Be honest, would you be okay with this middle school?

[Anonymous]

I'm squirming at the "don't worry, those kids won't cross your kid's path" comments--in large part, because I was eligible for free lunches through high school. FWIW, I went to college and graduated summa cum laude. It does happen!

Also FWIW, we lost several of our elementary FARMS students last year to the AAP center.

In the end, your child might be far worse influenced by a rich kid with access to Dad's liquor cabinet and lots of cash for drugs.

I'm not ready to accuse you of elitism (yet), but you are quite naive if you think avoiding poor kids is key to your children's success.

[Anonymous]

One of my son's best friends is eligible, and receives, free lunches. He is the most dedicated student you can imagine, so thankful for the opportunity to learn. I am very thankful my son spends time with him. He is a fabulous influence.

OP, You need to take a long, hard look at your bias against children who are less financially fortunate as your own. Trying to somehow shelter your children from "poor" kids is a horrible disservice to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm squirming at the "don't worry, those kids won't cross your kid's path" comments--in large part, because I was eligible for free lunches through high school. FWIW, I went to college and graduated summa cum laude. It does happen!

Also FWIW, we lost several of our elementary FARMS students last year to the AAP center.

In the end, your child might be far worse influenced by a rich kid with access to Dad's liquor cabinet and lots of cash for drugs.

I'm not ready to accuse you of elitism (yet), but you are quite naive if you think avoiding poor kids is key to your children's success.

+ 100

[Anonymous]

My DD MS in Fairfax County is 30% white, 30% Asian, 30% Hispanic and 5% black. 40% FARMS. She is a straight A student, active and has a number of friends of all ethnic backgrounds. So, go to school with the poor and or brown does not infect you with some low achieving disease

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD MS in Fairfax County is 30% white, 30% Asian, 30% Hispanic and 5% black. 40% FARMS. She is a straight A student, active and has a number of friends of all ethnic backgrounds. So, go to school with the poor and or brown does not infect you with some low achieving disease

So true! All too often, I see this on DCUM AND RL - parents trying to discern the quality of a school based on % of FARMS and brown kids. Sad, really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD MS in Fairfax County is 30% white, 30% Asian, 30% Hispanic and 5% black. 40% FARMS. She is a straight A student, active and has a number of friends of all ethnic backgrounds. So, go to school with the poor and or brown does not infect you with some low achieving disease

Amen and amen!! I teach at a school with roughly equal numbers of white, black and Latino kids, and a high FARMS percentage. We have the 2nd highest SOL scores in our cluster (after the all white AAP school) and a fabulous staff of creative, dedicated teachers who work hard to make sure all of our kids get what they need. My own kids attend or have attended a number of FCPS schools with a similar demographic, and I can tell you that my daughter earned a free ride to Boston U. as a result.

Please don't be afraid to send your kids to school with people who are different! OP, I would totally be OK with what you describe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm squirming at the "don't worry, those kids won't cross your kid's path" comments--in large part, because I was eligible for free lunches through high school. FWIW, I went to college and graduated summa cum laude. It does happen!

Also FWIW, we lost several of our elementary FARMS students last year to the AAP center.

In the end, your child might be far worse influenced by a rich kid with access to Dad's liquor cabinet and lots of cash for drugs.

I'm not ready to accuse you of elitism (yet), but you are quite naive if you think avoiding poor kids is key to your children's success.

ITA, but I think some of the PPs were saying that in every high school there are "college bound" kids and "not college bound" and that those kids that are motivated to succeed academically tend to stick together, regardless of their income level or ethnicity.

+100 that sometimes the "bad" influence can be a well-off kid.

The reason I'm happy my kids are in a diverse school is that they can see for themselves that while, yes, for a host of reasons there are some "trends" that can be seen based on income levels, background, etc. they will have a chance to actually be in the same building with many types of people and realize that stereotypes aren't really valid.