When are Herndon Middle and Herndon High going to get a break?!??

[Anonymous]

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Heck with 99%. 25 to 30% FARMS is manageable. All ES' in Herndon are now at or above 45% and that has quite an impact in the way of expectations and offerings. When you get to the middle school level, there is a big difference in what HMS offers after school (county paid for activities) compared to Carson. I love hearing about all the great things Carson and Longfellow students are doing and the math and science competitions they're winning. Guess what? They're not offered where we are or other poor schools!

I am not familiar with Longfellow, but Carson sends more kids to TJ than any other school. The afterschool activities are likely driven by that--not money. The parents want their kids to have those activities. I think it's doubtful too many other middle schools offer as much. A lot of this could be helped by reducing the AAP centers.

Yes, I agree that families drive the desire for TJ, but these extras should not be paid for by county tax payers if they are not offered uniformly. I'm talking about the middle school level where after school activities are paid for by the county. Why should some schools school have Math Counts and Science Olympiad when others don't. If everyone doesn't get it, then no one should. Say good bye to MS clubs, ES homework (why should some teachers spend time grading when others don't?), science fairs, etc. How's that for equity?

https://www.jlab.org/news/releases/rachel-carson-wins-2018-virginia-middle-school-science-bowl

I'm not very familiar with Science Olympiad (no interest at my house, even if it is available), but, from the photo in the link, it appears to me that parents must be the coaches. Perhaps, you could volunteer to start a program at your school?

Yes, I have volunteered to start a similar program but it was not well received due to lack of critical mass and it's often viewed as elitist when there are so many kids who don't have the resources at home to help. I know of another parent at another high farms school who was trying to get SO going, but there just wasn't critical mass there as well.

It's not very nice for some people to think that you shouldn't have a club because everyone can't participate.

Anyway.

Is there a way to start a club outside of school?

If there aren't enough at your school, perhaps you could explore starting a group and inviting local homeschoolers. You may be able to work out a time good for all involved to meet.

Re: the above suggestion--maybe you can pull students from several local schools with the same issue?

[Anonymous]

^^ I hear you regarding starting a program outside of school myself but my point is that the "elite" middle schools have teachers that support them. Yes, parents do help coach, but the teachers run them. I believe that's a requirement for these types of clubs, but I may be wrong. The poor schools do not have these opportunities that are supported and "built in" by their schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ I hear you regarding starting a program outside of school myself but my point is that the "elite" middle schools have teachers that support them. Yes, parents do help coach, but the teachers run them. I believe that's a requirement for these types of clubs, but I may be wrong. The poor schools do not have these opportunities that are supported and "built in" by their schools.

Is your kid in an AAP center? Seems likely that is where there is the most interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ I hear you regarding starting a program outside of school myself but my point is that the "elite" middle schools have teachers that support them. Yes, parents do help coach, but the teachers run them. I believe that's a requirement for these types of clubs, but I may be wrong. The poor schools do not have these opportunities that are supported and "built in" by their schools.

If there isn't enough interest and people are giving you attitude for being "elitist" for simply wanting to start a club, then that doesn't seem to be solvable with teacher advisors. Are there no teacher advisors available? Do teacher advisors not get compensation at poor schools but do get paid by FCPS to advise at schools with higher income populations?

It is true that activities are supported by parents to varying degrees. I have a child in an arts program which the teacher directs, and there is an entire board of parents, maybe 30 people that manage funds and help organize trips, shows, storage/maintenance of supplies etc.

Currently students can enroll at other local schools for particular languages--is it possible for a kid to become a member of a club not offered at their school? If not, perhaps that can be pursued with the school board. I know that at least some Virginia districts allow homeschooled kids to take a class or two at public school, surely a kid enrolled in public school can join robotics or Odyssey of the Mind the next school over if there isn't enough interest at her school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The current situation is not working as pointed out in previous posts. Lower class sizes, more special teachers, etc. has not helped. There are simply too many students needing a lot of help. Redistricting will make all pyramids more desirable places to live. Specialists can then focus on fewer students, the undesirable pyramids will become better and parents won't have to fight to avoid them.

I don't see how redistricting would help where smaller class sizes and more special teachers have not. The specialists are already focusing on fewer students, right? How is the number of students an issue if they are receiving better student/teacher ratios and more specialized teachers?

How would redistricting make __all___pyramids more desirable? Aren't the Oakton, McLean and Langley pyramids the most desirable? How is redistricting going to make them more sought after? It's more likely that it will lower the metrics at some schools and raise them at others.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

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Just took this from another thread from another poster:

In 2002-2003 Herndon's F/R lunch rate was 13.8%. In 2017-2018 it was 39.6%. A change of 25.8%.

In 2002-2003 Langley's F/R lunch rate was 0.7%. In 2017-2018 it was 1.9%. A change of 1.2%.

Gap between the two schools in 2002-2003 - 13.1%. Gap in 2017-2018 - 37.7%.

Do you think this is fair? Honestly? What do you honestly think about these statistics and what do you think (if anything) FCPS should do about it?

Where in the Golden Rule of Life does it say that schools are supposed to have the same percentages of FARMS kids?

Is it fair that all the schools weren't renovated at the same time?
Is it fair that some kids have two married parents and others are children of divorce?
Is it fair that some kids eat home-cooking most nights and others eat out of the microwave?
Is it fair that some kids grew up in homes with over a hundred books and others had ten?

I don't think FCPS needs to do anything about some schools having more FARMS students than others.

It doesn't say that in the Golden Rule of life but we are all One Fairfax. People are tired of the rich changing all the rules to their benefit (like changing zoning so that no apartments are in your boundaries) while the rest of us have to deal the problems.

We are also one state, one country, one world. Langley is One School. Herndon is One School. Anyone can come up with a slogan, it doesn't mean everyone has to interpret it in the same manner.

If the issue is DACA, as some have said, that's an issue to take up with the federal government, and the local one if there are policies that encourage a concentration, policies that other localities don't have. What makes Herndon (and Annandale) a magnet? Why is the newly-arrived, foreign-born, low income population less drawn to Sterling and Reston and Falls Church?

If the issue is DACA, are the people most affected willing to *publicly* oppose it and restrict further unskilled immigration? Are they willing to show up to town hall meetings, write their elected representatives, protest, etc?

If not, why would those not directly affected encourage the "problems" as you call them, to spread to their area? If DACA and immigration are problems then we could simply expect the issue to continue to grow, which solves nothing longterm. If ten years from now Langley is 20% FARMS and Herndon jumps to 82%, what will have been achieved?

Re: the bolded, immigrants are *definitely* drawn to Sterling - the schools there are overwhelmed. We just don't hear about it as much because they are Loudoun Co, not FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Yes, Sterling is quite the magnet. The smaller single family homes are now multi family units. That's happened in Herndon as well. Landlords buy up these homes turning some of them into "flop houses" with beds lining every room. Others are simply rented to too many people with disregarded for zoning laws. Cars from one neighborhood spill over into another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, Sterling is quite the magnet. The smaller single family homes are now multi family units. That's happened in Herndon as well. Landlords buy up these homes turning some of them into "flop houses" with beds lining every room. Others are simply rented to too many people with disregarded for zoning laws. Cars from one neighborhood spill over into another.

So an insistence by voters on code enforcement might help?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Depends on the pressure from the BOS. They hold the purse strings. Boundary adjustments cost money--especially when there is a large increase in funds needed for transportation.


Like the money spent to bus the western GF kids 16+ miles to Langley when they live 6 miles from Herndon?

One more time. Because of the location of Langley, any adjustment would require busing kids from long distances. At least, currently, the boundaries are contiguous and the kids are not isolated from the school or other kids who go there. They come from families who can provide transportation in emergencies and allow their kids to attend after school activities.

I don't know the details, but I assume that area was full of kids when Langley was built. I guess it must have made sense at the time. The location is unfortunate for FCPS. It appears to me that the logical option is what they have. Otherwise, it would require leapfrogging kids past other schools. It does seem to me that they should pick up nearby kids from McLean--I am guessing the only reason they don't do that is because of "One Fairfax."

Simply adding the closest neighborhoods in McLean to Langley does seem to make the most sense.

The only reason for concern I have been able to glean is that doing that decreases the percentage of upper middle class kids at McLean High School. Such silliness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Depends on the pressure from the BOS. They hold the purse strings. Boundary adjustments cost money--especially when there is a large increase in funds needed for transportation.


Like the money spent to bus the western GF kids 16+ miles to Langley when they live 6 miles from Herndon?

One more time. Because of the location of Langley, any adjustment would require busing kids from long distances. At least, currently, the boundaries are contiguous and the kids are not isolated from the school or other kids who go there. They come from families who can provide transportation in emergencies and allow their kids to attend after school activities.

I don't know the details, but I assume that area was full of kids when Langley was built. I guess it must have made sense at the time. The location is unfortunate for FCPS. It appears to me that the logical option is what they have. Otherwise, it would require leapfrogging kids past other schools. It does seem to me that they should pick up nearby kids from McLean--I am guessing the only reason they don't do that is because of "One Fairfax."

Simply adding the closest neighborhoods in McLean to Langley does seem to make the most sense.

The only reason for concern I have been able to glean is that doing that decreases the percentage of upper middle class kids at McLean High School. Such silliness.

looking at the map, the McLean boundaries have three different sections. Just add the Westernmost section to Langley. It's ridiculous to keep adding trailers to MHS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Depends on the pressure from the BOS. They hold the purse strings. Boundary adjustments cost money--especially when there is a large increase in funds needed for transportation.


Like the money spent to bus the western GF kids 16+ miles to Langley when they live 6 miles from Herndon?

One more time. Because of the location of Langley, any adjustment would require busing kids from long distances. At least, currently, the boundaries are contiguous and the kids are not isolated from the school or other kids who go there. They come from families who can provide transportation in emergencies and allow their kids to attend after school activities.

I don't know the details, but I assume that area was full of kids when Langley was built. I guess it must have made sense at the time. The location is unfortunate for FCPS. It appears to me that the logical option is what they have. Otherwise, it would require leapfrogging kids past other schools. It does seem to me that they should pick up nearby kids from McLean--I am guessing the only reason they don't do that is because of "One Fairfax."

Simply adding the closest neighborhoods in McLean to Langley does seem to make the most sense.

The only reason for concern I have been able to glean is that doing that decreases the percentage of upper middle class kids at McLean High School. Such silliness.

Then you aren't paying close attention. The impediment is that some School Board members think they should do something about the demographic trends at Herndon at the same time. McLean is just the hostage (although FCPS really ought to move Tysons apartments to Langley before moving even more single-family neighborhoods into the Langley district).

[Anonymous]

Then you aren't paying close attention. The impediment is that some School Board members think they should do something about the demographic trends at Herndon at the same time. McLean is just the hostage (although FCPS really ought to move Tysons apartments to Langley before moving even more single-family neighborhoods into the Langley district).

Disagree. Why not schools that are worse off than Herndon demographically? I think they are stalling to do a whole county redistricting. Listen to the boundary discussion (I think it was in March.) Braband does not want to do redistricting "light." Apparently, he wants guidance from the SB on how to do "One Fairfax." Wait two or three more years and it won't matter much, except for Langley and McLean, all the schools will be mostly FARMS. FCPS cannot sustain this massive influx of kids who are needy without affecting a lot more schools. We're not talking a few families here and there, we are talking thousands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Depends on the pressure from the BOS. They hold the purse strings. Boundary adjustments cost money--especially when there is a large increase in funds needed for transportation.


Like the money spent to bus the western GF kids 16+ miles to Langley when they live 6 miles from Herndon?

One more time. Because of the location of Langley, any adjustment would require busing kids from long distances. At least, currently, the boundaries are contiguous and the kids are not isolated from the school or other kids who go there. They come from families who can provide transportation in emergencies and allow their kids to attend after school activities.

I don't know the details, but I assume that area was full of kids when Langley was built. I guess it must have made sense at the time. The location is unfortunate for FCPS. It appears to me that the logical option is what they have. Otherwise, it would require leapfrogging kids past other schools. It does seem to me that they should pick up nearby kids from McLean--I am guessing the only reason they don't do that is because of "One Fairfax."

Simply adding the closest neighborhoods in McLean to Langley does seem to make the most sense.

The only reason for concern I have been able to glean is that doing that decreases the percentage of upper middle class kids at McLean High School. Such silliness.

Then you aren't paying close attention. The impediment is that some School Board members think they should do something about the demographic trends at Herndon at the same time. McLean is just the hostage (although FCPS really ought to move Tysons apartments to Langley before moving even more single-family neighborhoods into the Langley district).

Why does Langley need apartments in its boundary?
What does the type of residence matter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Depends on the pressure from the BOS. They hold the purse strings. Boundary adjustments cost money--especially when there is a large increase in funds needed for transportation.


Like the money spent to bus the western GF kids 16+ miles to Langley when they live 6 miles from Herndon?

One more time. Because of the location of Langley, any adjustment would require busing kids from long distances. At least, currently, the boundaries are contiguous and the kids are not isolated from the school or other kids who go there. They come from families who can provide transportation in emergencies and allow their kids to attend after school activities.

I don't know the details, but I assume that area was full of kids when Langley was built. I guess it must have made sense at the time. The location is unfortunate for FCPS. It appears to me that the logical option is what they have. Otherwise, it would require leapfrogging kids past other schools. It does seem to me that they should pick up nearby kids from McLean--I am guessing the only reason they don't do that is because of "One Fairfax."

Simply adding the closest neighborhoods in McLean to Langley does seem to make the most sense.

The only reason for concern I have been able to glean is that doing that decreases the percentage of upper middle class kids at McLean High School. Such silliness.

Then you aren't paying close attention. The impediment is that some School Board members think they should do something about the demographic trends at Herndon at the same time. McLean is just the hostage (although FCPS really ought to move Tysons apartments to Langley before moving even more single-family neighborhoods into the Langley district).

Why does Langley need apartments in its boundary?
What does the type of residence matter?

Langley is under-enrolled, McLean and Marshall are at or above capacity and already have plenty of apartments, and apartments near Tysons are closer to Langley than many current neighborhoods zoned for Langley.

It’s the obvious thing to do. Get more of the people already in the Langley district to send their kids there rather than to privates if the idea of having some multi-family housing at Langley offends you so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Depends on the pressure from the BOS. They hold the purse strings. Boundary adjustments cost money--especially when there is a large increase in funds needed for transportation.


Like the money spent to bus the western GF kids 16+ miles to Langley when they live 6 miles from Herndon?

One more time. Because of the location of Langley, any adjustment would require busing kids from long distances. At least, currently, the boundaries are contiguous and the kids are not isolated from the school or other kids who go there. They come from families who can provide transportation in emergencies and allow their kids to attend after school activities.

I don't know the details, but I assume that area was full of kids when Langley was built. I guess it must have made sense at the time. The location is unfortunate for FCPS. It appears to me that the logical option is what they have. Otherwise, it would require leapfrogging kids past other schools. It does seem to me that they should pick up nearby kids from McLean--I am guessing the only reason they don't do that is because of "One Fairfax."

Simply adding the closest neighborhoods in McLean to Langley does seem to make the most sense.

The only reason for concern I have been able to glean is that doing that decreases the percentage of upper middle class kids at McLean High School. Such silliness.

Then you aren't paying close attention. The impediment is that some School Board members think they should do something about the demographic trends at Herndon at the same time. McLean is just the hostage (although FCPS really ought to move Tysons apartments to Langley before moving even more single-family neighborhoods into the Langley district).

Why does Langley need apartments in its boundary?
What does the type of residence matter?

Langley is under-enrolled, McLean and Marshall are at or above capacity and already have plenty of apartments, and apartments near Tysons are closer to Langley than many current neighborhoods zoned for Langley.

It’s the obvious thing to do. Get more of the people already in the Langley district to send their kids there rather than to privates if the idea of having some multi-family housing at Langley offends you so much.

You're quite sensitive. It was just a question. Perhaps some therapy is in order if a random public school not having children that live in apartments offends you so much. Maybe some meditation and some lavender incense. A mantra. You should really work on your issues. It's not worth raising your blood pressure over.