Anonymous
Post 07/13/2025 22:08     Subject: Anyone have experience with an IEP in FCPS?
It’s a very large school district so if you can be more specific to the areas you are looking in, you might get some useful feedback.
Anonymous
Post 07/13/2025 19:46     Subject: Anyone have experience with an IEP in FCPS?
Anonymous wrote:FCPS has a history of losing lawsuits that claim FCPS did not educate a SN child appropriately. So I would be very careful and cautious, taking careful notes about all interactions with FCPS.


Yes- and FCPS will fight you on every single thing and try to kick your kid off of services any chance they get. They lie about everything so make sure you record everything.
Anonymous
Post 07/13/2025 09:16     Subject: Anyone have experience with an IEP in FCPS?
Class sizes at our zoned ES in McLean run from 25-30. It is not the AAP Center.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2025 15:37     Subject: Anyone have experience with an IEP in FCPS?
FCPS has a history of losing lawsuits that claim FCPS did not educate a SN child appropriately. So I would be very careful and cautious, taking careful notes about all interactions with FCPS.
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2025 12:02     Subject: Anyone have experience with an IEP in FCPS?
Mine is at Aldrin ES and they have been WONDERFUL! Perfect? No way, but they try hard to accommodate and work with us.

I’m DREADING MS though, either Hughes or Herndon.
Anonymous
Post 07/09/2025 10:50     Subject: Anyone have experience with an IEP in FCPS?
Just say NO to the Shrevewood-Kilmer area in the Falls Church area of FCPS.
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 15:26     Subject: Anyone have experience with an IEP in FCPS?
You should absolutely come to Laurel Ridge ES.
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 12:24     Subject: Anyone have experience with an IEP in FCPS?
We’ve had to advocate hard to get the support we needed in FCPS.

One important thing to keep in mind: both administrators and teachers can change frequently. A school that’s great for IEP support one year might be very different the next, depending on leadership and staffing. So a positive experience today doesn’t always guarantee the same tomorrow.

Class sizes are also on the larger side, at our school, it’s around 25 students per class and that makes individual support limited. We’ve been told to expect class sizes to grow even more next year due to budget cuts.

Private school isn’t financially an option for us, so we supplement heavily outside of school. That’s been more manageable cost-wise, and I know we’re fortunate to be able to do that.
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 11:09     Subject: Anyone have experience with an IEP in FCPS?
we were in the woodson pyramid and our experience was terrible at the elementary level
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 09:57     Subject: Anyone have experience with an IEP in FCPS?
What are your commutes and budget?
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 08:37     Subject: Anyone have experience with an IEP in FCPS?
I agree. I work in elementary in this pyramid and I think we serve these kids well.
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 07:53     Subject: Anyone have experience with an IEP in FCPS?
Anonymous wrote:Most people only have experience with one school but I can say for my child with a similar dx one of the West Springfield pyramid schools has been a good fit, and support in middle has also been good. Housing can be a challenge to find and you will likely not be about to focus in just on one elementary. The pool of available homes will be too small. We were looking at homes in either West Springfield HS pyramid, Lake Braddock Secondary, and Robinson (lower ranked for us). I looked specifically at the standardized test scores for children with disabilities compared across school division and Virginia, and tried to weigh that against schools with dedicated programming (AAP etc). I looked at the whole pyramid (HS and MS) because we won’t move again hopefully. Good luck! Things haven’t been perfect for us, but both of our children who have IEPs have improved significantly since moving here.


+1 Have a kid in the exact same situation- ASD 1, West Springfield Area. School has been great and we have gotten more support when we asked for it. I would agree nothing is perfect, but I’m a teacher and have been pleased with our child’s services here (I don’t think we would have gotten as much where I teach).
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 07:49     Subject: Anyone have experience with an IEP in FCPS?
Last PP, Also should add…. commutes were a factor, which is why we didn’t consider any of the more western schools (and affordability).
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 07:47     Subject: Anyone have experience with an IEP in FCPS?
Most people only have experience with one school but I can say for my child with a similar dx one of the West Springfield pyramid schools has been a good fit, and support in middle has also been good. Housing can be a challenge to find and you will likely not be about to focus in just on one elementary. The pool of available homes will be too small. We were looking at homes in either West Springfield HS pyramid, Lake Braddock Secondary, and Robinson (lower ranked for us). I looked specifically at the standardized test scores for children with disabilities compared across school division and Virginia, and tried to weigh that against schools with dedicated programming (AAP etc). I looked at the whole pyramid (HS and MS) because we won’t move again hopefully. Good luck! Things haven’t been perfect for us, but both of our children who have IEPs have improved significantly since moving here.
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 01:11     Subject: Anyone have experience with an IEP in FCPS?
We’re relocating and I’m trying to figure out the best fit for my DS who is in elementary school and has an ASD-1 diagnosis.

And yes, I’ve checked in on the Special Needs forum, but am hoping for feedback here.