Anonymous
05/29/2026 17:05
Subject: Is the week leading up to Memorial Day effectively the last day of school in FCPS?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yes.
We are really strict about attendance, but have been letting our high schooler craft their own schedule since AP exams are over.
Most of their classes have seniors or are senior AP classes, so the finals were either early last week or prior to the AP exams.
They have basically been showing up for fun science labs that the science teachers have added on their own (FCPS has really limited science labs at everywhere but TJ since the Woodson chemistry fire a few years back), disection labs, and music class.
Most of the classes only have a few kids still attending. Many have been nothing but free periods or PG movies since AP exams. It has been this way for all of my high school kids, but moreso this year with this ridiculous schedule and pointless 2 day week for Memorial Day (seriously, wtf)
We have prioritized school and attendance all these years, but FCPS has sent a clear message this year eith this stupid calendar that consistent school attendance is a very low priority for the district.
No kid gets anything from a solid month in late May-June of wasted time after AP exams are over. At that point, the only reason to keep kids in school is funding. If it were about educating the students, most of the 2, 3 and 4 day weeks would have been 5 day weeks, and FCPS would give families a set number of free passes for their religious holidays, so we weren't canceling school for religious holidays that are fewer than 3% of the county population, and secular holidays not celebrated in the US like Lunar New Year
My kid goes to Woodson and they have done a ton of labs in Chemistry this year AND they still have more upcoming. DC is somewhat checked out mentally, however, that has only meant that I have had to check on their grades/assignments a little more often because there are still tests, projects, etc. I honestly would be thrilled if they could just be lazy now!
Sophomore?
Wait until Junior and senior year.
There is very little point in FCPS continuing school past AP exams.
Anonymous
05/29/2026 16:04
Subject: Is the week leading up to Memorial Day effectively the last day of school in FCPS?
Anonymous wrote:Yes.
We are really strict about attendance, but have been letting our high schooler craft their own schedule since AP exams are over.
Most of their classes have seniors or are senior AP classes, so the finals were either early last week or prior to the AP exams.
They have basically been showing up for fun science labs that the science teachers have added on their own (FCPS has really limited science labs at everywhere but TJ since the Woodson chemistry fire a few years back), disection labs, and music class.
Most of the classes only have a few kids still attending. Many have been nothing but free periods or PG movies since AP exams. It has been this way for all of my high school kids, but moreso this year with this ridiculous schedule and pointless 2 day week for Memorial Day (seriously, wtf)
We have prioritized school and attendance all these years, but FCPS has sent a clear message this year eith this stupid calendar that consistent school attendance is a very low priority for the district.
No kid gets anything from a solid month in late May-June of wasted time after AP exams are over. At that point, the only reason to keep kids in school is funding. If it were about educating the students, most of the 2, 3 and 4 day weeks would have been 5 day weeks, and FCPS would give families a set number of free passes for their religious holidays, so we weren't canceling school for religious holidays that are fewer than 3% of the county population, and secular holidays not celebrated in the US like Lunar New Year
My kid goes to Woodson and they have done a ton of labs in Chemistry this year AND they still have more upcoming. DC is somewhat checked out mentally, however, that has only meant that I have had to check on their grades/assignments a little more often because there are still tests, projects, etc. I honestly would be thrilled if they could just be lazy now!
Anonymous
05/29/2026 15:32
Subject: Is the week leading up to Memorial Day effectively the last day of school in FCPS?
Our varsity baseball players are out according to baseball mom acquaintance. Apparently need to rest before next playoff game. I don’t know if this is coordinated but this is ridiculous.
Anonymous
05/29/2026 15:10
Subject: Is the week leading up to Memorial Day effectively the last day of school in FCPS?
My sophomore is working on a project, complete with research and slides. Presenting next week. In another class, reading and analyzing a poem. A few related assignments to that need to be completed. In chemistry they are going strong - still doing labs and learning concepts. A final exam on the last two units is coming up. In language, prep for the writing and reading PALS test is next. Finally, they are preparing for the math final. My kid is busy. They want to finish out their year strong even though technically could probably fail their finals and still have an A.
Anonymous
05/29/2026 15:08
Subject: Is the week leading up to Memorial Day effectively the last day of school in FCPS?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My sophomore is reviewing for final exams in 4/7 classes, finishing up a presentation to present next week in a 5th class, and doing a fun project in art and walking laps in the sunshine in PE.
Seems like a solid balance.
That is not the experience of my senior or Junior this year or in the past. I feel like a rube sending my kid to school.
My kids' experience was pretty fluffy after AP/IB exams happened in senior heavy classes. In classes with predominantly underclassmen, instruction continued.
My last child is a junior and it seems to be holding true. English has final presentations spread over the last 3 weeks (each kid gets 20 minutes, so it takes a while) so they're done in English because they went yesterday but part of their grade is submitting solid feedback to peers and being a good audience member so they still have to attend.
Psychology is doing a fluffy data collection project that is probably 2 hours of work spread over 2 weeks. History's final is naming countries on a map so they are playing lots of review games to memorize them.
Math and science have always pushed on with content until the last day when there have been final exams.
Anonymous
05/29/2026 14:43
Subject: Re:Is the week leading up to Memorial Day effectively the last day of school in FCPS?
Anonymous wrote:My 8th grader has tests coming up and is working on a science project. I suspect that he will be busy through the last week of school.
Yeah, that wasnt our experience in MS either.
Anonymous
05/29/2026 14:41
Subject: Is the week leading up to Memorial Day effectively the last day of school in FCPS?
Anonymous wrote:My sophomore is reviewing for final exams in 4/7 classes, finishing up a presentation to present next week in a 5th class, and doing a fun project in art and walking laps in the sunshine in PE.
Seems like a solid balance.
That is not the experience of my senior or Junior this year or in the past. I feel like a rube sending my kid to school.
Anonymous
05/29/2026 14:24
Subject: Is the week leading up to Memorial Day effectively the last day of school in FCPS?
It seems like the high school experience is very different from elementary and middle school.
Once APs exams are over, attending school becomes a waste of time, especially if the classes are 11th/12th grade classes.
Once APs exams are over, attending school becomes a waste of time, especially if the classes are 11th/12th grade classes.
Anonymous
05/29/2026 14:07
Subject: Re:Is the week leading up to Memorial Day effectively the last day of school in FCPS?
My 8th grader has tests coming up and is working on a science project. I suspect that he will be busy through the last week of school.
Anonymous
05/29/2026 13:46
Subject: Is the week leading up to Memorial Day effectively the last day of school in FCPS?
My sophomore is reviewing for final exams in 4/7 classes, finishing up a presentation to present next week in a 5th class, and doing a fun project in art and walking laps in the sunshine in PE.
Seems like a solid balance.
Seems like a solid balance.
Anonymous
05/29/2026 13:43
Subject: Is the week leading up to Memorial Day effectively the last day of school in FCPS?
Yes.
We are really strict about attendance, but have been letting our high schooler craft their own schedule since AP exams are over.
Most of their classes have seniors or are senior AP classes, so the finals were either early last week or prior to the AP exams.
They have basically been showing up for fun science labs that the science teachers have added on their own (FCPS has really limited science labs at everywhere but TJ since the Woodson chemistry fire a few years back), disection labs, and music class.
Most of the classes only have a few kids still attending. Many have been nothing but free periods or PG movies since AP exams. It has been this way for all of my high school kids, but moreso this year with this ridiculous schedule and pointless 2 day week for Memorial Day (seriously, wtf)
We have prioritized school and attendance all these years, but FCPS has sent a clear message this year eith this stupid calendar that consistent school attendance is a very low priority for the district.
No kid gets anything from a solid month in late May-June of wasted time after AP exams are over. At that point, the only reason to keep kids in school is funding. If it were about educating the students, most of the 2, 3 and 4 day weeks would have been 5 day weeks, and FCPS would give families a set number of free passes for their religious holidays, so we weren't canceling school for religious holidays that are fewer than 3% of the county population, and secular holidays not celebrated in the US like Lunar New Year
We are really strict about attendance, but have been letting our high schooler craft their own schedule since AP exams are over.
Most of their classes have seniors or are senior AP classes, so the finals were either early last week or prior to the AP exams.
They have basically been showing up for fun science labs that the science teachers have added on their own (FCPS has really limited science labs at everywhere but TJ since the Woodson chemistry fire a few years back), disection labs, and music class.
Most of the classes only have a few kids still attending. Many have been nothing but free periods or PG movies since AP exams. It has been this way for all of my high school kids, but moreso this year with this ridiculous schedule and pointless 2 day week for Memorial Day (seriously, wtf)
We have prioritized school and attendance all these years, but FCPS has sent a clear message this year eith this stupid calendar that consistent school attendance is a very low priority for the district.
No kid gets anything from a solid month in late May-June of wasted time after AP exams are over. At that point, the only reason to keep kids in school is funding. If it were about educating the students, most of the 2, 3 and 4 day weeks would have been 5 day weeks, and FCPS would give families a set number of free passes for their religious holidays, so we weren't canceling school for religious holidays that are fewer than 3% of the county population, and secular holidays not celebrated in the US like Lunar New Year
Anonymous
05/29/2026 13:29
Subject: Is the week leading up to Memorial Day effectively the last day of school in FCPS?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So many people have been overseas for the past two weeks from Germany to Honduras to Singapore. Why???? I’m talking about families with one or more high schoolers. Some do this every year. Once APs are done, vacations begin.
my elementary kids are doing PBLs to review content
middle school AAPer is watching movies
Can FCPS pretend that school at the end of the year is meaningful.
Anonymous
05/29/2026 13:28
Subject: Is the week leading up to Memorial Day effectively the last day of school in FCPS?
My eighth grader has a "promotion" ceremony on June 2. And then two more weeks of "school" 😒
Anonymous
05/29/2026 13:15
Subject: Is the week leading up to Memorial Day effectively the last day of school in FCPS?
Anonymous wrote:So many people have been overseas for the past two weeks from Germany to Honduras to Singapore. Why???? I’m talking about families with one or more high schoolers. Some do this every year. Once APs are done, vacations begin.
my elementary kids are doing PBLs to review content
middle school AAPer is watching movies
Anonymous
05/29/2026 12:55
Subject: Is the week leading up to Memorial Day effectively the last day of school in FCPS?
So many people have been overseas for the past two weeks from Germany to Honduras to Singapore. Why???? I’m talking about families with one or more high schoolers. Some do this every year. Once APs are done, vacations begin.