspirational example for FCPS? Do we really want to take the curriculum and cut out all of the AP, IB and DE classes so that we can focus on getting kids to pass SOLS?