Does FCPS have a magnet art/performing arts program?
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Anonymous
| I know about TJ and that’s a STEM magnet school. Any magnet art/performing arts school? Any schools well known for their performing arts? |
Anonymous
No magnets--but several schools have top drawer music/drama programs. |
Anonymous
There is no "magnet" arts/performing arts schools in FCPS. The most specialized performing arts courses in FCPS are offered at the Academy programs at Fairfax HS and West Potomac HS. Students from other schools who want to take those classes take a bus to those schools. Other high schools in the county, notably McLean and Lake Braddock, have strong theatre programs. |
Anonymous
| there are magnet elementary schools. |
Anonymous
Examples of middle and high schools with good performing arts? |
Anonymous
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Robinson, Oakton, Langley and Madison all got nominated for Cappies (drama awards) this year, with Robinson winning top honors. Good orch programs: Madison, Langley, McLean, Marshall Madison has an award-winning band |
Anonymous
Robinson won Best Musical at last year’s Cappies. But several other NoVa schools, including McLean, Rock Ridge, and West Potomac, won more Cappies awards last year than Robinson. |
Anonymous
Robinson, West Potomac, West Springfield, Lake Braddock, McLean all have very strong theatre programs. Keep an eye on Marshall. The former West Springfield director transferred there and he is one of the best theatre teachers in northern VA. |
Anonymous
No one has been nominate yet this year. |
Anonymous
One thing about Cappies is that they are nominated by students. So while they recognize strong theater programs in the area, the winners do not necessarily mean that school is the "best" theater program in the area. It just means that particular show or actor had the greatest appeal to the students who write the reviews that year. Sometimes the award goes to the one that simply has the most appeal to the particular group of cappie critics and not necessarily the "best". Instead of looking at the winner, look at the nominated schools in their entirety and you will get a good idea of the stronger theater programS in the area. |
Anonymous
Also, these can rely on the talent there at the time. It can go in cycles. And, if there is a lot of talent in a school, your child may not have as many opportunities to shine. |
Anonymous
TJ has an excellent drama program. They got nominated for (and won) cappies. It has the second best band in the county that is always an honor band (routinely places just below Madison and above all other FCPS schools). Also has a very good orchestra. It’s not all STEM. |
Anonymous
I forgot to add, Cappies also depends a great deal on the show that was performed and the shows selected by other schools. Last year, Robinson did Spamalot. I believe it was the first time that show was performed by an area high school, and it was probably the first time most of the critics had seen it. So you take a hilarious new to the audience show, combined it with talented kids and director, and you are probably going to get a better reaction from the Cappies critics than an equally talented group of students and director performing yet another production of Annie or Bye Bye Birdie. Or you might end up with 3 or 4 different schools presenting a show that should have had greater impact if it were a novelty, but because everyone is doing it the show loses its luster, even if the cast is tremendously talented and the shows are well done. A few years ago She Kills Monsters was one of those shows. Several schools did it, and even though there were some really talented casts and creative staging involved, I don't believe that any of the performances won as many awards as they would have if there had been only one school performing it. This year there are at least 4 schools performing Chicago. Even if the casts a very talented, it might be more difficult for the Chicago kids to stand out in the crowd when there are 4 Roxies to consider for a Cappie nomination. They might all be exceptional, but it is very doubtful that 4 of the 5 best actress in a musical nominations will be Roxie. |
Anonymous
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Meh.
Look at how many kids area being selected for honors choir and governor’s school. That will give you the better idea. |
Anonymous
True. Those things are adjudicated by professional teachers instead of voted on by students. All are great accomplishments though. |