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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We’re moving to the area. Dc will be an 11th grader next school year.

What is JMHS like? How are the academics? The teachers? What’s the school culture like? Is there a drug problem?

Thx[/quote]

I moved to Vienna for the schools, and it was a mistake. A previous poster made light of the new grading system stating that her kid likes to choose what work to do/not do, but I think this perspective is not shared by many. Madison is also not counting classwork. This has an impact on the quality of time spent in the classroom and my kids say that when no one does the work it impacts class discussions, ect... If academics is important to you, go to Langley or McLean. I think those parents would protest if skills-based grading was implemented there. It makes it harder for kids to get an A, it's confusing, and has caused my kids tons of stress. Think about college admission process stress - just don't add this wild card if you can.

The only reason we are at Madison is that one is an athlete and would be heartbroken if I pulled from school - which we may do anyway. The other is graduating and wish I'd just put this kid in private this year because it was a horrible experience.

The administration does not care about the impact on parents, students and teachers. If you can afford it, just do private for 2 years. FCPS is so caught up in equity and equal outcomes for all students; it's a bad time to be a student in FCPS.

Athletics has been a good experience. If your kid doesn't care about academics/not primary focus, then go to Madison. I would say those types of kids are having a good experience.

There are drugs/vape, but if your kid is against drugs he will easily find a group that is the same. It is a safe place to go to school.

[/quote]

Agreed. Mclean parents complain too much for the schools to implement the latest faulty thinking of FCPS. Madison is more low key on these things and more about the community as a whole. There are pluses and minuses to each approach.[/quote]

McLean has had the same principal since 2012 (I think Madison has had three over that period). It’s a well-oiled machine when it comes to what works academically and the principal is smart enough not to upset the apple cart too much.  But it’s not like the community has any more influence over FCPS policy than parents in Vienna - Madison got a big addition and new library even though it’s less overcrowded than McLean while they leave McLean kids in temporary classrooms. [/quote]

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