Arlington has no gifted magnets/programs. Fairfax has gifted ed for almost 20% and Moco is probably less than 5. As PP noted it just depends on the systems goals. If you are truly the top 1%, Fairfax's program geared to the top 20% is probably not as good for you as MoCo. On the other hand MoCo has many smart kids in regular classrooms. I would think this is generally fine accept that MoCo is moving more and more toward no differentiation so that means everyone gets only as much as the bottom can handle.

Anonymous wrote:A poster on another thread said:
"Arlington/fairfax school have capacity to accelerate 10% of its student body to magnets or G&T. MoCo can only help 1% of its top students. "

I found that interesting (although don't know if it's true). True? If so, thoughts on whey this is since I would imagine other aspects of the systems between Fairfax and MoCo are likely pretty similar in terms of teacher count, overall spending, etc.

I think it's just a decision by the school system as to who they will pull out of the regular curriculum vs trying to accomodate within the home school. FWIW I think that's probably a bit of an underestimate for MoCo-- I don't have the numbers handy but I'd guess it's closer to 5% at least for the grades 4-5 program, not sure about MS/HS (but it sounds as though the poster was thinking of ES?)

A poster on another thread said:
"Arlington/fairfax school have capacity to accelerate 10% of its student body to magnets or G&T. MoCo can only help 1% of its top students. "

I found that interesting (although don't know if it's true). True? If so, thoughts on whey this is since I would imagine other aspects of the systems between Fairfax and MoCo are likely pretty similar in terms of teacher count, overall spending, etc.