When are Herndon Middle and Herndon High going to get a break?!??

[Anonymous]

I think Herndon and the schools will improve - outside of a boundary change. However looking at some data and projections- it will certainly take some time. It is not past the point of no return. If there is some boundary shifting- that will only speed up the process. The information that I use has been pretty effective, but not fool proof. The schools themselves end up with a residual improvement- its not the schools that improve the area. I have used this to project in NY, Philly and DC areas. Have been successful. Have some investments in mind- that initially won't be dependent on the schools- but considering a longer play for families-depending on a few macro things I am watching.
It will not be in the range where Langley is currently or McLean- but for your great schools reading- I am looking for it to be able to max out a 6-7 during a longer time frame. IMHO

[Anonymous]

As long as all students have access to a good education--and there is no reason to think that Herndon students do not--I would not worry. Great Schools ratings reflect SES. Not education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Herndon and the schools will improve - outside of a boundary change. However looking at some data and projections- it will certainly take some time. It is not past the point of no return. If there is some boundary shifting- that will only speed up the process. The information that I use has been pretty effective, but not fool proof. The schools themselves end up with a residual improvement- its not the schools that improve the area. I have used this to project in NY, Philly and DC areas. Have been successful. Have some investments in mind- that initially won't be dependent on the schools- but considering a longer play for families-depending on a few macro things I am watching.
It will not be in the range where Langley is currently or McLean- but for your great schools reading- I am looking for it to be able to max out a 6-7 during a longer time frame. IMHO

What's going to happen is the moved students will be targeted by gang members and other bad eggs at Herndon - they know they have money and can be intimidated.

[Anonymous]

If these gang rumors can't be put to rest then families new to the area will avoid HHS like the plague.

[Anonymous]

Not 'Herndon mom's, but it has been established that there is gang activity in the area. School performance is down and the largest feeders are mostly poor. So it's not just a perception problem. Perhaps the people of the HHS pyramid should get together and talk to the Dranesville candidates about making Herndon a more desirable area. There are community engagement meetings occurring all over the county. The closest one is at South Lakes High, I believe, next week. I need to look up the date/times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t really buy the “woe is Herndon” scenario. The middle and high schools have two higher-income feeders (Aldrin and Armstrong), one school with a very high concentration of poverty (Hutchison) and a bunch of feeders that could swing in either direction and get a boost from future development (Clearview, Dranesville and Herndon).

Sounds to me like at least one poster is enamored of claiming Herndon has crossed the point of no return, absent of course major changes to the Langley/Herndon boundaries. That is both a pessimistic point of view and an impractical goal, so it would be so much better if folks just moved on.

Just making sure people are aware of how selective families that move to Fairfax have become. They are simply avoiding the lower rated schools all across the county. If they do buy when they have little children the plan for many is to move again before they hit school or move before middle or high school. I have seen this in action in my pyramid. Parents are freaked out that if they don't they are not doing the best thing for their children.

Many of the people on this forum say we have so many AAP students because of the highly educated parent population. Do you think these highly educated parents are buying in neighborhoods with schools ranked 3 on Great Schools? As for the point of no return, Herndon may have crossed it. The middle school is at 53% F/R lunch and rising. The high school is at 43%. If it hasn't passed the point of no return, it will do so shortly. Nearby developments won't help if people with money either choose other Fairfax schools (pupil place), go private, or homeschool.

Also never suggested that Langley students should be moved to Herndon - capacity numbers at this time say that would be dumb. If they ever build the western high school that should be revisited.

And based on my experience in a different pyramid, you have no idea how cynical I am and how right I am to be very pessimistic about the future of Herndon.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your concern. Now go find another hobby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can you justify busing kids 16 miles from Herndon to Langley when Herndon is getting a major renovation and expansion, while overcrowded McLean is not and is much closer to Langley. If you really wanted part of Herndon moved to Langley, you should have lobbied against Herndon’s expansion and requested those funds be used to expand McLean instead.

But you didn’t, so it’s too late now to have your cake (renovated, expanded Herndon) and eat it too (move part of Herndon to Langley).

Marshall is a good example of a school whose reputation improved with no boundary changes. Perhaps Herndon can study and learn from Marshall’s experience.

DP. I think it is one Herndon mom. She is cycling through the same suggestions that she did pages and pages ago. I live on the other side of Herndon from Great Falls. The people I know at Herndon are quite happy with it. But, I think this poster needs to consider homeschooling. If she talks about this at home like she does on this forum, her kid will not be happy there.

I’m the OP and the poster you are referring to. I don’t even have kids, but I do volunteer in the community, so I’ve talked to a lot of people.

So you don't even have a stake in this issue, but you want to rearrange the lives of thousands of people to suit your own ideas of "fairness"? You are a garbage human being. Butt out, MYOB, and go get passionately involved in something that actually concerns you.

+ a million
I can’t believe this long and absurd thread was started by someone who *doesn’t even have kids* to begin with. Good grief, what a waste of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Herndon and the schools will improve - outside of a boundary change. However looking at some data and projections- it will certainly take some time. It is not past the point of no return. If there is some boundary shifting- that will only speed up the process. The information that I use has been pretty effective, but not fool proof. The schools themselves end up with a residual improvement- its not the schools that improve the area. I have used this to project in NY, Philly and DC areas. Have been successful. Have some investments in mind- that initially won't be dependent on the schools- but considering a longer play for families-depending on a few macro things I am watching.
It will not be in the range where Langley is currently or McLean- but for your great schools reading- I am looking for it to be able to max out a 6-7 during a longer time frame. IMHO

What's going to happen is the moved students will be targeted by gang members and other bad eggs at Herndon - they know they have money and can be intimidated.

Bah ha ha ha. That’s not the way it works at HHS. Try again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get a feeling that 99% of this thread is ONE Herndon mom and ONE GF mom. Get a life and let this post die.

I think you are correct. I am neither, but I read it anyway. In fact, I've wondered if the Herndon mom inadvertently created onegreatfalls by demanding that Great Falls kids go to Herndon and Hurchison kids to Langley. It was shortly after those posts started on this forum that the Great Falls parents attended the work session.

Yep. I’m coming to that conclusion as well. The weirder thing is, both sides sound equally crazy. IRL maybe they are BFFs or sisters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Herndon and the schools will improve - outside of a boundary change. However looking at some data and projections- it will certainly take some time. It is not past the point of no return. If there is some boundary shifting- that will only speed up the process. The information that I use has been pretty effective, but not fool proof. The schools themselves end up with a residual improvement- its not the schools that improve the area. I have used this to project in NY, Philly and DC areas. Have been successful. Have some investments in mind- that initially won't be dependent on the schools- but considering a longer play for families-depending on a few macro things I am watching.
It will not be in the range where Langley is currently or McLean- but for your great schools reading- I am looking for it to be able to max out a 6-7 during a longer time frame. IMHO

What's going to happen is the moved students will be targeted by gang members and other bad eggs at Herndon - they know they have money and can be intimidated.

Bah ha ha ha. That’s not the way it works at HHS. Try again.

When adults move a group of kids from what's perceived as a rich school to a poor school, you bet those kids will be targeted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If these gang rumors can't be put to rest then families new to the area will avoid HHS like the plague.

Rumours?

https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/maryland/facts-about-ms-13-in-maryland-virginia/65-436466709

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t really buy the “woe is Herndon” scenario. The middle and high schools have two higher-income feeders (Aldrin and Armstrong), one school with a very high concentration of poverty (Hutchison) and a bunch of feeders that could swing in either direction and get a boost from future development (Clearview, Dranesville and Herndon).

Sounds to me like at least one poster is enamored of claiming Herndon has crossed the point of no return, absent of course major changes to the Langley/Herndon boundaries. That is both a pessimistic point of view and an impractical goal, so it would be so much better if folks just moved on.

Just making sure people are aware of how selective families that move to Fairfax have become. They are simply avoiding the lower rated schools all across the county. If they do buy when they have little children the plan for many is to move again before they hit school or move before middle or high school. I have seen this in action in my pyramid. Parents are freaked out that if they don't they are not doing the best thing for their children.

Many of the people on this forum say we have so many AAP students because of the highly educated parent population. Do you think these highly educated parents are buying in neighborhoods with schools ranked 3 on Great Schools? As for the point of no return, Herndon may have crossed it. The middle school is at 53% F/R lunch and rising. The high school is at 43%. If it hasn't passed the point of no return, it will do so shortly. Nearby developments won't help if people with money either choose other Fairfax schools (pupil place), go private, or homeschool.

Also never suggested that Langley students should be moved to Herndon - capacity numbers at this time say that would be dumb. If they ever build the western high school that should be revisited.

And based on my experience in a different pyramid, you have no idea how cynical I am and how right I am to be very pessimistic about the future of Herndon.

Yup, and One Fairfax is trying to force parents into these failing schools, knowing a certain percentage won't be able to afford private.

Capacity numbers re: Langley to Herndon has nothing to do with dumb; it's about punishing those that dare to earn a good income. In their minds, it's simply 'not fair' and therefore they must be punished.

[Anonymous]

Yup, and One Fairfax is trying to force parents into these failing schools, knowing a certain percentage won't be able to afford private.

Herndon is not a "failing school." But, it does appear that OneFairfax is trying to manipulate the system to force kids into a school when it is not logistically supported.

Capacity numbers re: Langley to Herndon has nothing to do with dumb; it's about punishing those that dare to earn a good income. In their minds, it's simply 'not fair' and therefore they must be punished.

Kind of sounds like that is how our School Board thinks of OneFairfax. Just listen to Pat Hynes and Janie Strauss. Enough said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If these gang rumors can't be put to rest then families new to the area will avoid HHS like the plague.

Rumours?

https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/maryland/facts-about-ms-13-in-maryland-virginia/65-436466709

Read Metro section today in WAPO. Bad drug deal killed Centreville grad. Other guy didn't mean to kill him. Just a bad drug deal. Doesn't mention MS-13, but the stereotypical names are there.