Please SOUND OFF if you think FCPS is in decline!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is not in AAP. But I do think it's sad if we had to get rid of AAP and basically teach to the most basic educational level possible. That's not the way to achieve excellence as a society.

My DC's school does the AAP extensions in every class, Gen Ed and Level IV, and the Level III kids join the Level IV class for math. Why couldn't that model be the standard across the county? AAP for everyone and group math ability across the grade in different classes like they do in middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has gone down so gradually while praising itself to the skies. Every 5 years or so it ticks downwards and the parents take for granted that what is being taught is the same as 20 years ago it’s not. The fact that Fairfax has gotten so expensive in places buffers the schools up because the parents supplement.

THIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is not in AAP. But I do think it's sad if we had to get rid of AAP and basically teach to the most basic educational level possible. That's not the way to achieve excellence as a society.

My DC's school does the AAP extensions in every class, Gen Ed and Level IV, and the Level III kids join the Level IV class for math. Why couldn't that model be the standard across the county? AAP for everyone and group math ability across the grade in different classes like they do in middle school.

+!

That's how it was when I was growing up

[Anonymous]

FCPS is a pale shadow of its former self. The only reason alarms aren't ringing is a combination of grade inflation and easier SATs.

[Anonymous]

Can someone explain specifically outside of demograhpics what the issues are

[Anonymous]

The thread is a circle jerk for a few parents who don’t like the increase in Hispanic kids in areas like Herndon or are upset their kids didn’t get into AAP. Complaining about it is their full-time occupation.

Those who are satisfied will always be less likely to post, both because they take their good schools for granted and it’s exhausting to argue with haters who always want the last word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS is a pale shadow of its former self. The only reason alarms aren't ringing is a combination of grade inflation and easier SATs.

And easier APs

[Anonymous]

The thread is a circle jerk for a few parents who don’t like the increase in Hispanic kids in areas like Herndon or are upset their kids didn’t get into AAP. Complaining about it is their full-time occupation.

Those who are satisfied will always be less likely to post, both because they take their good schools for granted and it’s exhausting to argue with haters who always want the last word.

My kids are in AAP (and a very diverse AAP center in a "good" pyramid), and have high scores, and I am nonetheless very dissatisfied with FCPS. This is not bitterness or racism. The schools are very overcrowded because home construction has outpaced school construction in certain areas; you can't dispute that. The curriculum teaches to the SOLs. There are significant discipline issues. Teachers are underpaid compared to neighboring districts. If this is the "best" school system in the country, it makes me worry what other schools are like -- because it's not good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thread is a circle jerk for a few parents who don’t like the increase in Hispanic kids in areas like Herndon or are upset their kids didn’t get into AAP. Complaining about it is their full-time occupation.

Those who are satisfied will always be less likely to post, both because they take their good schools for granted and it’s exhausting to argue with haters who always want the last word.

- signed a Langley pyramid parent of a gifted child in AAP who DEFINITELY does not want boundary changes to let poor immigrants in MY school pyramid. That’s for OTHERS to have to deal with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The thread is a circle jerk for a few parents who don’t like the increase in Hispanic kids in areas like Herndon or are upset their kids didn’t get into AAP. Complaining about it is their full-time occupation.

Those who are satisfied will always be less likely to post, both because they take their good schools for granted and it’s exhausting to argue with haters who always want the last word.

My kids are in AAP (and a very diverse AAP center in a "good" pyramid), and have high scores, and I am nonetheless very dissatisfied with FCPS. This is not bitterness or racism. The schools are very overcrowded because home construction has outpaced school construction in certain areas; you can't dispute that. The curriculum teaches to the SOLs. There are significant discipline issues. Teachers are underpaid compared to neighboring districts. If this is the "best" school system in the country, it makes me worry what other schools are like -- because it's not good.

There are capacity imbalances that the School Board hasn’t addressed, but the capacity generally is there or being added.

The curriculum goes well beyond the SOLs.

Discipline is not a significant problem at most schools.

Teacher compensation is increasing and the total compensation package is competitive for the region and higher than in many nearby jurisdictions.

Children in FCPS receive an excellent education.

[Anonymous]

Okay, capacity *will be* added in my pyramid at some far future date that will not improve my children's experience. I get that things don't and can't move quickly with school construction, but my kids nonetheless have too-large classes (29 and 30 kids respectively, this year). Too many kids in trailer classrooms. Entire fourth quarter spent reviewing and prepping for SOLs. I'm glad your experience has been good, but ours hasn't. I would pay for private if I could.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The thread is a circle jerk for a few parents who don’t like the increase in Hispanic kids in areas like Herndon or are upset their kids didn’t get into AAP. Complaining about it is their full-time occupation.

Those who are satisfied will always be less likely to post, both because they take their good schools for granted and it’s exhausting to argue with haters who always want the last word.

- signed a Langley pyramid parent of a gifted child in AAP who DEFINITELY does not want boundary changes to let poor immigrants in MY school pyramid. That’s for OTHERS to have to deal with.

What do you do with all those grievances you go around all day collecting? I mean, besides bleating on DCUM, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The thread is a circle jerk for a few parents who don’t like the increase in Hispanic kids in areas like Herndon or are upset their kids didn’t get into AAP. Complaining about it is their full-time occupation.

Those who are satisfied will always be less likely to post, both because they take their good schools for granted and it’s exhausting to argue with haters who always want the last word.

- signed a Langley pyramid parent of a gifted child in AAP who DEFINITELY does not want boundary changes to let poor immigrants in MY school pyramid. That’s for OTHERS to have to deal with.

What do you do with all those grievances you go around all day collecting? I mean, besides bleating on DCUM, of course.

the same thing you're doing.

[Anonymous]

Why FCPS does not use textbook? Even our weekend language school has standard textbooks. It will be easier for the teachers (not making copies all the time as an earlier teacher has mentioned), also easier for parents to see what topics have been covered and what needs to be done if any help is needed. Most college courses also use textbooks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why FCPS does not use textbook? Even our weekend language school has standard textbooks. It will be easier for the teachers (not making copies all the time as an earlier teacher has mentioned), also easier for parents to see what topics have been covered and what needs to be done if any help is needed. Most college courses also use textbooks.

At many public elementary schools around the country, good and bad, textbooks are not used. Many private schools use them.