I hate to name names, but it's one that you've already categorized as a lower end FCPS.

OP, I've got to ask, which HS are you specifically referencing in your comment about the fencing of items?

Agree with FCPS teacher. We have one who just got out alive (and no disciplinary issues) from a FC high school.

OP here: Thanks so much for your input. I really want to be able to choose a FCPS high school for my kids (to avoid tuition and theological clashes), but security is non-negotiable.

The word from pretty much everyone I've spoken to regarding our local jr/high school is that you MSUT take ALL honors classes to avoid the trouble. However, not all kids can handle all honors and even the honors/AP kids have to eat lunch and walk the halls with the general population.

The selling (fencing) of goods was a parent's description of kids who appear to come from little wealth selling used high end tennis shoes, jackets, ipods, and ipads IN THE HALLS between classes by just shouting out "Nike's $100!" or something like that. And it goes on all the time.

Can anyone else give me more insight on life in public jr. highs and high schools?

I have taught in a FCPS high school for 10+ years. In that time, I have probably witnessed 7-10 fights in the hallways. While the hallways are loud between classes, they are not rough and scary. Yes, some kids are sometimes rough-housing with each other and jumping around and yelling, but they are not beating each other up! I have NEVER seen stolen goods being sold in the hallways! While classes at my school can be large, they are not generally out of control and when I walk in the halls during classtime, classes are calm and quiet. Yes, kids are different than they used to be and the language in worse than I used when I went to high school and kids are sometimes crass and undisciplined. And yes, there is PDA in the halls sometimes and kids definitely wear inappropriate clothing sometimes. But for all that, there are still kids who hold the door open for me when my hands are full of papers, say please and thank you or sorry when they bump into me in the hall. I have no idea what your local school is or what middle school is like, but generally I think schools in FCPS are under control for the most part.

I didn't go to public hs. I went to a Catholic hs in the midwest. Small town. Very contolled environment in the sense that kids did not fight in the halls, there was no PDA during the day at school, kids didn't overtly cheat. There was plenty of drinking on the weekends, but kids on the whole had a sense of right/wrong and guilt and fear of getting caught and getting in trouble.

DH went to a larger public hs in the midwest (similar size as typical FCPS). He talks about seeing kids in fights, being forced to fight at times, being scared to go to school, etc. It got better as he got bigger/older. Friends have told me that the hall scene b/t classes at local (FCPS) jr/high schools is very rough, undiciplined, kids selling (stolen?) goods in the hallways, generally scary, classes too big to be controlled by the teacher, kids getting beaten up on the buses, etc.

I'm wondering if this is typical given the age of the kids, volume of kids in one place, different backgrounds all being thrown in together. Is jr. high just a scary place? Do all high schools have sort of the same thing going on?

We all have the test scores/data, but Have you ever seen a high school during transition b/t classes or after school? Did it concern you? I don't have direct experience with public jr high and high schools. Do you have to be tough to get through the school day?