High Schools To Avoid In Fairfax County & Other Questions

[Anonymous]

Okay, I seriously would like to know what high schools in Fairfax County to avoid? You would think that only Langley, McLean, Madison Oakton, Woodson, Madison, and Marshall are the only high schools in Fairfax County. Besides lower SAT and state test scores, what is wrong with the other high schools? High test scores don't tell me things like the quality of teachers, the quality of administrators, class ratio, discipline problems, the quality of counselors (are they helpful?), school safety, etc.

How come no one ever talks about the other high schools? Is it because high percentage of FARM students, the general morale of students, safety, parental support, the distance from DC, or what? Why do people turn the noses at the other high schools in Fairfax County? I see that Chantilly has the Governor's STEM program, how is the program?

I read in the Washington Post awhile back about Fairfax County having a problem with MS-13. Is there a MS-13 gang presence at any of the high schools or not? Are there any high schools that you would consider unsafe in Fairfax County?

Does your child ever feel unsafe at their high school? If so, how did the administrators resolve this matter?

Also, How do you and your child feel about the quality of teachers, counselors, and the administrators at your child's school?

Sorry, for so many questions. However, no one talks about other important information regarding high schools in Fairfax County beyond test scores.

[Anonymous]

A while back were some gang issues at Longfellow (which feeds into McLean). That is why Longfellow has many of its after school programs. There hasn't been a problem in at least 5 years.

We have friends who daughter just graduated at South Lakes, having completed the IB program, she is headed to W&M. They also did the Spanish immersion in ES and has success there too. South Lakes is usually one of the HS people say to avoid, but if your child is a high achiever, the IB program serves them well.

I haven't heard good things about Edison, which is another HS people say to avoid. However, the only first hand experience I have heard is from a friend whose son has some complicated special needs. I would expect it is similar to South Lakes though. Mount Vernon and Falls Church (HS in FCPS) are also schools people talk about to "avoid", but again they are large enough to have a "good student" cohort.

[Anonymous]

My kids had a terrific experience at Chantilly. It is large, but they have tons of AP classes and that is an advantage. Both kids did great and went to competitive colleges.

[Anonymous]

I would avoid TJ for certain.

[Anonymous]

West Springfield
Lake Braddock
Robinson
all great schools

I also know families who are very happy with Falls Church and Jeb Stuart. Some of the most motivated and enthusiastic teachers choose to work with more diverse populations.

[Anonymous]

If you visit the FCPS site and browse through the high school profiles, there is an endless amount of data including numbers of offenses broken down into offenses against students, weapons offenses, etc about each school.

[Anonymous]

As a PP noted, Edison is one people will tell you to avoid. It, however, is our high school and we like it a lot. Our kids do well and the kids in our neighborhood who have graduated from there have gone to great schools - W&M, UVA, Stanford, etc. Of course, you'll find kids there who are growing up rough but we don't know anyone who has been negatively impacted by that group. Edison also has a VoTech program which I think a lot of people in this area looks down upon - like if you're not going to college you must not be worth anything. Too bad. It's a good program and no shame in it.

[Anonymous]

15:33 - we just bought in the Edison pyramid and I've sort of been kicking myself because I'm worried about the schools. Did your kids go to elementary and Twain also? We are zoned for Lane too.

Part of my concern is that I feel like we are at the upper end of the income/housing bracket of our zone, if that makes sense. I'm concerned about DC being an outlier. (In the same way, DH wanted to buy in McLean where we would have been at the very bottom, and I didn't want that either - so it's not like I have something against those with lower incomes, I just wanted my kids to sort of be in the middle if that makes sense). I guess I am worried more about the other kids and a potential peer group than the academics, per se. I am also interested in any experience you have with the IB program at Edison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:West Springfield
Lake Braddock
Robinson
all great schools

I also know families who are very happy with Falls Church and Jeb Stuart. Some of the most motivated and enthusiastic teachers choose to work with more diverse populations.

I have a son at McLean who is an A/B student, takes a mix of AP and non-AP courses and is generally happy there. But the one course he is looking forward to the most this fall is an Academy class over at Falls Church.

People need to be open-minded and realize all these schools have plenty to offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15:33 - we just bought in the Edison pyramid and I've sort of been kicking myself because I'm worried about the schools. Did your kids go to elementary and Twain also? We are zoned for Lane too.

Part of my concern is that I feel like we are at the upper end of the income/housing bracket of our zone, if that makes sense. I'm concerned about DC being an outlier. (In the same way, DH wanted to buy in McLean where we would have been at the very bottom, and I didn't want that either - so it's not like I have something against those with lower incomes, I just wanted my kids to sort of be in the middle if that makes sense). I guess I am worried more about the other kids and a potential peer group than the academics, per se. I am also interested in any experience you have with the IB program at Edison.

You would not have been at the bottom at Mclean if you can afford to buy a house. 10% of the students received free or reduced priced meals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15:33 - we just bought in the Edison pyramid and I've sort of been kicking myself because I'm worried about the schools. Did your kids go to elementary and Twain also? We are zoned for Lane too.

Part of my concern is that I feel like we are at the upper end of the income/housing bracket of our zone, if that makes sense. I'm concerned about DC being an outlier. (In the same way, DH wanted to buy in McLean where we would have been at the very bottom, and I didn't want that either - so it's not like I have something against those with lower incomes, I just wanted my kids to sort of be in the middle if that makes sense). I guess I am worried more about the other kids and a potential peer group than the academics, per se. I am also interested in any experience you have with the IB program at Edison.

You would not have been at the bottom at Mclean if you can afford to buy a house. 10% of the students received free or reduced priced meals.

Where do these kids live?? We bought in the low $700s - and in McLean that would NOT have gotten us much at all. We almost placed on offer on a home that was actually torn down by a developer- so we were literally looking at tear downs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15:33 - we just bought in the Edison pyramid and I've sort of been kicking myself because I'm worried about the schools. Did your kids go to elementary and Twain also? We are zoned for Lane too.

Part of my concern is that I feel like we are at the upper end of the income/housing bracket of our zone, if that makes sense. I'm concerned about DC being an outlier. (In the same way, DH wanted to buy in McLean where we would have been at the very bottom, and I didn't want that either - so it's not like I have something against those with lower incomes, I just wanted my kids to sort of be in the middle if that makes sense). I guess I am worried more about the other kids and a potential peer group than the academics, per se. I am also interested in any experience you have with the IB program at Edison.

You would not have been at the bottom at Mclean if you can afford to buy a house. 10% of the students received free or reduced priced meals.

Where do these kids live?? We bought in the low $700s - and in McLean that would NOT have gotten us much at all. We almost placed on offer on a home that was actually torn down by a developer- so we were literally looking at tear downs.

There are several apartment complexes with in the school boundaries.

[Anonymous]

I would definitely avoid Langley; to many race problems there...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15:33 - we just bought in the Edison pyramid and I've sort of been kicking myself because I'm worried about the schools. Did your kids go to elementary and Twain also? We are zoned for Lane too.

Part of my concern is that I feel like we are at the upper end of the income/housing bracket of our zone, if that makes sense. I'm concerned about DC being an outlier. (In the same way, DH wanted to buy in McLean where we would have been at the very bottom, and I didn't want that either - so it's not like I have something against those with lower incomes, I just wanted my kids to sort of be in the middle if that makes sense). I guess I am worried more about the other kids and a potential peer group than the academics, per se. I am also interested in any experience you have with the IB program at Edison.

You would not have been at the bottom at Mclean if you can afford to buy a house. 10% of the students received free or reduced priced meals.

Where do these kids live?? We bought in the low $700s - and in McLean that would NOT have gotten us much at all. We almost placed on offer on a home that was actually torn down by a developer- so we were literally looking at tear downs.

8.6% of the students at McLean receive free or reduced meals. Most live in apartment complexes off Lee Highway in parts of Falls Church in Fairfax County, but a few live in McLean as well. There are some decent single-family houses in the $700K price range in the Kent Gardens area of McLean, but they tend to sell fast if they are in good condition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15:33 - we just bought in the Edison pyramid and I've sort of been kicking myself because I'm worried about the schools. Did your kids go to elementary and Twain also? We are zoned for Lane too.

Part of my concern is that I feel like we are at the upper end of the income/housing bracket of our zone, if that makes sense. I'm concerned about DC being an outlier. (In the same way, DH wanted to buy in McLean where we would have been at the very bottom, and I didn't want that either - so it's not like I have something against those with lower incomes, I just wanted my kids to sort of be in the middle if that makes sense). I guess I am worried more about the other kids and a potential peer group than the academics, per se. I am also interested in any experience you have with the IB program at Edison.

You would not have been at the bottom at Mclean if you can afford to buy a house. 10% of the students received free or reduced priced meals.

Where do these kids live?? We bought in the low $700s - and in McLean that would NOT have gotten us much at all. We almost placed on offer on a home that was actually torn down by a developer- so we were literally looking at tear downs.

8.6% of the students at McLean receive free or reduced meals. Most live in apartment complexes off Lee Highway in parts of Falls Church in Fairfax County, but a few live in McLean as well. There are some decent single-family houses in the $700K price range in the Kent Gardens area of McLean, but they tend to sell fast if they are in good condition.

I don't know where you are getting the 8.6%, the FCPS.edu website shows 10.18%. It is a year old and sholdbe updated shortly, but I doubt it has dropped that much as it has been steadliy rising the past few years. There are also apartments near the new "McLean" metro station. The Rotunda in Tyson's is also in McLean's district, they don't tend to quaify for free meals, but the cost of an apartment is much lower.. There is also talk of a new apartment complex at the corner of Westmoreland and Kirby/Idlewood where a closed church now sits, which I think it great as the area need lower and middle cost housing.