Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. I am wondering why Langley is even discussed on this thread. Langley has nothing to do with Herndon/Westfield/SLHS’s performance.

2. Herndon used to on a par with other FCPS high schools and one notch above South Lakes. For some reason a large hispanic population flocked to Herndon and that didn’t help the school academically. Aside from the gang problem, much of school resource is being used for Spanish speakers.

3. Westfield is still an OK school. But many condos and townhouses have been built in that area.

4. South Lakes did become a little (much?) better thanks to the boundary change in 2007. Some people said its IB program attracts students from other wealthier areas. But my observation is that most out of boundary kids are from Herndon, resulting in even worse situation at HHS.

There are 224 kids transferring into South Lakes this year. About 2/3 (155) are transferring from Herndon. Westfield and Oakton also send 33 and 20 kids to South Lakes this year. In comparison, South Lakes only sends 13 kids to Herndon this year. FCPS shows both Herndon and South Lakes as closed to new transfers in 2022-23.

The 2007 boundary change ended up overcrowding South Lakes, so they built a further addition to South Lakes to the school outside the normal renovation cycle. Because people from Reston typically have had the most influence over Hunter Mill politics, many of the Hunter Mill School Board and Board of Supervisors members over the years (Stu Gibson, Pat Hynes, Kathy Hudgins, Walter Alcorn) have had close ties to Reston and/or South Lakes. They look out after that school. Dranesville politicians only pay attention to Herndon when they want Herndon residents to vote for Democrats.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They don’t really want to do a program review. They just want to avoid paying attention to boundaries or facilities on the grounds they need to do a program review first.

So, you think it is better to redraw boundaries than to review programs? No. Eliminating a program does not disrupt students and families. A program can be phased out with little disruption.

Anonymous wrote:They don’t really want to do a program review. They just want to avoid paying attention to boundaries or facilities on the grounds they need to do a program review first.

Anonymous wrote:

The existence of a popular program is not a reason to eliminate the choice to get into said program.

Do you even hear yourself?

I'm the poster who said to eliminate IB. It may be a "popular" program with some, but many SL families would prefer AP. This was clear during the boundary comments in 2008 and it is still true today. Especially now that fewer Carson kids are attending TJ, more likely feel that way.
As for the 155 students from Herndon, I'm guessing that there are factors other than IB that encourage pupil placement. The AAP center may be one of them. The demographics may be another. And, for those who complain about Herndon/Langley boundary, that may be just as much of a factor with the issues that some people have with Herndon as the boundary.

IB at Lewis also enables students to request AP at a different school.

FCPS should relook at the IB program. I'm betting that more leave Lewis than ask to attend. That is another reason for the discrepancies in schools. I had no idea that 155 Herndon students PP into South Lakes.

As long as FCPS offers both IB and AP at different school, it will have a disparate impact on neighboring schools.

The existence of a popular program is not a reason to eliminate the choice to get into said program.

Do you even hear yourself?

Anonymous wrote:[
South Lakess has AAP for Hughes middle school. Some Herndon kids that end up wanting to stay at SL.


quote=Anonymous]

There are 224 kids transferring into South Lakes this year. About 2/3 (155) are transferring from Herndon. Westfield and Oakton also send 33 and 20 kids to South Lakes this year. In comparison, South Lakes only sends 13 kids to Herndon this year. FCPS shows both Herndon and South Lakes as closed to new transfers in 2022-23.

The 2007 boundary change ended up overcrowding South Lakes, so they built a further addition to South Lakes to the school outside the normal renovation cycle. Because people from Reston typically have had the most influence over Hunter Mill politics, many of the Hunter Mill School Board and Board of Supervisors members over the years (Stu Gibson, Pat Hynes, Kathy Hudgins, Walter Alcorn) have had close ties to Reston and/or South Lakes. They look out after that school. Dranesville politicians only pay attention to Herndon when they want Herndon residents to vote for Democrats.

Another reason to get rid of IB. This encourages Pupil Placement.