Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Falls Church City schools have less diversity, and the high school is very small.

Regarding diversity, found this on the FCCPS website
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2J5hRFluyA_VkNwRWJmQWZWMEE
- 33 native languages spoken. That seems pretty diverse.

George Mason HS is about 70% white and that's rare in NoVa (Langley and Madison are the only HS in Fairfax with similarly high percentages of white students). But compared to some places, George Mason and the other FCC schools probably would be considered diverse. In terms of economic diversity, the FCC schools have more FARMS students than Westbriar and fewer than Stenwood, but the overall FARMS percentages at all these schools are low.

Anonymous wrote: Falls Church City schools have less diversity, and the high school is very small.

Regarding diversity, found this on the FCCPS website
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2J5hRFluyA_VkNwRWJmQWZWMEE
- 33 native languages spoken. That seems pretty diverse.

Anonymous wrote: I've always looked at the FCC system as best suited for for those who want a traditional, small-town experience

They are #19 in USNewsWorld Report "Best in the US" ranking this year.

Anonymous wrote:Which is the most diverse?

Westbriar is the most racially diverse (with close to 30% Asian students) and Stenwood has the most low-income students (about 9% are FARMS). All of these schools serve affluent areas.

Falls Church City schools have less diversity, and the high school is very small. I've always looked at the FCC system as best suited for for those who want a traditional, small-town experience in the midst of a large metropolitan area.

You will probably find very little diversity (economic and otherwise) in Fall Church city and Westbriar - both serve very wealthy communities...particularly Falls Church city where the real estate prices and city taxes are out of reach for many middle class families. last I heard Falls Church city had the lowest FARM rate of any school in NOVA (even lower than McLean) - whether you consider this a benefit or not it does not a diverse school make.

Don't know anything about Stenwood.

Which is the most diverse?

Falls Church City. I love the size of the system great IB program in the HS. Elementary is undergoing a big renovation now.

Anonymous wrote:I'd visit and check out all the school boundaries. These schools are not right by each other. You're missing several schools inbetween the three of them

I'd assumed that OP was looking at specific houses in those three districts. If not, I agree that the OP might want to consider other areas as well.

A prior poster had commented on the Westbriar and Stenwood boundaries. FWIW, all of Westbriar feeds into Kilmer, and then it splits about 75-25% as between Marshall and Madison. In comparison, about 1/3 of Stenwood feeds into Thoreau, with the rest feeding into Kilmer, but everyone zoned for Stenwood is assigned to Marshall. Thoreau's "reputation" is as good as Kilmer's; Kilmer just houses the local AAP program. Another thing to consider is that Westbriar's boundaries are a bit funky. There's a "Westbriar island" in Vienna that is separated from the rest of the Westbriar district by neighborhoods assigned to Colvin Run and Spring Hill ES. As a result, you could live in the western half of the Westbriar district and essentially drive by Colvin Run on your way to Westbriar.

I'd visit and check out all the school boundaries. These schools are not right by each other. You're missing several schools inbetween the three of them

Stenwood.

I'd also pick Westbriar. Part of Westbriar goes to Madison, which has AP versus Marshall's IB program, which may be preferred although Marshall HS is good too. Although taxes might be higher if it is in the town limits.

Kilmer MS is generally considered better than Thoreau and has the GT center. FCC is also considered good but I'm not sure its as good at handling high-level GT kids and special needs kids as well as Fairfax Co. Westbriar is a small school so that's nice.

Interesting thanks! Op here and was considering Stenwood due to proximity of Metro and ease of commute to DC.
We like FCC except they don't have a Gifted program and since the school district is small, we wonder if it has the same resources and opportunities as the Fairfax county schools.

Another vote for Westbriar.

Falls Church City

Westbriar

If you had to choose, which would you prefer for your kids? We are trying to decide...