Why does the reassignment need to happen right now?

The rezoning could take up to a year, followed by a year of planning and permitting before construction could even begin. I don't see why they can't keep the kids they have and send the new ones to a center program. The AAP kids that are there now will be gone before the renovation is complete.

Haycock has the capacity for these students right now. That isn't going to change for a few years.

I don't see why it matters what cluster who is in most AAP centers span cluster lines, and clusters are not even assigned by high school attendance.

Both Lemon Road and westgate are split feeders between Longfellow/McLean and Kilmer Marshall. If they are going to align the AAP centers, they should align the pyramids while they're at it.

Here's a summary of the construction stuff: http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20121025/NEWS/710259827/1117/%5C&template=fairfaxTimes

This in-boundary parent would much prefer an 850-student school with a smaller AAP cohort. The school is good because we have super active parents and outstanding teachers. It really isn't fair to have grades where the school has 5 AAP classes and 2 Gen Ed classes. The Gen Ed kids are loosing their own peer group. It is in the Haycock community's interest to have a smaller school. However, the out-of-boundary parents are so vocal it seems like any other opinion is never heard.

The 1,000 student facility for Haycock is not in the cards. To keep wishing for will not make it happen. Fairfax has a plan and funding now for the current 850-student facility. They do not want to delay any further. That's what's going to be built-- actual enrollment will be adjusted down to make that facility work.

Anonymous wrote:For all those parents who can't wait for AAP kids from Shrevewood, Lemon Rd, Westgate, Franklin Sherman... to leave, have you considered why Haycock is considered such a good school? Haycock is our base school and I'm perfectly happy with the education there. But I believe the reason why Haycock has such a good rep is b/c of the unusally large number of AAP kids, not b/c its principal, teachers or facility is so much better than any other FFX Co school. It just has a huge AAP population (3 to 4 AAP classes per grade compared to 2 Gen Ed classes). So it just makes sense that the more AAP kids you have at a school, the better the test scores, better standing in academic competitions etc... hence the better overall reputation. I don't think Haycock is doomed if these kids leave, but I do believe eventually if you bring the number of AAP kids down, it will be no worse or better than any other Center school.

You're right, of course, but there can be too much of a good thing. The school is overcrowded, and it's not necessarily in the community's interest to have a school where the AAP enrollment vastly overshadows the rest of the school.

I do wonder whether, if a private poll were taken, in-boundary parents would prefer an 850-student school with a smaller AAP cohort to a 1,000-student facility.

For all those parents who can't wait for AAP kids from Shrevewood, Lemon Rd, Westgate, Franklin Sherman... to leave, have you considered why Haycock is considered such a good school? Haycock is our base school and I'm perfectly happy with the education there. But I believe the reason why Haycock has such a good rep is b/c of the unusally large number of AAP kids, not b/c its principal, teachers or facility is so much better than any other FFX Co school. It just has a huge AAP population (3 to 4 AAP classes per grade compared to 2 Gen Ed classes). So it just makes sense that the more AAP kids you have at a school, the better the test scores, better standing in academic competitions etc... hence the better overall reputation. I don't think Haycock is doomed if these kids leave, but I do believe eventually if you bring the number of AAP kids down, it will be no worse or better than any other Center school.

Sorry. I meant "think" not "junk.". Damn iPhone!

That's very true, PP. I'd like to junk our community is behind us and many have said that they are. After all, we're part of Haycock, too. There are many lovely parents there so I don't believe 7:45 represents the school parent body

7:45 may or may not even be in-boundary for Haycock.

Anonymous wrote:The cluster 2 parents have no problem cramming their children into Haycock when they will have their own AAP center. They wonder why they get such a chilly reception from base parents. The base kids get screwed everytime. It would be too logical to have cluster 2 students go to an AAP center in their own cluster. If they want to go to Haycock so bad, maybe they should purchase a home on the McLean pyramid.

Wow! You are truly heartless. No one is trying to cram their children in. And no one is jealous or dying to go to Haycock but too cheap to buy there or whatever you're implying. FCPS assigned our children to Haycock, just as yours are assigned there. The objection is not to creating a new center. In fact, many parents are happy about the idea of a new center with children from our high school pyramid. The concern is the disruption to our children that are at Haycock at present. All we want is to be part of the planning process to ensure that our new center is every bit as good as the Haycock center and to make sure that our children's wellbeing is considered. Many of us believe children already at Haycock should get to stay there just as the Kent Gardens kids did six years ago. We are just trying to do what's best for our children just as you would if they tried to change your boundaries and move your children to another school. I suspect when they try to change he Haycock base school boundaries, which is clearly coming, the parents will be just as upset if not more. A little compassion would go a long way. By the way, many, many Haycock base school parents have expressed support for the children FCPS is trying to transfer out, so you may be in the minority.

Anonymous wrote:Why would Marshall high school boundary kids want to go to Haycock instead of a Cluster 2 AAP school? We are in the Madison school district and I would only send my child to an AAP center if most of the kids were in that same high school cluster.

I think the Cluster 2 families at Haycock want stability and not to be treated like pawns. It's likely they are going to be moved whether they like it or not, but if they organize they may have more say on where the Cluster 2 center is established and how it will be staffed and operated.

Why would Marshall high school boundary kids want to go to Haycock instead of a Cluster 2 AAP school? We are in the Madison school district and I would only send my child to an AAP center if most of the kids were in that same high school cluster.

The cluster 2 parents have no problem cramming their children into Haycock when they will have their own AAP center. They wonder why they get such a chilly reception from base parents. The base kids get screwed everytime. It would be too logical to have cluster 2 students go to an AAP center in their own cluster. If they want to go to Haycock so bad, maybe they should purchase a home on the McLean pyramid.

Sounds like west gate and lemon road will receive students . I wouldn't worry, the other schools are excellent and unlike haycock they have much better ratios. Why would you want to cream 40 kids outer per teacher when excellent 18:1 ratio schools are near by.