Reply to Class sizes in FCPS- what is the real deal? (ES)

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]They've been increasing the general ed class size ratio for the last several years to where it's now getting out of control. School capacity is one problem, but the other is really just class size. [b]Does Arlington also have this needs based staffing ratio where ESL kids and FRM kids are counted almost as 2 students?[/b] They seem to do ok class size wise even in schools without a lot of FRM and ESL students.[/quote]

It isn't recent.  My, now Junior, DC had 33 in his 5th grade class.[/quote]

Arlington has below 10% of their population enrolled in public schools, Fairfax has more than 15% of its population enrolled in public schools.  Arlington is a City and has more taxing authority than Fairfax, a County.  Arlington is MUCH smaller so that it is easier to lobby and  get the ear of a school board member.  Those are all reasons why Arlington can afford to have smaller class sizes and has smaller class sizes.

Fairfax can't do anything about its size.  It is politically unfeasible to become a City. [b] The type of "smart growth" being done in and around Tyson's. Springfield, Mosaic District... should help decrease the % of the population that is school aged and increase the DINK population (smaller condo types of development with 2 bedrooms max does this).   [/b]Fairfax has to have a property tax [i]rate[/i] that is much higher than Arlington's to provide the same level of services, but  that is hard to do.

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No it doesn't.  Kilmer Middle School had 100 more students than expected this year. Many came from these supposed DINK areas. Classes there are 30+. FCPS continues to underestimate the number of families who live in apartments precisely to be in a good school district.  This needs to be addressed NOW before all the schools in these areas are at crisis point.
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I agree, but on this board, especially, I see people complaining and not offering up solutions.  How do you lower class size given the budget constraints of the county?  What is your short term, medium term and long terms [i]plan[/i]?  Complaining doesn't do a darn thing.

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