WWYD? If you own or are thinking of buying in an area with iffy schools

[Anonymous]

Much better chance for real interaction with people of different backgrounds when school is half that way as opposed to 20%, where a such a population could be "ghettoized" by the administration, don't you think?

[Anonymous]

OP, I have posted on these boards several times about this...I coach at Falls Church and have nothing but good things to say about the school. If you have specific questions, I would be happy to try and answer them. I also suggest contacting the principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in the DCC area in MoCo, and this won't be an issue for more than a decade, but since Blair is the best of the five HS in the DCC does basically everyone apply to it? Although I guess there are specialty programs at the others, like a leadership institute at Kennedy.

Not sure that I agree that Blair is the "best" and I suppose what is "best" depends on what you mean by the term. Blair is so huge that it offers a lot of different things for different students, and of course it has two excellent magnet programs (math/science and CAP), but its mind-boggling size can be an issue for some students. Too big.

Einstein is a much more accessible school IMO and has a wonderful IB program, a fabulous visual arts program, and a lot of great extracurriculars.

People also seem to like Northwood.

We live in the DCC and when we moved here we thought it would be an "issue," that we might revisit living here when our kids got older. Well, they are now in HS and MS and they are thriving - so we are not going anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does one compare iffy schools? For example, Wakefield HS in Arlington is a 4 on GreatSchools, compared to Stuart High School in Fairfax County, which is also a 4, or Mount Vernon High School, with another 4. All three of these are lower than Falls Church HS with a 5 on GreatSchools and Annandale High School with a 7.

I've never heard of "GreatSchools" but did want to say you could do a lot worse in this area than Falls Church HS...

[Anonymous]

OP a lot depends on your child. Smart WITH a strong character, I wouldn't sweat it. My dc has a weak spine and average intellect, that is why we are moving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does one compare iffy schools? For example, Wakefield HS in Arlington is a 4 on GreatSchools, compared to Stuart High School in Fairfax County, which is also a 4, or Mount Vernon High School, with another 4. All three of these are lower than Falls Church HS with a 5 on GreatSchools and Annandale High School with a 7.

I've never heard of "GreatSchools" but did want to say you could do a lot worse in this area than Falls Church HS...

http://www.greatschools.org/virginia/falls-church/

[Anonymous]

All this theory about tolerance, diversity and "exposure to others"... Kids see right through that, stereotypes are lived up to, and "diversity" becomes "dispersity" fast. You should ask an int'l student or family what they think of diversity in their U.S. schools, you'll get a real dose of reality.

Meanwhile, half the school budget it going towards nothing that will help an attentive child's learning or progress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All this theory about tolerance, diversity and "exposure to others"... Kids see right through that, stereotypes are lived up to, and "diversity" becomes "dispersity" fast. You should ask an int'l student or family what they think of diversity in their U.S. schools, you'll get a real dose of reality.

Meanwhile, half the school budget it going towards nothing that will help an attentive child's learning or progress.

As a European...Americans are known for TOO much DRAMA ..so I send my kid to a DC Public school and she is the BEST in her class (of course).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP, I am also in the same pyramid. We haven't decided what to do yet in terms of schools but haven't ruled out our public schools. I grew up in the DC area and went to public schools which were at the time considered "iffy" and in which I was a minority as a white person and most people didn't speak English and yada yada yada. DCUM would not have approved I went on to get a 4.0 in high school and went to an excellent college and have done well in life. I am not bragging or looking to go into a big private v public debate, I am just saying that many people can do just fine in "iffy" public schools. We are staying put and going to make the best of it because we love our house and neighborhood and commute and will do the best we can.

But didn't you read the post earlier? Some DCUMs want more than "fine" for their children. Insert eyeroll here.

I'm like the PP. I went to MVHS, which at the time was "fine" but nothing stellar. I'd guess by DCUM standards, I'm doing pretty well (sucessful attorney making over $300K/year; happily married; three great children).

I don't know why people, whose kids aren't even attending the schools yet, freak out about these things. If you love your house/community, then at least give the public schools a shot. You may surprise yourself by how good they are. And you know what? Title I schools and schools with large FARMs populations tend to have smaller class sizes and better resources. Seriously. Compare the class sizes to some of the elementary schools in the Langley pyramid. Much smaller.

Now, if you have a child at the public school who isn't doing well, then by all means, consider moving or private.

I don't understand the fixation with class size here. It's like everyone believes smaller class size is inherently better when in fact the empirical research proves teachers don't change their teaching styles based on class size and thus there's no relationship between class size and achievement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does one compare iffy schools? For example, Wakefield HS in Arlington is a 4 on GreatSchools, compared to Stuart High School in Fairfax County, which is also a 4, or Mount Vernon High School, with another 4. All three of these are lower than Falls Church HS with a 5 on GreatSchools and Annandale High School with a 7.

I've never heard of "GreatSchools" but did want to say you could do a lot worse in this area than Falls Church HS...

http://www.greatschools.org/virginia/falls-church/

WRONG schools. OP is not in FCC. I think JEB Stuart is probably the right high school for OP.

[Anonymous]

The FCC high school is George Mason. Falls Church High School is part of Fairfax County. JEB Stuart is their athletic rival.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP a lot depends on your child. Smart WITH a strong character, I wouldn't sweat it. My dc has a weak spine and average intellect, that is why we are moving.

Poor kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP a lot depends on your child. Smart WITH a strong character, I wouldn't sweat it. My dc has a weak spine and average intellect, that is why we are moving.

Poor kid.

+1 This kid has a lot more to worry about than poor schools.

[Anonymous]

Some researchers have not found a connection between smaller classes and higher student achievement, but MOST of the research shows that when class size reduction programs are well-designed and implemented in the primary grades (K-3), student achievement rises as class size drops.

If teachers do not change their teaching styles based on class size, then they are not being professional nor adroit. Also, a change in teaching style is not the only thing, nor even the main thing, that is appealing and beneficial about small class size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All this theory about tolerance, diversity and "exposure to others"... Kids see right through that, stereotypes are lived up to, and "diversity" becomes "dispersity" fast. You should ask an int'l student or family what they think of diversity in their U.S. schools, you'll get a real dose of reality.

Meanwhile, half the school budget it going towards nothing that will help an attentive child's learning or progress.

As a European...Americans are known for TOO much DRAMA ..so I send my kid to a DC Public school and she is the BEST in her class (of course).

Let me guess, it was either a charter, Wilson, Deal, Banneker, or Ellington at the MS/HS level, or a charter or JKLM elementary.