What’s so special about McLean schools

[Anonymous]

Isn’t the curriculum supposed to be the same across FCPS. Wondering if it is worth emptying out our savings to buy a $2m house in McLean for better schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t the curriculum supposed to be the same across FCPS. Wondering if it is worth emptying out our savings to buy a $2m house in McLean for better schools.

You do not have to spend $2M to get into McLean schools.

One of the main reasons McLean is more expensive is its location for commutes. The schools are great, but there are excellent schools in other areas where the housing prices are lower, but then the commutes tend to be longer.

[Anonymous]

The people are rich. This leads to high scores. There is nothing magical about the schools. Any similarly situated school would do the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t the curriculum supposed to be the same across FCPS. Wondering if it is worth emptying out our savings to buy a $2m house in McLean for better schools.

The curriculum is not the same across FCPS. There is very little standardization in Fairfax. There are county and state standards that are the same. How they are taught changes from school to school and teacher to teacher. Also each child is ready for lessons on those standards at different times.

[Anonymous]

Students are mostly children of two college educated parents who value education, and have the means to fund extracurricular activities and enrichment. Therefore, The schools have higher test scores and more advanced students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t the curriculum supposed to be the same across FCPS. Wondering if it is worth emptying out our savings to buy a $2m house in McLean for better schools.

The curriculum is not the same across FCPS. There is very little standardization in Fairfax. There are county and state standards that are the same. How they are taught changes from school to school and teacher to teacher. Also each child is ready for lessons on those standards at different times.

This.

[Anonymous]

Most kids are college bound in Mclean schools. That raises the bar for everyone.There is less bullying and fights than most schools. kids aren't going to meet ms13 gang members or get jumped on the way home or at night. Kids make connections with people and families who can open doors in the future. That is why people paid millions of dollars to raise their kids in Mclean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most kids are college bound in Mclean schools. That raises the bar for everyone.There is less bullying and fights than most schools. kids aren't going to meet ms13 gang members or get jumped on the way home or at night. Kids make connections with people and families who can open doors in the future. That is why people paid millions of dollars to raise their kids in Mclean.

Most of the people who live in Mclean have not spent millions of dollars to live here. Some have, but it is not a majority.

[Anonymous]

It is very characteristic of DCUM that your choices here are described as either spending $2M or risking your kid getting jumped at night or targeted by ms13. This is ludicrous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t the curriculum supposed to be the same across FCPS. Wondering if it is worth emptying out our savings to buy a $2m house in McLean for better schools.

The curriculum is not the same across FCPS. There is very little standardization in Fairfax. There are county and state standards that are the same. How they are taught changes from school to school and teacher to teacher. Also each child is ready for lessons on those standards at different times.

This.

I agree as well. We moved from Centreville to McLean and the kids immediately felt additional school pressure, with more demanding homework and shorter due dates. It was pretty dramatic.

[Anonymous]

26% of students in grades 9-12 in McLean (22101) go private so many parents agree there is nothing special about Mclean public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:26% of students in grades 9-12 in McLean (22101) go private so many parents agree there is nothing special about Mclean public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:26% of students in grades 9-12 in McLean (22101) go private so many parents agree there is nothing special about Mclean public schools.

That’s based on ACS data with a 6% margin of error.

Expensive areas often are correlated with higher than average private school enrollment. The similar ACS figures for Bethesda/20816 and Chevy Chase/20815 in Maryland are 37% and 40%, respectively.

[Anonymous]

It lacks special Ed kids, minorities, and ESOL kids so the scores are really high. Sort or like TJ, but you don't need to apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It lacks special Ed kids, minorities, and ESOL kids so the scores are really high. Sort or like TJ, but you don't need to apply.

Don't forget that it does not have poor kids either, sort of like TJ.