Rezoning from Jackson to Thoreau

[Anonymous]

Some thoughts:

First meeting was tonight. Seems like the overwhelming input form Oakton ES was "YES -- ASAP."

If Oakton ES, Mosby Woods and the remaining part of Marshall Road are re-zoned to Thoreau, Jackson will no longer be a feeder to Oakton HS. Jackson will be feeding Falls Church only (I think). The only exception would be AAP kids zoned for Thoreau who choose Jackson. I can see why LJMS would want to keep its status as a center (to draw in some high scoring AAP kids into their mix), but socially, it might not be advantageous for the Oakton-bound AAP kids b/c they wouldn't know very many other kids when they arrive at Oakton HS. But, maybe that doesn't matter as much. The Oakton-bound AAP who go to Thoreau will have a much bigger cohort of kids moving on to HS b/c there will be about 300+ kids moving from Thoreau to Oakton.

LJMS is going to take a big hit with SES and test pass rates. But, if nothing happens, then it isn't fair to the LJMS kids either b/c they are over-crowded and the neighboring school is far under-capacity. Re-zoning based on completely neutral factors (i.e. distance, numbers, etc.) may very well have an effect that makes LJMS much less diverse and lower income. I guess that's the real effect of housing on schools (i.e. apartments = more minority, less HHI; SFH = more white, higher SES).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some thoughts:

First meeting was tonight. Seems like the overwhelming input form Oakton ES was "YES -- ASAP."

If Oakton ES, Mosby Woods and the remaining part of Marshall Road are re-zoned to Thoreau, Jackson will no longer be a feeder to Oakton HS. Jackson will be feeding Falls Church only (I think). The only exception would be AAP kids zoned for Thoreau who choose Jackson. I can see why LJMS would want to keep its status as a center (to draw in some high scoring AAP kids into their mix), but socially, it might not be advantageous for the Oakton-bound AAP kids b/c they wouldn't know very many other kids when they arrive at Oakton HS. But, maybe that doesn't matter as much. The Oakton-bound AAP who go to Thoreau will have a much bigger cohort of kids moving on to HS b/c there will be about 300+ kids moving from Thoreau to Oakton.

LJMS is going to take a big hit with SES and test pass rates. But, if nothing happens, then it isn't fair to the LJMS kids either b/c they are over-crowded and the neighboring school is far under-capacity. Re-zoning based on completely neutral factors (i.e. distance, numbers, etc.) may very well have an effect that makes LJMS much less diverse and lower income. I guess that's the real effect of housing on schools (i.e. apartments = more minority, less HHI; SFH = more white, higher SES).

Seems like this will have a really negative impact on the remaining Gen Ed kids at Jackson.

[Anonymous]

What other feeder middle schools could be included in this rezoning? To balance things out better?

[Anonymous]

When will the next meetings be held?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some thoughts:

First meeting was tonight. Seems like the overwhelming input form Oakton ES was "YES -- ASAP."

If Oakton ES, Mosby Woods and the remaining part of Marshall Road are re-zoned to Thoreau, Jackson will no longer be a feeder to Oakton HS. Jackson will be feeding Falls Church only (I think). The only exception would be AAP kids zoned for Thoreau who choose Jackson. I can see why LJMS would want to keep its status as a center (to draw in some high scoring AAP kids into their mix), but socially, it might not be advantageous for the Oakton-bound AAP kids b/c they wouldn't know very many other kids when they arrive at Oakton HS. But, maybe that doesn't matter as much. The Oakton-bound AAP who go to Thoreau will have a much bigger cohort of kids moving on to HS b/c there will be about 300+ kids moving from Thoreau to Oakton.

LJMS is going to take a big hit with SES and test pass rates. But, if nothing happens, then it isn't fair to the LJMS kids either b/c they are over-crowded and the neighboring school is far under-capacity. Re-zoning based on completely neutral factors (i.e. distance, numbers, etc.) may very well have an effect that makes LJMS much less diverse and lower income. I guess that's the real effect of housing on schools (i.e. apartments = more minority, less HHI; SFH = more white, higher SES).

Seems like this will have a really negative impact on the remaining Gen Ed kids at Jackson.

yes and no. One could argue that the base school kids (non-aap kids) at Jackson don't have much interaction with the upper middle class AAP kids b/c they are in separate classes for the most part. So, on paper, it would look like a down grade for LJMS, but in reality, the "new" demographics might be a more accurate picture of what it is like for the average kid at LJMS. Sometimes having a center at a school can mask the true needs/demographics/SOLpass rates of the base school (for better and for worse).

If the two groups don't really interact much, it might not matter on a day to day basis for the average kid.... might actually draw more resources to their needs. This happened in another AAP elem. school I know of -- it was finally qualified as Title I (with extra funds) b/c they excluded the AAP center kids for the Title I application b/c they were making the school appear less needy than it was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When will the next meetings be held?

June 15 at Mosby Woods
June 21 at Marshall Road

The reality is that Thoreau has excess space for 450 kids. Jackson has 300+ (and expected to increase) too many students. Jackson has 17 trailers now and will have 2 more next year, as well as taking some space inside the building to make into classrooms. LJMS is literally bursting at the seems. Thoreau has no trailers, recently renovated. FCPS chose Oakton, Mosby Woods and the remainder of Marshall Road b/c they are the farthest from LJMS. They are the most logical choice to take out of Jackson (as well as those who have opt-in rights based on AAP).

[Anonymous]

As the crow flies, Thoreau is no closer to Oakton ES than Jackson.

[Anonymous]

Thoreau is closer to Oakton Mosby and Marshall. It will pass because LJMS is too overcrowded. There must be fire code violations that no one is taking about or refusing to talk about.

My kids will go to LJMS for AAP though/the center is amazing!

[Anonymous]

LJMS is very diverse. It pulls from FCHS zones ES that are diverse. Re zoning 3 schools won't change it as much as you think!

[Anonymous]

What about the Wolftrap and Westbriar kids who are split zoned to Kilmer and then Madison? They are also in an overcrowded middle school?

[Anonymous]

Not as bad as Jackson overcrowding and Thoreau is under capacity and closer for all 3 schools noted. We drive by cedar (Thoreau is on cedar) on the way to Jackson. Not sure about wolf trap and westbriar issue, but both are much closer to Kilmer than Thoreau.

[Anonymous]

This is really a capacity and geographic issue. Why have buses drive by one school to get to another? Also, I think the county needs to seriously look at rezoning in general. Pretty much you put a thumbtack on each school and draw lines-please no more islands. Madison and Oakton both have very odd boundaries. Time to redo. SES and skin color should not play a factor.

[Anonymous]

When is the rezoning expected to take place?

[Anonymous]

any chance the Oakton ES kids will get rezoned to Madison HS?

[Anonymous]

No. Why would they?