Herndon high - what’s going on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why parents aren’t doing more about this?

What would you do if it were your kids’ school?

Obviously change the way you vote. And encourage others to stop voting for democrats on the school board.

Beyond that though, either pay for private or move someplace else.

Obviously the Republican party should run candidates that might win. Running candidates who support book banning, anti-LGBTQ, and the like is not going to get you elected. Try running moderates instead of MAGA type candidates. Hell, try a traditional conservative candidate. Plenty of people would be happy to vote for someone who was not a Democrat if they actually campaigned on real issues.

The Republican candidate who was looking for votes outside my voting area had a van covered in posters anti-trans. That was it. Why in the world would I vote for someone who was only discussing keeping trans kids out of the locker room and off the sports team?

Pick sensible candidates and give people a choice. But when you only put out one issue candidates who are just mean then don’t be surprised if I hold my nose and vote for the progressive candidate. I might not even vote for that position if I didn’t look at the other candidate and see that all they were doing is spewing hate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why parents aren’t doing more about this?

What would you do if it were your kids’ school?

Obviously change the way you vote. And encourage others to stop voting for democrats on the school board.

Beyond that though, either pay for private or move someplace else.

Obviously the Republican party should run candidates that might win. Running candidates who support book banning, anti-LGBTQ, and the like is not going to get you elected. Try running moderates instead of MAGA type candidates. Hell, try a traditional conservative candidate. Plenty of people would be happy to vote for someone who was not a Democrat if they actually campaigned on real issues.

The Republican candidate who was looking for votes outside my voting area had a van covered in posters anti-trans. That was it. Why in the world would I vote for someone who was only discussing keeping trans kids out of the locker room and off the sports team?

Pick sensible candidates and give people a choice. But when you only put out one issue candidates who are just mean then don’t be surprised if I hold my nose and vote for the progressive candidate. I might not even vote for that position if I didn’t look at the other candidate and see that all they were doing is spewing hate.

There were plenty of unaffiliated people who ran that were sensible. They did horribly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let’s get back to the issue at hand: what can be done at Herndon to make it better for the teachers and students?

I think Herndon may have the same problem as Madison: many parents don't know what's going on. Met a Herndon parent yesterday. She knew nothing about the grading system other than it was rolling grade book. They've moved a couple of times within FCPS and had a different grading system each time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s get back to the issue at hand: what can be done at Herndon to make it better for the teachers and students?

I think Herndon may have the same problem as Madison: many parents don't know what's going on. Met a Herndon parent yesterday. She knew nothing about the grading system other than it was rolling grade book. They've moved a couple of times within FCPS and had a different grading system each time.

Consider the number of emancipated students at Herndon HS. I don’t know if there are readily available statistics but
every HS school will have students who are legally emancipated. Factor in language barriers; the 18 year old HS sophomore who can’t (or won’t) speak English, the newly arrived or transferred student who works nearly FT after school, the chronically absent students…all will likely drop out or leave for various reasons. If they haven’t figured out the basic routine of school by 9th grade for whatever reason, these students aren’t going graduate. We hide and disguise these stats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Obviously the Republican party should run candidates that might win. Running candidates who support book banning, anti-LGBTQ, and the like is not going to get you elected. Try running moderates instead of MAGA type candidates. Hell, try a traditional conservative candidate. Plenty of people would be happy to vote for someone who was not a Democrat if they actually campaigned on real issues.

Part of the problem is that the leftists have defined the terms. Pulling sexually explicit material from school libraries isn't "book banning". Being against puberty blockers, childhood transition, and allowing men in women's bathrooms and on women's sports teams (and vice versa, although that's much less common) isn't anti gay, it's common sense and it's backed up by the science. Europe of all places is leading the way on this.

And yeah, I agree the republicans in Fairfax need to get with the times and support smart candidates that will campaign on sensible issues. But there are far too many people who will just walk up to the polls, take the blue voting guide, and fill in the blanks as instructed.

[Anonymous]

PP and the stupid equity lens is myopic! Woe to the average, native language speaker without a 504. You know who gets left behind? The “unlabeled” quiet, well-mannered, respectful DC with equally polite and engaged parents.

These are the students who get no additional support, guidance or almighty, nebulous “resources” or even attention. These kids fall through the cracks.

Why? The teachers, admins, counselors, social workers, front office admins, SROs are all in crisis mode and there’s literally no time for your bright DC (not bright enough for AAP though) who needs help with …anything. As I’ve been told, “average is absolutely fine” or, “DC is doing just fine and doesn’t need anything else - she’ll pick it up eventually” or “let’s wait until next year - sometimes boys mature later” or “no conference needed - no issues.”

You as the parent, however, will do kitchen-table teaching and tutoring all throughout ES. You’ll teach your own DC how to read, administer spelling tests, teach geography, make vocabulary and math facts flash cards.

You’ll also need to hire a professional tutor for higher level math and science around freshman year. Plan to do intensive SAT prep to include test-taking strategies and DC will likely learn more from SAT prep than from class subjects.

Mom of 2 FCPS graduates: one college graduate and one rising college senior.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone at Herndon know what is leading to the massive projected enrollment drop at Herndon high? Just last year in the CIP they were projecting Herndon to be over 2300 in 2027 and this year they are projecting 1900 in 2027. That is a 20% decline. Is it SBG and bad administration that is causing kids to go elsewhere (private, pupil placement, moving) or something else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone at Herndon know what is leading to the massive projected enrollment drop at Herndon high? Just last year in the CIP they were projecting Herndon to be over 2300 in 2027 and this year they are projecting 1900 in 2027. That is a 20% decline. Is it SBG and bad administration that is causing kids to go elsewhere (private, pupil placement, moving) or something else?

I’ve looked into it a bit. The CIP shows a massive drop in 8th graders at Herndon Middle. Anyone have recent experience at HMS and can shed light on whether they are actually seeing a drop in enrollment? And if so, what the underlying cause is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone at Herndon know what is leading to the massive projected enrollment drop at Herndon high? Just last year in the CIP they were projecting Herndon to be over 2300 in 2027 and this year they are projecting 1900 in 2027. That is a 20% decline. Is it SBG and bad administration that is causing kids to go elsewhere (private, pupil placement, moving) or something else?

I’ll speak up: my ILs are zoned to HHS and moved there long ago to send their DC to the best possible FCPS HS they could afford and still have easy commutes (fed govt employees both -now retired). They’ve maintained their house beautifully but being zoned to HHS isn’t a selling point anymore. They are selling soon and it may be a tough sell - solidly Herndon zoned but perhaps over-improved to the point they won’t get a huge windfall and make as much of a profit as they hope.

[Anonymous]

Also Herndon area is very transient with students leaving and transferring and enrolling constantly.

[Anonymous]

There’s also a newer FCPS adult high school nearby that I think is siphoning off or attracting students who’d previously only have had HHS as an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s also a newer FCPS adult high school nearby that I think is siphoning off or attracting students who’d previously only have had HHS as an option.

What is the age range for adult high school? That wouldn’t affect 8th grade would it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s also a newer FCPS adult high school nearby that I think is siphoning off or attracting students who’d previously only have had HHS as an option.

What is the age range for adult high school? That wouldn’t affect 8th grade would it?

PP quoted and maybe not…18+…but consider that given transitory nature of student body and demographics, still an attractive option (and there are significant numbers of 18+ trying to start their education)

Fairfax County Adult High School (FCAHS) is a unique high school for adults 18 and older. FCAHS offers a pathway for learners to earn either a board recognized Advanced Studies, Standard, or Adult high school diploma or the state board approved High School Equivalency, which for the state of Virginia, is the GED. Learners at FCAHS are exempt from VDOE compulsory attendance policies, and all students are self-enrolled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone at Herndon know what is leading to the massive projected enrollment drop at Herndon high? Just last year in the CIP they were projecting Herndon to be over 2300 in 2027 and this year they are projecting 1900 in 2027. That is a 20% decline. Is it SBG and bad administration that is causing kids to go elsewhere (private, pupil placement, moving) or something else?

I’ve looked into it a bit. The CIP shows a massive drop in 8th graders at Herndon Middle. Anyone have recent experience at HMS and can shed light on whether they are actually seeing a drop in enrollment? And if so, what the underlying cause is?

I know they got rid of their French Immersion program and switched it to Spanish, if it still exists at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP and the stupid equity lens is myopic! Woe to the average, native language speaker without a 504. You know who gets left behind? The “unlabeled” quiet, well-mannered, respectful DC with equally polite and engaged parents.

These are the students who get no additional support, guidance or almighty, nebulous “resources” or even attention. These kids fall through the cracks.

Why? The teachers, admins, counselors, social workers, front office admins, SROs are all in crisis mode and there’s literally no time for your bright DC (not bright enough for AAP though) who needs help with …anything. As I’ve been told, “average is absolutely fine” or, “DC is doing just fine and doesn’t need anything else - she’ll pick it up eventually” or “let’s wait until next year - sometimes boys mature later” or “no conference needed - no issues.”

You as the parent, however, will do kitchen-table teaching and tutoring all throughout ES. You’ll teach your own DC how to read, administer spelling tests, teach geography, make vocabulary and math facts flash cards.

You’ll also need to hire a professional tutor for higher level math and science around freshman year. Plan to do intensive SAT prep to include test-taking strategies and DC will likely learn more from SAT prep than from class subjects.

Mom of 2 FCPS graduates: one college graduate and one rising college senior.

Don't try and pin this on Special Needs kids. You don't know just how lucky you are to get to deal with "average" without complications. And the result is a college graduate--and I assume another going to college? Big old middle finger to that attitude.