FCPS HS Boundary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of assumptions being made about who does and doesn't support adjustments. This is going to be akin to the common "boomer" vs. new generation conflict. As usual, older folks want to maintain what they feel they rightfully deserve, and younger families want a slice of the same pie.

There are a lot of young, very well-educated families who are completely priced out of top 10 schools. You bet they support boundary changes that make more schools acceptable and affordable. You'd be crazy not to in that position.

spot on! Especially in 22153 (Saratoga/Newington). I’ve talked to many families over the years who either moved or are planning to move/pupil place/private school before HS. Unfortunately our little community of students isn’t large enough to help Lewis get on equal footing with other FCPS schools. Geographically, im not even sure why we are in the Lewis pyramid given that South County is closer in distance and ease of transportation. I wholeheartedly support the SB’s efforts to reasses boundaries and bring more kids to Lewis.

Why would you want people to suffer with you? You gotta sell. Luckily Saratoga is fairly desirable - decent housing stock, community pools and amenities, and convenient. And there’s plenty of “dog mom/dad” DINK buyers who like having more space vs. a condo in Arlington, as well as empty nesters, families with babies who will move out when their kid hits 1st grade, and Catholic school families, not to mention FCPS teachers who pupil place where mom or dad works. Or you could list for rent and get a nice military family to rent for a few years. Just sell and move to the other side of Pohick and your kids could be in bounds for Newington Forest and South County. Or move up the parkway to West Springfield! There’s nothing much that can help Lewis at this point as almost every other school surrounding it is high poverty or also under enrolled.

The only way Saratoga is getting out of Lewis is if ALL the development zoned for Edison comes to pass, and they decide to revisit the Lewis/Edison borders and end up shunting off Saratoga to South County, or if Lewis is closed entirely. Either scenario is AT LEAST 10 years off, conservatively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of assumptions being made about who does and doesn't support adjustments. This is going to be akin to the common "boomer" vs. new generation conflict. As usual, older folks want to maintain what they feel they rightfully deserve, and younger families want a slice of the same pie.

There are a lot of young, very well-educated families who are completely priced out of top 10 schools. You bet they support boundary changes that make more schools acceptable and affordable. You'd be crazy not to in that position.

spot on! Especially in 22153 (Saratoga/Newington). I’ve talked to many families over the years who either moved or are planning to move/pupil place/private school before HS. Unfortunately our little community of students isn’t large enough to help Lewis get on equal footing with other FCPS schools. Geographically, im not even sure why we are in the Lewis pyramid given that South County is closer in distance and ease of transportation. I wholeheartedly support the SB’s efforts to reasses boundaries and bring more kids to Lewis.

Saratoga/Newington is in the Lewis pyramid because your community fought and peritioned to stay at Lewis (Lee) a couple decades ago.

You were supposed to attend the brand new South County school, but your neighbors and community wanted Lee/Lewis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of assumptions being made about who does and doesn't support adjustments. This is going to be akin to the common "boomer" vs. new generation conflict. As usual, older folks want to maintain what they feel they rightfully deserve, and younger families want a slice of the same pie.

There are a lot of young, very well-educated families who are completely priced out of top 10 schools. You bet they support boundary changes that make more schools acceptable and affordable. You'd be crazy not to in that position.

spot on! Especially in 22153 (Saratoga/Newington). I’ve talked to many families over the years who either moved or are planning to move/pupil place/private school before HS. Unfortunately our little community of students isn’t large enough to help Lewis get on equal footing with other FCPS schools. Geographically, im not even sure why we are in the Lewis pyramid given that South County is closer in distance and ease of transportation. I wholeheartedly support the SB’s efforts to reasses boundaries and bring more kids to Lewis.

Then push to bring back the 236 Lewis zoned students attending other high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With thousands of open seats available across the county, I do hope they cancel these large expansions like centreville and any unneeded new school builds. We are in a high FARMs pyramid already, so we are unlikely to be affected in any meaningful way by these changes.

Interesting thing about high FARMs, low graduation rate schools, the problematic kids aren’t expected to be at school and aren’t enforced to be there, so while the numbers don’t look great, the kids actually in class aren’t bad. The only issue I wish could be addressed is the lack of discipline enforcement in the school.

There are not thousands of empty seats at the high school level available. Last year, based on design capacity, there was a surplus of slightly over 1400 seats (and that includes TJ, which is gradually increasing the size of its entering classes but has to set aside seats for students from other jurisdictions). The deficits, on the other hand, are concentrated in certain areas. It would probably make more sense to add capacity in those areas than reshuffle kids all over the place just because there are surpluses in some areas, given the county's continued approval of new residential developments.

But that's what FCPS would be aiming for if it was a forward-looking, positive school system, rather than one that's now decided its goal is to socially engineer school boundaries and claim it's efficiency-driven.

Seems silly to expand centreville when they could just shift some kids from there to westfields or chantilly and into Herndon.

Between Centreville and Chantilly there was a deficit of 1252 permanent seats this past year relative to design capacity. Westfield, South Lakes, and Herndon collectively had a surplus of 561 seats.

That leaves an almost 700-student deficit that you only fix by moving lots of other boundaries and in some cases requiring kids to travel longer distances.

Well, looks like you should have voted better. Next week they approve the policy and then implement their goal to use all available seats across the county. Sucks to be you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of assumptions being made about who does and doesn't support adjustments. This is going to be akin to the common "boomer" vs. new generation conflict. As usual, older folks want to maintain what they feel they rightfully deserve, and younger families want a slice of the same pie.

There are a lot of young, very well-educated families who are completely priced out of top 10 schools. You bet they support boundary changes that make more schools acceptable and affordable. You'd be crazy not to in that position.

It is more than this. We bought our house to be in this community and go to the community school. Whether you moved my kids or kids in the community you will absolutely change the community and sense of belonging.

We have been talking about the schools my kids will attend for years. We take them to events at the school (drama performances) to get them used to it. One of my kids is approaching high school and the school board is threatening to move him, away from community, away from all things we have been looking forward to. He is upset and concerned about this. Teachers have been prepping him to be at this school, looking at electives or alternative programs and to strip this away and send him to a pyramid where teachers haven’t been communicating is pretty upsetting.

If we get moved from a high performing school to a badly performing school we will move. Absolutely positively no reason to stay in Fairfax. Housing is expensive. Literally will across the country - if the kids world gets blown up then let’s just make a grand move to a cheaper area with good schools.

Your kids doesn't attend the school so his world is not going to be blown up. He can attend drama and music performances and develop a sense of community at the school he actually attends. He will end up moving with his ES and MS classmates that he knows. He will join activities at his school with those friends and he will make new friends.

Or you an move blow up his world with an entire new area, all new people, a different home, and all the fun that comes with a move.

I have no idea how he is going to handle going to college since you are not likely to be able to prepare him by attending events at the school he is going to 4-8 years in advance and develop a sense of community before he applies.

BS

The biggest factor in buying a house is usually the schools

Quit trying to use other people's kids to fix your housing decision.

Viewing other peoples kids as commodities to right your perceived real estate wrong is very icky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of assumptions being made about who does and doesn't support adjustments. This is going to be akin to the common "boomer" vs. new generation conflict. As usual, older folks want to maintain what they feel they rightfully deserve, and younger families want a slice of the same pie.

There are a lot of young, very well-educated families who are completely priced out of top 10 schools. You bet they support boundary changes that make more schools acceptable and affordable. You'd be crazy not to in that position.

It is more than this. We bought our house to be in this community and go to the community school. Whether you moved my kids or kids in the community you will absolutely change the community and sense of belonging.

We have been talking about the schools my kids will attend for years. We take them to events at the school (drama performances) to get them used to it. One of my kids is approaching high school and the school board is threatening to move him, away from community, away from all things we have been looking forward to. He is upset and concerned about this. Teachers have been prepping him to be at this school, looking at electives or alternative programs and to strip this away and send him to a pyramid where teachers haven’t been communicating is pretty upsetting.

If we get moved from a high performing school to a badly performing school we will move. Absolutely positively no reason to stay in Fairfax. Housing is expensive. Literally will across the country - if the kids world gets blown up then let’s just make a grand move to a cheaper area with good schools.

If your kid is this distressed when no actual change has been proposed, it’s a parenting problem. Stop obsessing about changes that might happen or might now. Stop stressing your kid out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of assumptions being made about who does and doesn't support adjustments. This is going to be akin to the common "boomer" vs. new generation conflict. As usual, older folks want to maintain what they feel they rightfully deserve, and younger families want a slice of the same pie.

There are a lot of young, very well-educated families who are completely priced out of top 10 schools. You bet they support boundary changes that make more schools acceptable and affordable. You'd be crazy not to in that position.

It is more than this. We bought our house to be in this community and go to the community school. Whether you moved my kids or kids in the community you will absolutely change the community and sense of belonging.

We have been talking about the schools my kids will attend for years. We take them to events at the school (drama performances) to get them used to it. One of my kids is approaching high school and the school board is threatening to move him, away from community, away from all things we have been looking forward to. He is upset and concerned about this. Teachers have been prepping him to be at this school, looking at electives or alternative programs and to strip this away and send him to a pyramid where teachers haven’t been communicating is pretty upsetting.

If we get moved from a high performing school to a badly performing school we will move. Absolutely positively no reason to stay in Fairfax. Housing is expensive. Literally will across the country - if the kids world gets blown up then let’s just make a grand move to a cheaper area with good schools.

Your kids doesn't attend the school so his world is not going to be blown up. He can attend drama and music performances and develop a sense of community at the school he actually attends. He will end up moving with his ES and MS classmates that he knows. He will join activities at his school with those friends and he will make new friends.

Or you an move blow up his world with an entire new area, all new people, a different home, and all the fun that comes with a move.

I have no idea how he is going to handle going to college since you are not likely to be able to prepare him by attending events at the school he is going to 4-8 years in advance and develop a sense of community before he applies.

Different poster, but do you even hear yourself? You sound like Robyn Lady, pretending that mental health issues don’t matter until it’s convenient for your agenda.

Kids can handle being shifted away from a large chunk of their friends with limited grandfathering. We must give kids three more minutes of sleep for their well being.

It’s such a farce, that you or she cares about mental health.

Did you read the original post? The studnet in question is not attending the High School yet. His parents have been taking him there for years so he gets to know the school but he does not attend the school. The idea that they would move because the child, who has never attended the specific school, would have his world blown up by needing to attend another school. Kids move all the time because of job changes, changes in circumstances, military relocation and they are fine. It sucks but they are fine. A boundary change will cause hundreds of kids to move together. They will move with friends. It is not the end of the world.

And yes, I moved as a kid. I even moved in HS. It was hard but I made new friends, participated in activities, lettered in sports, and graduated. Just like thousands of other kids across the country every year.

You are reading her original post completely wrong, and putting words in her mouth based on your own desires and biases.

My guess is the parent is talking about West Springfield.

There is a HUGE sense of community at that school. Everyone from empty nesters and retirees, local businesses, and families with younger kids (down to babies) are involved with many aspects of that high school.

There is a lots of interaction between the high school students and students at the feeder schools. The school does a great job of making all the feeder schools and the community at large feel like WSHS is "their" neighborhood school. What she is describing happens in not just theater, but also sports, arts, music, and academics with all of the feeders. WSHS has the best leadership team and arguably many of the best teachers in FCPS, and one of the strongest community ties of any high school in the county.

The school board clearly doesn't value community schools. It is unfortunate that Sandy Anderson is turning into such a disappointment so early in her term.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With thousands of open seats available across the county, I do hope they cancel these large expansions like centreville and any unneeded new school builds. We are in a high FARMs pyramid already, so we are unlikely to be affected in any meaningful way by these changes.

Interesting thing about high FARMs, low graduation rate schools, the problematic kids aren’t expected to be at school and aren’t enforced to be there, so while the numbers don’t look great, the kids actually in class aren’t bad. The only issue I wish could be addressed is the lack of discipline enforcement in the school.

There are not thousands of empty seats at the high school level available. Last year, based on design capacity, there was a surplus of slightly over 1400 seats (and that includes TJ, which is gradually increasing the size of its entering classes but has to set aside seats for students from other jurisdictions). The deficits, on the other hand, are concentrated in certain areas. It would probably make more sense to add capacity in those areas than reshuffle kids all over the place just because there are surpluses in some areas, given the county's continued approval of new residential developments.

But that's what FCPS would be aiming for if it was a forward-looking, positive school system, rather than one that's now decided its goal is to socially engineer school boundaries and claim it's efficiency-driven.

Seems silly to expand centreville when they could just shift some kids from there to westfields or chantilly and into Herndon.

Between Centreville and Chantilly there was a deficit of 1252 permanent seats this past year relative to design capacity. Westfield, South Lakes, and Herndon collectively had a surplus of 561 seats.

That leaves an almost 700-student deficit that you only fix by moving lots of other boundaries and in some cases requiring kids to travel longer distances.

Well, looks like you should have voted better. Next week they approve the policy and then implement their goal to use all available seats across the county. Sucks to be you.

Actually it doesn’t “suck to be us.” It sucks to be a middle or high school kid in FCPS right now.

Don’t think you are getting back online to win the internet. Kids are the ones who will pay the price.

Go be a jerk to your own kid and leave ours alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With thousands of open seats available across the county, I do hope they cancel these large expansions like centreville and any unneeded new school builds. We are in a high FARMs pyramid already, so we are unlikely to be affected in any meaningful way by these changes.

Interesting thing about high FARMs, low graduation rate schools, the problematic kids aren’t expected to be at school and aren’t enforced to be there, so while the numbers don’t look great, the kids actually in class aren’t bad. The only issue I wish could be addressed is the lack of discipline enforcement in the school.

There are not thousands of empty seats at the high school level available. Last year, based on design capacity, there was a surplus of slightly over 1400 seats (and that includes TJ, which is gradually increasing the size of its entering classes but has to set aside seats for students from other jurisdictions). The deficits, on the other hand, are concentrated in certain areas. It would probably make more sense to add capacity in those areas than reshuffle kids all over the place just because there are surpluses in some areas, given the county's continued approval of new residential developments.

But that's what FCPS would be aiming for if it was a forward-looking, positive school system, rather than one that's now decided its goal is to socially engineer school boundaries and claim it's efficiency-driven.

Seems silly to expand centreville when they could just shift some kids from there to westfields or chantilly and into Herndon.

Between Centreville and Chantilly there was a deficit of 1252 permanent seats this past year relative to design capacity. Westfield, South Lakes, and Herndon collectively had a surplus of 561 seats.

That leaves an almost 700-student deficit that you only fix by moving lots of other boundaries and in some cases requiring kids to travel longer distances.

Well, looks like you should have voted better. Next week they approve the policy and then implement their goal to use all available seats across the county. Sucks to be you.

Do you always counter facts with such inane responses?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of assumptions being made about who does and doesn't support adjustments. This is going to be akin to the common "boomer" vs. new generation conflict. As usual, older folks want to maintain what they feel they rightfully deserve, and younger families want a slice of the same pie.

There are a lot of young, very well-educated families who are completely priced out of top 10 schools. You bet they support boundary changes that make more schools acceptable and affordable. You'd be crazy not to in that position.

It is more than this. We bought our house to be in this community and go to the community school. Whether you moved my kids or kids in the community you will absolutely change the community and sense of belonging.

We have been talking about the schools my kids will attend for years. We take them to events at the school (drama performances) to get them used to it. One of my kids is approaching high school and the school board is threatening to move him, away from community, away from all things we have been looking forward to. He is upset and concerned about this. Teachers have been prepping him to be at this school, looking at electives or alternative programs and to strip this away and send him to a pyramid where teachers haven’t been communicating is pretty upsetting.

If we get moved from a high performing school to a badly performing school we will move. Absolutely positively no reason to stay in Fairfax. Housing is expensive. Literally will across the country - if the kids world gets blown up then let’s just make a grand move to a cheaper area with good schools.

If your kid is this distressed when no actual change has been proposed, it’s a parenting problem. Stop obsessing about changes that might happen or might now. Stop stressing your kid out.

DP. There you go again, thinking you know what’s best for every child in the county.

And anyone who says that changes may or may not happen is just trying to sell the Brooklyn bridge. Changes are a foregone conclusion at this point, even as the SB knows that they will destroy the Democratic brand in the process.

[Anonymous]

So, from what I can tell, this is only a Langley, WS, Centreville, and maybe Chantilly, and McLean south attendance island problem. Why should anyone else care?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, from what I can tell, this is only a Langley, WS, Centreville, and maybe Chantilly, and McLean south attendance island problem. Why should anyone else care?

It’s only their problem FOR NOW. They want to review boundaries every 5 years - that’s way too often. It could affect all of us sooner or later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With thousands of open seats available across the county, I do hope they cancel these large expansions like centreville and any unneeded new school builds. We are in a high FARMs pyramid already, so we are unlikely to be affected in any meaningful way by these changes.

Interesting thing about high FARMs, low graduation rate schools, the problematic kids aren’t expected to be at school and aren’t enforced to be there, so while the numbers don’t look great, the kids actually in class aren’t bad. The only issue I wish could be addressed is the lack of discipline enforcement in the school.

There are not thousands of empty seats at the high school level available. Last year, based on design capacity, there was a surplus of slightly over 1400 seats (and that includes TJ, which is gradually increasing the size of its entering classes but has to set aside seats for students from other jurisdictions). The deficits, on the other hand, are concentrated in certain areas. It would probably make more sense to add capacity in those areas than reshuffle kids all over the place just because there are surpluses in some areas, given the county's continued approval of new residential developments.

But that's what FCPS would be aiming for if it was a forward-looking, positive school system, rather than one that's now decided its goal is to socially engineer school boundaries and claim it's efficiency-driven.

Seems silly to expand centreville when they could just shift some kids from there to westfields or chantilly and into Herndon.

Between Centreville and Chantilly there was a deficit of 1252 permanent seats this past year relative to design capacity. Westfield, South Lakes, and Herndon collectively had a surplus of 561 seats.

That leaves an almost 700-student deficit that you only fix by moving lots of other boundaries and in some cases requiring kids to travel longer distances.

Well, looks like you should have voted better. Next week they approve the policy and then implement their goal to use all available seats across the county. Sucks to be you.

How are people supposed to vote better when SB members misled and lied to the public during their campaigns. Not one of them campaigned on a redrawing school boundary’s, or a county wide overhaul of the school boundary process. They clearly had the plan to misled the public because none of them that actually campaigned on this topic would have won their primaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, from what I can tell, this is only a Langley, WS, Centreville, and maybe Chantilly, and McLean south attendance island problem. Why should anyone else care?

They are opening Pandora’s box. There will be no accountability for school boundary decisions and they can do almost whatever they want through and administrative process if this policy is approved. It will impact everyone with kids in public schools because there will be no stability with school boundaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, from what I can tell, this is only a Langley, WS, Centreville, and maybe Chantilly, and McLean south attendance island problem. Why should anyone else care?

Woodson could see a move to Annandale, Marshall could see a move to Madison, West Potomac could see a move to Mount Vernon, and of course there are a whole bunch of potential MS and ES shifts.