FCPS Boundary Review Updates

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I get a TL;DR on what the worst case scenario here is? Is there some sort of specific secret map somewhere that they are trying to get passed? Considering all the “DEI” being thrown around as I’m skimming, my spidey senses tell me this all boils down to parents being afraid they will be redistricted to a “too poor” or “too brown” school, but honestly I’m having trouble figuring out exactly what all the uproar is over given the lack of details available (that I’ve seen, and admittedly have been paying very little attention).

TLR parents don’t want their kids moved. Particularly parents of current middle schoolhigh school kids whose kids may be moved in the middle of high school.

Most schools in FCPS are majority “brown and black” or majority minority.

I’ll add that I have children still in daycare and I’m against this! When considering job locations, we decided on northern Virginia for their schools and bought our home in the pyramid we wanted. We’ve made sacrifices to be here. I envisioned my kids going to these schools and growing up in these communities for the next 14-18 years like I did.

I know someone will mention “but you should know it could be redistricted” and/or “your mistake for tying home value to something that could change” yada yada. But the vision I had for my very young family already feels so swiped over this SB’s pettiness and stubbornness to listen to their community.

I've noticed a few motivations for a plan that hasn't come out yet:

1. The rally cry to vote the Dems out - this will be the next: Critical Race Theory.
2. People think that one HS building is better than another HS building in Fairfax; the boundary change is a form of revenge.
3. DEI - a racial balancing which is illegal.

I think the redistrict will be based on bus and capacity. If you are near the border and might be easier to bus your kid to a different school then maybe affected. Otherwise it's safe. majority of kids will not be affected. We had a boundary changes before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've no idea how many Langley people are on here--probably a lot read it. However, there are plenty of others who are very concerned about this. It is not about being sent to a lower performing school, it is about staying where you are.
I just remember when some Chantilly families were sent to the "better" Oakton. They were very upset. Why? Kids had grown up playing CYA sports. They had siblings at Chantilly and lived VERY close to Chantilly. One parent later attacked Kathy Smith when she was running for Supervisor because she was on the School Board. Neighborhoods were pitted against neighborhoods.
Boundaries should not be changed unless it is absolutely necessary.

Amen. This school board thinks kids are just interchangeable cogs in the FCPS machine.

I’m always floored that the SB has such disdain for its students.

Well technically they are interchangeable for purposes of redistricting. Your house location serves as a proxy for SES and fits the profile of the type of kids they want to move. Anyone who can afford your house will do. There is nothing unique about your child that another child whose parents are in the same economic range couldn't achieve.

If you want to be a cynic, fine, but don't serve it up with such a word salad.

If there were too many big words for you to understand, here:
Your kid isn't special.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've no idea how many Langley people are on here--probably a lot read it. However, there are plenty of others who are very concerned about this. It is not about being sent to a lower performing school, it is about staying where you are.
I just remember when some Chantilly families were sent to the "better" Oakton. They were very upset. Why? Kids had grown up playing CYA sports. They had siblings at Chantilly and lived VERY close to Chantilly. One parent later attacked Kathy Smith when she was running for Supervisor because she was on the School Board. Neighborhoods were pitted against neighborhoods.
Boundaries should not be changed unless it is absolutely necessary.

Amen. This school board thinks kids are just interchangeable cogs in the FCPS machine.

I’m always floored that the SB has such disdain for its students.

Well technically they are interchangeable for purposes of redistricting. Your house location serves as a proxy for SES and fits the profile of the type of kids they want to move. Anyone who can afford your house will do. There is nothing unique about your child that another child whose parents are in the same economic range couldn't achieve.

If you want to be a cynic, fine, but don't serve it up with such a word salad.

If there were too many big words for you to understand, here:
Your kid isn't special.

There was no issue with the size of your words. It was the incoherent manner in which you strung them together that was word salad.

And, of course, FCPS errs if it thinks parents don't think their kids are special, or doesn't recognize that its decisions can either enhance or detract from the county's future prospects. Most understand that even if you don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are they intent on 6th to MS? Besides Anderson’s campaigning on it I mean?

Is it just to make room for the expanded Pre K program FCPS can’t afford?

Our favorite school board shill and extra special totally randomly selected pyramid representative came on one of the local FB groups to talk about it today. 1, they are hiding the UPK program. They know they probably don’t have the money for it at this point. So there is no official mention of PK and this person also did not mention it. But 2, it’s to align FCPS to neighboring districts that have MS 6-8 and to give 6th graders access to advanced math and help more kids get on track to take Algebra I in 8th/Calc as a HS senior, which is one of FCPS’s goals. Also to give 6th graders access to MS extra-curriculars and electives.

To be fair - I am agnostic on the subject of 6th in middle. That is how I grew up and I do feel that overall, 6th graders are tweens and are “closer” to 7th and 8th than to K-5. But I don’t see how FCPS can do it right now without funding huge expansions at the middle schools, putting a whole grade permanently in trailers or modulars, or converting some elementary schools to middle schools. I also don’t know how it would affect current 6th grade teachers - would they need to get different licenses? This subject needs to be a totally different study than boundary changes and needs to be phased in completely separately.

The responsible thing to do would be to do the boundary changes that they planned on, and then over the next 10 years, figure out how to get 6th into the middle schools, so that those changes can be made 10 years from now (2 review cycles if they are reviewing boundaries every 5 years) and minimize disruption to families.

(But also - how do not all ES have advanced math? I thought advanced math was just either AAP level 2 or 3 math and all schools have at least LIII, even if they don’t have LLIV …)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they intent on 6th to MS? Besides Anderson’s campaigning on it I mean?

Is it just to make room for the expanded Pre K program FCPS can’t afford?

Our favorite school board shill and extra special totally randomly selected pyramid representative came on one of the local FB groups to talk about it today. 1, they are hiding the UPK program. They know they probably don’t have the money for it at this point. So there is no official mention of PK and this person also did not mention it. But 2, it’s to align FCPS to neighboring districts that have MS 6-8 and to give 6th graders access to advanced math and help more kids get on track to take Algebra I in 8th/Calc as a HS senior, which is one of FCPS’s goals. Also to give 6th graders access to MS extra-curriculars and electives.

To be fair - I am agnostic on the subject of 6th in middle. That is how I grew up and I do feel that overall, 6th graders are tweens and are “closer” to 7th and 8th than to K-5. But I don’t see how FCPS can do it right now without funding huge expansions at the middle schools, putting a whole grade permanently in trailers or modulars, or converting some elementary schools to middle schools. I also don’t know how it would affect current 6th grade teachers - would they need to get different licenses? This subject needs to be a totally different study than boundary changes and needs to be phased in completely separately.

The responsible thing to do would be to do the boundary changes that they planned on, and then over the next 10 years, figure out how to get 6th into the middle schools, so that those changes can be made 10 years from now (2 review cycles if they are reviewing boundaries every 5 years) and minimize disruption to families.

(But also - how do not all ES have advanced math? I thought advanced math was just either AAP level 2 or 3 math and all schools have at least LIII, even if they don’t have LLIV …)

It makes no sense. The highest achieving math students in FCPS attended middle schools like Carson and Longfellow that are 7-8 schools.

Algebra I in 8th can be a goal without importing 6th graders into middle schools, and Calculus is not going to be the right course for all HS kids, even those taking Algebra I in 8th grade or earlier.

And it's rich to say that a goal is providing 6th graders with access to the extra-curriculars available to 7th and 8th grade students when FCPS is talking about slashing after-school MS programs.

But your post makes a lot of sense. They are trying to do too many things at the same time. It's left everyone totally confused and doubting in their competence. They could have made decisions about 6-8 middle schools earlier, and planned around that. Or they could make some boundary changes, if absolutely necessary, within the next year or two, and revisit the MS model in due course. But throwing all this shit against the wall at the same time is not a good look, especially for Reid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've no idea how many Langley people are on here--probably a lot read it. However, there are plenty of others who are very concerned about this. It is not about being sent to a lower performing school, it is about staying where you are.
I just remember when some Chantilly families were sent to the "better" Oakton. They were very upset. Why? Kids had grown up playing CYA sports. They had siblings at Chantilly and lived VERY close to Chantilly. One parent later attacked Kathy Smith when she was running for Supervisor because she was on the School Board. Neighborhoods were pitted against neighborhoods.
Boundaries should not be changed unless it is absolutely necessary.

Amen. This school board thinks kids are just interchangeable cogs in the FCPS machine.

I’m always floored that the SB has such disdain for its students.

Well technically they are interchangeable for purposes of redistricting. Your house location serves as a proxy for SES and fits the profile of the type of kids they want to move. Anyone who can afford your house will do. There is nothing unique about your child that another child whose parents are in the same economic range couldn't achieve.

If you want to be a cynic, fine, but don't serve it up with such a word salad.

If there were too many big words for you to understand, here:
Your kid isn't special.

There was no issue with the size of your words. It was the incoherent manner in which you strung them together that was word salad.

And, of course, FCPS errs if it thinks parents don't think their kids are special, or doesn't recognize that its decisions can either enhance or detract from the county's future prospects. Most understand that even if you don't.

Yes, I can see that the words were definitely too big for you to understand.

As long as they get the property taxes from your home they will be fine. From you or the next family who may even be DINKs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they intent on 6th to MS? Besides Anderson’s campaigning on it I mean?

Is it just to make room for the expanded Pre K program FCPS can’t afford?

Our favorite school board shill and extra special totally randomly selected pyramid representative came on one of the local FB groups to talk about it today. 1, they are hiding the UPK program. They know they probably don’t have the money for it at this point. So there is no official mention of PK and this person also did not mention it. But 2, it’s to align FCPS to neighboring districts that have MS 6-8 and to give 6th graders access to advanced math and help more kids get on track to take Algebra I in 8th/Calc as a HS senior, which is one of FCPS’s goals. Also to give 6th graders access to MS extra-curriculars and electives.

To be fair - I am agnostic on the subject of 6th in middle. That is how I grew up and I do feel that overall, 6th graders are tweens and are “closer” to 7th and 8th than to K-5. But I don’t see how FCPS can do it right now without funding huge expansions at the middle schools, putting a whole grade permanently in trailers or modulars, or converting some elementary schools to middle schools. I also don’t know how it would affect current 6th grade teachers - would they need to get different licenses? This subject needs to be a totally different study than boundary changes and needs to be phased in completely separately.

The responsible thing to do would be to do the boundary changes that they planned on, and then over the next 10 years, figure out how to get 6th into the middle schools, so that those changes can be made 10 years from now (2 review cycles if they are reviewing boundaries every 5 years) and minimize disruption to families.

(But also - how do not all ES have advanced math? I thought advanced math was just either AAP level 2 or 3 math and all schools have at least LIII, even if they don’t have LLIV …)

It makes no sense. The highest achieving math students in FCPS attended middle schools like Carson and Longfellow that are 7-8 schools.

Algebra I in 8th can be a goal without importing 6th graders into middle schools, and Calculus is not going to be the right course for all HS kids, even those taking Algebra I in 8th grade or earlier.

And it's rich to say that a goal is providing 6th graders with access to the extra-curriculars available to 7th and 8th grade students when FCPS is talking about slashing after-school MS programs.

But your post makes a lot of sense. They are trying to do too many things at the same time. It's left everyone totally confused and doubting in their competence. They could have made decisions about 6-8 middle schools earlier, and planned around that. Or they could make some boundary changes, if absolutely necessary, within the next year or two, and revisit the MS model in due course. But throwing all this shit against the wall at the same time is not a good look, especially for Reid.

Yes, it’s definitely trying to do too much. You can’t fit an extra ~500 kids (the size of an average grade level in MS, some are larger, some are smaller, but 500 is a nice round number) in the existing MS buildings. You just can’t. Boundary changes will not help with this either, because the student population is what it is, no matter how it’s spread out throughout the schools. It’s crazy town to try to sneak 6th to middle in at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I get a TL;DR on what the worst case scenario here is? Is there some sort of specific secret map somewhere that they are trying to get passed? Considering all the “DEI” being thrown around as I’m skimming, my spidey senses tell me this all boils down to parents being afraid they will be redistricted to a “too poor” or “too brown” school, but honestly I’m having trouble figuring out exactly what all the uproar is over given the lack of details available (that I’ve seen, and admittedly have been paying very little attention).

TLR parents don’t want their kids moved. Particularly parents of current middle schoolhigh school kids whose kids may be moved in the middle of high school.

Most schools in FCPS are majority “brown and black” or majority minority.

I’ll add that I have children still in daycare and I’m against this! When considering job locations, we decided on northern Virginia for their schools and bought our home in the pyramid we wanted. We’ve made sacrifices to be here. I envisioned my kids going to these schools and growing up in these communities for the next 14-18 years like I did.

I know someone will mention “but you should know it could be redistricted” and/or “your mistake for tying home value to something that could change” yada yada. But the vision I had for my very young family already feels so swiped over this SB’s pettiness and stubbornness to listen to their community.

We are in the same exact situation.My child is also still in daycare and we moved to FCPS pyramid we could afford to buy in (Woodson) from PWC. The pp put it very eloquently- we also envisioned us staying here till DC graduates high school and grows up in the community we choose to stay in.

I am tired of posters here telling us that it’s our fault for making a decision under uncertainty (all decisions are made under uncertainty). Our assumption based FCPS’ published goal to “Minimize travel time for students.” was that there is good likelihood that they will not send us from a school that is 2 miles from our home to a school that is 4 miles from home. But that is exactly what the rumored map suggested. I understand that this is just rumor but this whole process by FCPS has not garnered any trust and I keep on getting a feeling from the board (and lot of posters on this board) that “don’t worry we know better what is best for your child”.

In best case, it feels like FCPS board is lacking education on how to communicate public policy changes to calm fear, build trust and support from everyone (it’s a quality that we should expect from folks overseeing a $4B school district and getting paid a very decent salary) and in worst case, it feels like they are not being truthful about their plans (whatever your goal is have courage to say it - this is what we want you to teach our children and if you are lacking that quality you should not be in business of educating a child).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've no idea how many Langley people are on here--probably a lot read it. However, there are plenty of others who are very concerned about this. It is not about being sent to a lower performing school, it is about staying where you are.
I just remember when some Chantilly families were sent to the "better" Oakton. They were very upset. Why? Kids had grown up playing CYA sports. They had siblings at Chantilly and lived VERY close to Chantilly. One parent later attacked Kathy Smith when she was running for Supervisor because she was on the School Board. Neighborhoods were pitted against neighborhoods.
Boundaries should not be changed unless it is absolutely necessary.

Amen. This school board thinks kids are just interchangeable cogs in the FCPS machine.

I’m always floored that the SB has such disdain for its students.

Well technically they are interchangeable for purposes of redistricting. Your house location serves as a proxy for SES and fits the profile of the type of kids they want to move. Anyone who can afford your house will do. There is nothing unique about your child that another child whose parents are in the same economic range couldn't achieve.

If you want to be a cynic, fine, but don't serve it up with such a word salad.

If there were too many big words for you to understand, here:
Your kid isn't special.

There was no issue with the size of your words. It was the incoherent manner in which you strung them together that was word salad.

And, of course, FCPS errs if it thinks parents don't think their kids are special, or doesn't recognize that its decisions can either enhance or detract from the county's future prospects. Most understand that even if you don't.

Yes, I can see that the words were definitely too big for you to understand.

As long as they get the property taxes from your home they will be fine. From you or the next family who may even be DINKs.

Reduced demand leads to lower prices and eventually lower tax revenues.

But you probably want to use boundary changes as a tool to make properties less desirable and expensive. Good for you, perhaps, but not for the county’s coffers.

[Anonymous]

Where might one find this leaked proposed boundary map? My googling isn’t turning it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I get a TL;DR on what the worst case scenario here is? Is there some sort of specific secret map somewhere that they are trying to get passed? Considering all the “DEI” being thrown around as I’m skimming, my spidey senses tell me this all boils down to parents being afraid they will be redistricted to a “too poor” or “too brown” school, but honestly I’m having trouble figuring out exactly what all the uproar is over given the lack of details available (that I’ve seen, and admittedly have been paying very little attention).

TLR parents don’t want their kids moved. Particularly parents of current middle schoolhigh school kids whose kids may be moved in the middle of high school.

Most schools in FCPS are majority “brown and black” or majority minority.

I’ll add that I have children still in daycare and I’m against this! When considering job locations, we decided on northern Virginia for their schools and bought our home in the pyramid we wanted. We’ve made sacrifices to be here. I envisioned my kids going to these schools and growing up in these communities for the next 14-18 years like I did.

I know someone will mention “but you should know it could be redistricted” and/or “your mistake for tying home value to something that could change” yada yada. But the vision I had for my very young family already feels so swiped over this SB’s pettiness and stubbornness to listen to their community.

We are in the same exact situation.My child is also still in daycare and we moved to FCPS pyramid we could afford to buy in (Woodson) from PWC. The pp put it very eloquently- we also envisioned us staying here till DC graduates high school and grows up in the community we choose to stay in.

I am tired of posters here telling us that it’s our fault for making a decision under uncertainty (all decisions are made under uncertainty). Our assumption based FCPS’ published goal to “Minimize travel time for students.” was that there is good likelihood that they will not send us from a school that is 2 miles from our home to a school that is 4 miles from home. But that is exactly what the rumored map suggested. I understand that this is just rumor but this whole process by FCPS has not garnered any trust and I keep on getting a feeling from the board (and lot of posters on this board) that “don’t worry we know better what is best for your child”.

In best case, it feels like FCPS board is lacking education on how to communicate public policy changes to calm fear, build trust and support from everyone (it’s a quality that we should expect from folks overseeing a $4B school district and getting paid a very decent salary) and in worst case, it feels like they are not being truthful about their plans (whatever your goal is have courage to say it - this is what we want you to teach our children and if you are lacking that quality you should not be in business of educating a child).

Well said!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they intent on 6th to MS? Besides Anderson’s campaigning on it I mean?

Is it just to make room for the expanded Pre K program FCPS can’t afford?

Our favorite school board shill and extra special totally randomly selected pyramid representative came on one of the local FB groups to talk about it today. 1, they are hiding the UPK program. They know they probably don’t have the money for it at this point. So there is no official mention of PK and this person also did not mention it. But 2, it’s to align FCPS to neighboring districts that have MS 6-8 and to give 6th graders access to advanced math and help more kids get on track to take Algebra I in 8th/Calc as a HS senior, which is one of FCPS’s goals. Also to give 6th graders access to MS extra-curriculars and electives.

To be fair - I am agnostic on the subject of 6th in middle. That is how I grew up and I do feel that overall, 6th graders are tweens and are “closer” to 7th and 8th than to K-5. But I don’t see how FCPS can do it right now without funding huge expansions at the middle schools, putting a whole grade permanently in trailers or modulars, or converting some elementary schools to middle schools. I also don’t know how it would affect current 6th grade teachers - would they need to get different licenses? This subject needs to be a totally different study than boundary changes and needs to be phased in completely separately.

The responsible thing to do would be to do the boundary changes that they planned on, and then over the next 10 years, figure out how to get 6th into the middle schools, so that those changes can be made 10 years from now (2 review cycles if they are reviewing boundaries every 5 years) and minimize disruption to families.

(But also - how do not all ES have advanced math? I thought advanced math was just either AAP level 2 or 3 math and all schools have at least LIII, even if they don’t have LLIV …)

Most FCPS 8th graders take algebra.

It is the standard math class in FCPS for reasonable on grade level 8th graders, and a common math class for above average 7th graders.

Very few 6th graders are intellectually ready to take algebra in 6th grade. This will not change if they get moved to middle school.

Reid wants to blow up the entire county of 170,000 students, so 100 or so 6th graders have access to middle school algebra?

It just doesn't make sense.

The 8th grade algebra to 12th grade calculus is currently the standard math curriculum in FCPS for any student who is remotely college bound.

Does she even know what classes kids take in FCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they intent on 6th to MS? Besides Anderson’s campaigning on it I mean?

Is it just to make room for the expanded Pre K program FCPS can’t afford?

Our favorite school board shill and extra special totally randomly selected pyramid representative came on one of the local FB groups to talk about it today. 1, they are hiding the UPK program. They know they probably don’t have the money for it at this point. So there is no official mention of PK and this person also did not mention it. But 2, it’s to align FCPS to neighboring districts that have MS 6-8 and to give 6th graders access to advanced math and help more kids get on track to take Algebra I in 8th/Calc as a HS senior, which is one of FCPS’s goals. Also to give 6th graders access to MS extra-curriculars and electives.

To be fair - I am agnostic on the subject of 6th in middle. That is how I grew up and I do feel that overall, 6th graders are tweens and are “closer” to 7th and 8th than to K-5. But I don’t see how FCPS can do it right now without funding huge expansions at the middle schools, putting a whole grade permanently in trailers or modulars, or converting some elementary schools to middle schools. I also don’t know how it would affect current 6th grade teachers - would they need to get different licenses? This subject needs to be a totally different study than boundary changes and needs to be phased in completely separately.

The responsible thing to do would be to do the boundary changes that they planned on, and then over the next 10 years, figure out how to get 6th into the middle schools, so that those changes can be made 10 years from now (2 review cycles if they are reviewing boundaries every 5 years) and minimize disruption to families.

(But also - how do not all ES have advanced math? I thought advanced math was just either AAP level 2 or 3 math and all schools have at least LIII, even if they don’t have LLIV …)

Most FCPS 8th graders take algebra.

It is the standard math class in FCPS for reasonable on grade level 8th graders, and a common math class for above average 7th graders.

Very few 6th graders are intellectually ready to take algebra in 6th grade. This will not change if they get moved to middle school.

Reid wants to blow up the entire county of 170,000 students, so 100 or so 6th graders have access to middle school algebra?

It just doesn't make sense.

The 8th grade algebra to 12th grade calculus is currently the standard math curriculum in FCPS for any student who is remotely college bound.

Does she even know what classes kids take in FCPS?

When she got here she was quoted as saying something along the lines of, "All middle school students in my old district had precalculus available in 8th grade" and implying that she wanted to pursue that here. The secondary math teachers are ready to mutiny if she makes algebra for all in 8th grade a thing, let alone if she pushes more kids into algebra 2 or beyond in middle school. There is no point in pushing (99% of) kids to accelerate beyond current offerings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've no idea how many Langley people are on here--probably a lot read it. However, there are plenty of others who are very concerned about this. It is not about being sent to a lower performing school, it is about staying where you are.
I just remember when some Chantilly families were sent to the "better" Oakton. They were very upset. Why? Kids had grown up playing CYA sports. They had siblings at Chantilly and lived VERY close to Chantilly. One parent later attacked Kathy Smith when she was running for Supervisor because she was on the School Board. Neighborhoods were pitted against neighborhoods.
Boundaries should not be changed unless it is absolutely necessary.

Amen. This school board thinks kids are just interchangeable cogs in the FCPS machine.

I’m always floored that the SB has such disdain for its students.

Well technically they are interchangeable for purposes of redistricting. Your house location serves as a proxy for SES and fits the profile of the type of kids they want to move. Anyone who can afford your house will do. There is nothing unique about your child that another child whose parents are in the same economic range couldn't achieve.

If you want to be a cynic, fine, but don't serve it up with such a word salad.

If there were too many big words for you to understand, here:
Your kid isn't special.

There was no issue with the size of your words. It was the incoherent manner in which you strung them together that was word salad.

And, of course, FCPS errs if it thinks parents don't think their kids are special, or doesn't recognize that its decisions can either enhance or detract from the county's future prospects. Most understand that even if you don't.

Yes, I can see that the words were definitely too big for you to understand.

As long as they get the property taxes from your home they will be fine. From you or the next family who may even be DINKs.

Reduced demand leads to lower prices and eventually lower tax revenues.

But you probably want to use boundary changes as a tool to make properties less desirable and expensive. Good for you, perhaps, but not for the county’s coffers.

Schools are not the only thing that creates demand for housing. Our neighbors who recently moved in across the street are empty nesters that pay $13,000/year in real estate taxes just like us. They probably couldn't even name the school up the street. Fairfax County coffers will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they intent on 6th to MS? Besides Anderson’s campaigning on it I mean?

Is it just to make room for the expanded Pre K program FCPS can’t afford?

Our favorite school board shill and extra special totally randomly selected pyramid representative came on one of the local FB groups to talk about it today. 1, they are hiding the UPK program. They know they probably don’t have the money for it at this point. So there is no official mention of PK and this person also did not mention it. But 2, it’s to align FCPS to neighboring districts that have MS 6-8 and to give 6th graders access to advanced math and help more kids get on track to take Algebra I in 8th/Calc as a HS senior, which is one of FCPS’s goals. Also to give 6th graders access to MS extra-curriculars and electives.

To be fair - I am agnostic on the subject of 6th in middle. That is how I grew up and I do feel that overall, 6th graders are tweens and are “closer” to 7th and 8th than to K-5. But I don’t see how FCPS can do it right now without funding huge expansions at the middle schools, putting a whole grade permanently in trailers or modulars, or converting some elementary schools to middle schools. I also don’t know how it would affect current 6th grade teachers - would they need to get different licenses? This subject needs to be a totally different study than boundary changes and needs to be phased in completely separately.

The responsible thing to do would be to do the boundary changes that they planned on, and then over the next 10 years, figure out how to get 6th into the middle schools, so that those changes can be made 10 years from now (2 review cycles if they are reviewing boundaries every 5 years) and minimize disruption to families.

(But also - how do not all ES have advanced math? I thought advanced math was just either AAP level 2 or 3 math and all schools have at least LIII, even if they don’t have LLIV …)

Most FCPS 8th graders take algebra.

It is the standard math class in FCPS for reasonable on grade level 8th graders, and a common math class for above average 7th graders.

Very few 6th graders are intellectually ready to take algebra in 6th grade. This will not change if they get moved to middle school.

Reid wants to blow up the entire county of 170,000 students, so 100 or so 6th graders have access to middle school algebra?

It just doesn't make sense.

The 8th grade algebra to 12th grade calculus is currently the standard math curriculum in FCPS for any student who is remotely college bound.

Does she even know what classes kids take in FCPS?

When she got here she was quoted as saying something along the lines of, "All middle school students in my old district had precalculus available in 8th grade" and implying that she wanted to pursue that here. The secondary math teachers are ready to mutiny if she makes algebra for all in 8th grade a thing, let alone if she pushes more kids into algebra 2 or beyond in middle school. There is no point in pushing (99% of) kids to accelerate beyond current offerings.

The demographics of her last school system were very different. It was also a fraction of the size of FCPS. I'm sure it's easy to offer advanced coursework when you have 12% FARMS and tiny ELL populations across 22k students.