Luther Jackson Middle school safety/advice?

[Anonymous]

The next six months will give us more answers.

The info. we have right now is that some people have had a great experience there and others have not. I don't know why exactly, but I know that there are a sizable number of current 7th graders who have chosen to transfer to Thoreau next year for 8th grade. I suspect it may be close to 50 based on the unexpectedly large number of students Thoreau has coming next year. These rising 8th graders have first hand experience on what it is like at LJ. Normally, if people were happy, they would stay at their school for the whole two years that middle school lasts. So, it does make you wonder why these kids voted with their feet.

I guess we'll all know more when the enrollment numbers come out in the fall, and when those at LJ have the benefit of additional space.

[Anonymous]

What is your source for this information? All antecdotal?

[Anonymous]

Acquaintance who has a rising 8th grader said there was a big group planning to transfer. Then TMS announced that it was had already registered 250+ more kids for next year -- which included 8th graders who were not expected to transfer in. The fcps projections were for about 150 kids to be added this fall ( just the rezoned rising 7th graders) and 150 more in fall 2019 (*total of 300). That TMS is taking on 250+ this fall is substantial and fits with the report from current LJ parent re:transfers....and the same was confirmed by TMS admin (without an exact number).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very have vs. have nots.

True, the AP students are practically segregated from those students for whom LJ is a base school and yes, base school skews Hispanic, FARMS, ESL program and truthfully, most all of the disciplinary problems.

Do you have A Student there?

Staff

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Acquaintance who has a rising 8th grader said there was a big group planning to transfer. Then TMS announced that it was had already registered 250+ more kids for next year -- which included 8th graders who were not expected to transfer in. The fcps projections were for about 150 kids to be added this fall ( just the rezoned rising 7th graders) and 150 more in fall 2019 (*total of 300). That TMS is taking on 250+ this fall is substantial and fits with the report from current LJ parent re:transfers....and the same was confirmed by TMS admin (without an exact number).

There was a long thread a while back in which it was correctly observed that FCPS would be gutting Jackson with these boundary changes and that the phony liberals on the School Board like Dalia Palchik, Pat Hynes, Ryan McElveen and especially Karen Keys-Gamarra need to be held accountable for their dumb-ass decision to re-segregate Jackson and turn it into the next Poe MS. If anything, this will happen even sooner than expected.

[Anonymous]

My kids are at LJ. They could have xfered to TMS, but since they are in AAP, they are staying. We happen to really like LJ. Chad and his staff are really awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are at LJ. They could have xfered to TMS, but since they are in AAP, they are staying. We happen to really like LJ. Chad and his staff are really awesome.

In the future more of those AAP kids will just go to Thoreau and stay with the other Madison and Oakton kids. LJ’s future isn’t very promising.

[Anonymous]

I've never understood why AAP students solidly in the Thoreau and JMHS boundaries go to LJMS for the AAP program there, then reconvene at JMHS freshman year. Why not simply take advanced courses at TMS? Why the special AAP arrangement at LJMS?

Wouldn't it be easier socially to stay with same group of neighborhood/base ES as you head into middle school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never understood why AAP students solidly in the Thoreau and JMHS boundaries go to LJMS for the AAP program there, then reconvene at JMHS freshman year. Why not simply take advanced courses at TMS? Why the special AAP arrangement at LJMS?

Wouldn't it be easier socially to stay with same group of neighborhood/base ES as you head into middle school?

Even with the boundary change, there is a belief among some AAP parents/kids that LJ is "more rigorous" and will therefore be a better launching pad to TJ. The irony is that many who insist on LJ (to launch to TJ) are actually coming from a pretty average (not rigorous) center. Funny to me that they think it is SOOO important to get the extra ounce of "rigor" from their MS experience when they have lived without it for the past 4 yrs of ES. But, whatever.

The answer to your question of "wouldn't it be easier socially..." --- yes, for some. But remember that in ES centers, the AAP part and the non-AAP part are really quite separate -- Because kids spend most of their time in one classroom, they have less "mix it up" time with non-AAP kids. So, socially, they might be staying with their kind by going to LJ rather than mixing with the "lessers" (in their minds) in a school like TMS where the mindset of the admin is very much "one school." No one is identified outright as "AAP" or "not AAP" at TMS. You may go to an AAP math, English, or Sci. class, but no one really labels you as an "AAP kid." Everyone is just a TMS student regardless of which class you are taking. The teams are not identified as being "AAP teams" vs. "not AAP" (even if they are grouped that way). The admin never says "... the AAP class is doing X.." The distinction is NEVER vocalized or publicized.

And for those who are hoping to go to TJ, they don't really care if they are in the same MS with kids in their pyramid, b/c they don't plan to be in that HS pyramid past MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never understood why AAP students solidly in the Thoreau and JMHS boundaries go to LJMS for the AAP program there, then reconvene at JMHS freshman year. Why not simply take advanced courses at TMS? Why the special AAP arrangement at LJMS?

Wouldn't it be easier socially to stay with same group of neighborhood/base ES as you head into middle school?

Even with the boundary change, there is a belief among some AAP parents/kids that LJ is "more rigorous" and will therefore be a better launching pad to TJ. The irony is that many who insist on LJ (to launch to TJ) are actually coming from a pretty average (not rigorous) center. Funny to me that they think it is SOOO important to get the extra ounce of "rigor" from their MS experience when they have lived without it for the past 4 yrs of ES. But, whatever.

The answer to your question of "wouldn't it be easier socially..." --- yes, for some. But remember that in ES centers, the AAP part and the non-AAP part are really quite separate -- Because kids spend most of their time in one classroom, they have less "mix it up" time with non-AAP kids. So, socially, they might be staying with their kind by going to LJ rather than mixing with the "lessers" (in their minds) in a school like TMS where the mindset of the admin is very much "one school." No one is identified outright as "AAP" or "not AAP" at TMS. You may go to an AAP math, English, or Sci. class, but no one really labels you as an "AAP kid." Everyone is just a TMS student regardless of which class you are taking. The teams are not identified as being "AAP teams" vs. "not AAP" (even if they are grouped that way). The admin never says "... the AAP class is doing X.." The distinction is NEVER vocalized or publicized.

And for those who are hoping to go to TJ, they don't really care if they are in the same MS with kids in their pyramid, b/c they don't plan to be in that HS pyramid past MS.

Thanks, PP. you explained it all so well. I was genuinely curious and I'm a non AAP FCPS alumna. I was always focused on the social aspects of school and my lifelong friends are former neighbors and elementary thru high school classmates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never understood why AAP students solidly in the Thoreau and JMHS boundaries go to LJMS for the AAP program there, then reconvene at JMHS freshman year. Why not simply take advanced courses at TMS? Why the special AAP arrangement at LJMS?

Wouldn't it be easier socially to stay with same group of neighborhood/base ES as you head into middle school?

Even with the boundary change, there is a belief among some AAP parents/kids that LJ is "more rigorous" and will therefore be a better launching pad to TJ. The irony is that many who insist on LJ (to launch to TJ) are actually coming from a pretty average (not rigorous) center. Funny to me that they think it is SOOO important to get the extra ounce of "rigor" from their MS experience when they have lived without it for the past 4 yrs of ES. But, whatever.

The answer to your question of "wouldn't it be easier socially..." --- yes, for some. But remember that in ES centers, the AAP part and the non-AAP part are really quite separate -- Because kids spend most of their time in one classroom, they have less "mix it up" time with non-AAP kids. So, socially, they might be staying with their kind by going to LJ rather than mixing with the "lessers" (in their minds) in a school like TMS where the mindset of the admin is very much "one school." No one is identified outright as "AAP" or "not AAP" at TMS. You may go to an AAP math, English, or Sci. class, but no one really labels you as an "AAP kid." Everyone is just a TMS student regardless of which class you are taking. The teams are not identified as being "AAP teams" vs. "not AAP" (even if they are grouped that way). The admin never says "... the AAP class is doing X.." The distinction is NEVER vocalized or publicized.

And for those who are hoping to go to TJ, they don't really care if they are in the same MS with kids in their pyramid, b/c they don't plan to be in that HS pyramid past MS.

You’re way off. Lj IS far more rigorous than thoreau. This is not about tj or about what education your kid had in elementary school. This is about middle school. Thoreau is essentially a slightly heavier version of elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never understood why AAP students solidly in the Thoreau and JMHS boundaries go to LJMS for the AAP program there, then reconvene at JMHS freshman year. Why not simply take advanced courses at TMS? Why the special AAP arrangement at LJMS?

Wouldn't it be easier socially to stay with same group of neighborhood/base ES as you head into middle school?

Even with the boundary change, there is a belief among some AAP parents/kids that LJ is "more rigorous" and will therefore be a better launching pad to TJ. The irony is that many who insist on LJ (to launch to TJ) are actually coming from a pretty average (not rigorous) center. Funny to me that they think it is SOOO important to get the extra ounce of "rigor" from their MS experience when they have lived without it for the past 4 yrs of ES. But, whatever.

The answer to your question of "wouldn't it be easier socially..." --- yes, for some. But remember that in ES centers, the AAP part and the non-AAP part are really quite separate -- Because kids spend most of their time in one classroom, they have less "mix it up" time with non-AAP kids. So, socially, they might be staying with their kind by going to LJ rather than mixing with the "lessers" (in their minds) in a school like TMS where the mindset of the admin is very much "one school." No one is identified outright as "AAP" or "not AAP" at TMS. You may go to an AAP math, English, or Sci. class, but no one really labels you as an "AAP kid." Everyone is just a TMS student regardless of which class you are taking. The teams are not identified as being "AAP teams" vs. "not AAP" (even if they are grouped that way). The admin never says "... the AAP class is doing X.." The distinction is NEVER vocalized or publicized.

And for those who are hoping to go to TJ, they don't really care if they are in the same MS with kids in their pyramid, b/c they don't plan to be in that HS pyramid past MS.

You’re way off. Lj IS far more rigorous than thoreau. This is not about tj or about what education your kid had in elementary school. This is about middle school. Thoreau is essentially a slightly heavier version of elementary school.

True

[Anonymous]

My DD attended LJ. She was not in the AAP. She then went to Marshall HS and did the full IB diploma. She is now a sophomore at UVA. Very happy with the results.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lived in a townhouse zoned for Luther Jackson. A couple of the neighbors mentioned they were concerned about the gang violence at the shool.

If you go to fcps.edu website, click a school's profile, there is a folder called "safe and secure" which gives you the "school safety report card." I found that information helpful when i was trying to decide on schools. personally, a school I felt was safe to me would be more important than an AAP program.

My DD is at LJ. We have had nothing but good experience with the school, as have our neighbors with kids there, and the Gil's in DD's Girl Scout troop. Where do these rumors come from? And why are they perpetuated?

They come from racist parents who think a school with a higher percentage of brown students and FARMS kids is ipso facto a bad school that will endanger their snowflake's chances of going to a great HS. There are lots of so-called liberals with racist ideas when it comes to schools. It is a proven fact that all other things being equal, parents of white children, even liberal white parents, would prefer a majority white school over a minority majority schooo.

[Anonymous]

Yes, WHERE DO these racist ideas come from????

Well, take a look at the school profiles for "Safe and Secure" tab. Then compare Jackson MS to other middle schools -- including those that have higher percentages of minorities (compare to Hughes, Hayfield MS, Twain, Glasgow, Key and Poe). Then tell me about these crazy "racist" rumors.

And then go ahead and compare those "Safe and Secure" numbers to schools like Irving, Lake Braddock MS, South County MS, or Franklin.

Sure, a student could have a good experience there. It probably depends a lot on who your child has for classmates. Anecdotally, there are bound to be many positive experiences as there would be at any MS. Statistics are just numbers. But, given a choice, one might prefer schools that have lower behavioral numbers and higher test numbers. If that is where you already live and there is a high cost to moving -- then the cost/benefit analysis might be different. Are you already in the zone or are you looking to buy into the zone -- those are two different baselines.