Oakton High School and Chantilly High School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thoreau does not have LLIV AAP...don't know what that poster was talking about

Of course they do. They got it when my now HS sophomore was choosing Jackson or Thoreau.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks Carson parent for your reply. I just realised I made a typo!!! My DD gets into Middle School in Fall 2019, not 2018. What do you advise?

Watch and wait. My personal sense is that they are dragging their feet on a change neither Carson nor Franklin wants. And that they will do Thoreau first, because that is more popular. Plus, the fact that Franklin is becoming more popular as an LLIV Center means that it is taking the overcrowding pressure off of Carson. In fact, Carson enrollment went down this year. But it all depends on the priorities of the new superintendent. If they start the community meetings, go and be vocal. Push for grandfathering of your kid, especially if it happens next year, when she is in 6th.

Also realize, half of Franklin kids are Carson based. Franklin will become a powerhouse in its own right if the the AAP kids are forced back. It already has a great reputation. The education should every bit be as good. The only downside is TJ admissions. Carson is a TJ admission machine. They have the teacher knowledge on how to write recommendations, administrative involvement, extracurriculars, etc. to make it happen. Franklin may lag for a year or two, as they get used to a huge TJ admissions pool.

FYI -- there is no plan at all to make Thoreau a center. The first thing that absolutely will happen is that some kids from Jackson's base school will be rezoned to Thoreau. Some of those kids are AAP kids and they will choose to attend Thoreau's AAP (local level 4) program rather than go to the center (Jackson). But, there is no discussion of making Thoreau a center. I actually think it should become one just to keep kids from leaving and going to an already-over-crowded school (Jackson). BUT, I'm sure the school board and the Jackson administrators WANT those AAP center kids coming so that they can skew the Jackson scores higher. Thoreau's scores are good with or without the AAP kids, so they don't care or have any motivation to become a center. Thoreau is happy to offer AAP for those who want it, but doesn't really care about being a "center" (which in this case would only have the effect of keeping some AAP kids from going to Jackson).

Back to the discussion about Franklin and Carson....

Thoreau will become a center regardless because of the high school feeder and so people can keep their kids away from the poors. The school board has already been put on notice from the last go round of public meetings.

I don't think you understand what it means to be a center. And I don't think you understand what the current situation is. Thoreau-based AAP kids have the option of going to Jackson (where there are "the poors" -- using your language), or staying at Thoreau. Anyone who wants to avoid the poors can choose to stay at Thoreau currently. Making Thoreau into a center isn't a desired goal for parents of AAP kids zoned for Thoreau b/c they can already do that if they wish --- or they can choose to mix and mingle at Jackson (although there might not be that much mixing and mingling since the AAP center kids have the core classes with only AAP kids at both Jackson and Thoreau). There is no real benefit to the Thoreau-zoned community to become an official center. It only takes away options for some kids to go to Jackson. And, as I explained above, there is no motivation for the Jackson community to divest the Thoreau-based kids b/c they help bring the Jackson scores up. The current situation is pretty much a win/win.

Your assertions don't make sense.

DP here. Thoreau has enough kids for AAP, just like Cooper, so there's no reason we should keep giving AAP kids zoned for Thoreau an option other kids don't have to take the bus to another school for AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Oakton will also be a split feeder receiving kids from Jackson, Thoreau, Franklin and Carson

Don't know about Thoreau, but Oakton already gets kids from Jackson, Franklin, and Carson.

Good news for houses zoned for high schools like Langley, McLean, West Springfield and Woodson that have or soon will have mostly one middle school feeder (Cooper, Longfellow, Irving, and Frost). Sounds much better than middle schools that feed into three or four high schools.

Yes, and the facilities administrator is from West Springfield. What a surprise. Meanwhile Annandale languishes.

[Anonymous]

"Making Thoreau into a center isn't a desired goal for parents of AAP kids zoned for Thoreau b/c they can already do that if they wish --- or they can choose to mix and mingle at Jackson"

Agreed. Thoreau based parents or future Thoreau based parents want the best of both worlds at the expense of Jackson's future and the rest of our tax dollars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Oakton will also be a split feeder receiving kids from Jackson, Thoreau, Franklin and Carson

Don't know about Thoreau, but Oakton already gets kids from Jackson, Franklin, and Carson.

Good news for houses zoned for high schools like Langley, McLean, West Springfield and Woodson that have or soon will have mostly one middle school feeder (Cooper, Longfellow, Irving, and Frost). Sounds much better than middle schools that feed into three or four high schools.

Yes, and the facilities administrator is from West Springfield. What a surprise. Meanwhile Annandale languishes.

Annandale's base boundaries are served by two middle schools - Poe and Holmes - so that's better than a school like Oakton insofar as split feeders are concerned. The twist is that the AAP kids in that pyramid go to Frost or Glasgow, which reflects the view that there aren't enough LLIV-eligible kids to justify having AAP at another middle school in that area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Making Thoreau into a center isn't a desired goal for parents of AAP kids zoned for Thoreau b/c they can already do that if they wish --- or they can choose to mix and mingle at Jackson"

Agreed. Thoreau based parents or future Thoreau based parents want the best of both worlds at the expense of Jackson's future and the rest of our tax dollars.

I'm the PP you are quoting. I am fine with Thoreau becoming a center next year b/c then I don't have to make a decision where to send my rising 7th grader. BUT, your premise is just wrong... there is no "at the expense of Jackson's future..."

JACKSON WANTS TO KEEP AS MANY HIGH ACHIEVING KIDS AS POSSIBLE TO KEEP THEIR TEST SCORES UP! They WANT the Thoreau AAP kids to help their otherwise poor test scores. So, don't act like the Thoreau-zoned AAP kids (2/3rds of whom choose to stay at Thoreau, BTW) are getting some big treat by being able to go to Jackson. Jackson's getting a big benefit by having them in-house.

That said, I can imagine that if my kid was in-zone for Jackson as a base school, and it was as over-crowded as it is... I wouldn't be too happy about other kids having the option to opt in. That is the fault of the low-effort school board not rezoning kids to Thoreau starting in 2016. They had the space last fall. There was no good reason to wait TWO+ years to fill up beautiful empty space at Thoreau while the Jackson kids are crammed in 19 trailers. I get it. But, Jackson's administration isn't exactly discouraging kids from coming to AAP there -- they want the AAP kids who transfer b/c they make Jackson look good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Making Thoreau into a center isn't a desired goal for parents of AAP kids zoned for Thoreau b/c they can already do that if they wish --- or they can choose to mix and mingle at Jackson"

Agreed. Thoreau based parents or future Thoreau based parents want the best of both worlds at the expense of Jackson's future and the rest of our tax dollars.

I'm the PP you are quoting. I am fine with Thoreau becoming a center next year b/c then I don't have to make a decision where to send my rising 7th grader. BUT, your premise is just wrong... there is no "at the expense of Jackson's future..."

JACKSON WANTS TO KEEP AS MANY HIGH ACHIEVING KIDS AS POSSIBLE TO KEEP THEIR TEST SCORES UP! They WANT the Thoreau AAP kids to help their otherwise poor test scores. So, don't act like the Thoreau-zoned AAP kids (2/3rds of whom choose to stay at Thoreau, BTW) are getting some big treat by being able to go to Jackson. Jackson's getting a big benefit by having them in-house.

That said, I can imagine that if my kid was in-zone for Jackson as a base school, and it was as over-crowded as it is... I wouldn't be too happy about other kids having the option to opt in. That is the fault of the low-effort school board not rezoning kids to Thoreau starting in 2016. They had the space last fall. There was no good reason to wait TWO+ years to fill up beautiful empty space at Thoreau while the Jackson kids are crammed in 19 trailers. I get it. But, Jackson's administration isn't exactly discouraging kids from coming to AAP there -- they want the AAP kids who transfer b/c they make Jackson look good.

Of course they do, because in the meanwhile FCPS is proposing to move some of the highest income neighborhoods zoned for Jackson to Thoreau. If they'd just started by making Thoreau the AAP option for the in-boundary kids the dynamics might be different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Making Thoreau into a center isn't a desired goal for parents of AAP kids zoned for Thoreau b/c they can already do that if they wish --- or they can choose to mix and mingle at Jackson"

Agreed. Thoreau based parents or future Thoreau based parents want the best of both worlds at the expense of Jackson's future and the rest of our tax dollars.

I'm the PP you are quoting. I am fine with Thoreau becoming a center next year b/c then I don't have to make a decision where to send my rising 7th grader. BUT, your premise is just wrong... there is no "at the expense of Jackson's future..."

JACKSON WANTS TO KEEP AS MANY HIGH ACHIEVING KIDS AS POSSIBLE TO KEEP THEIR TEST SCORES UP! They WANT the Thoreau AAP kids to help their otherwise poor test scores. So, don't act like the Thoreau-zoned AAP kids (2/3rds of whom choose to stay at Thoreau, BTW) are getting some big treat by being able to go to Jackson. Jackson's getting a big benefit by having them in-house.

That said, I can imagine that if my kid was in-zone for Jackson as a base school, and it was as over-crowded as it is... I wouldn't be too happy about other kids having the option to opt in. That is the fault of the low-effort school board not rezoning kids to Thoreau starting in 2016. They had the space last fall. There was no good reason to wait TWO+ years to fill up beautiful empty space at Thoreau while the Jackson kids are crammed in 19 trailers. I get it. But, Jackson's administration isn't exactly discouraging kids from coming to AAP there -- they want the AAP kids who transfer b/c they make Jackson look good.

The problem is the locations of the schools and the location of affluent housing, partly due to an incorporated Vienna, and concentration of poorer housing outside the town combined with a high school in Falls Church that has been left to deteriorate. The school board needs to be careful to be sure that Falls Church does not decline further. The wishes of people living in Vienna who have a choice over Thoreau or Jackson for AAP should be furthest from their worries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Making Thoreau into a center isn't a desired goal for parents of AAP kids zoned for Thoreau b/c they can already do that if they wish --- or they can choose to mix and mingle at Jackson"

Agreed. Thoreau based parents or future Thoreau based parents want the best of both worlds at the expense of Jackson's future and the rest of our tax dollars.

I'm the PP you are quoting. I am fine with Thoreau becoming a center next year b/c then I don't have to make a decision where to send my rising 7th grader. BUT, your premise is just wrong... there is no "at the expense of Jackson's future..."

JACKSON WANTS TO KEEP AS MANY HIGH ACHIEVING KIDS AS POSSIBLE TO KEEP THEIR TEST SCORES UP! They WANT the Thoreau AAP kids to help their otherwise poor test scores. So, don't act like the Thoreau-zoned AAP kids (2/3rds of whom choose to stay at Thoreau, BTW) are getting some big treat by being able to go to Jackson. Jackson's getting a big benefit by having them in-house.

That said, I can imagine that if my kid was in-zone for Jackson as a base school, and it was as over-crowded as it is... I wouldn't be too happy about other kids having the option to opt in. That is the fault of the low-effort school board not rezoning kids to Thoreau starting in 2016. They had the space last fall. There was no good reason to wait TWO+ years to fill up beautiful empty space at Thoreau while the Jackson kids are crammed in 19 trailers. I get it. But, Jackson's administration isn't exactly discouraging kids from coming to AAP there -- they want the AAP kids who transfer b/c they make Jackson look good.

Of course they do, because in the meanwhile FCPS is proposing to move some of the highest income neighborhoods zoned for Jackson to Thoreau. If they'd just started by making Thoreau the AAP option for the in-boundary kids the dynamics might be different.

That will happen anyway. If they are smart, they will try to get as much of the low income kids from Jackson into Thoreau as they can while also starting some renovations for Falls Church High and the entire Falls Church county area.

[Anonymous]

Y'all make no sense at all.

Anyway .... back to OP's questions about OAKTON and CHANTILLY....

[Anonymous]

So reduced to its essence, the question would read, help, which places gives my kid a better chance for UVA....

[Anonymous]

I live in the CHS pyramid - just a couple things...
1. Discovery Square housing area is overwhelming RCMS. Class size and academic are being affected.
2. CHS has a very strong music program if that matters to you. Their jazz program is top notch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in the CHS pyramid - just a couple things...
1. Discovery Square housing area is overwhelming RCMS. Class size and academic are being affected.
2. CHS has a very strong music program if that matters to you. Their jazz program is top notch.

,

Carson’s numbers are actually down this year, because more kids are staying at Franklin AAP. And they have taken a hit because the bump AAP class now being in 8th grade. Next year they should be down even further.

[Anonymous]

Hello.. we plan to move to VA and having a high school kid and an elementary kid, plz recommend areas for renting (temporary) and buy a home in the near future so we don’t need to change schools. Schools we are particularly looking for is Carson Middle school and Chantilly high school. Not sure which elementary school we fall under if we find a home that takes kids into Carson and Chantilly high school? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello.. we plan to move to VA and having a high school kid and an elementary kid, plz recommend areas for renting (temporary) and buy a home in the near future so we don’t need to change schools. Schools we are particularly looking for is Carson Middle school and Chantilly high school. Not sure which elementary school we fall under if we find a home that takes kids into Carson and Chantilly high school? Thank you!

Right now, only kids in LLIV AAP go from Carson to Chantilly. All of the Gen Ed kids at Carson are zoned Westfield, SLHS or Oakton. And at some point, Franklin based kids will probably lose the ability to fo to Carson. Which is fine. 1/2 of the Carson AAP kids are Franklin based. Once Franklin becomes mandatory, it’s AAP Center will be as large as Carson, and will have the exact same affluent kids with highly educated parents that make Carson so good now. The high school piece is more important. I would choose Franklin zoned (Carson AAP) to Chantilly over Carson zoned to Westfield, SLHS, or even Oakton(because the commute is awful from Western County and for your current kid, they just started a huge renovation).

You want Lees Corner ES (with has local level IV AAP) or Oak Hill (Level IV Center). Feeding to Franklin MS (right now you have Carson as a choice for a Level IV Center) feeding to Chantilly. This is where zips 20151 and 20171 meet. Neighborhoods include part of Franklin Farm, Armfield Farm, Chantilly Highlands and several others. All great neighborhood to raise kids. Sidewalks, pools, soccer fields, nice neighbors. Some are just SFHs, some are SFHs plus some townhouses.

Another great option is some of the ES that feed to Rocky Run MS to Chantilly. RRMS is a lot like Carson, and is another large TJ feeder MS. I am not as familiar with their feeder pattern, so someone else will have to tell you which ESs are good I think Greenbrier West?