Are the FCPS schools vastly superior than LCPS?

[Anonymous]

I think the better high schools in FCPS are stronger than LCPS. I see the kids that graduate and they are stronger than LCPS schools. Some of the high schools in FCPS are scary especially the kids that attend them. Pretty much all FCPS elementary schools are subpar. Just bad teaching methods and priorities. Middle school is 2 years. Doesn't really matter either way. Equally important as the school is the neighborhood. Find one you like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the better high schools in FCPS are stronger than LCPS. I see the kids that graduate and they are stronger than LCPS schools. Some of the high schools in FCPS are scary especially the kids that attend them. Pretty much all FCPS elementary schools are subpar. Just bad teaching methods and priorities. Middle school is 2 years. Doesn't really matter either way. Equally important as the school is the neighborhood. Find one you like.

I've also heard not so great things about LCPS elementary schools, so I'm not sure they are any better. Private is better for elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Top 10 high schools in the state - 8 from FCPS and none from LCPS:

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

US News lists are frankly useless. How is West Springfield a top 10 school in the entire state when just within Fairfax County alone it is in 13th place for SAT scores and 9th place for AP exam scores?

Marshall at #5 is similarly far too highly ranked relative to other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Top 10 high schools in the state - 8 from FCPS and none from LCPS:

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

US News lists are frankly useless. How is West Springfield a top 10 school in the entire state when just within Fairfax County alone it is in 13th place for SAT scores and 9th place for AP exam scores?

Marshall at #5 is similarly far too highly ranked relative to other schools.

US News does as good a job as anyone looking at the range of factors parents would consider relevant in choosing a school - AP/IB participation performance, SOL scores, graduation rates, performance of URMs relative to state averages.

West Springfield is rewarded because its SOL scores are strong and URMs there do extremely well compared to most schools in the state. Marshall games the US News ratings by automatically enrolling most juniors and seniors in IB English. Even so, it's as strong as any high school in LCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL, your realtor is just trying to make more money off of you by making you bid up the price of that one house in Franklin Farm. LCPS is just fine, go that route if you don't have a commute.

And you’ll probably save 100-200K.

Lots of kids and nice families on and near that street in Franklin Farm, including some that work at Navy, if that matters to OP.

There are nice families in Loudon, too. My point was that OP's realtor would point her to the house she'd make more money off of. The house in FF is nice, but it will go for well over list. Everything in that area has been bid up SO HIGH. You're lucky to have gotten in when you did. We've put down competitive offers in your neighborhood and lost them all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oakton just got a massive reno. I'm pretty sure the trailers are all gone.

Correct...Trailers gone, beautiful new facility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Top 10 high schools in the state - 8 from FCPS and none from LCPS:

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

US News lists are frankly useless. How is West Springfield a top 10 school in the entire state when just within Fairfax County alone it is in 13th place for SAT scores and 9th place for AP exam scores?

Because WSHS is diverse enough for the rankings and all races equally perform well, full stop.

Ranking are bullshit.

Marshall at #5 is similarly far too highly ranked relative to other schools.

[Anonymous]

^ Someone isn't even in the top 100 when it comes to knowing how to post on this forum.

[Anonymous]

My kids are in FCPS and I have good friends with kids in LCPS....sounds like both counties are terrible in their own way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL, your realtor is just trying to make more money off of you by making you bid up the price of that one house in Franklin Farm. LCPS is just fine, go that route if you don't have a commute.

And you’ll probably save 100-200K.

Lots of kids and nice families on and near that street in Franklin Farm, including some that work at Navy, if that matters to OP.

There are nice families in Loudon, too. My point was that OP's realtor would point her to the house she'd make more money off of. The house in FF is nice, but it will go for well over list. Everything in that area has been bid up SO HIGH. You're lucky to have gotten in when you did. We've put down competitive offers in your neighborhood and lost them all.

You are correct as to Franklin Farm. I own a home south of Still Pond, and paid the price for a 15 year mortgage a la Dave Ramsey - paid in full years ago - just a different economy today. I receive inquiries to sell every month but I don’t know where I would go if I moved. I dislike condos and their association fees. It would take virtually no effort or time to sell at 4x what I paid for it, even with current interest rates. The unsolicited letters I receive are often personal in nature, describing their family and their needs. I found no complaints with FCPS schools (last one finished over 10 years ago). Both went to the top of the Ivy League (in hindsight not a good value but I come from a very poor background and wanted to support them). We definitely have been lucky

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LCPS is more homogeneous economically. Fewer rich or more people.

Not more people. Loudoun has less people and the individual schools usually have less kids than the ones in Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

My kid was in AAP at McNair. The schools administration and many of the teachers were awful. We moved to Loudoun and are having a much better experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was told by a realtor that the quality of education at FCPS is so much better than at LCPS. How true is that if you are not in the AAP program? Seeking feedback for elementary schools especially.

You don't need to be in the AAP program in FCPS to receive excellent education.

My kids attend FCPS, my nieces and nephews LCPS, both well regarded schools, both very similar in academics, sports, extra curriculars. Both similar type of kids.

It all depends on the neighborhood $$$, shitty neighborhood, shitty school, good neighborhood, good school... That's for everything, everywhere!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was told by a realtor that the quality of education at FCPS is so much better than at LCPS. How true is that if you are not in the AAP program? Seeking feedback for elementary schools especially.

You don't need to be in the AAP program in FCPS to receive excellent education.

My kids attend FCPS, my nieces and nephews LCPS, both well regarded schools, both very similar in academics, sports, extra curriculars. Both similar type of kids.

It all depends on the neighborhood $$$, shitty neighborhood, shitty school, good neighborhood, good school... That's for everything, everywhere!

McNair is a decent neighborhood. The school administration is bad. It’s also in a region of FCPS with bad administration and this trickles down to the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid was in AAP at McNair. The schools administration and many of the teachers were awful. We moved to Loudoun and are having a much better experience.

Thats interesting, one of my contacts has been raving about McNair. Do you have any recommendations for schools you have liked so far in Loudoun? Interested in Elementary at the moment.