I am in Alex City. Drop off starts 20 minutes prior to the doors being opened.

Our ES actually had to post an administrator at the back door where children were being dropped 15 minutes before the allowed time. The administrator would tell parents they couldn't leave children. It eventually solved the problem.

Anonymous wrote:How do they decide which schools get crossing guards? We have one at a not-very-busy intersection near our school but we do have a lot of walkers. I would think a school with a busier street would be prioritized over our rinky dink one.

I have kids at two different elementary schools.

One is on a bustling road for our area, and it has a crossing guard.

The other one is on a quiet residential street, and it also has a crossing guard. I assume the reason is because in the morning rush hour, that street is so narrow that the traffic regularly backs up two stoplights down onto the major Fairfax County highway that leads to our school's quiet street.

Our school opens the doors 10 minutes before the first bell.

Anonymous wrote:How do they decide which schools get crossing guards? We have one at a not-very-busy intersection near our school but we do have a lot of walkers. I would think a school with a busier street would be prioritized over our rinky dink one.

I am the PP whose school no longer has a crossing guard. They tried for over a year to find one and no one wanted the job, so a policeman had to be there for an entire school year. I believe the police said that they did not have the manpower to continue it. So the Principal made the decision to have everyone bussed.

How do they decide which schools get crossing guards? We have one at a not-very-busy intersection near our school but we do have a lot of walkers. I would think a school with a busier street would be prioritized over our rinky dink one.

Your not supposed to drop off before the posted drop off time unless your child is a patrol.

Anonymous wrote:Our FCPS elementary doesn't start until 9:15 (which is absurdly late) so I can see some parents needing to get to work and being out of options. It isn't much different than letting your dc walk to school alone.

Our ES has very few walkers allowed. Only those that live right next to the school are allowed. It is on a busy road and we lost our crossing guard years ago. So everyone has to be parent escorted if they walk or take the bus (even if they live across the street).

ES had strict rules about dropping off before the kiss and ride was staffed. However, there is a before school activity now, so those children are dropped off earlier. MS was much more lax about it. They allowed the kids to be in the cafeteria before the official opening of the school. I think it was an attempt to get more kids to buy breakfast becase they were always close to the minimum number of breakfasts to keep the breakfast option open. Does your ES have breakfast?

Our FCPS elementary doesn't start until 9:15 (which is absurdly late) so I can see some parents needing to get to work and being out of options. It isn't much different than letting your dc walk to school alone.

Or can't afford SACC. I guess if their dc are old enough to be left alone, it isn't really a big deal. I'd be concerned if they were dropping off 5 year olds, though, I imagine they are older dc.

You're lucky, OP. You got a SACC spot. I would imagine there are parents that did not and are in a bind. I'm not one of them but I could see how it could happen.

Op here -yes this is 15 min or more BEFORE that early "allowed" drop off.

I recall our school allow early drop offs but no earlier than 15 minutes of the start of school bell. Some bus rider get there much earlier than others, not everyone arrive at the same time, therefore, the early drop offs.
The students are to report to the cafeteria at our school.

Does FCPS have a "rule" about how early you can drop your cild off before school? Or is it school by school? I pay for SACC and aim for a certain time to drop off but at times I am a little late so i see parents dropping off non SACc kids(different entrance)The school posts its time of when you are allowed to drop off. I'm floored by the parents I see do it 15 min before that and just have the kids sit outside. It's not a daycare! I know the school keeps posting the time but can they actually do anything about it? I pay money every month so my kids are in good hands and I can get to work on time. Can the county enforce it? Seems like a lot of parents do it(early drop) -not a small problem.