FCPS school decline

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to accept the fact that FCPS is in free fall. There is no fixing it without voting in a school board that will lead, find a competent superintendent, and ensure worthless layers of middle management are eliminated to provide funding to hire and retain excellent teachers.

FCPS uses technology very poorly and burdens teachers with a myriad of non-teaching duties.

Given the political makeup of Fairfax County, that is very likely to happen, so if you have the means it is time to go private.

I have been hearing this complaint since I moved here in 1987. Some people will always believe it. Some will eventually see the light when their kids go off to college and see how well prepared or not they are.

My DD called home the first semester of college to tell me how stupid all the non- NoVA kids were.

NP.
I moved to NoVa because I had to compete against those kids in college. I moved away because, as a teacher, I saw that FCPS isn’t what it used to be.

I went into an IEP meeting at a different school and saw first hand what an IEP meeting is supposed to be. I had been in many as an FCPS teacher that weren’t as well-run. It blew me away. Made me embarrassed to have worked for the county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to FCPS this year from a New England state. I was told to prepare myself for poor schooling for my kid.

My fourth grade had a fantastic year. There were three field trips, one to Jamestown. There were multiplication and division daily fact practice. There were many book clubs, five paragraph essays, and daily use of agendas. There were spelling tests and homework. My kid finished the year with a grade level musical. I’m not sure what people are complaining about.

Could you name your ES or the HS pyramid? You got a good one.

Madison Pyramid

Which school? Madison and Thoreau are in free fall. I find it hard to believe. Fcps hasn’t done spelling tests in years. Most elementary schools are not teaching five paragraph essays today or even years ago.

ES teacher here. Every kid in FCPS should have a word study block and a spelling test every 5 days. At least in grades 3-6. The county put forth a scripted curriculum with words. My students have also written 5 paragraph essays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to FCPS this year from a New England state. I was told to prepare myself for poor schooling for my kid.

My fourth grade had a fantastic year. There were three field trips, one to Jamestown. There were multiplication and division daily fact practice. There were many book clubs, five paragraph essays, and daily use of agendas. There were spelling tests and homework. My kid finished the year with a grade level musical. I’m not sure what people are complaining about.

It happens every year before elections.

Republicans try to whip up some hysteria about schools, crime, gays, etc.

Like clockwork.

Yep. Because some ignorant dummies fall for it. Every.Single.Time.

FCPS isn't perfect. No school or district is. But it is hardly in decline or some sort of free fall. The kids I know in college have all been prepared, did well, and have commented that they were light years ahead of kids from many other areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to FCPS this year from a New England state. I was told to prepare myself for poor schooling for my kid.

My fourth grade had a fantastic year. There were three field trips, one to Jamestown. There were multiplication and division daily fact practice. There were many book clubs, five paragraph essays, and daily use of agendas. There were spelling tests and homework. My kid finished the year with a grade level musical. I’m not sure what people are complaining about.

It happens every year before elections.

Republicans try to whip up some hysteria about schools, crime, gays, etc.

Like clockwork.

Yep. Because some ignorant dummies fall for it. Every.Single.Time.

FCPS isn't perfect. No school or district is. But it is hardly in decline or some sort of free fall. The kids I know in college have all been prepared, did well, and have commented that they were light years ahead of kids from many other areas.

We're complaining about grade school o this thread, mostly, which has always been FCPS' weak point and has gotten a lot worse. You can brag about kids currently in college - good for them. Can't their younger siblings and neighbors get the same experience? Why not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to FCPS this year from a New England state. I was told to prepare myself for poor schooling for my kid.

My fourth grade had a fantastic year. There were three field trips, one to Jamestown. There were multiplication and division daily fact practice. There were many book clubs, five paragraph essays, and daily use of agendas. There were spelling tests and homework. My kid finished the year with a grade level musical. I’m not sure what people are complaining about.

It happens every year before elections.

Republicans try to whip up some hysteria about schools, crime, gays, etc.

Like clockwork.

Yep. Because some ignorant dummies fall for it. Every.Single.Time.

FCPS isn't perfect. No school or district is. But it is hardly in decline or some sort of free fall. The kids I know in college have all been prepared, did well, and have commented that they were light years ahead of kids from many other areas.

DP. It may not be in “free fall” but FCPS absolutely is declining. The senior administration is weak, the School Board is an abomination. While school-based teachers and administrators try to make up the difference, parents aren’t fooled and can see the lack of focus on academics, the frustrated teachers, and the abysmal planning.

[Anonymous]

The decline began in the 90s but was relatively confined to schools inside the beltway and inner-ring Fairfax County suburbs. Low-income areas of Reston also began to see issues in the 90s.

The decline began to spread outside the beltway when the illegal immigrant population boomed in the mid to late 2000s. Places like Herndon, West Potomac, central Springfield, and parts of Fairfax/Chantilly/Centreville were hard hit and the aftermath of that produced "pariah" elementary schools in those pyramids.

The recession and generational/demographic change in western Fairfax transformed many schools in the area.

The horrible school board could care less about these issues and honestly seems intent on destroying the remaining batches of Fairfax with good schools and stability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The decline began in the 90s but was relatively confined to schools inside the beltway and inner-ring Fairfax County suburbs. Low-income areas of Reston also began to see issues in the 90s.

The decline began to spread outside the beltway when the illegal immigrant population boomed in the mid to late 2000s. Places like Herndon, West Potomac, central Springfield, and parts of Fairfax/Chantilly/Centreville were hard hit and the aftermath of that produced "pariah" elementary schools in those pyramids.

The recession and generational/demographic change in western Fairfax transformed many schools in the area.

The horrible school board could care less about these issues and honestly seems intent on destroying the remaining batches of Fairfax with good schools and stability.

Not snark but how would you realistically address these issues PP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to FCPS this year from a New England state. I was told to prepare myself for poor schooling for my kid.

My fourth grade had a fantastic year. There were three field trips, one to Jamestown. There were multiplication and division daily fact practice. There were many book clubs, five paragraph essays, and daily use of agendas. There were spelling tests and homework. My kid finished the year with a grade level musical. I’m not sure what people are complaining about.

It happens every year before elections.

Republicans try to whip up some hysteria about schools, crime, gays, etc.

Like clockwork.

Yep. Because some ignorant dummies fall for it. Every.Single.Time.

FCPS isn't perfect. No school or district is. But it is hardly in decline or some sort of free fall. The kids I know in college have all been prepared, did well, and have commented that they were light years ahead of kids from many other areas.

DP. It may not be in “free fall” but FCPS absolutely is declining. The senior administration is weak, the School Board is an abomination. While school-based teachers and administrators try to make up the difference, parents aren’t fooled and can see the lack of focus on academics, the frustrated teachers, and the abysmal planning.

the downward slide really isn’t up for debate, but I will say that FCPS is not an anomaly. We have seen similar trends in other districts and in other states.

The answer is always the same though. It’s about the parents.

They are the only ones who can close the gaps. And they are the only ones that can overcome the failed policies implemented in a local school in spite of the SB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to FCPS this year from a New England state. I was told to prepare myself for poor schooling for my kid.

My fourth grade had a fantastic year. There were three field trips, one to Jamestown. There were multiplication and division daily fact practice. There were many book clubs, five paragraph essays, and daily use of agendas. There were spelling tests and homework. My kid finished the year with a grade level musical. I’m not sure what people are complaining about.

Could you name your ES or the HS pyramid? You got a good one.

Madison Pyramid

I’d bet it’s the smallest ES in the Madison Pyramid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The decline began in the 90s but was relatively confined to schools inside the beltway and inner-ring Fairfax County suburbs. Low-income areas of Reston also began to see issues in the 90s.

The decline began to spread outside the beltway when the illegal immigrant population boomed in the mid to late 2000s. Places like Herndon, West Potomac, central Springfield, and parts of Fairfax/Chantilly/Centreville were hard hit and the aftermath of that produced "pariah" elementary schools in those pyramids.

The recession and generational/demographic change in western Fairfax transformed many schools in the area.

The horrible school board could care less about these issues and honestly seems intent on destroying the remaining batches of Fairfax with good schools and stability.

Not snark but how would you realistically address these issues PP?

Most of the solutions to these problems would be up to the state, federal and local government, I.E., stopping Illegal Mass-Migration, enforcing proper zoning laws. The one thing I don't understand is why the school board is allowing 20 years old in mainstream schools when there is specially an adult high school for these people. Some people have also brought up an idea to specially create ESOL schools, so these high-need services don't disrupt the accreditation of mainstream schools which impact things like property values. Also, basic discipline needs to be enforced rather than an "equity" agenda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to accept the fact that FCPS is in free fall. There is no fixing it without voting in a school board that will lead, find a competent superintendent, and ensure worthless layers of middle management are eliminated to provide funding to hire and retain excellent teachers.

FCPS uses technology very poorly and burdens teachers with a myriad of non-teaching duties.

Given the political makeup of Fairfax County, that is very likely to happen, so if you have the means it is time to go private.

+1000

Michelle Reid is just Scott Braband 2.0.

Along with the extremist school board, they are destroying this once-great school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My rising 5th grader didn't get to go to Jamestown. I'm pretty pissed about that.

+1 same

Other schools went. Ours didn’t.

Not all schools go to Jamestown. I taught 4th grade for a few years about 7-9 years ago and we didn’t go. I don’t ever remember the 4th graders going to Jamestown.

My current school has never gone to Jamestown. My last school did - they went to Williamsburg in the same trip (the farms rate was about 10%). It cost $70 per person. This is why my current school has never gone. Parents at Title 1 schools don’t have that kind of money to spare. And no, there is no money from the school or the virtually non-existent PTA.

In fact, for some grades in my school there is ZERO money from the school to go on any field trips (but I’ve seen it in the county budget plans so that’s always confusing). And you can’t go far because you leave at 9:30 and have to be back at 1:00.

I'm the first person that complained about Jamestown. Our PTA could afford to send the entire 4th grade at $70/kid, they have an excess of funds every year -- far more than the $7000 it would have cost to send 4th grade to Jamestown.

So why not complain to your PTA? Better yet, run to be on the PTA board to help make these decisions.

Because it wasn't a PTA decision, it was a school decision. The PTA can't pay for a field trip that teachers don't want to plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to accept the fact that FCPS is in free fall. There is no fixing it without voting in a school board that will lead, find a competent superintendent, and ensure worthless layers of middle management are eliminated to provide funding to hire and retain excellent teachers.

FCPS uses technology very poorly and burdens teachers with a myriad of non-teaching duties.

Given the political makeup of Fairfax County, that is very likely to happen, so if you have the means it is time to go private.

+1000

Michelle Reid is just Scott Braband 2.0.

Along with the extremist school board, they are destroying this once-great school system.

REPUBLICAN TROLL ALERT. HAPPENS EVERY SUMMER BEFORE AN ELECTION

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The decline began in the 90s but was relatively confined to schools inside the beltway and inner-ring Fairfax County suburbs. Low-income areas of Reston also began to see issues in the 90s.

The decline began to spread outside the beltway when the illegal immigrant population boomed in the mid to late 2000s. Places like Herndon, West Potomac, central Springfield, and parts of Fairfax/Chantilly/Centreville were hard hit and the aftermath of that produced "pariah" elementary schools in those pyramids.

The recession and generational/demographic change in western Fairfax transformed many schools in the area.

The horrible school board could care less about these issues and honestly seems intent on destroying the remaining batches of Fairfax with good schools and stability.

Not snark but how would you realistically address these issues PP?

Most of the solutions to these problems would be up to the state, federal and local government, I.E., stopping Illegal Mass-Migration, enforcing proper zoning laws. The one thing I don't understand is why the school board is allowing 20 years old in mainstream schools when there is specially an adult high school for these people. Some people have also brought up an idea to specially create ESOL schools, so these high-need services don't disrupt the accreditation of mainstream schools which impact things like property values. Also, basic discipline needs to be enforced rather than an "equity" agenda.

republican troll alert alert alert

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The decline began in the 90s but was relatively confined to schools inside the beltway and inner-ring Fairfax County suburbs. Low-income areas of Reston also began to see issues in the 90s.

The decline began to spread outside the beltway when the illegal immigrant population boomed in the mid to late 2000s. Places like Herndon, West Potomac, central Springfield, and parts of Fairfax/Chantilly/Centreville were hard hit and the aftermath of that produced "pariah" elementary schools in those pyramids.

The recession and generational/demographic change in western Fairfax transformed many schools in the area.

The horrible school board could care less about these issues and honestly seems intent on destroying the remaining batches of Fairfax with good schools and stability.

Not snark but how would you realistically address these issues PP?

Most of the solutions to these problems would be up to the state, federal and local government, I.E., stopping Illegal Mass-Migration, enforcing proper zoning laws. The one thing I don't understand is why the school board is allowing 20 years old in mainstream schools when there is specially an adult high school for these people. Some people have also brought up an idea to specially create ESOL schools, so these high-need services don't disrupt the accreditation of mainstream schools which impact things like property values. Also, basic discipline needs to be enforced rather than an "equity" agenda.

republican troll alert alert alert

What is wrong with wanting to stop illegal mass migration? It causes a lot of strain on our schools because we have to take in these kids that don't speak English and maybe have never been in a school. It's fine if you have one kid like that in a class but what do you do if there are like 10 at once? How is that not something to consider as being a problem?