Article detailing the decline and fall

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/03/02/virginias-largest-public-school-district-is-unraveling/

"While neighboring districts such as Loudoun County Public Schools and Arlington Public Schools grew by 8,315 students and 3,429 students, respectively, Fairfax Schools saw a decrease of 6,894 students during the same period."

"Virginia Department of Education’s data show that roughly a quarter of students in Fairfax Schools failed their reading, math, and science Standards of Learning exams,"

"20% of the district’s 199 public schools are underperforming."

"66,000 students in the state are homeschooled this academic year, up from 38,000 in 2019."

"Ironically, the district spends $22,644 per student in fiscal year 2026—far more than the average private school tuition—yet its classrooms cram 25 students per teacher while private schools manage just 10:1."

On the plus side, all the the school board members appear to be safe in their positions and the voters continue to approve the bond requests.

I have never heard of The Daily Signal, but this has all sorts of red flags: "Stephanie Lundquist-Arora is a contributor for IW Features, The Federalist, and the Washington Examiner." She's also the disgusting creature who dropped out of the race for Fairfax County School Board in 2022 after laughing at an autistic boy who was singing the national anthem. What kind of monster does that? (https://wjla.com/news/local/stephanie-lundquist-arora-candidate-running-republican-gop-fairfax-county-school-board-race-drops-out-laughing-autistic-student-meeting-singing-national-anthem-controversy-7news-reporting-nick-minock-harry-jackson-youngkin-glenn-fcps)

Those are all ideological right-wing publications with a poor history of following basic tenets of journalism. The International Women's Forum basically was founded in reaction to people trying to block Clarence Thomas's nomination to the SCOTUS, i.e. it was created to DEFEND HIM after he was accused of sexual harassment of Anita Hill (and looked how CT's tenure turned out). The Federalist, as we all know, lacks any credibility. And the Daily Signal was created by the Heritage Foundation, the same people who crafted Project 2025, which is systematically being deployed to destroy our country.

So, you will have to forgive me for rejecting this "article" out of hand as being propaganda bullshit. If Stephanie Lundquist-Arora had anything useful to say, she would have found a more credible platform to say it in. The fact that she was unable to speaks volumes.

It did occur to me that Stephanie herself posted this in a lame effort to self-promote. If OP is Stephanie, I guess I'd just tell her to go back to her hole and let the smart people deal with Fairfax.

Well yes, ad hominems are a perennial go-to when you can't debate the facts in question.

When are you republicans and anti-FCPS groupies going to realize that no one cares about your spun cherry picked “facts”? By and large FCPS is doing fine, people like their schools, and people like living here. Get over yourselves.

+1

These garbage threads are dumb.

[Anonymous]

Daily Signal? Total garbage.

The MAGA infestation continues on DCUM. I miss the days when we could have real discussions about our schools without this absurdity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Daily Signal? Total garbage.

The MAGA infestation continues on DCUM. I miss the days when we could have real discussions about our schools without this absurdity.

YOU are the one who is keeping us from having a "real discussion."

The discussion here should be what we can do to improve our schools.

Yes. We all know the demographics have changed. That does not excuse failing schools. The question should be what we can do to improve the education of all children.

I taught Title I. The purpose of Title I funds is to aid local schools in improving the performance of those struggling students. Sadly, the funds are not always used properly.

One of the initial purposes of the boundary study was "equity." Honestly, they want to spread around the underperforming students and put in higher achievers so that the scores look better in the struggling schools.
Unfortunately, that does not help the performance of the underperforming students--it only makes the scores look better.

The answer: good, strong and direct instruction. Teach the students rather than scheme the system.
It is hard work.

So, what does our School Board do?

Put in special programs like a "leadership academy" to make the school appealing to others. This does NOT work.
Propose a redistricting to make the scores appear better. Very expensive and ineffective results.
Spend needed funds on legal cases defending the use of what they deem as proper pronouns, bio boys in girls' bathrooms and sports.
Spend funds on renaming schools. Please tell me which schools have improved with this action? And, FWIW, no one has to honor the original namesakes. They could have just called it generic Stuart (as the community preferred) or Lee.
Spend hours at School Board meetings opening with resolutions that take forever and accomplish little. Are people really thrilled to come to a SB meeting and have their picture taken?
The School Board added about a million dollars worth of staff for themselves this last year. Interesting that most of the newly hired staff are political activists with the Democratic Party. (Wonder if the PP who protests against Stephanie so much is one of them?)


etc, etc

[Anonymous]

The party hacks don’t realize there are a lot of anti-MAGA Democrats who aren’t happy with the direction FCPS has been taking. They still mostly like their individual schools, but they think Reid and the School Board are garbage. Usually, most people don’t pay much attention to what they do, but the county-wide boundary debacle shed a light on their incompetence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/03/02/virginias-largest-public-school-district-is-unraveling/

"While neighboring districts such as Loudoun County Public Schools and Arlington Public Schools grew by 8,315 students and 3,429 students, respectively, Fairfax Schools saw a decrease of 6,894 students during the same period."

"Virginia Department of Education’s data show that roughly a quarter of students in Fairfax Schools failed their reading, math, and science Standards of Learning exams,"

"20% of the district’s 199 public schools are underperforming."

"66,000 students in the state are homeschooled this academic year, up from 38,000 in 2019."

"Ironically, the district spends $22,644 per student in fiscal year 2026—far more than the average private school tuition—yet its classrooms cram 25 students per teacher while private schools manage just 10:1."

On the plus side, all the the school board members appear to be safe in their positions and the voters continue to approve the bond requests.

I have never heard of The Daily Signal, but this has all sorts of red flags: "Stephanie Lundquist-Arora is a contributor for IW Features, The Federalist, and the Washington Examiner." She's also the disgusting creature who dropped out of the race for Fairfax County School Board in 2022 after laughing at an autistic boy who was singing the national anthem. What kind of monster does that? (https://wjla.com/news/local/stephanie-lundquist-arora-candidate-running-republican-gop-fairfax-county-school-board-race-drops-out-laughing-autistic-student-meeting-singing-national-anthem-controversy-7news-reporting-nick-minock-harry-jackson-youngkin-glenn-fcps)

Those are all ideological right-wing publications with a poor history of following basic tenets of journalism. The International Women's Forum basically was founded in reaction to people trying to block Clarence Thomas's nomination to the SCOTUS, i.e. it was created to DEFEND HIM after he was accused of sexual harassment of Anita Hill (and looked how CT's tenure turned out). The Federalist, as we all know, lacks any credibility. And the Daily Signal was created by the Heritage Foundation, the same people who crafted Project 2025, which is systematically being deployed to destroy our country.

So, you will have to forgive me for rejecting this "article" out of hand as being propaganda bullshit. If Stephanie Lundquist-Arora had anything useful to say, she would have found a more credible platform to say it in. The fact that she was unable to speaks volumes.

It did occur to me that Stephanie herself posted this in a lame effort to self-promote. If OP is Stephanie, I guess I'd just tell her to go back to her hole and let the smart people deal with Fairfax.

Well yes, ad hominems are a perennial go-to when you can't debate the facts in question.

When are you republicans and anti-FCPS groupies going to realize that no one cares about your spun cherry picked “facts”? By and large FCPS is doing fine, people like their schools, and people like living here. Get over yourselves.

Exactly! Who cares about facts?

Especially when they are conveyed by someone who voted for a different candidate than I did!?

Anyone who votes for the other party has no “facts” to share and I refuse to consider anything they say. And if you do so, then you’re endorsing christo-facisim and probably a bigot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Daily Signal? Total garbage.

The MAGA infestation continues on DCUM. I miss the days when we could have real discussions about our schools without this absurdity.

YOU are the one who is keeping us from having a "real discussion."

The discussion here should be what we can do to improve our schools.

Yes. We all know the demographics have changed. That does not excuse failing schools. The question should be what we can do to improve the education of all children.

I taught Title I. The purpose of Title I funds is to aid local schools in improving the performance of those struggling students. Sadly, the funds are not always used properly.

One of the initial purposes of the boundary study was "equity." Honestly, they want to spread around the underperforming students and put in higher achievers so that the scores look better in the struggling schools.
Unfortunately, that does not help the performance of the underperforming students--it only makes the scores look better.

The answer: good, strong and direct instruction. Teach the students rather than scheme the system.
It is hard work.

So, what does our School Board do?

Put in special programs like a "leadership academy" to make the school appealing to others. This does NOT work.
Propose a redistricting to make the scores appear better. Very expensive and ineffective results.
Spend needed funds on legal cases defending the use of what they deem as proper pronouns, bio boys in girls' bathrooms and sports.
Spend funds on renaming schools. Please tell me which schools have improved with this action? And, FWIW, no one has to honor the original namesakes. They could have just called it generic Stuart (as the community preferred) or Lee.
Spend hours at School Board meetings opening with resolutions that take forever and accomplish little. Are people really thrilled to come to a SB meeting and have their picture taken?
The School Board added about a million dollars worth of staff for themselves this last year. Interesting that most of the newly hired staff are political activists with the Democratic Party. (Wonder if the PP who protests against Stephanie so much is one of them?)


etc, etc

The Lewis leadership academy is loved by the community. Typical anti-FCPS nonsense here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Daily Signal? Total garbage.

The MAGA infestation continues on DCUM. I miss the days when we could have real discussions about our schools without this absurdity.

YOU are the one who is keeping us from having a "real discussion."

The discussion here should be what we can do to improve our schools.

Yes. We all know the demographics have changed. That does not excuse failing schools. The question should be what we can do to improve the education of all children.

I taught Title I. The purpose of Title I funds is to aid local schools in improving the performance of those struggling students. Sadly, the funds are not always used properly.

One of the initial purposes of the boundary study was "equity." Honestly, they want to spread around the underperforming students and put in higher achievers so that the scores look better in the struggling schools.
Unfortunately, that does not help the performance of the underperforming students--it only makes the scores look better.

The answer: good, strong and direct instruction. Teach the students rather than scheme the system.
It is hard work.

So, what does our School Board do?

Put in special programs like a "leadership academy" to make the school appealing to others. This does NOT work.
Propose a redistricting to make the scores appear better. Very expensive and ineffective results.
Spend needed funds on legal cases defending the use of what they deem as proper pronouns, bio boys in girls' bathrooms and sports.
Spend funds on renaming schools. Please tell me which schools have improved with this action? And, FWIW, no one has to honor the original namesakes. They could have just called it generic Stuart (as the community preferred) or Lee.
Spend hours at School Board meetings opening with resolutions that take forever and accomplish little. Are people really thrilled to come to a SB meeting and have their picture taken?
The School Board added about a million dollars worth of staff for themselves this last year. Interesting that most of the newly hired staff are political activists with the Democratic Party. (Wonder if the PP who protests against Stephanie so much is one of them?)


etc, etc

The Lewis leadership academy is loved by the community. Typical anti-FCPS nonsense here.

Lewis has lost about 35 kids this year. The enrollment will soon be under 1500. Not sure it can handle too much more “love” like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/03/02/virginias-largest-public-school-district-is-unraveling/

"While neighboring districts such as Loudoun County Public Schools and Arlington Public Schools grew by 8,315 students and 3,429 students, respectively, Fairfax Schools saw a decrease of 6,894 students during the same period."

"Virginia Department of Education’s data show that roughly a quarter of students in Fairfax Schools failed their reading, math, and science Standards of Learning exams,"

"20% of the district’s 199 public schools are underperforming."

"66,000 students in the state are homeschooled this academic year, up from 38,000 in 2019."

"Ironically, the district spends $22,644 per student in fiscal year 2026—far more than the average private school tuition—yet its classrooms cram 25 students per teacher while private schools manage just 10:1."

On the plus side, all the the school board members appear to be safe in their positions and the voters continue to approve the bond requests.

I have never heard of The Daily Signal, but this has all sorts of red flags: "Stephanie Lundquist-Arora is a contributor for IW Features, The Federalist, and the Washington Examiner." She's also the disgusting creature who dropped out of the race for Fairfax County School Board in 2022 after laughing at an autistic boy who was singing the national anthem. What kind of monster does that? (https://wjla.com/news/local/stephanie-lundquist-arora-candidate-running-republican-gop-fairfax-county-school-board-race-drops-out-laughing-autistic-student-meeting-singing-national-anthem-controversy-7news-reporting-nick-minock-harry-jackson-youngkin-glenn-fcps)

Those are all ideological right-wing publications with a poor history of following basic tenets of journalism. The International Women's Forum basically was founded in reaction to people trying to block Clarence Thomas's nomination to the SCOTUS, i.e. it was created to DEFEND HIM after he was accused of sexual harassment of Anita Hill (and looked how CT's tenure turned out). The Federalist, as we all know, lacks any credibility. And the Daily Signal was created by the Heritage Foundation, the same people who crafted Project 2025, which is systematically being deployed to destroy our country.

So, you will have to forgive me for rejecting this "article" out of hand as being propaganda bullshit. If Stephanie Lundquist-Arora had anything useful to say, she would have found a more credible platform to say it in. The fact that she was unable to speaks volumes.

It did occur to me that Stephanie herself posted this in a lame effort to self-promote. If OP is Stephanie, I guess I'd just tell her to go back to her hole and let the smart people deal with Fairfax.

Well yes, ad hominems are a perennial go-to when you can't debate the facts in question.

When are you republicans and anti-FCPS groupies going to realize that no one cares about your spun cherry picked “facts”? By and large FCPS is doing fine, people like their schools, and people like living here. Get over yourselves.

np. I don't know how you can assume that people like their schools and like living here. Sure, some people can pick up and move, and we do see that happen. For many people, though, it's hard. People stay here for many reasons, even if they aren't happy with the schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/03/02/virginias-largest-public-school-district-is-unraveling/

"While neighboring districts such as Loudoun County Public Schools and Arlington Public Schools grew by 8,315 students and 3,429 students, respectively, Fairfax Schools saw a decrease of 6,894 students during the same period."

"Virginia Department of Education’s data show that roughly a quarter of students in Fairfax Schools failed their reading, math, and science Standards of Learning exams,"

"20% of the district’s 199 public schools are underperforming."

"66,000 students in the state are homeschooled this academic year, up from 38,000 in 2019."

"Ironically, the district spends $22,644 per student in fiscal year 2026—far more than the average private school tuition—yet its classrooms cram 25 students per teacher while private schools manage just 10:1."

On the plus side, all the the school board members appear to be safe in their positions and the voters continue to approve the bond requests.

I have never heard of The Daily Signal, but this has all sorts of red flags: "Stephanie Lundquist-Arora is a contributor for IW Features, The Federalist, and the Washington Examiner." She's also the disgusting creature who dropped out of the race for Fairfax County School Board in 2022 after laughing at an autistic boy who was singing the national anthem. What kind of monster does that? (https://wjla.com/news/local/stephanie-lundquist-arora-candidate-running-republican-gop-fairfax-county-school-board-race-drops-out-laughing-autistic-student-meeting-singing-national-anthem-controversy-7news-reporting-nick-minock-harry-jackson-youngkin-glenn-fcps)

Those are all ideological right-wing publications with a poor history of following basic tenets of journalism. The International Women's Forum basically was founded in reaction to people trying to block Clarence Thomas's nomination to the SCOTUS, i.e. it was created to DEFEND HIM after he was accused of sexual harassment of Anita Hill (and looked how CT's tenure turned out). The Federalist, as we all know, lacks any credibility. And the Daily Signal was created by the Heritage Foundation, the same people who crafted Project 2025, which is systematically being deployed to destroy our country.

So, you will have to forgive me for rejecting this "article" out of hand as being propaganda bullshit. If Stephanie Lundquist-Arora had anything useful to say, she would have found a more credible platform to say it in. The fact that she was unable to speaks volumes.

It did occur to me that Stephanie herself posted this in a lame effort to self-promote. If OP is Stephanie, I guess I'd just tell her to go back to her hole and let the smart people deal with Fairfax.

Well yes, ad hominems are a perennial go-to when you can't debate the facts in question.

When are you republicans and anti-FCPS groupies going to realize that no one cares about your spun cherry picked “facts”? By and large FCPS is doing fine, people like their schools, and people like living here. Get over yourselves.

I guess when you all break out a copy of “Abundance” and realize that FCPS is simply not delivering on what it should be. It’s not left/right, its whether they are acting like a top-tier school system with outcomes to support their vast budget— and many of us believe they aren’t.

If you think FCPS is an incredible system that reflects the top of U.S. public education and really serves the community, why do you think they’re struggling so hard to convince others of that? And you DON’T think they’re the best U.S. public education has to offer, well what the heck is their excuse for that???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/03/02/virginias-largest-public-school-district-is-unraveling/

"While neighboring districts such as Loudoun County Public Schools and Arlington Public Schools grew by 8,315 students and 3,429 students, respectively, Fairfax Schools saw a decrease of 6,894 students during the same period."

"Virginia Department of Education’s data show that roughly a quarter of students in Fairfax Schools failed their reading, math, and science Standards of Learning exams,"

"20% of the district’s 199 public schools are underperforming."

"66,000 students in the state are homeschooled this academic year, up from 38,000 in 2019."

"Ironically, the district spends $22,644 per student in fiscal year 2026—far more than the average private school tuition—yet its classrooms cram 25 students per teacher while private schools manage just 10:1."

On the plus side, all the the school board members appear to be safe in their positions and the voters continue to approve the bond requests.

I have never heard of The Daily Signal, but this has all sorts of red flags: "Stephanie Lundquist-Arora is a contributor for IW Features, The Federalist, and the Washington Examiner." She's also the disgusting creature who dropped out of the race for Fairfax County School Board in 2022 after laughing at an autistic boy who was singing the national anthem. What kind of monster does that? (https://wjla.com/news/local/stephanie-lundquist-arora-candidate-running-republican-gop-fairfax-county-school-board-race-drops-out-laughing-autistic-student-meeting-singing-national-anthem-controversy-7news-reporting-nick-minock-harry-jackson-youngkin-glenn-fcps)

Those are all ideological right-wing publications with a poor history of following basic tenets of journalism. The International Women's Forum basically was founded in reaction to people trying to block Clarence Thomas's nomination to the SCOTUS, i.e. it was created to DEFEND HIM after he was accused of sexual harassment of Anita Hill (and looked how CT's tenure turned out). The Federalist, as we all know, lacks any credibility. And the Daily Signal was created by the Heritage Foundation, the same people who crafted Project 2025, which is systematically being deployed to destroy our country.

So, you will have to forgive me for rejecting this "article" out of hand as being propaganda bullshit. If Stephanie Lundquist-Arora had anything useful to say, she would have found a more credible platform to say it in. The fact that she was unable to speaks volumes.

It did occur to me that Stephanie herself posted this in a lame effort to self-promote. If OP is Stephanie, I guess I'd just tell her to go back to her hole and let the smart people deal with Fairfax.

You've never heard of the daily signal?

Next you're going to say you've never heard of the heritage foundation.

Thats a failure as a washingtonian...

Um, no. I'd never heard of the Daily Signal. I certainly do know the Heritage Foundation. That was enough to discount the Daily Signal out of hand as not a credible source of anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/03/02/virginias-largest-public-school-district-is-unraveling/

"While neighboring districts such as Loudoun County Public Schools and Arlington Public Schools grew by 8,315 students and 3,429 students, respectively, Fairfax Schools saw a decrease of 6,894 students during the same period."

"Virginia Department of Education’s data show that roughly a quarter of students in Fairfax Schools failed their reading, math, and science Standards of Learning exams,"

"20% of the district’s 199 public schools are underperforming."

"66,000 students in the state are homeschooled this academic year, up from 38,000 in 2019."

"Ironically, the district spends $22,644 per student in fiscal year 2026—far more than the average private school tuition—yet its classrooms cram 25 students per teacher while private schools manage just 10:1."

On the plus side, all the the school board members appear to be safe in their positions and the voters continue to approve the bond requests.

I have never heard of The Daily Signal, but this has all sorts of red flags: "Stephanie Lundquist-Arora is a contributor for IW Features, The Federalist, and the Washington Examiner." She's also the disgusting creature who dropped out of the race for Fairfax County School Board in 2022 after laughing at an autistic boy who was singing the national anthem. What kind of monster does that? (https://wjla.com/news/local/stephanie-lundquist-arora-candidate-running-republican-gop-fairfax-county-school-board-race-drops-out-laughing-autistic-student-meeting-singing-national-anthem-controversy-7news-reporting-nick-minock-harry-jackson-youngkin-glenn-fcps)

Those are all ideological right-wing publications with a poor history of following basic tenets of journalism. The International Women's Forum basically was founded in reaction to people trying to block Clarence Thomas's nomination to the SCOTUS, i.e. it was created to DEFEND HIM after he was accused of sexual harassment of Anita Hill (and looked how CT's tenure turned out). The Federalist, as we all know, lacks any credibility. And the Daily Signal was created by the Heritage Foundation, the same people who crafted Project 2025, which is systematically being deployed to destroy our country.

So, you will have to forgive me for rejecting this "article" out of hand as being propaganda bullshit. If Stephanie Lundquist-Arora had anything useful to say, she would have found a more credible platform to say it in. The fact that she was unable to speaks volumes.

It did occur to me that Stephanie herself posted this in a lame effort to self-promote. If OP is Stephanie, I guess I'd just tell her to go back to her hole and let the smart people deal with Fairfax.

Well yes, ad hominems are a perennial go-to when you can't debate the facts in question.

No, I'm rejecting the premise. We're not even having the debate, since the source article and its author are inherently not credible. I'm more than happy to discuss content about Fairfax schools produced by credible sources. But no one is going to pay this "article" any attention. It doesn't merit discussion at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Daily Signal? Total garbage.

The MAGA infestation continues on DCUM. I miss the days when we could have real discussions about our schools without this absurdity.

YOU are the one who is keeping us from having a "real discussion."

The discussion here should be what we can do to improve our schools.

Yes. We all know the demographics have changed. That does not excuse failing schools. The question should be what we can do to improve the education of all children.

I taught Title I. The purpose of Title I funds is to aid local schools in improving the performance of those struggling students. Sadly, the funds are not always used properly.

One of the initial purposes of the boundary study was "equity." Honestly, they want to spread around the underperforming students and put in higher achievers so that the scores look better in the struggling schools.
Unfortunately, that does not help the performance of the underperforming students--it only makes the scores look better.

The answer: good, strong and direct instruction. Teach the students rather than scheme the system.
It is hard work.

So, what does our School Board do?

Put in special programs like a "leadership academy" to make the school appealing to others. This does NOT work.
Propose a redistricting to make the scores appear better. Very expensive and ineffective results.
Spend needed funds on legal cases defending the use of what they deem as proper pronouns, bio boys in girls' bathrooms and sports.
Spend funds on renaming schools. Please tell me which schools have improved with this action? And, FWIW, no one has to honor the original namesakes. They could have just called it generic Stuart (as the community preferred) or Lee.
Spend hours at School Board meetings opening with resolutions that take forever and accomplish little. Are people really thrilled to come to a SB meeting and have their picture taken?
The School Board added about a million dollars worth of staff for themselves this last year. Interesting that most of the newly hired staff are political activists with the Democratic Party. (Wonder if the PP who protests against Stephanie so much is one of them?)


etc, etc

"Real discussions" can only happen when all actors act in good faith. Ideological propaganda outlets like the Daily Signal, which is aligned with the right-wing quisling factory Heritage Foundation does not. Ergo, it is excluded from the discussion. It simply isn't worthy.

It's like thinking Nick Shirley was on to something in Minnesota.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/03/02/virginias-largest-public-school-district-is-unraveling/

"While neighboring districts such as Loudoun County Public Schools and Arlington Public Schools grew by 8,315 students and 3,429 students, respectively, Fairfax Schools saw a decrease of 6,894 students during the same period."

"Virginia Department of Education’s data show that roughly a quarter of students in Fairfax Schools failed their reading, math, and science Standards of Learning exams,"

"20% of the district’s 199 public schools are underperforming."

"66,000 students in the state are homeschooled this academic year, up from 38,000 in 2019."

"Ironically, the district spends $22,644 per student in fiscal year 2026—far more than the average private school tuition—yet its classrooms cram 25 students per teacher while private schools manage just 10:1."

On the plus side, all the the school board members appear to be safe in their positions and the voters continue to approve the bond requests.

I have never heard of The Daily Signal, but this has all sorts of red flags: "Stephanie Lundquist-Arora is a contributor for IW Features, The Federalist, and the Washington Examiner." She's also the disgusting creature who dropped out of the race for Fairfax County School Board in 2022 after laughing at an autistic boy who was singing the national anthem. What kind of monster does that? (https://wjla.com/news/local/stephanie-lundquist-arora-candidate-running-republican-gop-fairfax-county-school-board-race-drops-out-laughing-autistic-student-meeting-singing-national-anthem-controversy-7news-reporting-nick-minock-harry-jackson-youngkin-glenn-fcps)

Those are all ideological right-wing publications with a poor history of following basic tenets of journalism. The International Women's Forum basically was founded in reaction to people trying to block Clarence Thomas's nomination to the SCOTUS, i.e. it was created to DEFEND HIM after he was accused of sexual harassment of Anita Hill (and looked how CT's tenure turned out). The Federalist, as we all know, lacks any credibility. And the Daily Signal was created by the Heritage Foundation, the same people who crafted Project 2025, which is systematically being deployed to destroy our country.

So, you will have to forgive me for rejecting this "article" out of hand as being propaganda bullshit. If Stephanie Lundquist-Arora had anything useful to say, she would have found a more credible platform to say it in. The fact that she was unable to speaks volumes.

It did occur to me that Stephanie herself posted this in a lame effort to self-promote. If OP is Stephanie, I guess I'd just tell her to go back to her hole and let the smart people deal with Fairfax.

Well yes, ad hominems are a perennial go-to when you can't debate the facts in question.

No, I'm rejecting the premise. We're not even having the debate, since the source article and its author are inherently not credible. I'm more than happy to discuss content about Fairfax schools produced by credible sources. But no one is going to pay this "article" any attention. It doesn't merit discussion at all.

DP. Who exactly do you think you are? Most of us don’t care who wrote an article or where it appears. Either the facts in the article are correct, or they aren’t. Either the arguments in the article are persuasive, or they aren’t. But silly attempts to police what are or aren’t “credible sources” fall flat and just make you sound like an FCPS or FCDC shill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Daily Signal? Total garbage.

The MAGA infestation continues on DCUM. I miss the days when we could have real discussions about our schools without this absurdity.

YOU are the one who is keeping us from having a "real discussion."

The discussion here should be what we can do to improve our schools.

Yes. We all know the demographics have changed. That does not excuse failing schools. The question should be what we can do to improve the education of all children.

I taught Title I. The purpose of Title I funds is to aid local schools in improving the performance of those struggling students. Sadly, the funds are not always used properly.

One of the initial purposes of the boundary study was "equity." Honestly, they want to spread around the underperforming students and put in higher achievers so that the scores look better in the struggling schools.
Unfortunately, that does not help the performance of the underperforming students--it only makes the scores look better.

The answer: good, strong and direct instruction. Teach the students rather than scheme the system.
It is hard work.

So, what does our School Board do?

Put in special programs like a "leadership academy" to make the school appealing to others. This does NOT work.
Propose a redistricting to make the scores appear better. Very expensive and ineffective results.
Spend needed funds on legal cases defending the use of what they deem as proper pronouns, bio boys in girls' bathrooms and sports.
Spend funds on renaming schools. Please tell me which schools have improved with this action? And, FWIW, no one has to honor the original namesakes. They could have just called it generic Stuart (as the community preferred) or Lee.
Spend hours at School Board meetings opening with resolutions that take forever and accomplish little. Are people really thrilled to come to a SB meeting and have their picture taken?
The School Board added about a million dollars worth of staff for themselves this last year. Interesting that most of the newly hired staff are political activists with the Democratic Party. (Wonder if the PP who protests against Stephanie so much is one of them?)


etc, etc

"Real discussions" can only happen when all actors act in good faith. Ideological propaganda outlets like the Daily Signal, which is aligned with the right-wing quisling factory Heritage Foundation does not. Ergo, it is excluded from the discussion. It simply isn't worthy.

It's like thinking Nick Shirley was on to something in Minnesota.

*yawn*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, do you have a credible source for an article you would like to discuss?

Not the OP. But, if the facts in the article are true, I think it's safe to believe the article is credible.
Can you point out anything fake in the article?