Culture at Carson vs. Franklin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Franklin’s after school activities absolutely suck compared to Carson’s.

Which ones? Can you give some examples of activities at both schools? I am struggling to find most listed on each school's websites. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Franklin’s after school activities absolutely suck compared to Carson’s.

Which ones? Can you give some examples of activities at both schools? I am struggling to find most listed on each school's websites. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place.

I found Franklin's grid of activities. How do I find Carson's activities?

[Anonymous]

This thread is dumb. Franklin would be every bit as "good" as Carson if the majority of Franklin's zoned AAP kids (and associated heavily involved families) weren't being stolen away because Carson is a magnet. Until the county takes away that option we are stuck with the status quo.

However, here is the list of current Carson after school activities: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGwzMS5YFw/6C7wFmwqIeHNnk6B1f66OA/edit?utm_campaign+=

[Anonymous]

^ replace "magnet" with "center" above. I used the wrong term.

[Anonymous]

Carson counseling staff was atrocious for transition to IB at Southlakes. Still cleaning up the mess from their incompetence and admin was not open to feedback (even from Southlakes guidance staff). It has been a few years since we were at Franklin, but back when my oldest was there it was a small AAP program. Same curriculum. Wish we had stayed the path.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Carson counseling staff was atrocious for transition to IB at Southlakes. Still cleaning up the mess from their incompetence and admin was not open to feedback (even from Southlakes guidance staff). It has been a few years since we were at Franklin, but back when my oldest was there it was a small AAP program. Same curriculum. Wish we had stayed the path.

I really wish Carson would assign one or two specific Counselors to the SLHS kids so that they could give good advice, the number of kids who were not prepared for the IB program is way too high. They still tell kids that they don't need to take a language in 8th grade when it is essential for completing the IB Diploma. They have had enough kids going to SLHS that the Counselors should better understand what those kids need. Even a cheat sheet of classes needed for IB would be useful. The first question should be "what HS will you be attending?" then pull out the guide for SLHS if the kids are going to SLHS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Carson counseling staff was atrocious for transition to IB at Southlakes. Still cleaning up the mess from their incompetence and admin was not open to feedback (even from Southlakes guidance staff). It has been a few years since we were at Franklin, but back when my oldest was there it was a small AAP program. Same curriculum. Wish we had stayed the path.

I really wish Carson would assign one or two specific Counselors to the SLHS kids so that they could give good advice, the number of kids who were not prepared for the IB program is way too high. They still tell kids that they don't need to take a language in 8th grade when it is essential for completing the IB Diploma. They have had enough kids going to SLHS that the Counselors should better understand what those kids need. Even a cheat sheet of classes needed for IB would be useful. The first question should be "what HS will you be attending?" then pull out the guide for SLHS if the kids are going to SLHS.

When we told the AP, she said and I quote “ We are a school of 1500 students. You cannot expect us to know everyone individually and their needs. It is your job as a parent to verify.” She also mispronounced my son’s name repeatedly. So dismissive and such an attitude. The problem is I did verify with the counselor and she gave the wrong information. We are now scrambling to figure out the foreign language situation.

[Anonymous]

This is probably same admin that told us that “most students like yours choose TJ and that is why the bulk of our preparation energy is spent there.” My husband thinks this was said because we are Indian. I want to believe it is because our student is smart. There is a culture issue for sure at the school, but we believe it is with the staff not the students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Carson counseling staff was atrocious for transition to IB at Southlakes. Still cleaning up the mess from their incompetence and admin was not open to feedback (even from Southlakes guidance staff). It has been a few years since we were at Franklin, but back when my oldest was there it was a small AAP program. Same curriculum. Wish we had stayed the path.

I really wish Carson would assign one or two specific Counselors to the SLHS kids so that they could give good advice, the number of kids who were not prepared for the IB program is way too high. They still tell kids that they don't need to take a language in 8th grade when it is essential for completing the IB Diploma. They have had enough kids going to SLHS that the Counselors should better understand what those kids need. Even a cheat sheet of classes needed for IB would be useful. The first question should be "what HS will you be attending?" then pull out the guide for SLHS if the kids are going to SLHS.

]

But I bet you would be very much against sending your child to Hughes, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is probably same admin that told us that “most students like yours choose TJ and that is why the bulk of our preparation energy is spent there.” My husband thinks this was said because we are Indian. I want to believe it is because our student is smart. There is a culture issue for sure at the school, but we believe it is with the staff not the students.

We are Indian, no one has ever said this to our children at Carson. BUT our kids aren't AAP, and I know a lot of AAP families are a little cuckoo when it comes to TJ. Personally, I am looking forward to having AAP at every middle school so that we can get back to focusing on all kids, not just the AAP kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Carson counseling staff was atrocious for transition to IB at Southlakes. Still cleaning up the mess from their incompetence and admin was not open to feedback (even from Southlakes guidance staff). It has been a few years since we were at Franklin, but back when my oldest was there it was a small AAP program. Same curriculum. Wish we had stayed the path.

I really wish Carson would assign one or two specific Counselors to the SLHS kids so that they could give good advice, the number of kids who were not prepared for the IB program is way too high. They still tell kids that they don't need to take a language in 8th grade when it is essential for completing the IB Diploma. They have had enough kids going to SLHS that the Counselors should better understand what those kids need. Even a cheat sheet of classes needed for IB would be useful. The first question should be "what HS will you be attending?" then pull out the guide for SLHS if the kids are going to SLHS.

]

But I bet you would be very much against sending your child to Hughes, right?

Yup, Hughes lacks the same opportunities as Carson. I also want SLHS to not be an IB school, I would strongly prefer an AP school. We are looking at the possibility of pupil placing because we don't think that IB is a good fit for our kid. Carson is our base school; we did not move our child to Carson but have been very happy there. Our kid has been challenged and enjoys extracurricular activities that are not available at Hughes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Carson counseling staff was atrocious for transition to IB at Southlakes. Still cleaning up the mess from their incompetence and admin was not open to feedback (even from Southlakes guidance staff). It has been a few years since we were at Franklin, but back when my oldest was there it was a small AAP program. Same curriculum. Wish we had stayed the path.

I really wish Carson would assign one or two specific Counselors to the SLHS kids so that they could give good advice, the number of kids who were not prepared for the IB program is way too high. They still tell kids that they don't need to take a language in 8th grade when it is essential for completing the IB Diploma. They have had enough kids going to SLHS that the Counselors should better understand what those kids need. Even a cheat sheet of classes needed for IB would be useful. The first question should be "what HS will you be attending?" then pull out the guide for SLHS if the kids are going to SLHS.

When we told the AP, she said and I quote “ We are a school of 1500 students. You cannot expect us to know everyone individually and their needs. It is your job as a parent to verify.” She also mispronounced my son’s name repeatedly. So dismissive and such an attitude. The problem is I did verify with the counselor and she gave the wrong information. We are now scrambling to figure out the foreign language situation.

My response would have been "You don't have to know my child, but you do need to know what the IB program at SLHS requires so you can provide good guidance to kids who are going to be attending SLHS." I pretty much said that to the Chair of the foreign language department at the 6th grade parent visit to Carson. They had a paper that did not mention that IB candidates would need 5 years of foreign language, and she said in her conversation that there is no rush for kids to start a foreign language in MS because they can take 4 years in HS. I spoke up at that meeting because I know SLHS parents who were not aware of that and were surprised because they had asked about the language requirement before registering for 8th grade classes and were told they didn't need to worry about taking a language in 8th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had one go through AAP at Carson and I have one doing honors at Franklin. I’m going to be honest, most of the teachers at Franklin seem mediocre. At Carson I felt the teachers were very unique, creative and understood kids better. The Carson teachers seemed to have better credentials too. Carson was also organized and like a well oiled machine. In contrast, we have found Franklin too laid back and unorganized. The kids don’t seem to understand how anything works at the school, including the after school activities.

Franklin also has some bizarre rules such as - kids must go to the gym or cafeteria when they arrive in the am and are only released at 8:25…that’s not enough time to go to lockers. They also can’t go to their lockers before recess to put away their backpacks (backpacks with computers go outside in hot or cold weather and stay on the dirty ground). Kids also aren’t allowed to go to their lockers after lunch - my child reports a high strung teacher always yelling at them when they are simply putting their lunch boxes away in their lockers. Carson encourages locker use which I like. More chances to socialize. I guess Franklin is scared of fights? The kids are more problematic maybe?

Several schools are doing that thing with sending kids to the gym or cafeteria in the morning this year. That's not just a Franklin thing.

I've sent kids through both schools, so I feel confident saying the following:

1. There are both mediocre and outstanding teachers at both schools.

2. Neither school has teachers who are more qualified or have higher credentials.

3. Both schools have teachers who are extremely talented and engaging, just as both schools have teachers who are less than engaging.

4. The population of the schools are virtually identical. Neither school has kids that are more "problematic." It's actually pretty disturbing that an adult would describe a child as "problematic."

I wish Franklin would encourage locker use, but they don't seem to. That's the only negative thing I have to say about Franklin as a whole.

Hard disagree on #2. By better credentials, I mean better universities or colleges. For example, at Carson off the top of my head I can think of 2 teachers who went to W&M and UVA. There were also a few who went to JMU. In contrast, Franklin teachers failed to mention their education at Back to School Night which I found interesting.

Funny that you mention this. My experience from BTSN had teachers from those schools you listed. Perhaps you were not paying attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had one go through AAP at Carson and I have one doing honors at Franklin. I’m going to be honest, most of the teachers at Franklin seem mediocre. At Carson I felt the teachers were very unique, creative and understood kids better. The Carson teachers seemed to have better credentials too. Carson was also organized and like a well oiled machine. In contrast, we have found Franklin too laid back and unorganized. The kids don’t seem to understand how anything works at the school, including the after school activities.

Franklin also has some bizarre rules such as - kids must go to the gym or cafeteria when they arrive in the am and are only released at 8:25…that’s not enough time to go to lockers. They also can’t go to their lockers before recess to put away their backpacks (backpacks with computers go outside in hot or cold weather and stay on the dirty ground). Kids also aren’t allowed to go to their lockers after lunch - my child reports a high strung teacher always yelling at them when they are simply putting their lunch boxes away in their lockers. Carson encourages locker use which I like. More chances to socialize. I guess Franklin is scared of fights? The kids are more problematic maybe?

Several schools are doing that thing with sending kids to the gym or cafeteria in the morning this year. That's not just a Franklin thing.

I've sent kids through both schools, so I feel confident saying the following:

1. There are both mediocre and outstanding teachers at both schools.

2. Neither school has teachers who are more qualified or have higher credentials.

3. Both schools have teachers who are extremely talented and engaging, just as both schools have teachers who are less than engaging.

4. The population of the schools are virtually identical. Neither school has kids that are more "problematic." It's actually pretty disturbing that an adult would describe a child as "problematic."

I wish Franklin would encourage locker use, but they don't seem to. That's the only negative thing I have to say about Franklin as a whole.

Hard disagree on #2. By better credentials, I mean better universities or colleges. For example, at Carson off the top of my head I can think of 2 teachers who went to W&M and UVA. There were also a few who went to JMU. In contrast, Franklin teachers failed to mention their education at Back to School Night which I found interesting.

Funny that you mention this. My experience from BTSN had teachers from those schools you listed. Perhaps you were not paying attention.

+1 I know my child and her best friend have at least one teacher who went to UVA, one who went to VT, and one who went to W&M. My older child had both an English teacher and a Civics teacher who went to JMU.

As has been stated repeatedly, it is not unusual for any school to be staffed with UVA, VT, JMU, W&M, and other VA university alumni.

[Anonymous]

We have been unimpressed with many of the teachers at Franklin. The math teachers are not good at all (both math 7 Honors and Algebra) and neither are the history teachers. It’s actually embarassing how bad they are.