FCPS School Pyramid Recommendations

[Anonymous]

I'm looking for advice on FCPS pyramids, particularly elementary schools. We are an AA family and buying a home
($750 - 800k range) in Fairfax County early next year. We would like to have a solid understanding of the various school options prior to making a purchase. Our realtor suggested Oakton/Vienna and Mantua and would like your opinion on the schools and recommend others. I understand that assessing school quality is somewhat subjective... Our son will be 4 in the fall....we are looking for culturally diverse schools, focus on culture of respect, academic enrichment, enthusiastic teachers and extracurricular activities. I understand this may make some people uncomfortable but I'm looking for schools where my now 3 year old son won't be the only AA child in his kindergarten class. I experienced that for 11 years in Catholic Schools and would like him to have a different experience. I don't want to turn this into a race debate and appreciate your honest feedback.

[Anonymous]

Kent Gardens in the McLean pyramid has the largest AA population in the pyramid. It used to be growing, but has leveled off. In the recent past both Kent Gardens and McLean HS has an AA Principal, but one retired and one was promoted.

[Anonymous]

We decided on Kings Park Kings Glen / Lake Braddock for our child. It is not the most diverse but has enough diversity to make us happy.

[Anonymous]

The NW quadrant of Vienna had a region that is historically AA, dating back to the end of the civil war. While the area has been changing, there are still some AA families. In fact, on of the top schools in Vienna, Louise Archer, was built to serve that community. However, today, the school has a small AA population.

[Anonymous]

It's not super close to DC if that's what you need but have you thought about Laurel Hill/South County in Lorton?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not super close to DC if that's what you need but have you thought about Laurel Hill/South County in Lorton?

South County is not a great school and I assume OP is looking for a great school. If the question were just diversity, everyone would just look at the most diverse school and enroll their children there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not super close to DC if that's what you need but have you thought about Laurel Hill/South County in Lorton?

South County is not a great school and I assume OP is looking for a great school. If the question were just diversity, everyone would just look at the most diverse school and enroll their children there

It's not theeeee #1 best but it's better than a lot of schools in Fairfax county and probably has the best balance of diversity and not being terrible. A lot of the previously mentioned schools are like 6% AA, and if that was the case OP's kid might actually be the only black student in the class.

[Anonymous]

Vienna near the metro is that range if price and diverse. GL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vienna near the metro is that range if price and diverse. GL

The part of the town of Vienna near the metro feeds into Marshall Road, which is a great elementary school but only 4.3% African American according to FCPS statistics (only 30 out of more than 600 kids). The OP might have better luck with the area of Oakton that feeds into Mosby Woods Elementary -- an excellent school that is over 7% African American.

[Anonymous]

Those suggesting schools with 7-9% are fooling themselves. Just as a point of comparison, my children attend a school where the caucasian population is around 15%. In K and 1, my daughter was one of 2 caucasian children in her class. This year, she is the only one. My son is in 3rd, and has had a similar experience. Now, I will say, our school is large, so in the lower grades, there are sometimes 7 classes per grade. OP, honestly I would look at schools of at least 30% if your child having racial peers is that important to you. For us, in the lower grades it has been fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not super close to DC if that's what you need but have you thought about Laurel Hill/South County in Lorton?

South County is not a great school and I assume OP is looking for a great school. If the question were just diversity, everyone would just look at the most diverse school and enroll their children there

Spoken like someone who has absolutely zero personal experience with the school. What a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not super close to DC if that's what you need but have you thought about Laurel Hill/South County in Lorton?

South County is not a great school and I assume OP is looking for a great school. If the question were just diversity, everyone would just look at the most diverse school and enroll their children there

Spoken like someone who has absolutely zero personal experience with the school. What a joke.

Statistics are a joke? Okay. I wouldn't want my child at that school. Granted, it is better than Lee HS but the OP is probably a high income earner/highly educated and I would think they would want a good performing shcool. You didn't indicate that the school was high performing. I don't have experience with the school but I can read and have read the statistics on the school. The school does not perform AS WELL as other schools in Fairfax. It may perform very well compare to some other school districts but not in comparision to schools in Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those suggesting schools with 7-9% are fooling themselves. Just as a point of comparison, my children attend a school where the caucasian population is around 15%. In K and 1, my daughter was one of 2 caucasian children in her class. This year, she is the only one. My son is in 3rd, and has had a similar experience. Now, I will say, our school is large, so in the lower grades, there are sometimes 7 classes per grade. OP, honestly I would look at schools of at least 30% if your child having racial peers is that important to you. For us, in the lower grades it has been fine.

A very valid point, but restritcting the home serach to only those pyramids in Fairfax County with around 30% or more African-American students would exclude a HUGE portion of the county.

[Anonymous]

If a school is over 10% black, then statistically, OP's kid shouldn't be the only AA in the class unless it's a Title I school, right?

Here are some possibilities with homes in OP's range, but more diversity than Oakton/Vienna or Mantua:

Camelot ES - Annandale (10% AA)
Cardinal Forest ES - Springfield (10% AA)
Eagle View ES - Fairfax (15% AA)
Forest Edge ES - Reston (24% AA)
Franconia ES - Springfield (18% AA)
Island Creek ES - Alexandria (18% AA)
Lane ES - Alexandria (20% AA)
Laurel Hill ES - Lorton (26% AA)
Lorton Station ES - Lorton (32% AA)
Stratford Landing ES - Alexandria (16% AA)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those suggesting schools with 7-9% are fooling themselves. Just as a point of comparison, my children attend a school where the caucasian population is around 15%. In K and 1, my daughter was one of 2 caucasian children in her class. This year, she is the only one. My son is in 3rd, and has had a similar experience. Now, I will say, our school is large, so in the lower grades, there are sometimes 7 classes per grade. OP, honestly I would look at schools of at least 30% if your child having racial peers is that important to you. For us, in the lower grades it has been fine.

Fooling ourselves how? Having some peers is what you need. The criteria (and I speak as a minority) is not just having racial peers. Academics and other opportunities weigh into it as well. If it's just having racial peers why not just pick ANY school that meets the 30% cut off? I will answer- because there is a risk of going to a LOW performing school. Why would I as a racial minority want a low performing school for my child? It is a balance.