New VDOE Rankings of High and Secondary Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If FCPS decides tomorrow that anyone living in Fairfax County can attend Langley, McLean, or Oakton HS but no transportation will be provided, I wonder how many families who are currently living outside the Langley, McLean, or Oakton pyramid would be willing to send their kids to these schools?

I'd venture to say not that many. The realities of commuting around here and middle class America working 9-5s likely wouldn't make it that easy...unless you just happen to work at CIA or some other corporate office in tysons.

I say many would, especially Asian/Hispanic parents who live in seven corners with kids in Justice HS, would definitely get large vans to transport multiple kids who live there to Langley/McLean HS if given that choice. It is less than a twenty-minute drive from seven corners to McLean HS, and probably twenty-five minutes to Langley HS.

Are you driving at 3am?

I live in McLean at the intersection of Chain Bridge/Westmoreland, and my dental office is at Seven Corners in Falls Church. I leave the house at 7am and get to the office at 7:25am.

[Anonymous]

Yorktown High in Arlington is ahead of all Fairfax high schools but Langley and Oakton and Williamsburg Middle and Nottingham Elementary in Arlington are both higher than any middle or elementary school in all of Fairfax County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Langley parents are now arguing on the FairFACTS page that they can’t be moved to Herndon because Herndon is in the “off track” category.

In fact, the opposite will happen because redistricting some Langley kids there will push Herndon into the “on track” category (above 80).

When that happens they can think Youngkin for further incentivizing the School Board to game the numbers with these new ratings.

Those Langley parents are elitists and no better than the MAGA they complain about when it comes to schools. Their kids are no different than the UMC and MC kids at Herndon except the Langley kids aren’t allowed out of their bubbles.

DP. Good grief, you sound charming. Why should kids be moved from an excellent to an underperforming school?

What difference does it make what other kids who attend the school's average test scores are? Because that's the only thing deciding those labels. As long as a school has a large enough cohort of peers (as both Langley and Herndon do) to offer 99% the same Honors/AP classes, the outcomes for a given student are going to be remarkably similar no matter which school they attend or what the kids are doing in the other classrooms. Like, if I'm taking AP US History, it doesn't matter if I'm in the only AP US History class at my school or if there are 3 other AP US History classes being taught concurrently at my school... nor how many of the other classrooms at my school are filled with kids struggling to meet grade level. Can 99.9% of kids reach their full academic potential at Herndon just as well as at Langley? Sure, and the "underperforming" label doesn't speak to that question... because it's not about the overall quality of school / instruction.

Where do your kids go to school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Langley parents are now arguing on the FairFACTS page that they can’t be moved to Herndon because Herndon is in the “off track” category.

In fact, the opposite will happen because redistricting some Langley kids there will push Herndon into the “on track” category (above 80).

When that happens they can think Youngkin for further incentivizing the School Board to game the numbers with these new ratings.

Those Langley parents are elitists and no better than the MAGA they complain about when it comes to schools. Their kids are no different than the UMC and MC kids at Herndon except the Langley kids aren’t allowed out of their bubbles.

Sorry you can’t afford it. I know that upsets you.

Ha! It actually doesn’t. I don’t want Langley kids at HHS. We opted not to live in that bubble, so thanks, we are good. Your kids might be special to you, but in the scheme of things, they aren’t as special as you think they are.

DP. You are certainly doing a good job of being insufferable. Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yorktown High in Arlington is ahead of all Fairfax high schools but Langley and Oakton and Williamsburg Middle and Nottingham Elementary in Arlington are both higher than any middle or elementary school in all of Fairfax County.

This is the FCPS thread and you are very weirdly off topic. No one cares about Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yorktown High in Arlington is ahead of all Fairfax high schools but Langley and Oakton and Williamsburg Middle and Nottingham Elementary in Arlington are both higher than any middle or elementary school in all of Fairfax County.

Yorktown HS is better than McLean HS? Are you on drugs? Yorktown is a good school but it is not at the same level as McLean HS. It is like saying a Toyota Camry (Yorktown) is just as good as a Lexus LS500, LOL....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Langley parents are now arguing on the FairFACTS page that they can’t be moved to Herndon because Herndon is in the “off track” category.

In fact, the opposite will happen because redistricting some Langley kids there will push Herndon into the “on track” category (above 80).

When that happens they can think Youngkin for further incentivizing the School Board to game the numbers with these new ratings.

Those Langley parents are elitists and no better than the MAGA they complain about when it comes to schools. Their kids are no different than the UMC and MC kids at Herndon except the Langley kids aren’t allowed out of their bubbles.

DP. Good grief, you sound charming. Why should kids be moved from an excellent to an underperforming school?

What difference does it make what other kids who attend the school's average test scores are? Because that's the only thing deciding those labels. As long as a school has a large enough cohort of peers (as both Langley and Herndon do) to offer 99% the same Honors/AP classes, the outcomes for a given student are going to be remarkably similar no matter which school they attend or what the kids are doing in the other classrooms. Like, if I'm taking AP US History, it doesn't matter if I'm in the only AP US History class at my school or if there are 3 other AP US History classes being taught concurrently at my school... nor how many of the other classrooms at my school are filled with kids struggling to meet grade level. Can 99.9% of kids reach their full academic potential at Herndon just as well as at Langley? Sure, and the "underperforming" label doesn't speak to that question... because it's not about the overall quality of school / instruction.

Where do your kids go to school?

Timber Lane (in McLean pyramid). We'll likely get rezoned to Marshall or Falls Church instead for HS, which are "lower rated" than McLean but I am confident my kids will get basically the same education there as they would have at McLean. The advantage is their MS/HS classmates and friends will also generally live closer and be more accessible for socializing, school projects, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yorktown High in Arlington is ahead of all Fairfax high schools but Langley and Oakton and Williamsburg Middle and Nottingham Elementary in Arlington are both higher than any middle or elementary school in all of Fairfax County.

Yorktown HS is better than McLean HS? Are you on drugs? Yorktown is a good school but it is not at the same level as McLean HS. It is like saying a Toyota Camry (Yorktown) is just as good as a Lexus LS500, LOL....

Well, according to the state of Virginia, yes, Yorktown is better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yorktown High in Arlington is ahead of all Fairfax high schools but Langley and Oakton and Williamsburg Middle and Nottingham Elementary in Arlington are both higher than any middle or elementary school in all of Fairfax County.

Yorktown HS is better than McLean HS? Are you on drugs? Yorktown is a good school but it is not at the same level as McLean HS. It is like saying a Toyota Camry (Yorktown) is just as good as a Lexus LS500, LOL....

Well, according to the state of Virginia, yes, Yorktown is better.

According to the initial VDOE ratings, Edison is "better" than Woodson, so they might have some work to do to iron out the kinks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Langley parents are now arguing on the FairFACTS page that they can’t be moved to Herndon because Herndon is in the “off track” category.

In fact, the opposite will happen because redistricting some Langley kids there will push Herndon into the “on track” category (above 80).

When that happens they can think Youngkin for further incentivizing the School Board to game the numbers with these new ratings.

Those Langley parents are elitists and no better than the MAGA they complain about when it comes to schools. Their kids are no different than the UMC and MC kids at Herndon except the Langley kids aren’t allowed out of their bubbles.

DP. Good grief, you sound charming. Why should kids be moved from an excellent to an underperforming school?

What difference does it make what other kids who attend the school's average test scores are? Because that's the only thing deciding those labels. As long as a school has a large enough cohort of peers (as both Langley and Herndon do) to offer 99% the same Honors/AP classes, the outcomes for a given student are going to be remarkably similar no matter which school they attend or what the kids are doing in the other classrooms. Like, if I'm taking AP US History, it doesn't matter if I'm in the only AP US History class at my school or if there are 3 other AP US History classes being taught concurrently at my school... nor how many of the other classrooms at my school are filled with kids struggling to meet grade level. Can 99.9% of kids reach their full academic potential at Herndon just as well as at Langley? Sure, and the "underperforming" label doesn't speak to that question... because it's not about the overall quality of school / instruction.

Where do your kids go to school?

Timber Lane (in McLean pyramid). We'll likely get rezoned to Marshall or Falls Church instead for HS, which are "lower rated" than McLean but I am confident my kids will get basically the same education there as they would have at McLean. The advantage is their MS/HS classmates and friends will also generally live closer and be more accessible for socializing, school projects, etc.

DP. You’re likely to get moved to fchs less likely to go to Marshall. Surprising that you’re okay with giving up McLean for that, but to each their own, I guess. I wish you well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Langley parents are now arguing on the FairFACTS page that they can’t be moved to Herndon because Herndon is in the “off track” category.

In fact, the opposite will happen because redistricting some Langley kids there will push Herndon into the “on track” category (above 80).

When that happens they can think Youngkin for further incentivizing the School Board to game the numbers with these new ratings.

Those Langley parents are elitists and no better than the MAGA they complain about when it comes to schools. Their kids are no different than the UMC and MC kids at Herndon except the Langley kids aren’t allowed out of their bubbles.

DP. Good grief, you sound charming. Why should kids be moved from an excellent to an underperforming school?

What difference does it make what other kids who attend the school's average test scores are? Because that's the only thing deciding those labels. As long as a school has a large enough cohort of peers (as both Langley and Herndon do) to offer 99% the same Honors/AP classes, the outcomes for a given student are going to be remarkably similar no matter which school they attend or what the kids are doing in the other classrooms. Like, if I'm taking AP US History, it doesn't matter if I'm in the only AP US History class at my school or if there are 3 other AP US History classes being taught concurrently at my school... nor how many of the other classrooms at my school are filled with kids struggling to meet grade level. Can 99.9% of kids reach their full academic potential at Herndon just as well as at Langley? Sure, and the "underperforming" label doesn't speak to that question... because it's not about the overall quality of school / instruction.

Where do your kids go to school?

Timber Lane (in McLean pyramid). We'll likely get rezoned to Marshall or Falls Church instead for HS, which are "lower rated" than McLean but I am confident my kids will get basically the same education there as they would have at McLean. The advantage is their MS/HS classmates and friends will also generally live closer and be more accessible for socializing, school projects, etc.

DP. You’re likely to get moved to fchs less likely to go to Marshall. Surprising that you’re okay with giving up McLean for that, but to each their own, I guess. I wish you well.

DP. If you buy in that area, you're OK with your kids going to an elementary school that is a split feeder and looks more like Falls Church HS than McLean HS, so it's not viewed the way that, say, Forestville families who've always been in the Langley pyramid look at getting moved to Herndon.

Plus, Falls Church will have the same AP courses as McLean and a nicer building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Langley parents are now arguing on the FairFACTS page that they can’t be moved to Herndon because Herndon is in the “off track” category.

In fact, the opposite will happen because redistricting some Langley kids there will push Herndon into the “on track” category (above 80).

When that happens they can think Youngkin for further incentivizing the School Board to game the numbers with these new ratings.

Those Langley parents are elitists and no better than the MAGA they complain about when it comes to schools. Their kids are no different than the UMC and MC kids at Herndon except the Langley kids aren’t allowed out of their bubbles.

DP. Good grief, you sound charming. Why should kids be moved from an excellent to an underperforming school?

What difference does it make what other kids who attend the school's average test scores are? Because that's the only thing deciding those labels. As long as a school has a large enough cohort of peers (as both Langley and Herndon do) to offer 99% the same Honors/AP classes, the outcomes for a given student are going to be remarkably similar no matter which school they attend or what the kids are doing in the other classrooms. Like, if I'm taking AP US History, it doesn't matter if I'm in the only AP US History class at my school or if there are 3 other AP US History classes being taught concurrently at my school... nor how many of the other classrooms at my school are filled with kids struggling to meet grade level. Can 99.9% of kids reach their full academic potential at Herndon just as well as at Langley? Sure, and the "underperforming" label doesn't speak to that question... because it's not about the overall quality of school / instruction.

Where do your kids go to school?

Timber Lane (in McLean pyramid). We'll likely get rezoned to Marshall or Falls Church instead for HS, which are "lower rated" than McLean but I am confident my kids will get basically the same education there as they would have at McLean. The advantage is their MS/HS classmates and friends will also generally live closer and be more accessible for socializing, school projects, etc.

DP. You’re likely to get moved to fchs less likely to go to Marshall. Surprising that you’re okay with giving up McLean for that, but to each their own, I guess. I wish you well.

DP. If you buy in that area, you're OK with your kids going to an elementary school that is a split feeder and looks more like Falls Church HS than McLean HS, so it's not viewed the way that, say, Forestville families who've always been in the Langley pyramid look at getting moved to Herndon.

Plus, Falls Church will have the same AP courses as McLean and a nicer building.

If given a choice, nobody would choose FCHS over McLean HS. FWIW, even Justice has a nicer building than McLean...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yorktown High in Arlington is ahead of all Fairfax high schools but Langley and Oakton and Williamsburg Middle and Nottingham Elementary in Arlington are both higher than any middle or elementary school in all of Fairfax County.

Yorktown HS is better than McLean HS? Are you on drugs? Yorktown is a good school but it is not at the same level as McLean HS. It is like saying a Toyota Camry (Yorktown) is just as good as a Lexus LS500, LOL....

Well, according to the state of Virginia, yes, Yorktown is better.

According to the initial VDOE ratings, Edison is "better" than Woodson, so they might have some work to do to iron out the kinks.

What makes you think Woodson has not fallen below Edison, other than preconceived notions and outdated rankings?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yorktown High in Arlington is ahead of all Fairfax high schools but Langley and Oakton and Williamsburg Middle and Nottingham Elementary in Arlington are both higher than any middle or elementary school in all of Fairfax County.

Yorktown HS is better than McLean HS? Are you on drugs? Yorktown is a good school but it is not at the same level as McLean HS. It is like saying a Toyota Camry (Yorktown) is just as good as a Lexus LS500, LOL....

Well, according to the state of Virginia, yes, Yorktown is better.

According to the initial VDOE ratings, Edison is "better" than Woodson, so they might have some work to do to iron out the kinks.

What makes you think Woodson has not fallen below Edison, other than preconceived notions and outdated rankings?

The data is clearly wrong; the calculations for these school rankings do not match test score data published elsewhere on the VDOE website.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to go out on a crazy limb here with a kid who goes to SLHS. I like IB because anyone can do it. I basically think AP has turned into a College Board money making scheme like the SAT. I thought this before I had a kid in HS. I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that we wouldn't be dealing with it.

This area is a big cash cow for the College Board. Do any of you ever think we are being played by these rankings? The most desirable schools have the most kids taking AP classes, so more money for the CB. But then it's harder to get into the top colleges because of the peer group is doing the same thing. So how is it really helping you in the end? If you are rich enough to live in these areas, then you can afford the college courses that an AP course may replace, so that's not a factor at these schools.

Other than bragging rights what do they get you in the end? Same with SAT scores. And I'm also not an advocate of IB either, kind of ambivalent. I'd rather bring back old school tracking and have the Honors courses be like the AP courses and take the CB out of it.