The Carmel HS Video Vs. FCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been to a lot of different middle and high schools for travel basketball this season, and the condition of most of the schools is kind of depressing.

Exact situation with here and I have been shocked at how grimy/dirty/depressing the school buildings are...Annandale HS did not have working heat in its upstairs gym, Edison HS, LIberty MS, Jackson MS...all just grimy and depressing. The schools in Gainesville are lovely.

Gainesville was the boonies until the last 10-15 years. I would take a look at the population increase and age of it's schools. Of course they are newer and nicer, the area has all this new money from more and more suburban development. Same with Loudoun. Once it is fully built out, like Fairfax has been for decades, and the schools start to age and there is no more space for new development, the same problems will arise. This entire thread is built on an apples to oranges comparison. You really have to do the comparison with other school systems who have the same conditions. Then we can really peel back the layers and see if other places are truly doing it better. And then learn from them.

The problem is that people come up with argument like this and insist on “apples-to-apples” comparisons when the main focus ought to be on why the apple is now so bruised and about ready to be thrown into the garbage bin.

It’s one variation after another on the notion that the county is just now too old or too poor to have nice things any longer. Since schools were once one of the main reasons to live in this county, it’s a self-defeating line of argument.

PP from above. I think the county should do both of those things. But the reality is that Fairfax County is not, will never, and shouldn't ever, be a rich homogenous enclave a single mega school to fund. So why should we keep going green with envy over it. Better to study those districts similar to ours who have the nice things and see what they are doing and emulate it. While simultaneously trying to study and remediate what went wrong. Many call it the "Continuous Improvement Plan" and governments and corporations who are successful do it.

Well, that’s fair. Start with Montgomery County. It’s another large, aging county with poorer demographics now than Fairfax, yet they just built a brand-new Seneca Valley HS, have a new Crown HS in the works, and will be reopened a new Woodward HS.

I’m not suggesting it’s all rosy there because they also have some older, neglected schools but even so they are doing a better job than moribund and incompetent FCPS. Why? Is it because they are more generous and willing to invest more in their children? Do they have better planners or better lawyers? Are their BOE members more civic-minded and not narrow-minded hypocrites like so many of the FCPS School Board members?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why we need vouchers, public schools have no accountability for how they spent their money, we are fed up and are thinking of moving to private even thought we are in the best mclean high pyramid

What private school do you plan on attending with your 10k voucher? Do you think that Catholic schools are going to double capacity?

Good private schools would expand, and new private schools will be built since there would be a market. Perhaps they could acquire vacant government school buildings as people overwhelmingly shift to private and FCPS enrollment plummets.

Good private schools cost $40k a year plus and have more applicants than seats. They haven't expanded to meet demand and there is no reason to think the will. As far as new schools, the economics don't work at $18k (probably less because the average spend includes ELL and special ed students who cost far more) a year.

DP. Some schools won’t expand because selectivity is part of their brand but education is a market and there will be more supply (private school alternatives) if the demand increases. And the demand can arise even if a state contribution is a partial subsidy rather than a full subsidy.

FCPS has operated far too long as if it has a monopoly and, while that has never really been the case, the consequences of that type of thinking are starting to become more apparent.

If you're correct then why haven't any new privates opened? Basis is the only one. Surely if the demand is there, then someone would have taken advantage if all of these families who were desperate to leave could. Maybe it's because most schools in FCPS are good to excellent and those that aren't have families that couldn't remotely afford private school even with a voucher

Let’s see. Basis opened. Paul VI expanded and moved from Fairfax to Loudoun. Oakcrest expanded and moved from McLean to Vienna. Flint Hill and Trinity at Mountain View are getting more attention. The ups and downs at Basis show it’s not easy to establish a strong reputation for quality, but you’d be wrong if you don’t think FCPS is not pushing more people to explore alternatives, including private schools.

So a school moved from Fairfax to Loudon and Basis opened in 2016 and that's your evidence of demand? Flint Hill and Trinity have been around forever and may be getting attention, but they aren't exactly growing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been to a lot of different middle and high schools for travel basketball this season, and the condition of most of the schools is kind of depressing.

Exact situation with here and I have been shocked at how grimy/dirty/depressing the school buildings are...Annandale HS did not have working heat in its upstairs gym, Edison HS, LIberty MS, Jackson MS...all just grimy and depressing. The schools in Gainesville are lovely.

Gainesville was the boonies until the last 10-15 years. I would take a look at the population increase and age of it's schools. Of course they are newer and nicer, the area has all this new money from more and more suburban development. Same with Loudoun. Once it is fully built out, like Fairfax has been for decades, and the schools start to age and there is no more space for new development, the same problems will arise. This entire thread is built on an apples to oranges comparison. You really have to do the comparison with other school systems who have the same conditions. Then we can really peel back the layers and see if other places are truly doing it better. And then learn from them.

The problem is that people come up with argument like this and insist on “apples-to-apples” comparisons when the main focus ought to be on why the apple is now so bruised and about ready to be thrown into the garbage bin.

It’s one variation after another on the notion that the county is just now too old or too poor to have nice things any longer. Since schools were once one of the main reasons to live in this county, it’s a self-defeating line of argument.

PP from above. I think the county should do both of those things. But the reality is that Fairfax County is not, will never, and shouldn't ever, be a rich homogenous enclave a single mega school to fund. So why should we keep going green with envy over it. Better to study those districts similar to ours who have the nice things and see what they are doing and emulate it. While simultaneously trying to study and remediate what went wrong. Many call it the "Continuous Improvement Plan" and governments and corporations who are successful do it.

Well, that’s fair. Start with Montgomery County. It’s another large, aging county with poorer demographics now than Fairfax, yet they just built a brand-new Seneca Valley HS, have a new Crown HS in the works, and will be reopened a new Woodward HS.

I’m not suggesting it’s all rosy there because they also have some older, neglected schools but even so they are doing a better job than moribund and incompetent FCPS. Why? Is it because they are more generous and willing to invest more in their children? Do they have better planners or better lawyers? Are their BOE members more civic-minded and not narrow-minded hypocrites like so many of the FCPS School Board members?

Fairfax has multiple schools either being renovated now, recently renovated, of slated to be renovated soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been to a lot of different middle and high schools for travel basketball this season, and the condition of most of the schools is kind of depressing.

Exact situation with here and I have been shocked at how grimy/dirty/depressing the school buildings are...Annandale HS did not have working heat in its upstairs gym, Edison HS, LIberty MS, Jackson MS...all just grimy and depressing. The schools in Gainesville are lovely.

Gainesville was the boonies until the last 10-15 years. I would take a look at the population increase and age of it's schools. Of course they are newer and nicer, the area has all this new money from more and more suburban development. Same with Loudoun. Once it is fully built out, like Fairfax has been for decades, and the schools start to age and there is no more space for new development, the same problems will arise. This entire thread is built on an apples to oranges comparison. You really have to do the comparison with other school systems who have the same conditions. Then we can really peel back the layers and see if other places are truly doing it better. And then learn from them.

The problem is that people come up with argument like this and insist on “apples-to-apples” comparisons when the main focus ought to be on why the apple is now so bruised and about ready to be thrown into the garbage bin.

It’s one variation after another on the notion that the county is just now too old or too poor to have nice things any longer. Since schools were once one of the main reasons to live in this county, it’s a self-defeating line of argument.

PP from above. I think the county should do both of those things. But the reality is that Fairfax County is not, will never, and shouldn't ever, be a rich homogenous enclave a single mega school to fund. So why should we keep going green with envy over it. Better to study those districts similar to ours who have the nice things and see what they are doing and emulate it. While simultaneously trying to study and remediate what went wrong. Many call it the "Continuous Improvement Plan" and governments and corporations who are successful do it.

Well, that’s fair. Start with Montgomery County. It’s another large, aging county with poorer demographics now than Fairfax, yet they just built a brand-new Seneca Valley HS, have a new Crown HS in the works, and will be reopened a new Woodward HS.

I’m not suggesting it’s all rosy there because they also have some older, neglected schools but even so they are doing a better job than moribund and incompetent FCPS. Why? Is it because they are more generous and willing to invest more in their children? Do they have better planners or better lawyers? Are their BOE members more civic-minded and not narrow-minded hypocrites like so many of the FCPS School Board members?

Fairfax has multiple schools either being renovated now, recently renovated, of slated to be renovated soon.

Try to keep up. MoCo is opening multiple new high schools. FCPS twiddles its thumbs w/plans to consign kids to schools with 3000 kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why we need vouchers, public schools have no accountability for how they spent their money, we are fed up and are thinking of moving to private even thought we are in the best mclean high pyramid

What private school do you plan on attending with your 10k voucher? Do you think that Catholic schools are going to double capacity?

Good private schools would expand, and new private schools will be built since there would be a market. Perhaps they could acquire vacant government school buildings as people overwhelmingly shift to private and FCPS enrollment plummets.

Good private schools cost $40k a year plus and have more applicants than seats. They haven't expanded to meet demand and there is no reason to think the will. As far as new schools, the economics don't work at $18k (probably less because the average spend includes ELL and special ed students who cost far more) a year.

DP. Some schools won’t expand because selectivity is part of their brand but education is a market and there will be more supply (private school alternatives) if the demand increases. And the demand can arise even if a state contribution is a partial subsidy rather than a full subsidy.

FCPS has operated far too long as if it has a monopoly and, while that has never really been the case, the consequences of that type of thinking are starting to become more apparent.

If you're correct then why haven't any new privates opened? Basis is the only one. Surely if the demand is there, then someone would have taken advantage if all of these families who were desperate to leave could. Maybe it's because most schools in FCPS are good to excellent and those that aren't have families that couldn't remotely afford private school even with a voucher

Let’s see. Basis opened. Paul VI expanded and moved from Fairfax to Loudoun. Oakcrest expanded and moved from McLean to Vienna. Flint Hill and Trinity at Mountain View are getting more attention. The ups and downs at Basis show it’s not easy to establish a strong reputation for quality, but you’d be wrong if you don’t think FCPS is not pushing more people to explore alternatives, including private schools.

So a school moved from Fairfax to Loudon and Basis opened in 2016 and that's your evidence of demand? Flint Hill and Trinity have been around forever and may be getting attention, but they aren't exactly growing

I guess you missed the part about some schools moving so they could expand their enrollments, and at a time when FCPS was losing thousands of students. Of course, there are barriers to entry but increasing local demand should lead over time to an increasing supply of private alternatives (unless people just respond to FCPS’s incompetence and decline by moving to other areas with better managed public school systems).

[Anonymous]

It would be nice if each high school pyramid ran it then selves

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been to a lot of different middle and high schools for travel basketball this season, and the condition of most of the schools is kind of depressing.

Exact situation with here and I have been shocked at how grimy/dirty/depressing the school buildings are...Annandale HS did not have working heat in its upstairs gym, Edison HS, LIberty MS, Jackson MS...all just grimy and depressing. The schools in Gainesville are lovely.

Gainesville was the boonies until the last 10-15 years. I would take a look at the population increase and age of it's schools. Of course they are newer and nicer, the area has all this new money from more and more suburban development. Same with Loudoun. Once it is fully built out, like Fairfax has been for decades, and the schools start to age and there is no more space for new development, the same problems will arise. This entire thread is built on an apples to oranges comparison. You really have to do the comparison with other school systems who have the same conditions. Then we can really peel back the layers and see if other places are truly doing it better. And then learn from them.

The problem is that people come up with argument like this and insist on “apples-to-apples” comparisons when the main focus ought to be on why the apple is now so bruised and about ready to be thrown into the garbage bin.

It’s one variation after another on the notion that the county is just now too old or too poor to have nice things any longer. Since schools were once one of the main reasons to live in this county, it’s a self-defeating line of argument.

PP from above. I think the county should do both of those things. But the reality is that Fairfax County is not, will never, and shouldn't ever, be a rich homogenous enclave a single mega school to fund. So why should we keep going green with envy over it. Better to study those districts similar to ours who have the nice things and see what they are doing and emulate it. While simultaneously trying to study and remediate what went wrong. Many call it the "Continuous Improvement Plan" and governments and corporations who are successful do it.

Well, that’s fair. Start with Montgomery County. It’s another large, aging county with poorer demographics now than Fairfax, yet they just built a brand-new Seneca Valley HS, have a new Crown HS in the works, and will be reopened a new Woodward HS.

I’m not suggesting it’s all rosy there because they also have some older, neglected schools but even so they are doing a better job than moribund and incompetent FCPS. Why? Is it because they are more generous and willing to invest more in their children? Do they have better planners or better lawyers? Are their BOE members more civic-minded and not narrow-minded hypocrites like so many of the FCPS School Board members?

Fairfax has multiple schools either being renovated now, recently renovated, of slated to be renovated soon.

Try to keep up. MoCo is opening multiple new high schools. FCPS twiddles its thumbs w/plans to consign kids to schools with 3000 kids.

Even PGCPS spends money on state of the art brand new high school buildings. Suitland HS: https://www.google.com/amp/s/wjla.com/amp/news/local/ground-broken-for-new-suitland-high-school-as-pgcps-student-performance-numbers-fail-monica-goldson

[Anonymous]

Pretty impressive school profile for Carmel HS, with 90 percent of AP scores 3 or higher, SATs over 1200 and ACT almost 27. Tons of NMS.

https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1674234343/ccsk12inus/p1qbhz586jakdkitvrpv/CHSProfile22-23FINAL.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been to a lot of different middle and high schools for travel basketball this season, and the condition of most of the schools is kind of depressing.

Exact situation with here and I have been shocked at how grimy/dirty/depressing the school buildings are...Annandale HS did not have working heat in its upstairs gym, Edison HS, LIberty MS, Jackson MS...all just grimy and depressing. The schools in Gainesville are lovely.

Gainesville was the boonies until the last 10-15 years. I would take a look at the population increase and age of it's schools. Of course they are newer and nicer, the area has all this new money from more and more suburban development. Same with Loudoun. Once it is fully built out, like Fairfax has been for decades, and the schools start to age and there is no more space for new development, the same problems will arise. This entire thread is built on an apples to oranges comparison. You really have to do the comparison with other school systems who have the same conditions. Then we can really peel back the layers and see if other places are truly doing it better. And then learn from them.

The problem is that people come up with argument like this and insist on “apples-to-apples” comparisons when the main focus ought to be on why the apple is now so bruised and about ready to be thrown into the garbage bin.

It’s one variation after another on the notion that the county is just now too old or too poor to have nice things any longer. Since schools were once one of the main reasons to live in this county, it’s a self-defeating line of argument.

PP from above. I think the county should do both of those things. But the reality is that Fairfax County is not, will never, and shouldn't ever, be a rich homogenous enclave a single mega school to fund. So why should we keep going green with envy over it. Better to study those districts similar to ours who have the nice things and see what they are doing and emulate it. While simultaneously trying to study and remediate what went wrong. Many call it the "Continuous Improvement Plan" and governments and corporations who are successful do it.

Well, that’s fair. Start with Montgomery County. It’s another large, aging county with poorer demographics now than Fairfax, yet they just built a brand-new Seneca Valley HS, have a new Crown HS in the works, and will be reopened a new Woodward HS.

I’m not suggesting it’s all rosy there because they also have some older, neglected schools but even so they are doing a better job than moribund and incompetent FCPS. Why? Is it because they are more generous and willing to invest more in their children? Do they have better planners or better lawyers? Are their BOE members more civic-minded and not narrow-minded hypocrites like so many of the FCPS School Board members?

Fairfax has multiple schools either being renovated now, recently renovated, of slated to be renovated soon.

Try to keep up. MoCo is opening multiple new high schools. FCPS twiddles its thumbs w/plans to consign kids to schools with 3000 kids.

Even PGCPS spends money on state of the art brand new high school buildings. Suitland HS: https://www.google.com/amp/s/wjla.com/amp/news/local/ground-broken-for-new-suitland-high-school-as-pgcps-student-performance-numbers-fail-monica-goldson

Housing is affordable there if you’re jealous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been to a lot of different middle and high schools for travel basketball this season, and the condition of most of the schools is kind of depressing.

Exact situation with here and I have been shocked at how grimy/dirty/depressing the school buildings are...Annandale HS did not have working heat in its upstairs gym, Edison HS, LIberty MS, Jackson MS...all just grimy and depressing. The schools in Gainesville are lovely.

Gainesville was the boonies until the last 10-15 years. I would take a look at the population increase and age of it's schools. Of course they are newer and nicer, the area has all this new money from more and more suburban development. Same with Loudoun. Once it is fully built out, like Fairfax has been for decades, and the schools start to age and there is no more space for new development, the same problems will arise. This entire thread is built on an apples to oranges comparison. You really have to do the comparison with other school systems who have the same conditions. Then we can really peel back the layers and see if other places are truly doing it better. And then learn from them.

The problem is that people come up with argument like this and insist on “apples-to-apples” comparisons when the main focus ought to be on why the apple is now so bruised and about ready to be thrown into the garbage bin.

It’s one variation after another on the notion that the county is just now too old or too poor to have nice things any longer. Since schools were once one of the main reasons to live in this county, it’s a self-defeating line of argument.

PP from above. I think the county should do both of those things. But the reality is that Fairfax County is not, will never, and shouldn't ever, be a rich homogenous enclave a single mega school to fund. So why should we keep going green with envy over it. Better to study those districts similar to ours who have the nice things and see what they are doing and emulate it. While simultaneously trying to study and remediate what went wrong. Many call it the "Continuous Improvement Plan" and governments and corporations who are successful do it.

Well, that’s fair. Start with Montgomery County. It’s another large, aging county with poorer demographics now than Fairfax, yet they just built a brand-new Seneca Valley HS, have a new Crown HS in the works, and will be reopened a new Woodward HS.

I’m not suggesting it’s all rosy there because they also have some older, neglected schools but even so they are doing a better job than moribund and incompetent FCPS. Why? Is it because they are more generous and willing to invest more in their children? Do they have better planners or better lawyers? Are their BOE members more civic-minded and not narrow-minded hypocrites like so many of the FCPS School Board members?

Now we're talking. I agree I'm 100% underwhelmed by our board. I'd love to know in MD if they got any type of aid from the state or federal government that was used for renovations. I'd also love to know if the new schools were bond initiatives and the county is now in debt after building them. Someone also referenced PG County...they have lower property values than us and some pockets of real poverty, more than what we have. I wonder how they did their long term planning as well. I wish there were 30 hours in a day so I could investigate all of this...LOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been to a lot of different middle and high schools for travel basketball this season, and the condition of most of the schools is kind of depressing.

Exact situation with here and I have been shocked at how grimy/dirty/depressing the school buildings are...Annandale HS did not have working heat in its upstairs gym, Edison HS, LIberty MS, Jackson MS...all just grimy and depressing. The schools in Gainesville are lovely.

Gainesville was the boonies until the last 10-15 years. I would take a look at the population increase and age of it's schools. Of course they are newer and nicer, the area has all this new money from more and more suburban development. Same with Loudoun. Once it is fully built out, like Fairfax has been for decades, and the schools start to age and there is no more space for new development, the same problems will arise. This entire thread is built on an apples to oranges comparison. You really have to do the comparison with other school systems who have the same conditions. Then we can really peel back the layers and see if other places are truly doing it better. And then learn from them.

The problem is that people come up with argument like this and insist on “apples-to-apples” comparisons when the main focus ought to be on why the apple is now so bruised and about ready to be thrown into the garbage bin.

It’s one variation after another on the notion that the county is just now too old or too poor to have nice things any longer. Since schools were once one of the main reasons to live in this county, it’s a self-defeating line of argument.

PP from above. I think the county should do both of those things. But the reality is that Fairfax County is not, will never, and shouldn't ever, be a rich homogenous enclave a single mega school to fund. So why should we keep going green with envy over it. Better to study those districts similar to ours who have the nice things and see what they are doing and emulate it. While simultaneously trying to study and remediate what went wrong. Many call it the "Continuous Improvement Plan" and governments and corporations who are successful do it.

Well, that’s fair. Start with Montgomery County. It’s another large, aging county with poorer demographics now than Fairfax, yet they just built a brand-new Seneca Valley HS, have a new Crown HS in the works, and will be reopened a new Woodward HS.

I’m not suggesting it’s all rosy there because they also have some older, neglected schools but even so they are doing a better job than moribund and incompetent FCPS. Why? Is it because they are more generous and willing to invest more in their children? Do they have better planners or better lawyers? Are their BOE members more civic-minded and not narrow-minded hypocrites like so many of the FCPS School Board members?

Fairfax has multiple schools either being renovated now, recently renovated, of slated to be renovated soon.

The renovation queue is a joke. When is Mclean going to be renovated?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been to a lot of different middle and high schools for travel basketball this season, and the condition of most of the schools is kind of depressing.

Exact situation with here and I have been shocked at how grimy/dirty/depressing the school buildings are...Annandale HS did not have working heat in its upstairs gym, Edison HS, LIberty MS, Jackson MS...all just grimy and depressing. The schools in Gainesville are lovely.

Gainesville was the boonies until the last 10-15 years. I would take a look at the population increase and age of it's schools. Of course they are newer and nicer, the area has all this new money from more and more suburban development. Same with Loudoun. Once it is fully built out, like Fairfax has been for decades, and the schools start to age and there is no more space for new development, the same problems will arise. This entire thread is built on an apples to oranges comparison. You really have to do the comparison with other school systems who have the same conditions. Then we can really peel back the layers and see if other places are truly doing it better. And then learn from them.

The problem is that people come up with argument like this and insist on “apples-to-apples” comparisons when the main focus ought to be on why the apple is now so bruised and about ready to be thrown into the garbage bin.

It’s one variation after another on the notion that the county is just now too old or too poor to have nice things any longer. Since schools were once one of the main reasons to live in this county, it’s a self-defeating line of argument.

PP from above. I think the county should do both of those things. But the reality is that Fairfax County is not, will never, and shouldn't ever, be a rich homogenous enclave a single mega school to fund. So why should we keep going green with envy over it. Better to study those districts similar to ours who have the nice things and see what they are doing and emulate it. While simultaneously trying to study and remediate what went wrong. Many call it the "Continuous Improvement Plan" and governments and corporations who are successful do it.

Well, that’s fair. Start with Montgomery County. It’s another large, aging county with poorer demographics now than Fairfax, yet they just built a brand-new Seneca Valley HS, have a new Crown HS in the works, and will be reopened a new Woodward HS.

I’m not suggesting it’s all rosy there because they also have some older, neglected schools but even so they are doing a better job than moribund and incompetent FCPS. Why? Is it because they are more generous and willing to invest more in their children? Do they have better planners or better lawyers? Are their BOE members more civic-minded and not narrow-minded hypocrites like so many of the FCPS School Board members?

Fairfax has multiple schools either being renovated now, recently renovated, of slated to be renovated soon.

The renovation queue is a joke. When is Mclean going to be renovated?

I hear a lot of references to McLean High School needed a renovation. Is it just overcrowded and has a lot of trailers? Or is the building actually becoming non-functional? No snark implied, I'm just really curious what the issues are. Are there pictures?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been to a lot of different middle and high schools for travel basketball this season, and the condition of most of the schools is kind of depressing.

Exact situation with here and I have been shocked at how grimy/dirty/depressing the school buildings are...Annandale HS did not have working heat in its upstairs gym, Edison HS, LIberty MS, Jackson MS...all just grimy and depressing. The schools in Gainesville are lovely.

Gainesville was the boonies until the last 10-15 years. I would take a look at the population increase and age of it's schools. Of course they are newer and nicer, the area has all this new money from more and more suburban development. Same with Loudoun. Once it is fully built out, like Fairfax has been for decades, and the schools start to age and there is no more space for new development, the same problems will arise. This entire thread is built on an apples to oranges comparison. You really have to do the comparison with other school systems who have the same conditions. Then we can really peel back the layers and see if other places are truly doing it better. And then learn from them.

The problem is that people come up with argument like this and insist on “apples-to-apples” comparisons when the main focus ought to be on why the apple is now so bruised and about ready to be thrown into the garbage bin.

It’s one variation after another on the notion that the county is just now too old or too poor to have nice things any longer. Since schools were once one of the main reasons to live in this county, it’s a self-defeating line of argument.

PP from above. I think the county should do both of those things. But the reality is that Fairfax County is not, will never, and shouldn't ever, be a rich homogenous enclave a single mega school to fund. So why should we keep going green with envy over it. Better to study those districts similar to ours who have the nice things and see what they are doing and emulate it. While simultaneously trying to study and remediate what went wrong. Many call it the "Continuous Improvement Plan" and governments and corporations who are successful do it.

Well, that’s fair. Start with Montgomery County. It’s another large, aging county with poorer demographics now than Fairfax, yet they just built a brand-new Seneca Valley HS, have a new Crown HS in the works, and will be reopened a new Woodward HS.

I’m not suggesting it’s all rosy there because they also have some older, neglected schools but even so they are doing a better job than moribund and incompetent FCPS. Why? Is it because they are more generous and willing to invest more in their children? Do they have better planners or better lawyers? Are their BOE members more civic-minded and not narrow-minded hypocrites like so many of the FCPS School Board members?

Fairfax has multiple schools either being renovated now, recently renovated, of slated to be renovated soon.

The renovation queue is a joke. When is Mclean going to be renovated?

I hear a lot of references to McLean High School needed a renovation. Is it just overcrowded and has a lot of trailers? Or is the building actually becoming non-functional? No snark implied, I'm just really curious what the issues are. Are there pictures?

The issue is that it's arguably the best or second-best high school in Fairfax, and lots of posters have kids there. So of course there are lots of posts about it, and a lot of the posts are complaints.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We have been to a lot of different middle and high schools for travel basketball this season, and the condition of most of the schools is kind of depressing.

Exact situation with here and I have been shocked at how grimy/dirty/depressing the school buildings are...Annandale HS did not have working heat in its upstairs gym, Edison HS, LIberty MS, Jackson MS...all just grimy and depressing. The schools in Gainesville are lovely.

Gainesville was the boonies until the last 10-15 years. I would take a look at the population increase and age of it's schools. Of course they are newer and nicer, the area has all this new money from more and more suburban development. Same with Loudoun. Once it is fully built out, like Fairfax has been for decades, and the schools start to age and there is no more space for new development, the same problems will arise. This entire thread is built on an apples to oranges comparison. You really have to do the comparison with other school systems who have the same conditions. Then we can really peel back the layers and see if other places are truly doing it better. And then learn from them.

The problem is that people come up with argument like this and insist on “apples-to-apples” comparisons when the main focus ought to be on why the apple is now so bruised and about ready to be thrown into the garbage bin.

It’s one variation after another on the notion that the county is just now too old or too poor to have nice things any longer. Since schools were once one of the main reasons to live in this county, it’s a self-defeating line of argument.

PP from above. I think the county should do both of those things. But the reality is that Fairfax County is not, will never, and shouldn't ever, be a rich homogenous enclave a single mega school to fund. So why should we keep going green with envy over it. Better to study those districts similar to ours who have the nice things and see what they are doing and emulate it. While simultaneously trying to study and remediate what went wrong. Many call it the "Continuous Improvement Plan" and governments and corporations who are successful do it.

Well, that’s fair. Start with Montgomery County. It’s another large, aging county with poorer demographics now than Fairfax, yet they just built a brand-new Seneca Valley HS, have a new Crown HS in the works, and will be reopened a new Woodward HS.

I’m not suggesting it’s all rosy there because they also have some older, neglected schools but even so they are doing a better job than moribund and incompetent FCPS. Why? Is it because they are more generous and willing to invest more in their children? Do they have better planners or better lawyers? Are their BOE members more civic-minded and not narrow-minded hypocrites like so many of the FCPS School Board members?

Fairfax has multiple schools either being renovated now, recently renovated, of slated to be renovated soon.

The renovation queue is a joke. When is Mclean going to be renovated?

I hear a lot of references to McLean High School needed a renovation. Is it just overcrowded and has a lot of trailers? Or is the building actually becoming non-functional? No snark implied, I'm just really curious what the issues are. Are there pictures?

It's overcrowded, but not falling apart. It had a renovation in the early 2000s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been to a lot of different middle and high schools for travel basketball this season, and the condition of most of the schools is kind of depressing.

Exact situation with here and I have been shocked at how grimy/dirty/depressing the school buildings are...Annandale HS did not have working heat in its upstairs gym, Edison HS, LIberty MS, Jackson MS...all just grimy and depressing. The schools in Gainesville are lovely.

Gainesville was the boonies until the last 10-15 years. I would take a look at the population increase and age of it's schools. Of course they are newer and nicer, the area has all this new money from more and more suburban development. Same with Loudoun. Once it is fully built out, like Fairfax has been for decades, and the schools start to age and there is no more space for new development, the same problems will arise. This entire thread is built on an apples to oranges comparison. You really have to do the comparison with other school systems who have the same conditions. Then we can really peel back the layers and see if other places are truly doing it better. And then learn from them.

The problem is that people come up with argument like this and insist on “apples-to-apples” comparisons when the main focus ought to be on why the apple is now so bruised and about ready to be thrown into the garbage bin.

It’s one variation after another on the notion that the county is just now too old or too poor to have nice things any longer. Since schools were once one of the main reasons to live in this county, it’s a self-defeating line of argument.

PP from above. I think the county should do both of those things. But the reality is that Fairfax County is not, will never, and shouldn't ever, be a rich homogenous enclave a single mega school to fund. So why should we keep going green with envy over it. Better to study those districts similar to ours who have the nice things and see what they are doing and emulate it. While simultaneously trying to study and remediate what went wrong. Many call it the "Continuous Improvement Plan" and governments and corporations who are successful do it.

Well, that’s fair. Start with Montgomery County. It’s another large, aging county with poorer demographics now than Fairfax, yet they just built a brand-new Seneca Valley HS, have a new Crown HS in the works, and will be reopened a new Woodward HS.

I’m not suggesting it’s all rosy there because they also have some older, neglected schools but even so they are doing a better job than moribund and incompetent FCPS. Why? Is it because they are more generous and willing to invest more in their children? Do they have better planners or better lawyers? Are their BOE members more civic-minded and not narrow-minded hypocrites like so many of the FCPS School Board members?

Now we're talking. I agree I'm 100% underwhelmed by our board. I'd love to know in MD if they got any type of aid from the state or federal government that was used for renovations. I'd also love to know if the new schools were bond initiatives and the county is now in debt after building them. Someone also referenced PG County...they have lower property values than us and some pockets of real poverty, more than what we have. I wonder how they did their long term planning as well. I wish there were 30 hours in a day so I could investigate all of this...LOL.

I believe PG County gets some money from the state for school projects in addition to the school bonds voters pass. Suitland High School looks like it will be truly incredible when finished and it’s in a lower middle class part of the county.

Here’s the new Severna Park High School on Anne Arunnel County MD: https://www.gwwoinc.com/projects/severna-park-high-school