Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Colin Powell has a strong level IV program, but it could grow even stronger if so many kids wouldn't leave for GBW. There would be enough kids for two full classes instead of just one.

agree. Same thing for most of the feeder schools of GBW. GBW name comes because of kids from feeder schools.

+1 They could start slowly. First letting the two elementary schools that feed the largest population of children into GBW strengthen their own program by keeping their children there. This would alleviate overcrowding at GBW while other level VI programs grow.

I kept my son in CP. It was a no-brainer. Smaller class sizes, strong AAP teachers, and having my son in the same school as his neighborhood friends, priceless. It is beyond me why some parents whose children go to CP flock to GBW.

The GBW to Rocky Run to TJ track is well known.

My child will go to Rocky Run also, and so will most level IV that stay at their home school. It is the same track.

The path is not the same when more GBW students end up at TJ.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Colin Powell has a strong level IV program, but it could grow even stronger if so many kids wouldn't leave for GBW. There would be enough kids for two full classes instead of just one.

agree. Same thing for most of the feeder schools of GBW. GBW name comes because of kids from feeder schools.

+1 They could start slowly. First letting the two elementary schools that feed the largest population of children into GBW strengthen their own program by keeping their children there. This would alleviate overcrowding at GBW while other level VI programs grow.

I kept my son in CP. It was a no-brainer. Smaller class sizes, strong AAP teachers, and having my son in the same school as his neighborhood friends, priceless. It is beyond me why some parents whose children go to CP flock to GBW.

The GBW to Rocky Run to TJ track is well known.

My child will go to Rocky Run also, and so will most level IV that stay at their home school. It is the same track.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Colin Powell has a strong level IV program, but it could grow even stronger if so many kids wouldn't leave for GBW. There would be enough kids for two full classes instead of just one.

agree. Same thing for most of the feeder schools of GBW. GBW name comes because of kids from feeder schools.

+1 They could start slowly. First letting the two elementary schools that feed the largest population of children into GBW strengthen their own program by keeping their children there. This would alleviate overcrowding at GBW while other level VI programs grow.

I kept my son in CP. It was a no-brainer. Smaller class sizes, strong AAP teachers, and having my son in the same school as his neighborhood friends, priceless. It is beyond me why some parents whose children go to CP flock to GBW.

The GBW to Rocky Run to TJ track is well known.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Colin Powell has a strong level IV program, but it could grow even stronger if so many kids wouldn't leave for GBW. There would be enough kids for two full classes instead of just one.

agree. Same thing for most of the feeder schools of GBW. GBW name comes because of kids from feeder schools.

+1 They could start slowly. First letting the two elementary schools that feed the largest population of children into GBW strengthen their own program by keeping their children there. This would alleviate overcrowding at GBW while other level VI programs grow.

I kept my son in CP. It was a no-brainer. Smaller class sizes, strong AAP teachers, and having my son in the same school as his neighborhood friends, priceless. It is beyond me why some parents whose children go to CP flock to GBW.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of all the racist comments on DCUM, I am shocked that this causes you to "wow." I'm guessing you are both white.

Actually, a significant number of people from Texas are hispanic. Including Garza.

I took it as an anti-hispanic comment, not an anti-white comment.

+1

And, if it matters, I am hispanic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Colin Powell has a strong level IV program, but it could grow even stronger if so many kids wouldn't leave for GBW. There would be enough kids for two full classes instead of just one.

agree. Same thing for most of the feeder schools of GBW. GBW name comes because of kids from feeder schools.

+1 They could start slowly. First letting the two elementary schools that feed the largest population of children into GBW strengthen their own program by keeping their children there. This would alleviate overcrowding at GBW while other level VI programs grow.

Karen Garza's spouse is Hispanic. She is not. The post was stupid in any event.

The comment was not anti-Hispanic. It was anti-Texas.

Anonymous wrote:Oh, meant to say also that Texas is not known for its public schools and it has so many ESOL students, it has to focus on achievement gap, not high achievement. So there are factual reasons for the comment. Not bigotry. Unlike all the anti-Asian, anti-black, anti-Indian comments all over DCUM. Wow to you both.

So anti-black, Asian or Indian is something to be shocked and appalled about, but anti-hispanic is a perfectly acceptable viewpoint, ESPECIALLY if it is tied to anti-Texas sentiment, the most favored bias after anti-Christian on dcum.

Okay.

Thank you for clarifying the issue for us.

Since the top issue that folks complain about in fcps is all the illegal immigrant and new hispanic students bringing down the fcps system, I would think that you would all see Garza's experience and success with these types of students a bonus and not a detriment.

Texas actually does well with bringing many, not all, of those low performing immigrant students to a higher level of achievement. Having lived in several states across the wouthwest I would argue that they are the most successful at doing so. However, their sheer numbers of these types of students paint a misleading picture of the success.

FCPS haw such a small number of these low achieving students as compared to many other places, includong where she cwme from in Texas. I am hopeful and confident that Garza will actually have measureable success in closing the achievement gap, without causing a ripple with the children at the top.

Anonymous wrote:Of all the racist comments on DCUM, I am shocked that this causes you to "wow." I'm guessing you are both white.

Actually, a significant number of people from Texas are hispanic. Including Garza.

I took it as an anti-hispanic comment, not an anti-white comment.

Oh, meant to say also that Texas is not known for its public schools and it has so many ESOL students, it has to focus on achievement gap, not high achievement. So there are factual reasons for the comment. Not bigotry. Unlike all the anti-Asian, anti-black, anti-Indian comments all over DCUM. Wow to you both.

Of all the racist comments on DCUM, I am shocked that this causes you to "wow." I'm guessing you are both white.

Anonymous wrote:

That's what we get for hiring someone from Texas.

Frankly, I find this a bigoted statement. Wow.

I agree.

That's what we get for hiring someone from Texas.

Frankly, I find this a bigoted statement. Wow.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I truly wish the center went back to its roots and became much smaller. Then it would serve the truly gifted (it's not great at that now with the wide range of abilities in it) and it wouldn't be so divisive. Unfortunately, FCPS seems to be unwilling to make the requirements more stringent and instead seems to want to give up the program by phasing out centers and only offering LLIV. LLIV is not the same as the center and will do even worse than the current centers at meeting the needs of the truly gifted. It will also cause politics in each school that wouldn't be there with a central screening process. It is a huge mistake and will lead to the a much diminished reputation for Fairfax schools and all the economic consequences that result from that. I think Dr. garza is all about the achievement gap and not about meeting the needs of each student, whatever they may be. That's what we get for hiring someone from Texas.

I think the School Board is all about this too, so you can't blame that on her. If you go to or watch a Board meeting you'll see that.

I don't think either of you comes across as qualified to address what will enhance or detract from the reputation of FCPS or have larger, adverse economic consequences. So often, it just comes across as if people are arguing that the sky will fall unless they get exactly what they want for their own kids.

At the end of the day, schools are just one factor in the mix where Fairfax is concerned, along with other factors that include location (very good), job base (very good), housing mix (mixed), and local enforcement of occupancy/zoning requirements (poor).

I completely agree. The parents arguing that "the sky will fall" (as you so aptly put it) are those who are happy with the status quo because it benefits their child. Fairfax County will always attract families for its job opportunities, location, and schools - even if centers no longer exist and AAP is vastly downsized. Perhaps then more resources will be available for the general education students.

So well said and there are so many parents who agree completely.