Washington Post reporter doing story on how schools influence home buying

[Anonymous]

22:41 Title 1 poster here

A few good Title 1 schools in Fairfax County that I've screened for parents... Not perfect but definitely worth a look

Bailey's - http://commweb.fcps.edu/schoolprofile/profile.cfm?profile_id=103

Washington Mill http://commweb.fcps.edu/schoolprofile/profile.cfm?profile_id=222

Belvedere - http://commweb.fcps.edu/schoolprofile/profile.cfm?profile_id=456

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to teach at a Title 1 school and agree it was a GREAT school but you need good principals and teachers.

Our school was in an area that had some expensive houses and also some apartment complexes where low income families lived, so we pulled students from the high and low end so to speak.

The education was the same as the rest of the county's schools. Test scores were not as high as the tippy top schools, but test scores of our top students were every bit as high as everywhere else, we just had a lot of kids who didn't speak English.

There were a LOT of very small classes with all the extra teahers. Parents were happy to see their kids often being instructed in groups of 10 or fewer. We had many students who qualified for the local G/T school who chose to stay in our school instead.

But -- you do need a very good principal, who believes that meeting the needs of all students, not just the most needy, is important.

What a wonderful post! Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Title 1 schools are public schools. They are just public schools with at least a certain percent of the students from lower income families. Title 1 is the extra funding you get from the federal gov't to help run the school. You'd be surprised how many schools fit the bill.

Our son went to a Title 1 school (school had a good reputation, and I never asked about title 1). It was great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused -- this just seems like common sense. Doesn't EVERYONE with kids research the school district and try to be in the best district they can afford (or almost afford)? The more entertaining story would be: "Who neglected to research the school district beforehand and was stunned when they found themselves in a Title I school?"[/quote]

Heaven forbid your child should share a classroom with some who are less fortunate!

definitely makes for an entertaining article, eh? Perhaps a series? Article #2 - "Should I drop off my child in our Lexus SUV, or would that make others at our Title One school feel even worse about themselves?"

unbelievable, PP - just unbelievable

What is wrong with wanting the very best education for my DC? I am for every child going to good school. DH and I worked very hard to achieve what we have, and feel privileged to live in a country that rewards those who try hard. Look at Obama & Fenty. They send their kids to good private schools. This is a very personal choice that we make as parents and should not have to justify our decision. I am not familiar with the term "Title 1 school", but clearly it's not where parent would want to send their kids.

Let me do the research for you since you seem incapable of being resourceful.
http://www.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/index.html
USDE - a credible site

So "clearly it's not where [you as] parent would want to send [your] kids."

To 18:11 PP, Why so angry? Being ignorant about what Title 1 school is not a crime. I believe this is the forum to learn and become capable "of being resourceful." Are you the WP reporter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused -- this just seems like common sense. Doesn't EVERYONE with kids research the school district and try to be in the best district they can afford (or almost afford)? The more entertaining story would be: "Who neglected to research the school district beforehand and was stunned when they found themselves in a Title I school?"[/quote]

Heaven forbid your child should share a classroom with some who are less fortunate!

definitely makes for an entertaining article, eh? Perhaps a series? Article #2 - "Should I drop off my child in our Lexus SUV, or would that make others at our Title One school feel even worse about themselves?"

unbelievable, PP - just unbelievable

What is wrong with wanting the very best education for my DC? I am for every child going to good school. DH and I worked very hard to achieve what we have, and feel privileged to live in a country that rewards those who try hard. Look at Obama & Fenty. They send their kids to good private schools. This is a very personal choice that we make as parents and should not have to justify our decision. I am not familiar with the term "Title 1 school", but clearly it's not where parent would want to send their kids.

Let me do the research for you since you seem incapable of being resourceful.
http://www.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/index.html
USDE - a credible site

So "clearly it's not where [you as] parent would want to send [your] kids."

To 18:11 PP, Why so angry? Being ignorant about what Title 1 school is not a crime. I believe this is the forum to learn and become capable "of being resourceful." Are you the WP reporter?

Why would any intelligent being make this sort of comment - "I am not familiar with the term 'Title 1 school', but clearly it's not where parent would want to send their kids." - w/o doing research first?

There are numerous CREDIBLE websites out there that would give above PP the answer s/he needed before making such a ridiculous remark.

not angry - just amazed at little people know about gathering certain types of information

oh - And I'm not the WP reporter.
But I do have a degree in journalism.

[Anonymous]

I am not 18:11, but I am the WP reporter. Despite, or maybe because of, the array of responses on this thread that my original post provoked, I have had a number of good conversations with parents who have contacted me. Some have purposely moved to be near another school and been happy, while others have discovered that moving for another school may not be a panacea. Others have stayed put and been satisfied with their decision. This is a perennial topic of interest on the board, and I believe will be one of interest to Post readers as well. I am still conducting interviews this week if anyone else would like to contact me.

[Anonymous]

To the reporter: which schools will be mentioned in your article? I mean, it's obvious to anyone who reads this list that (1) schools in Bethesda, CC, Potomac and parts of Kensington are the most desired; (2) Silver Spring is a huge area and parts of it have good schools while parts have schools that parents seem to be on the fence about. I hope your article presents a new approach.

[Anonymous]

It will be interesting to see the article when it comes out. The articles on the Maryland and Virginia schools published in the Post typically are not very informative. From all accounts, this looks to be one more silly and unimaginative piece of journalism. Too bad she couldn't explore something more interesting than restating the obvious.