Feel like my well behaved 1st grader is basically ignored in FCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 7yo DS is a nice kid, doesn't cause any problems and listens to the teacher. DS's FCPS Alexandria school is 30% free lunch/ESOL. He has 27 kids in his class. DS is a bright kid but probably not gifted. I feel like he is completely ignored in his class. I don't know if this is unique to his class or school or if it will be the same everywhere for a well behaved non-troublemaker who isn't profoundly gifted.

I don't know if things will change if we move to Arlington or Mclean, deemed better schools. I would like to move to Arlington for closer proximity to work and smaller class sizes. Mclean has nicer curb appeal but I believe class sizes are even bigger.

What does the 30% free lunch and ESOL have to do with him? So you are saying because the school is 30% Hispanic or poor (in your post you seem to conflate the two) your child is not made to feel special enough? What do you want them to do? Make him star of the week every week?

I never said they were Hispanic. At our school, the incoming kids are from Arabic and/or N African countries. The Hispanic kids can mostly all speak English even if their parents speak Spanish at home.

Supplement at home like the rest of us then! You didn't answer the question of what you wanted them to do about your admittedly average kid. This is life. He will be an average adult and his supervisors aren't going to promote him just because they spend time on all the disciplinary issues that they need to fire or they spend time developing talent for those that will be promoted quickly. What do you want them to do for your child?

This is overly snarky. Having been in the same situation, it's not that we want our kids to feel special, we want them to actually learn something new and feel challenged. That shouldn't be too much to expect from public school. For my DD first grade was a completely wasted year other than her reading improved a little from practicing at home. Her teacher was basically useless. But in talking to the parents of the kids who are "gifted" they thought she was great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 7yo DS is a nice kid, doesn't cause any problems and listens to the teacher. DS's FCPS Alexandria school is 30% free lunch/ESOL. He has 27 kids in his class. DS is a bright kid but probably not gifted. I feel like he is completely ignored in his class. I don't know if this is unique to his class or school or if it will be the same everywhere for a well behaved non-troublemaker who isn't profoundly gifted.

I don't know if things will change if we move to Arlington or Mclean, deemed better schools. I would like to move to Arlington for closer proximity to work and smaller class sizes. Mclean has nicer curb appeal but I believe class sizes are even bigger.

What does the 30% free lunch and ESOL have to do with him? So you are saying because the school is 30% Hispanic or poor (in your post you seem to conflate the two) your child is not made to feel special enough? What do you want them to do? Make him star of the week every week?

I never said they were Hispanic. At our school, the incoming kids are from Arabic and/or N African countries. The Hispanic kids can mostly all speak English even if their parents speak Spanish at home.

Supplement at home like the rest of us then! You didn't answer the question of what you wanted them to do about your admittedly average kid. This is life. He will be an average adult and his supervisors aren't going to promote him just because they spend time on all the disciplinary issues that they need to fire or they spend time developing talent for those that will be promoted quickly. What do you want them to do for your child?

This is overly snarky. Having been in the same situation, it's not that we want our kids to feel special, we want them to actually learn something new and feel challenged. That shouldn't be too much to expect from public school. For my DD first grade was a completely wasted year other than her reading improved a little from practicing at home. Her teacher was basically useless. But in talking to the parents of the kids who are "gifted" they thought she was great.

The spin and the reality of FCPS are very different. Some parents catch on quick, others it takes a while, and some never do. It's just not anywhere near as good a school system as they purport it to be. Nothing in it - the teaching, administration, even transportation stands up to close scrutiny. Everyone is so bought in to the concept of 'world class' schools that very few want to acknowledge its decline. I don't know what it was 20 or 30 years ago, but it is not a very good system anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean? Is something going wrong that isn't being addressed?

I don't feel like he is challenged. There is 1 teacher and she mostly attends to the other kids who require more attention. My kid just sits at his desk, gets homework that is just busywork. I don't know if private school it the answer or a move to a different school district.

This has been the story for just about every kid that has transferred into my dc's private school. Their child was doing well and well-behaved and either being completely ignored or used as a "buffer" for the children with behavioral issues. Contrary to what some posters like to portray here, private schools focus on what I would call "normally bright" (vs. profoundly gifted) kids, and it's a great place for those kids. Just not having to deal with behavioral problems frees up tons of time in the schools day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean? Is something going wrong that isn't being addressed?

I don't feel like he is challenged. There is 1 teacher and she mostly attends to the other kids who require more attention. My kid just sits at his desk, gets homework that is just busywork. I don't know if private school it the answer or a move to a different school district.

This has been the story for just about every kid that has transferred into my dc's private school. Their child was doing well and well-behaved and either being completely ignored or used as a "buffer" for the children with behavioral issues. Contrary to what some posters like to portray here, private schools focus on what I would call "normally bright" (vs. profoundly gifted) kids, and it's a great place for those kids. Just not having to deal with behavioral problems frees up tons of time in the schools day.

Would you mind sharing the name of your private school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean? Is something going wrong that isn't being addressed?

I don't feel like he is challenged. There is 1 teacher and she mostly attends to the other kids who require more attention. My kid just sits at his desk, gets homework that is just busywork. I don't know if private school it the answer or a move to a different school district.

This has been the story for just about every kid that has transferred into my dc's private school. Their child was doing well and well-behaved and either being completely ignored or used as a "buffer" for the children with behavioral issues. Contrary to what some posters like to portray here, private schools focus on what I would call "normally bright" (vs. profoundly gifted) kids, and it's a great place for those kids. Just not having to deal with behavioral problems frees up tons of time in the schools day.

+1

My horribly behaved children with 504 plans would never be accepted at a private school, and I am sure they ruin the classrooms for all the other students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 7yo DS is a nice kid, doesn't cause any problems and listens to the teacher. DS's FCPS Alexandria school is 30% free lunch/ESOL. He has 27 kids in his class. DS is a bright kid but probably not gifted. I feel like he is completely ignored in his class. I don't know if this is unique to his class or school or if it will be the same everywhere for a well behaved non-troublemaker who isn't profoundly gifted.

I don't know if things will change if we move to Arlington or Mclean, deemed better schools. I would like to move to Arlington for closer proximity to work and smaller class sizes. Mclean has nicer curb appeal but I believe class sizes are even bigger.

What does the 30% free lunch and ESOL have to do with him? So you are saying because the school is 30% Hispanic or poor (in your post you seem to conflate the two) your child is not made to feel special enough? What do you want them to do? Make him star of the week every week?

I never said they were Hispanic. At our school, the incoming kids are from Arabic and/or N African countries. The Hispanic kids can mostly all speak English even if their parents speak Spanish at home.

Supplement at home like the rest of us then! You didn't answer the question of what you wanted them to do about your admittedly average kid. This is life. He will be an average adult and his supervisors aren't going to promote him just because they spend time on all the disciplinary issues that they need to fire or they spend time developing talent for those that will be promoted quickly. What do you want them to do for your child?

This is overly snarky. Having been in the same situation, it's not that we want our kids to feel special, we want them to actually learn something new and feel challenged. That shouldn't be too much to expect from public school. For my DD first grade was a completely wasted year other than her reading improved a little from practicing at home. Her teacher was basically useless. But in talking to the parents of the kids who are "gifted" they thought she was great.

The spin and the reality of FCPS are very different. Some parents catch on quick, others it takes a while, and some never do. It's just not anywhere near as good a school system as they purport it to be. Nothing in it - the teaching, administration, even transportation stands up to close scrutiny. Everyone is so bought in to the concept of 'world class' schools that very few want to acknowledge its decline. I don't know what it was 20 or 30 years ago, but it is not a very good system anymore.

Unfortunately, this is true. It's not world class. It's not even very good. I don't fault the teachers - there are some amazing teachers, but they are amazing in spite of the administration and the school system and not because of it. I think the biggest problem is the administration. From central on down, administrators tend to be the least qualified people to do those jobs, and the people hired tend to be politicians and bullies instead of people with actual leadership skills. There is little accountability for anything that matters. FCPS is overly focused on testing and is extremely bureaucratic and politically motivated. I have been both a teacher and a parent, and that has been my observation in both capacities. I have relatives in schools in another state, and the quality of the education they are getting is miles above what we are getting in every way.

[Anonymous]

9:34, can you tell us where it's better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 7yo DS is a nice kid, doesn't cause any problems and listens to the teacher. DS's FCPS Alexandria school is 30% free lunch/ESOL. He has 27 kids in his class. DS is a bright kid but probably not gifted. I feel like he is completely ignored in his class. I don't know if this is unique to his class or school or if it will be the same everywhere for a well behaved non-troublemaker who isn't profoundly gifted.

I don't know if things will change if we move to Arlington or Mclean, deemed better schools. I would like to move to Arlington for closer proximity to work and smaller class sizes. Mclean has nicer curb appeal but I believe class sizes are even bigger.

What does the 30% free lunch and ESOL have to do with him? So you are saying because the school is 30% Hispanic or poor (in your post you seem to conflate the two) your child is not made to feel special enough? What do you want them to do? Make him star of the week every week?

I never said they were Hispanic. At our school, the incoming kids are from Arabic and/or N African countries. The Hispanic kids can mostly all speak English even if their parents speak Spanish at home.

Supplement at home like the rest of us then! You didn't answer the question of what you wanted them to do about your admittedly average kid. This is life. He will be an average adult and his supervisors aren't going to promote him just because they spend time on all the disciplinary issues that they need to fire or they spend time developing talent for those that will be promoted quickly. What do you want them to do for your child?

This is overly snarky. Having been in the same situation, it's not that we want our kids to feel special, we want them to actually learn something new and feel challenged. That shouldn't be too much to expect from public school. For my DD first grade was a completely wasted year other than her reading improved a little from practicing at home. Her teacher was basically useless. But in talking to the parents of the kids who are "gifted" they thought she was great.

The spin and the reality of FCPS are very different. Some parents catch on quick, others it takes a while, and some never do. It's just not anywhere near as good a school system as they purport it to be. Nothing in it - the teaching, administration, even transportation stands up to close scrutiny. Everyone is so bought in to the concept of 'world class' schools that very few want to acknowledge its decline. I don't know what it was 20 or 30 years ago, but it is not a very good system anymore.

Unfortunately, this is true. It's not world class. It's not even very good. I don't fault the teachers - there are some amazing teachers, but they are amazing in spite of the administration and the school system and not because of it. I think the biggest problem is the administration. From central on down, administrators tend to be the least qualified people to do those jobs, and the people hired tend to be politicians and bullies instead of people with actual leadership skills. There is little accountability for anything that matters. FCPS is overly focused on testing and is extremely bureaucratic and politically motivated. I have been both a teacher and a parent, and that has been my observation in both capacities. I have relatives in schools in another state, and the quality of the education they are getting is miles above what we are getting in every way.

95% of the people who post like this just handle the fact that there are so many bright kids in FCPS and that theirs are about average. They tend to say positive things about systems with more "average" kids, where they think their kids would be higher on the curve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 7yo DS is a nice kid, doesn't cause any problems and listens to the teacher. DS's FCPS Alexandria school is 30% free lunch/ESOL. He has 27 kids in his class. DS is a bright kid but probably not gifted. I feel like he is completely ignored in his class. I don't know if this is unique to his class or school or if it will be the same everywhere for a well behaved non-troublemaker who isn't profoundly gifted.

I don't know if things will change if we move to Arlington or Mclean, deemed better schools. I would like to move to Arlington for closer proximity to work and smaller class sizes. Mclean has nicer curb appeal but I believe class sizes are even bigger.

What does the 30% free lunch and ESOL have to do with him? So you are saying because the school is 30% Hispanic or poor (in your post you seem to conflate the two) your child is not made to feel special enough? What do you want them to do? Make him star of the week every week?

I never said they were Hispanic. At our school, the incoming kids are from Arabic and/or N African countries. The Hispanic kids can mostly all speak English even if their parents speak Spanish at home.

Supplement at home like the rest of us then! You didn't answer the question of what you wanted them to do about your admittedly average kid. This is life. He will be an average adult and his supervisors aren't going to promote him just because they spend time on all the disciplinary issues that they need to fire or they spend time developing talent for those that will be promoted quickly. What do you want them to do for your child?

This is overly snarky. Having been in the same situation, it's not that we want our kids to feel special, we want them to actually learn something new and feel challenged. That shouldn't be too much to expect from public school. For my DD first grade was a completely wasted year other than her reading improved a little from practicing at home. Her teacher was basically useless. But in talking to the parents of the kids who are "gifted" they thought she was great.

The spin and the reality of FCPS are very different. Some parents catch on quick, others it takes a while, and some never do. It's just not anywhere near as good a school system as they purport it to be. Nothing in it - the teaching, administration, even transportation stands up to close scrutiny. Everyone is so bought in to the concept of 'world class' schools that very few want to acknowledge its decline. I don't know what it was 20 or 30 years ago, but it is not a very good system anymore.

Unfortunately, this is true. It's not world class. It's not even very good. I don't fault the teachers - there are some amazing teachers, but they are amazing in spite of the administration and the school system and not because of it. I think the biggest problem is the administration. From central on down, administrators tend to be the least qualified people to do those jobs, and the people hired tend to be politicians and bullies instead of people with actual leadership skills. There is little accountability for anything that matters. FCPS is overly focused on testing and is extremely bureaucratic and politically motivated. I have been both a teacher and a parent, and that has been my observation in both capacities. I have relatives in schools in another state, and the quality of the education they are getting is miles above what we are getting in every way.

95% of the people who post like this just handle the fact that there are so many bright kids in FCPS and that theirs are about average. They tend to say positive things about systems with more "average" kids, where they think their kids would be higher on the curve.

+1

Intelligence is skewed in the metro DC area -- not only in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:9:34, can you tell us where it's better?

North-eastern states and California. Not every district, obviously, but in areas with comparable income to what we have here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:9:34, can you tell us where it's better?

North-eastern states and California. Not every district, obviously, but in areas with comparable income to what we have here.

You seem to be knowledgeable about that area.

Can you name a county? That way we can compare what they have that fcps doesn't.

It's just irresponsible to say how bad fcps sucks without having data to compare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:9:34, can you tell us where it's better?

North-eastern states and California. Not every district, obviously, but in areas with comparable income to what we have here.

Now we can wait for the names of some small school system adjacent to ones that are bottom of the barrel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 7yo DS is a nice kid, doesn't cause any problems and listens to the teacher. DS's FCPS Alexandria school is 30% free lunch/ESOL. He has 27 kids in his class. DS is a bright kid but probably not gifted. I feel like he is completely ignored in his class. I don't know if this is unique to his class or school or if it will be the same everywhere for a well behaved non-troublemaker who isn't profoundly gifted.

I don't know if things will change if we move to Arlington or Mclean, deemed better schools. I would like to move to Arlington for closer proximity to work and smaller class sizes. Mclean has nicer curb appeal but I believe class sizes are even bigger.

What does the 30% free lunch and ESOL have to do with him? So you are saying because the school is 30% Hispanic or poor (in your post you seem to conflate the two) your child is not made to feel special enough? What do you want them to do? Make him star of the week every week?

I never said they were Hispanic. At our school, the incoming kids are from Arabic and/or N African countries. The Hispanic kids can mostly all speak English even if their parents speak Spanish at home.

Supplement at home like the rest of us then! You didn't answer the question of what you wanted them to do about your admittedly average kid. This is life. He will be an average adult and his supervisors aren't going to promote him just because they spend time on all the disciplinary issues that they need to fire or they spend time developing talent for those that will be promoted quickly. What do you want them to do for your child?

This is overly snarky. Having been in the same situation, it's not that we want our kids to feel special, we want them to actually learn something new and feel challenged. That shouldn't be too much to expect from public school. For my DD first grade was a completely wasted year other than her reading improved a little from practicing at home. Her teacher was basically useless. But in talking to the parents of the kids who are "gifted" they thought she was great.

The spin and the reality of FCPS are very different. Some parents catch on quick, others it takes a while, and some never do. It's just not anywhere near as good a school system as they purport it to be. Nothing in it - the teaching, administration, even transportation stands up to close scrutiny. Everyone is so bought in to the concept of 'world class' schools that very few want to acknowledge its decline. I don't know what it was 20 or 30 years ago, but it is not a very good system anymore.

Unfortunately, this is true. It's not world class. It's not even very good. I don't fault the teachers - there are some amazing teachers, but they are amazing in spite of the administration and the school system and not because of it. I think the biggest problem is the administration. From central on down, administrators tend to be the least qualified people to do those jobs, and the people hired tend to be politicians and bullies instead of people with actual leadership skills. There is little accountability for anything that matters. FCPS is overly focused on testing and is extremely bureaucratic and politically motivated. I have been both a teacher and a parent, and that has been my observation in both capacities. I have relatives in schools in another state, and the quality of the education they are getting is miles above what we are getting in every way.

95% of the people who post like this just handle the fact that there are so many bright kids in FCPS and that theirs are about average. They tend to say positive things about systems with more "average" kids, where they think their kids would be higher on the curve.

+1

Intelligence is skewed in the metro DC area -- not only in FCPS.

Ah yes, but which way?

[Anonymous]

Haha, but there's really no question but that FCPS attracts a much higher than average percentage of bright kids. Only MCPS comes close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 7yo DS is a nice kid, doesn't cause any problems and listens to the teacher. DS's FCPS Alexandria school is 30% free lunch/ESOL. He has 27 kids in his class. DS is a bright kid but probably not gifted. I feel like he is completely ignored in his class. I don't know if this is unique to his class or school or if it will be the same everywhere for a well behaved non-troublemaker who isn't profoundly gifted.

I don't know if things will change if we move to Arlington or Mclean, deemed better schools. I would like to move to Arlington for closer proximity to work and smaller class sizes. Mclean has nicer curb appeal but I believe class sizes are even bigger.

What does the 30% free lunch and ESOL have to do with him? So you are saying because the school is 30% Hispanic or poor (in your post you seem to conflate the two) your child is not made to feel special enough? What do you want them to do? Make him star of the week every week?

I never said they were Hispanic. At our school, the incoming kids are from Arabic and/or N African countries. The Hispanic kids can mostly all speak English even if their parents speak Spanish at home.

Supplement at home like the rest of us then! You didn't answer the question of what you wanted them to do about your admittedly average kid. This is life. He will be an average adult and his supervisors aren't going to promote him just because they spend time on all the disciplinary issues that they need to fire or they spend time developing talent for those that will be promoted quickly. What do you want them to do for your child?

This is overly snarky. Having been in the same situation, it's not that we want our kids to feel special, we want them to actually learn something new and feel challenged. That shouldn't be too much to expect from public school. For my DD first grade was a completely wasted year other than her reading improved a little from practicing at home. Her teacher was basically useless. But in talking to the parents of the kids who are "gifted" they thought she was great.

The spin and the reality of FCPS are very different. Some parents catch on quick, others it takes a while, and some never do. It's just not anywhere near as good a school system as they purport it to be. Nothing in it - the teaching, administration, even transportation stands up to close scrutiny. Everyone is so bought in to the concept of 'world class' schools that very few want to acknowledge its decline. I don't know what it was 20 or 30 years ago, but it is not a very good system anymore.

Unfortunately, this is true. It's not world class. It's not even very good. I don't fault the teachers - there are some amazing teachers, but they are amazing in spite of the administration and the school system and not because of it. I think the biggest problem is the administration. From central on down, administrators tend to be the least qualified people to do those jobs, and the people hired tend to be politicians and bullies instead of people with actual leadership skills. There is little accountability for anything that matters. FCPS is overly focused on testing and is extremely bureaucratic and politically motivated. I have been both a teacher and a parent, and that has been my observation in both capacities. I have relatives in schools in another state, and the quality of the education they are getting is miles above what we are getting in every way.

95% of the people who post like this just handle the fact that there are so many bright kids in FCPS and that theirs are about average. They tend to say positive things about systems with more "average" kids, where they think their kids would be higher on the curve.

I actually think there is something very wrong with labeling kids as early as 3rd grade and that is my biggest gripe with FFX County. I have had one kid go through AAP and one in GE. Many of the AAP friends fizzled out by 8th grade and turned out not so special, on the flip side, we know GE kids who blossomed later (one now at TJ). They all even out by high school when the parents get out of the way and kids have to stand on their own two feet. I hate that the system puts labels on kids and kids/parents actually believe them. Oh, and dealing with snarky parents like the one above has not been fun either. For the record, I grew up going to FFX County schools 30 years ago and they have gone completely downhill.