Lower scores could just be due to sl higher ESL population. Powell also has a large number of high achieving kids. Recently had a spelling bee for 1st - 4th graders. Almost all that advanced to the oral round had a perfect score on the written bee (not a hard test but still). Powell also has one level IV AAP class starting in 3rd grade. Also has a warm and friendly staff. It is a large school but you really don't feel it.

When my child was in Kindergarten at Navy there were 28 kids with a teacher and one aide, but this was with half day. First and second grade are in the 24-26 student range, no aide. If they group the special needs kids into one class then that teacher will have less overall students, say 22-23, that is not always the case (don't have a SN child but know someone who does and she said that this was done last year but not this year).

Anonymous wrote:
I was talking more about the middle and high school levels. The boundary changes mostly were at the elementary school level.

Why did some changes happen this year and others not take effect for 2 more years? Just curious.

I believe that additions are being built, or modulars are being added, at several of the schools involved in the redistricting scheduled for the fall of 2013. The first set of changes just moved students to schools that supposedly already had the capacity available to accept more students.

not trying to be elitist. just explaining the housing situation to somewhere who is considering moving into the school district.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Navy is a great school. One of only a few in the area with no apartments, just a few town homes. 4% free rl, active parents. Also I appreciate that they differentiate alot. Starting in 1st kids change classes for math according to ability level.

And this is a good thing? Sounds pretty elitist to me.

During the big FDK fight last year, it seemed to me that the schools with no apartments in boundary had lower FARMS numbers and were the 37 with HDK. We were living in a district with HDK, not able to afford a larger TH or SFH in the district right across a major road from us that already had FDK and TRULY the only difference was the 3 or 4 apartment complexes in that boundary. We had a more small THs and condos, but no apartments.

Yes, it IS elitist.

Anonymous wrote:In the lower grades (K,1,2) they keep the classes small, 22 - 24. Past 3rd grade the class size gets up there (25 - 30). I think 30 - 40 kids go to the GT center every year. (Navy)

we're at GBW, and we have 30 in 3 K classes. No, I'm NOT kidding. Seems ridiculous to me. I heard Poplar Tree has 19. I'm still trying to figure out why they didn't hire another teacher like they told me they would when I registered my child as we moved in shortly before school started.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a couple Powell families (one pupil placed in as mom is a teacher). The family that lives in the neighborhood is unhappy with the middle and HS options, and will likely move after their kids finish ES. Of course, you never know when a boundary change can happen.

We came close to buying a short sale in Floris district. It went to Westfield as the HS.

All the MS's in that area rank well - Carson, Franklin, Rocky Run.

I really don't think you can go wrong with any of these schools. I am curious about class sizes, though - are they rather high in Navy and Floris, or lower?

I wouldn't rule out GBW, Lees Corner, Poplar Tree, Oak Hill or Waples Mill, if you are househunting in that general area.

Where Powell is concerned, you do know when a boundary change will happen - in the fall of 2013.

http://www.fcps.edu/fts/planning/southwesternstudy/

I was talking more about the middle and high school levels. The boundary changes mostly were at the elementary school level.

Why did some changes happen this year and others not take effect for 2 more years? Just curious.

Anonymous wrote:Navy is a great school. One of only a few in the area with no apartments, just a few town homes. 4% free rl, active parents. Also I appreciate that they differentiate alot. Starting in 1st kids change classes for math according to ability level.

And this is a good thing? Sounds pretty elitist to me.

Anonymous wrote:I know a couple Powell families (one pupil placed in as mom is a teacher). The family that lives in the neighborhood is unhappy with the middle and HS options, and will likely move after their kids finish ES. Of course, you never know when a boundary change can happen.

We came close to buying a short sale in Floris district. It went to Westfield as the HS.

All the MS's in that area rank well - Carson, Franklin, Rocky Run.

I really don't think you can go wrong with any of these schools. I am curious about class sizes, though - are they rather high in Navy and Floris, or lower?

I wouldn't rule out GBW, Lees Corner, Poplar Tree, Oak Hill or Waples Mill, if you are househunting in that general area.

Where Powell is concerned, you do know when a boundary change will happen - in the fall of 2013.

http://www.fcps.edu/fts/planning/southwesternstudy/

In the lower grades (K,1,2) they keep the classes small, 22 - 24. Past 3rd grade the class size gets up there (25 - 30). I think 30 - 40 kids go to the GT center every year. (Navy)

I know a couple Powell families (one pupil placed in as mom is a teacher). The family that lives in the neighborhood is unhappy with the middle and HS options, and will likely move after their kids finish ES. Of course, you never know when a boundary change can happen.

We came close to buying a short sale in Floris district. It went to Westfield as the HS.

All the MS's in that area rank well - Carson, Franklin, Rocky Run.

I really don't think you can go wrong with any of these schools. I am curious about class sizes, though - are they rather high in Navy and Floris, or lower?

I wouldn't rule out GBW, Lees Corner, Poplar Tree, Oak Hill or Waples Mill, if you are househunting in that general area.

Navy is a great school. One of only a few in the area with no apartments, just a few town homes. 4% free rl, active parents. Also I appreciate that they differentiate alot. Starting in 1st kids change classes for math according to ability level.

I'd go with Navy.

Looking for homes in these three school areas; should I be leaning towards one of these schools in particular? I am not so worried about high school right now because we might be moving out in 8-10 years and we will just be entering kindergarten this year. As of now, I am concerned only upto middle school.

Floris (AAP Center is Mcnair, but I heard most of them stay back in Floris) --> Rachel Carson Middle
Collin Powell (AAP Center is GBW) --> Lanier Middle
Navy(AAP Center is Hunter Woods) --> Franklin Middle.

I just looked at the scores, and seems like both Powell and Navy went a little lower in ranks in 2011 (saw this on schooldigger.com) compared to 2010. But I know sometimes scores might not mean everything