How can FCPS still be rated one of the “best” in the country?

[Anonymous]

Let me first say I was raised here and went ALL THROUGH the FCPS system but that was 20+ years ago. Maybe it was cream of the crop back then but what the hell happened??!! I’ve had my kids in the school system now for 3 years and they are flailing (not just because of Covid and distance learning), class sizes get bigger every year, and teachers have been totally disappointing. It makes me mad how the stellar reputation still precedes this county but it’s simply not true anymore.

[Anonymous]

It’s good in Virginia but I don’t think it was ever “best” in the country. Why would you think that?

[Anonymous]

It was “best” because of the demographics of the parents, not necessarily the schools.

[Anonymous]

It’s not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was “best” because of the demographics of the parents, not necessarily the schools.

Agree

[Anonymous]

Not all FCPS are truly the best. As a whole Fairfax county is wealthier than other counties and towns in Virginia, but it really depends on what part of the county your in.

There are sections of Henrico, Virginia Beach, Charlottesville, Prince William, etc. that are more affluent than sections of Fairfax County and the schools reflect that.

[Anonymous]

It’s “best” because it’s still better than everywhere else. It’s not a special snowflake. Every district is dealing with the same things. Less money, fewer teachers, larger classes. More demands on teachers, less teachers stick around, hire less experienced teachers.

[Anonymous]

It is the best large school system. And that is from demographics.

In other parts of the country, school districts are much smaller (e.g., NY, NJ, MA). So, you could have a district that would effectively be just Madison & Oakton pyramids. Or Mclean. etc.

Schools that have that (e.g., Scarsdale NY) are much better numbers overall.

But in Fairfax County, we also have places like Annandale, Hybla Valley, Falls Church, etc that pull us down. The fact though, is you can get the similar quality of educations at any county school speaks to the advantage of the larger district.

Having watched my DD go through 13 years for FCPS (K-12), graduating in 2020, I have zero complaints.

[Anonymous]

Only the handful of asian white majority pyramids are the best, the rest are el loco

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only the handful of asian white majority pyramids are the best, the rest are el loco

The county refuses to invest in the non el loco schools, the el loco schools look amazing, new lots of money but with terrible population

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is the best large school system. And that is from demographics.

In other parts of the country, school districts are much smaller (e.g., NY, NJ, MA). So, you could have a district that would effectively be just Madison & Oakton pyramids. Or Mclean. etc.

Schools that have that (e.g., Scarsdale NY) are much better numbers overall.

But in Fairfax County, we also have places like Annandale, Hybla Valley, Falls Church, etc that pull us down. The fact though, is you can get the similar quality of educations at any county school speaks to the advantage of the larger district.

Having watched my DD go through 13 years for FCPS (K-12), graduating in 2020, I have zero complaints.

Citation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was “best” because of the demographics of the parents, not necessarily the schools.

Agree

+1

The ciriculum within FCPS is scattered and not particularly rigorous. It’s too big

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s “best” because it’s still better than everywhere else. It’s not a special snowflake. Every district is dealing with the same things. Less money, fewer teachers, larger classes. More demands on teachers, less teachers stick around, hire less experienced teachers.

Um no. Schools in the less affluent parts of Fairfax County are not “better” than schools in affluent parts of towns that are overall less wealthy than Fairfax County.

I’d much rather my kid attend Cox HS in Virginia Beach than some of the high schools in Fairfax County even if Fairfax County is overall wealthier than VB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was “best” because of the demographics of the parents, not necessarily the schools.

Agree

+1

The ciriculum within FCPS is scattered and not particularly rigorous. It’s too big

You do realize that FCPS doesn’t have its own special curriculum, right?
Every school in the state has the same curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was “best” because of the demographics of the parents, not necessarily the schools.

Agree

+1

The ciriculum within FCPS is scattered and not particularly rigorous. It’s too big

You do realize that FCPS doesn’t have its own special curriculum, right?
Every school in the state has the same curriculum.

There are state standards but FCPS has the POS that outlines what we teach in the county