Underwhelmed by FCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too many "mom" teaching who want the hours and time off. Not enough true educators. I'm so completely appalled by the low quality of FCPS. So disappointed.

Agree. Can't stand the moms volunteering in the hallways and nosing around my kids reading levels instead of teaching values to their own kids.

I think the PP was implying that the majority of teachers are people who chose teaching purely for time off, vs. wanting to teach--which I completely disagree with based on my experience.

The quality of most of our kids' teachers in FCPS has been very high. Fortunately, in our pyramid, we seem to be retaining most of the good ones and the lousy ones (as often men as women) are retiring or getting close to retirement.

[Anonymous]

I have had the completely opposite experience. My son was in private school through 3rd grade. It wasn't a school like Sidwell, but a school with a good reputation with the corresponding price tag. I was underwhelmed by the teachers and the curriculum. The only great thing about the private was the student/teacher ratio. That was GREAT. So I expected more and a deeper delving into subjects, particularly with such a small group of kids. Nothing. I just didn't see the cost/benefit of spending the money for what my son was getting. After speaking many times with my neighbors (who all love our local FCPS school), I decided to go for it. I was terrified because my husband and I went to private schools and had zero experience with public schools. My son went into AAP (local) and I have since loved every teacher he's had and the curriculum. They move faster and go really in depth. The curriculum is creative and he was inspired and challenged from day one. The downside is that there are a lot of kids. He is an independent worker, so that works for him. But I can see that it is a challenge for kids that might struggle to push themselves. I say so what works for YOU and YOUR FAMILY. If you hate public, give private a year to see if it is worth it. You might be surprised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like a couple of other PPs, I also grew up here and attended FCPS. At the time, they really were wonderful schools. There was a huge emphasis on writing, which has paid dividends throughout my life. We also moved back here so our kids could have the same experience. Sadly, the "world-class" schools FCPS loves to brag about are no more. They've been coasting on their reputation for far too long, with little to back it up.

My 7th grader is in Honors English. Her assignments so far include making a group video talking about a "classroom of the future" (?) and a book project which consisted of presenting the book she read as a movie poster (?). No writing, just some pretty pictures. In fact, there has been no writing instruction at all this year, and next to none in elementary school. To say we are disappointed is an understatement. If we could afford it, we would absolutely go private.

I'm not sure the reason for this is coasting. I think this is in part due to the whole project based learning emphasis and the backlash against homework and standardized testing. Also class size issues make it difficult to complete writing assignments well. When people advocate for changes and additions to the school day, I wish they'd take into consideration what that change or addition will replace and how each year builds on the previous toward an end goal.

PP here. I really don't think it's too much to ask that a book report actually require *writing* about the book. Such an incredibly lazy assignment (the movie poster).

PBL is another big, big mistake FCPS has made. It's the worst kind of "learning" experience. My DD just put in hours on a group science project. She did 99% of the work because the other kids refused to do their parts. She got a C because of them, and could have gotten an A on her own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like a couple of other PPs, I also grew up here and attended FCPS. At the time, they really were wonderful schools. There was a huge emphasis on writing, which has paid dividends throughout my life. We also moved back here so our kids could have the same experience. Sadly, the "world-class" schools FCPS loves to brag about are no more. They've been coasting on their reputation for far too long, with little to back it up.

My 7th grader is in Honors English. Her assignments so far include making a group video talking about a "classroom of the future" (?) and a book project which consisted of presenting the book she read as a movie poster (?). No writing, just some pretty pictures. In fact, there has been no writing instruction at all this year, and next to none in elementary school. To say we are disappointed is an understatement. If we could afford it, we would absolutely go private.

I'm not sure the reason for this is coasting. I think this is in part due to the whole project based learning emphasis and the backlash against homework and standardized testing. Also class size issues make it difficult to complete writing assignments well. When people advocate for changes and additions to the school day, I wish they'd take into consideration what that change or addition will replace and how each year builds on the previous toward an end goal.

PP here. I really don't think it's too much to ask that a book report actually require *writing* about the book. Such an incredibly lazy assignment (the movie poster).

PBL is another big, big mistake FCPS has made. It's the worst kind of "learning" experience. My DD just put in hours on a group science project. She did 99% of the work because the other kids refused to do their parts. She got a C because of them, and could have gotten an A on her own.

The poster idea is fine as long as writing is part of it too I think. The group science project issue is one we've all had. It's still important to do group projects. But if they aren't effective ways to learn because the project is mismanaged, that's another issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like a couple of other PPs, I also grew up here and attended FCPS. At the time, they really were wonderful schools. There was a huge emphasis on writing, which has paid dividends throughout my life. We also moved back here so our kids could have the same experience. Sadly, the "world-class" schools FCPS loves to brag about are no more. They've been coasting on their reputation for far too long, with little to back it up.

My 7th grader is in Honors English. Her assignments so far include making a group video talking about a "classroom of the future" (?) and a book project which consisted of presenting the book she read as a movie poster (?). No writing, just some pretty pictures. In fact, there has been no writing instruction at all this year, and next to none in elementary school. To say we are disappointed is an understatement. If we could afford it, we would absolutely go private.

I'm not sure the reason for this is coasting. I think this is in part due to the whole project based learning emphasis and the backlash against homework and standardized testing. Also class size issues make it difficult to complete writing assignments well. When people advocate for changes and additions to the school day, I wish they'd take into consideration what that change or addition will replace and how each year builds on the previous toward an end goal.

PP here. I really don't think it's too much to ask that a book report actually require *writing* about the book. Such an incredibly lazy assignment (the movie poster).

PBL is another big, big mistake FCPS has made. It's the worst kind of "learning" experience. My DD just put in hours on a group science project. She did 99% of the work because the other kids refused to do their parts. She got a C because of them, and could have gotten an A on her own.

The poster idea is fine as long as writing is part of it too I think. The group science project issue is one we've all had. It's still important to do group projects. But if they aren't effective ways to learn because the project is mismanaged, that's another issue.

Which speaks to management in the teacher's end, not to the merit of the instructional strategy itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too many "mom" teaching who want the hours and time off. Not enough true educators. I'm so completely appalled by the low quality of FCPS. So disappointed.

Yes, it's always the teachers. Never the curriculum, materials or the students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are in a highly rated elementary school. So far (3 three), we are unimpressed with FCPS. We wanted a solid public school system, thus the move the FCPS. We're not pushing our children to go to AAP, we actually prefer they stay at their base school with other kids from the same neighborhood. Overall experience has been so/so. On the one hand, you've got highly competitive parents pushing for their children to transfer to AAP, and a highly motivated PTA that does numerous interesting activities and enrichment programs. However, the general education track seems unimpressive. In fact I went to a public school system that is less reputable that FCPS and felt like the standard and effort was higher. At the parent teacher conference, we were old one of our DC was doing "great." However, she seems to struggle with basic homework that we help her with. A lot of sheets come back ungraded and incomplete. This has been the case for the last 3 years. I get the impression the teachers are overwhelmed with the class size. They have had 26-28 children in a class and 1 teacher except for kindergarten with an instructional aid which made a big difference. Interested what other people have experienced?

FCPS perpetuates the Big Lie, and most parents go along. Great schools mean high property values, right? So no one wants to admit what has been obvious for 10 years - whatever FCPS once was, it is no longer. The factors are myriad - waves of ESOL, deteriorating physical plant, noncompetitive compensation - but it ain't what it was. No one will admit it, so it doesn't change. We're all supposed to say what great schools we have, that they are 'world class', blah, blah, blah. It's not true.

- Left for private two years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like a couple of other PPs, I also grew up here and attended FCPS. At the time, they really were wonderful schools. There was a huge emphasis on writing, which has paid dividends throughout my life. We also moved back here so our kids could have the same experience. Sadly, the "world-class" schools FCPS loves to brag about are no more. They've been coasting on their reputation for far too long, with little to back it up.

My 7th grader is in Honors English. Her assignments so far include making a group video talking about a "classroom of the future" (?) and a book project which consisted of presenting the book she read as a movie poster (?). No writing, just some pretty pictures. In fact, there has been no writing instruction at all this year, and next to none in elementary school. To say we are disappointed is an understatement. If we could afford it, we would absolutely go private.

I'm not sure the reason for this is coasting. I think this is in part due to the whole project based learning emphasis and the backlash against homework and standardized testing. Also class size issues make it difficult to complete writing assignments well. When people advocate for changes and additions to the school day, I wish they'd take into consideration what that change or addition will replace and how each year builds on the previous toward an end goal.

PP here. I really don't think it's too much to ask that a book report actually require *writing* about the book. Such an incredibly lazy assignment (the movie poster).

PBL is another big, big mistake FCPS has made. It's the worst kind of "learning" experience. My DD just put in hours on a group science project. She did 99% of the work because the other kids refused to do their parts. She got a C because of them, and could have gotten an A on her own.

The poster idea is fine as long as writing is part of it too I think. The group science project issue is one we've all had. It's still important to do group projects. But if they aren't effective ways to learn because the project is mismanaged, that's another issue.

Which speaks to management in the teacher's end, not to the merit of the instructional strategy itself.

If the teacher doesn't have enough support from FCPS, than I blame FCPS. Other schools are using PBL just fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like a couple of other PPs, I also grew up here and attended FCPS. At the time, they really were wonderful schools. There was a huge emphasis on writing, which has paid dividends throughout my life. We also moved back here so our kids could have the same experience. Sadly, the "world-class" schools FCPS loves to brag about are no more. They've been coasting on their reputation for far too long, with little to back it up.

My 7th grader is in Honors English. Her assignments so far include making a group video talking about a "classroom of the future" (?) and a book project which consisted of presenting the book she read as a movie poster (?). No writing, just some pretty pictures. In fact, there has been no writing instruction at all this year, and next to none in elementary school. To say we are disappointed is an understatement. If we could afford it, we would absolutely go private.

I'm not sure the reason for this is coasting. I think this is in part due to the whole project based learning emphasis and the backlash against homework and standardized testing. Also class size issues make it difficult to complete writing assignments well. When people advocate for changes and additions to the school day, I wish they'd take into consideration what that change or addition will replace and how each year builds on the previous toward an end goal.

PP here. I really don't think it's too much to ask that a book report actually require *writing* about the book. Such an incredibly lazy assignment (the movie poster).

PBL is another big, big mistake FCPS has made. It's the worst kind of "learning" experience. My DD just put in hours on a group science project. She did 99% of the work because the other kids refused to do their parts. She got a C because of them, and could have gotten an A on her own.

The poster idea is fine as long as writing is part of it too I think. The group science project issue is one we've all had. It's still important to do group projects. But if they aren't effective ways to learn because the project is mismanaged, that's another issue.

Which speaks to management in the teacher's end, not to the merit of the instructional strategy itself.

If the teacher doesn't have enough support from FCPS, than I blame FCPS. Other schools are using PBL just fine.

No, there are plenty of parents complaining about PBL all over.

The schools are declining. Backing in my day. .

[Anonymous]

I meant other school systems in the US are using PBL with some success

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in a highly rated elementary school. So far (3 three), we are unimpressed with FCPS. We wanted a solid public school system, thus the move the FCPS. We're not pushing our children to go to AAP, we actually prefer they stay at their base school with other kids from the same neighborhood. Overall experience has been so/so. On the one hand, you've got highly competitive parents pushing for their children to transfer to AAP, and a highly motivated PTA that does numerous interesting activities and enrichment programs. However, the general education track seems unimpressive. In fact I went to a public school system that is less reputable that FCPS and felt like the standard and effort was higher. At the parent teacher conference, we were old one of our DC was doing "great." However, she seems to struggle with basic homework that we help her with. A lot of sheets come back ungraded and incomplete. This has been the case for the last 3 years. I get the impression the teachers are overwhelmed with the class size. They have had 26-28 children in a class and 1 teacher except for kindergarten with an instructional aid which made a big difference. Interested what other people have experienced?

FCPS perpetuates the Big Lie, and most parents go along. Great schools mean high property values, right? So no one wants to admit what has been obvious for 10 years - whatever FCPS once was, it is no longer. The factors are myriad - waves of ESOL, deteriorating physical plant, noncompetitive compensation - but it ain't what it was. No one will admit it, so it doesn't change. We're all supposed to say what great schools we have, that they are 'world class', blah, blah, blah. It's not true.

- Left for private two years ago.

Totally agree. We're still sticking it out, but our kids are now in high school which is far better than elementary or middle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like a couple of other PPs, I also grew up here and attended FCPS. At the time, they really were wonderful schools. There was a huge emphasis on writing, which has paid dividends throughout my life. We also moved back here so our kids could have the same experience. Sadly, the "world-class" schools FCPS loves to brag about are no more. They've been coasting on their reputation for far too long, with little to back it up.

My 7th grader is in Honors English. Her assignments so far include making a group video talking about a "classroom of the future" (?) and a book project which consisted of presenting the book she read as a movie poster (?). No writing, just some pretty pictures. In fact, there has been no writing instruction at all this year, and next to none in elementary school. To say we are disappointed is an understatement. If we could afford it, we would absolutely go private.

I'm not sure the reason for this is coasting. I think this is in part due to the whole project based learning emphasis and the backlash against homework and standardized testing. Also class size issues make it difficult to complete writing assignments well. When people advocate for changes and additions to the school day, I wish they'd take into consideration what that change or addition will replace and how each year builds on the previous toward an end goal.

PP here. I really don't think it's too much to ask that a book report actually require *writing* about the book. Such an incredibly lazy assignment (the movie poster).

PBL is another big, big mistake FCPS has made. It's the worst kind of "learning" experience. My DD just put in hours on a group science project. She did 99% of the work because the other kids refused to do their parts. She got a C because of them, and could have gotten an A on her own.

The poster idea is fine as long as writing is part of it too I think. The group science project issue is one we've all had. It's still important to do group projects. But if they aren't effective ways to learn because the project is mismanaged, that's another issue.

Which speaks to management in the teacher's end, not to the merit of the instructional strategy itself.

If the teacher doesn't have enough support from FCPS, than I blame FCPS. Other schools are using PBL just fine.

PBL is one of the laziest ways of teaching ever. Just teach the kids, stop with the ridiculous busy work and "cutesy" projects!

[Anonymous]

What you all are describing isn't authentic problem/project based learning. "Do a group project" or "make a poster" is busy work. True PBL should pose a problem/project that requires learning new material to answer. There is still plenty of teaching! It's not just kids googling answers on their own.

[Anonymous]

Wow! We've been pleased with our schools. We are Oakton high school pyramid. We have kids in es, ms, and hs. Loved all of them.

[Anonymous]

We thought they were good, but not nearly as good as we expected. Maybe our expectations were too high because of all the hype. Honestly, my kids' schools in Florida were better. Higher test scores, better college placement, more AP options, safer, etc. I did not expect that.

We were happy with the schools in Fairfax County. When we move back again, we'll choose the same high school. I had very few complaints. But there are great schools all over the country.