FCPS HS Boundary

[Anonymous]

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.

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.

Why do the opponents always bring the topic back to real estate and property values as primary factors? That should not even be a consideration in education policy.
The top priority should be access to equitable programs for all kids. Those against boundary change like to use words such as "support all kids" but it seems like that's only a false pretext for the real reason: protect property values.

[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.

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.

Why do the opponents always bring the topic back to real estate and property values as primary factors? That should not even be a consideration in education policy.
The top priority should be access to equitable programs for all kids. Those against boundary change like to use words such as "support all kids" but it seems like that's only a false pretext for the real reason: protect property values.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Stop spreading lies. The new policy says they need community outreach and input for all the changes. There’s no secret “administrative process” if the new policy passes. The current policy does allow for some changes without meetings or board votes.

[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.

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.

I don’t view this as us “suffering together” rather bringing in more students and families like us, to help bring more balance (and thus, opportunities) to Lewis.

Our kids aren’t close to HS age yet, but this boundary assessment will definitely influence whether we join our neighbors in moving/pupil place/go private or if stick around and see if anything can be done to improve Lewis.

This seems like a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation for the SB. If they move kids, people will leave. If they don’t move kids, people will move. They can’t win either way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

Why do the opponents always bring the topic back to real estate and property values as primary factors? That should not even be a consideration in education policy.
The top priority should be access to equitable programs for all kids. Those against boundary change like to use words such as "support all kids" but it seems like that's only a false pretext for the real reason: protect property values.

+1

-1 They AREN”T supporting my kids who have been told by teachers, principals and our community to have pride in their school and pyramid for YEARS.

So they are dragging the supports away from my kids as fast as they can. To bolster your kid I suppose.

Again, they and you should explain this to my kids face AND thank them for their service to your child since you seem to see her as a savior for your kid.

[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.

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.

Why do the opponents always bring the topic back to real estate and property values as primary factors? That should not even be a consideration in education policy.
The top priority should be access to equitable programs for all kids. Those against boundary change like to use words such as "support all kids" but it seems like that's only a false pretext for the real reason: protect property values.

DP, but is there is a bigger buzzword phrase tossed around to support boundary changes than "access to equitable programs for all kids"? What does it mean? Who doesn't have such access, and how exactly will moving kids around like widgets move the needle?

Seems that for decades FCPS made a point of offering different programs at different schools and encouraging parents to shop. Now we're told that's of no consequence and they'll move around kids as they see fit in furtherance of some elusive goal.

If parents at Langley were OK not having access to the IB program at South Lakes, or to an Academy program available at Marshall, wasn't that their choice? If you're contending kids at Lewis don't have "access to equitable programs," will moving kids from West Springfield there somehow ensure such access (and, if so, how) or just mean even more kids are denied "access to equitable programs"? No one on the School Board makes even a half-assed effort to tell us what this phrase means, but we're supposed to expect FCPS staff to fill in all the blanks later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Stop spreading lies. The new policy says they need community outreach and input for all the changes. There’s no secret “administrative process” if the new policy passes. The current policy does allow for some changes without meetings or board votes.

Yeah, most of the alarms people are sounding are already in the policy. The biggest change is using this 5 year review to try and catch projected crowding issues, rather than waiting for a school board member to advocate for a boundary adjustment, which often comes after the school is too crowded, and then slow phasing prolongs capacity issues even longer.

The problem is, their CIP projections can change a lot in a year, so trying to shuffle around kids because they THINK they’ll have room is going to lead to a lot of instability every five years when they try to course correct for bad estimates. I think the policy would be a lot more palatable if they made the review period every 10 years.

[Anonymous]

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.

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.

I don’t view this as us “suffering together” rather bringing in more students and families like us, to help bring more balance (and thus, opportunities) to Lewis.

Our kids aren’t close to HS age yet, but this boundary assessment will definitely influence whether we join our neighbors in moving/pupil place/go private or if stick around and see if anything can be done to improve Lewis.

This seems like a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation for the SB. If they move kids, people will leave. If they don’t move kids, people will move. They can’t win either way.

Aha.

Well, first, you need to disabuse yourself of the notion that those being redistricted to Lewis are "families like us." They aren't, because they prioritized finding a house zoned to West Springfield rather than settling for Lewis.

Second, you need to anticipate that there will be a lot of attrition, because just because someone gets redistricted to Lewis doesn't mean they will passively accept this and not explore other options.

Third, you need to acknowledge that there are possibilities other than the "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario you outlined. Schools can improve if the county encourages development in the surrounding area, or the school does a better job of meeting the needs of the kids who are already zoned for the school. Rezoning - just like adding IB - can be a very crude and not necessarily effective tool for trying to enhance a school's perceived quality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This is very true about the WSHS!

I have lived in NoVA for 20 years, and the sense of community in the WSHS pyramid is remarkable. These schools have all been in the same pyramid for ~60 years. There are grand parents on my block that went to WSHS, their daughter now teaches at a WSHS feeder elementary school, and the grand kids go to their local WSHS feeder elementary school. The idea of tearing one of these communities out and sending them across the mixing bowl is so upsetting.

[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.

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.

Why do the opponents always bring the topic back to real estate and property values as primary factors? That should not even be a consideration in education policy.
The top priority should be access to equitable programs for all kids. Those against boundary change like to use words such as "support all kids" but it seems like that's only a false pretext for the real reason: protect property values.

It is both about (A) good schools/community and (B) home values. Both can be true at the same time. Boundary adjustments can damage (or improve) both.

Speaking for the WSHS folks, our frustration is that moving a school to Lewis with both (A) rip that school from its decades-long sense of community and place it with neighborhoods that are not connected to it and (B) destroy $100-200 million in property values. That is a hard pill to swallow, especially when these families specifically chose their homes because of the schools, and paid the corresponding premium. Anyone would be upset.

It certainly does not feel equitable to those families when WSHS was recently renovated and is NOT ASKING for any additional taxpayer money to increase capacity. There have been zero complaints from the PTA or the admin or the community.

[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.

Rumors are they will split the school - so no - not necessary will the kids he knows go to new school - it will be a very small percentage either way.

It will be like moving into a new community with a bad school. Why would I make that choice?

[Anonymous]

Stop basing things on rumors. Just because someone posts a suggested change here or on facebook doesn’t make it true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This is very true about the WSHS!

I have lived in NoVA for 20 years, and the sense of community in the WSHS pyramid is remarkable. These schools have all been in the same pyramid for ~60 years. There are grand parents on my block that went to WSHS, their daughter now teaches at a WSHS feeder elementary school, and the grand kids go to their local WSHS feeder elementary school. The idea of tearing one of these communities out and sending them across the mixing bowl is so upsetting.

There are some other schools with an equally strong sense of community, but probably only 3-4 others that have both a strong sense of community and strong school leadership.

Some people think this is trotted out as an argument to avoid redistricting, but IYKYK.

[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.

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.

I don’t view this as us “suffering together” rather bringing in more students and families like us, to help bring more balance (and thus, opportunities) to Lewis.

Our kids aren’t close to HS age yet, but this boundary assessment will definitely influence whether we join our neighbors in moving/pupil place/go private or if stick around and see if anything can be done to improve Lewis.

This seems like a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation for the SB. If they move kids, people will leave. If they don’t move kids, people will move. They can’t win either way.

Aha.

Well, first, you need to disabuse yourself of the notion that those being redistricted to Lewis are "families like us." They aren't, because they prioritized finding a house zoned to West Springfield rather than settling for Lewis.

Second, you need to anticipate that there will be a lot of attrition, because just because someone gets redistricted to Lewis doesn't mean they will passively accept this and not explore other options.

Third, you need to acknowledge that there are possibilities other than the "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario you outlined. Schools can improve if the county encourages development in the surrounding area, or the school does a better job of meeting the needs of the kids who are already zoned for the school. Rezoning - just like adding IB - can be a very crude and not necessarily effective tool for trying to enhance a school's perceived quality.

Oh I see. So, because we were priced out of neighborhoods zoned for WS, our kids don’t deserve an equivalent education? Got it.

To your second point, I guess you missed the part where I suggested that families like mine also have options, and we will continue to exercise them if the SB continues to neglect the needs of the students at Lewis. Trying to stop pupil placements as a retention method ain’t gonna fly!

And as to your third point, there is quite literally no action that the SB can take that will appease everyone. So yes, damned if you do/don’t still applies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

I don’t view this as us “suffering together” rather bringing in more students and families like us, to help bring more balance (and thus, opportunities) to Lewis.

Our kids aren’t close to HS age yet, but this boundary assessment will definitely influence whether we join our neighbors in moving/pupil place/go private or if stick around and see if anything can be done to improve Lewis.

This seems like a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation for the SB. If they move kids, people will leave. If they don’t move kids, people will move. They can’t win either way.

Aha.

Well, first, you need to disabuse yourself of the notion that those being redistricted to Lewis are "families like us." They aren't, because they prioritized finding a house zoned to West Springfield rather than settling for Lewis.

Second, you need to anticipate that there will be a lot of attrition, because just because someone gets redistricted to Lewis doesn't mean they will passively accept this and not explore other options.

Third, you need to acknowledge that there are possibilities other than the "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario you outlined. Schools can improve if the county encourages development in the surrounding area, or the school does a better job of meeting the needs of the kids who are already zoned for the school. Rezoning - just like adding IB - can be a very crude and not necessarily effective tool for trying to enhance a school's perceived quality.

Oh I see. So, because we were priced out of neighborhoods zoned for WS, our kids don’t deserve an equivalent education? Got it.

To your second point, I guess you missed the part where I suggested that families like mine also have options, and we will continue to exercise them if the SB continues to neglect the needs of the students at Lewis. Trying to stop pupil placements as a retention method ain’t gonna fly!

And as to your third point, there is quite literally no action that the SB can take that will appease everyone. So yes, damned if you do/don’t still applies.

You were never going to get an equivalent education at Lewis and WS, starting with the fact that Lewis has a leadership program that WS doesn't have and WS has an AP curriculum that Lewis hasn't had.

So tell us again, what is it that you really want? Do you think a few hundred WS kids will put Lewis on the same footing as WS, or will it just make you feel better about having bought in the Lewis district if a few hundred more kids are similarly stranded there?