Fairfax County: McLean Citizens Association demands smaller class sizes

[Anonymous]

McLean does well because they all go to preschool, have been read to since inception, have parents that are able feed them healthy food, sleep in a comfortable bed in comfortable temperature for enough time, have parents that have very high educations... BTDTGTTS. They are some of the most prepared children on the planet. Whatever McLean does, will not work in a different population.

+10000

Lots of people would be shocked if they knew just how poor the vocabulary is of some American kids. I am not talking about ESOL.

[Anonymous]

There are many schools in-between McLean and Title One schools. I'm not sure comparing title one schools to McLean does a whole lot of good at any time. McLean does well, so we should look at what they do successfully, but the schools shouldn't really be compared to each other as to whether a title one school is successful or not.

I'm the poster who mentioned comparing to the McLean pyramid. I wasn't really trying to say that Bucknell was successful or not. My comment about comparing to McLean schools is that there is an incredible difference between what a school like Bucknell has to accomplish in it's student population vs. almost any of the schools in the McLean pyramid. I don't really think that the McLean schools are doing anything better than schools like Bucknell. I think they simply have better prepared kids in the first place.

But I do think it is interesting to compare the stats with Timber Lane ES, a Title 1 school in the McLean HS pyramid that is often much maligned on DCUM. Even among Title 1 schools, the issues at Bucknell are quite severe. You can see it in the DRA scores. The overwhelming majority of first and second graders at Timber Lane are reading at or above grade level. The demographic stats are fairly similar, although the FRL% is 55% vs 78%. But if you think of the first grade DRA as a proxy for school preparedness, then clearly Bucknell students are entering at a significant disadvantage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I would definitely pick this school if it was in my budget, was close to work, and if I spoke Spanish. It's a nice neighborhood in a nice location. I don't meet any of the criteria mentioned, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't pick it if I did and my budget, commute, and language has no reflection on how well the school teaches.

Why?

Because it has dedicated teachers, very small classrooms, computers for each child, involved community, and I like the convenience of the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

McLean does well because they all go to preschool, have been read to since inception, have parents that are able feed them healthy food, sleep in a comfortable bed in comfortable temperature for enough time, have parents that have very high educations... BTDTGTTS. They are some of the most prepared children on the planet. Whatever McLean does, will not work in a different population.

+10000

Lots of people would be shocked if they knew just how poor the vocabulary is of some American kids. I am not talking about ESOL.

Most people don't live in such a bubble. All you have to do is go online to hear poor vocabulary of kids and their parents.

[Anonymous]

Most people don't live in such a bubble. All you have to do is go online to hear poor vocabulary of kids and their parents.

Disagree. Most people do not realize that there are kids who have never been read to. Kids who do not know how to count to ten--or even five.

[Anonymous]

cont. Kids who do not know how to tell how things are the same and different. Even basic colors, in some cases.

[Anonymous]

But I do think it is interesting to compare the stats with Timber Lane ES, a Title 1 school in the McLean HS pyramid that is often much maligned on DCUM. Even among Title 1 schools, the issues at Bucknell are quite severe. You can see it in the DRA scores. The overwhelming majority of first and second graders at Timber Lane are reading at or above grade level. The demographic stats are fairly similar, although the FRL% is 55% vs 78%. But if you think of the first grade DRA as a proxy for school preparedness, then clearly Bucknell students are entering at a significant disadvantage.

20 points difference in free lunch. Ethnicity is quite different, as well.

[Anonymous]

In 2014, Timber Lane Elementary ranked worse than 75.2% of elementary schools in Virginia. It also ranked 102nd among 136 ranked elementary schools in the Fairfax County Public Schools District.

http://www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0126000575/school.aspx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:cont. Kids who do not know how to tell how things are the same and different. Even basic colors, in some cases.

So these children need to pass the 3rd grade SOL's in a language they don't know or the school is failing?

[Anonymous]

At least only 3 schools in FCPS failed in more than one area. Most of the schools with a warning failed in one area. I'm impressed Hybla Valley is fully accredited. It's almost all apartments.

[Anonymous]

cont. Kids who do not know how to tell how things are the same and different. Even basic colors, in some cases.


So these children need to pass the 3rd grade SOL's in a language they don't know or the school is failing?

I'm PP. I was not referring to ESOL kids. But, yes, they are expected to pass by 3rd grade--likelihood is dim.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps it's time to get this country's immigration issue under control. There are SOOOO many schools nationwide that are severely overcrowded and failing miserably at educating ESOL students that then it brings down the whole school system for everyone. Miami, Phoenix, LA, NYC and Boston suburbs etc... for example

Perhaps we need to close the border for those not being able to speak English at a certain proficiency until the schools have dug itself out of these holes.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps it's time to get this country's immigration issue under control. There are SOOOO many schools nationwide that are severely overcrowded and failing miserably at educating ESOL students that then it brings down the whole school system for everyone. Miami, Phoenix, LA, NYC and Boston suburbs etc... for example

Perhaps we need to close the border for those not being able to speak English at a certain proficiency until the schools have dug itself out of these holes.

Agree--but I suspect there is another group at Bucknell that is not making the scores they should.

[Anonymous]

seems unfair to kids coming in as well to have to reach such a high level. You think they'd give the kids and schools some leeway like making 1 1/2-2 years of progress each year to catch up instead of trying to cover 3 years of education in a year.

[Anonymous]

seems unfair to kids coming in as well to have to reach such a high level. You think they'd give the kids and schools some leeway like making 1 1/2-2 years of progress each year to catch up instead of trying to cover 3 years of education in a year.

Sadly, it doesn't work that way. Far more likely that they will make far less progress. So many things operating against them.