Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DS will enter kindergarten next year! The plan was always to send him to the local parochial catholic school but my husband really wants to send him to public.
I am a VERY nervous since I grew up going to private throughout (the families and academics were great)
Are the kids and families friendly at Churchill? Is there weird gender and woke ideology at Churchill? Are the academics good? Do they use textbooks or are they on screens mostly? Is there homework to reinforce concepts? Any other reassurance is welcomed!
Thank you!
Worried parent

CRS is good as an elementary school.
Middle school and high school in that pyramid have some issues you mentioned.
You can transfer kids to private after 6th grade if these bother you:
https://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/English-7-HN-Syllabus_Cooper.pdf
https://fairfaxschoolsmonitor.com/beware-the-social-studies-curriculum-part-i/
https://fairfaxschoolsmonitor.com/beware-the-social-studies-curriculum-part-2/

Fairfax Schools Monitor? https://fairfaxschoolsmonitor.com/about/
Direct quote:"And, I started hearing claims that our students were being indoctrinated with radical ideologies about race relations and gender issues."
OP-My kids are in another pyramid and they have never come home talking about radical ideologies. Right now my 8th grader is taking AAP Civics and they need to analyze 8 articles per month in different subjects (science, politics, geography, and something else I forgot)-including source, whether they think it's biased, author's intent, which perspective is being ignored, etc. I am not sure if it's just AAP or honors but there is a lot of not just giving answers but thinking about them. I think the biggest advantage of private school is a much stronger foundation in writing and grammar. Not to avoid "woke ideology," which honestly just sounds like a conservative buzzword.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Churchill Road is the local Level IV center for the AAP program.

Definitely a reason to avoid. Center schools are the worst.

Why? Be honest.

They usually attract the families most motivated to get their kids into AAP, thus it’s more competitive. Then they tend to have at least half the classes from grade 3-6 as AAP, which creates a culture of AAP vs. non-AAP students, even though there is very little difference in the curriculum between them. (I’m a Churchill Road parent so I don’t dislike the school, but that’s the common belief about center schools). If your kid gets into AAP, it’s great. If they don’t, it’s still fine but they might feel bad about it.

+1
I would add, there is very little difference in both the curriculum, AND the abilities of the two groups of students. Separating the vast middle is just nonsense.

I have heard that the non AAP classes are full of disruptive kids. I have seen many families switch to private if kid does not get into AAP.

True, but they also exist in the AAP classes - consider the parent popularuion.

Pp here again. Like I said, we are part of this pyramid and community. The parents are well educated and seem vested in their children’s education. My child is currently in a very large class that also happens to have a lot of the poorly behaved kids. Some of the kids have some mild special needs. Others may just be poorly behaved. My other children have been in classes where there are only 20 kids and other classes where there are almost 30. There is a big difference between 20 and 30 kids, especially when the large class also has a lot of disruptive kids.

DP Here. I agree. I think our most difficult years were first and second grade as far as having disruptive students. Then my kids were in AAP, and there were still troublemakers but I think it wasn't as bad as in GenEd. They mix all the classes for Specials and my kids had more disruptive students in class when they went in with GenEd. My kids are not perfectly behaved either, but it was noticeable.

OP, if the situation is truly that dire in a top elementary within a top pyramid, the rest of us who can't afford private are f'd, not to mention those from lower income families who value education.

If talking specifically about your child's wellbeing and their education, you are talking about marginal additional benefits. If you are talking about access to a certain kind of status, prestige and peer group, then of course, go with private.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Churchill Road is the local Level IV center for the AAP program.

Definitely a reason to avoid. Center schools are the worst.

Why? Be honest.

They usually attract the families most motivated to get their kids into AAP, thus it’s more competitive. Then they tend to have at least half the classes from grade 3-6 as AAP, which creates a culture of AAP vs. non-AAP students, even though there is very little difference in the curriculum between them. (I’m a Churchill Road parent so I don’t dislike the school, but that’s the common belief about center schools). If your kid gets into AAP, it’s great. If they don’t, it’s still fine but they might feel bad about it.

+1
I would add, there is very little difference in both the curriculum, AND the abilities of the two groups of students. Separating the vast middle is just nonsense.

I have heard that the non AAP classes are full of disruptive kids. I have seen many families switch to private if kid does not get into AAP.

At a school like Churchill Road, there are not many disruptive kids and the disruptive kids who do go there are just as likely to be in AAP as not.

What you’ve “heard” just sounds like the typical bias that exists among some families hellbent to get their own kids into AAP.

+1
Plenty of troublemakers in AAP too. So bizarre that parents assume there won't be.

How is it bizarre? I assume people say this because it is true in their experience and the experience of others. Hence why so many clamor to get into AAP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Churchill Road is the local Level IV center for the AAP program.

Definitely a reason to avoid. Center schools are the worst.

Why? Be honest.

They usually attract the families most motivated to get their kids into AAP, thus it’s more competitive. Then they tend to have at least half the classes from grade 3-6 as AAP, which creates a culture of AAP vs. non-AAP students, even though there is very little difference in the curriculum between them. (I’m a Churchill Road parent so I don’t dislike the school, but that’s the common belief about center schools). If your kid gets into AAP, it’s great. If they don’t, it’s still fine but they might feel bad about it.

+1
I would add, there is very little difference in both the curriculum, AND the abilities of the two groups of students. Separating the vast middle is just nonsense.

I have heard that the non AAP classes are full of disruptive kids. I have seen many families switch to private if kid does not get into AAP.

At a school like Churchill Road, there are not many disruptive kids and the disruptive kids who do go there are just as likely to be in AAP as not.

What you’ve “heard” just sounds like the typical bias that exists among some families hellbent to get their own kids into AAP.

+1
Plenty of troublemakers in AAP too. So bizarre that parents assume there won't be.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Churchill Road is the local Level IV center for the AAP program.

Definitely a reason to avoid. Center schools are the worst.

Why? Be honest.

They usually attract the families most motivated to get their kids into AAP, thus it’s more competitive. Then they tend to have at least half the classes from grade 3-6 as AAP, which creates a culture of AAP vs. non-AAP students, even though there is very little difference in the curriculum between them. (I’m a Churchill Road parent so I don’t dislike the school, but that’s the common belief about center schools). If your kid gets into AAP, it’s great. If they don’t, it’s still fine but they might feel bad about it.

+1
I would add, there is very little difference in both the curriculum, AND the abilities of the two groups of students. Separating the vast middle is just nonsense.

I have heard that the non AAP classes are full of disruptive kids. I have seen many families switch to private if kid does not get into AAP.

True, but they also exist in the AAP classes - consider the parent popularuion.

Pp here again. Like I said, we are part of this pyramid and community. The parents are well educated and seem vested in their children’s education. My child is currently in a very large class that also happens to have a lot of the poorly behaved kids. Some of the kids have some mild special needs. Others may just be poorly behaved. My other children have been in classes where there are only 20 kids and other classes where there are almost 30. There is a big difference between 20 and 30 kids, especially when the large class also has a lot of disruptive kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Churchill Road is the local Level IV center for the AAP program.

Definitely a reason to avoid. Center schools are the worst.

Why? Be honest.

They usually attract the families most motivated to get their kids into AAP, thus it’s more competitive. Then they tend to have at least half the classes from grade 3-6 as AAP, which creates a culture of AAP vs. non-AAP students, even though there is very little difference in the curriculum between them. (I’m a Churchill Road parent so I don’t dislike the school, but that’s the common belief about center schools). If your kid gets into AAP, it’s great. If they don’t, it’s still fine but they might feel bad about it.

+1
I would add, there is very little difference in both the curriculum, AND the abilities of the two groups of students. Separating the vast middle is just nonsense.

I have heard that the non AAP classes are full of disruptive kids. I have seen many families switch to private if kid does not get into AAP.

True, but they also exist in the AAP classes - consider the parent popularuion.

*population

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Churchill Road is the local Level IV center for the AAP program.

Definitely a reason to avoid. Center schools are the worst.

Why? Be honest.

They usually attract the families most motivated to get their kids into AAP, thus it’s more competitive. Then they tend to have at least half the classes from grade 3-6 as AAP, which creates a culture of AAP vs. non-AAP students, even though there is very little difference in the curriculum between them. (I’m a Churchill Road parent so I don’t dislike the school, but that’s the common belief about center schools). If your kid gets into AAP, it’s great. If they don’t, it’s still fine but they might feel bad about it.

+1
I would add, there is very little difference in both the curriculum, AND the abilities of the two groups of students. Separating the vast middle is just nonsense.

I have heard that the non AAP classes are full of disruptive kids. I have seen many families switch to private if kid does not get into AAP.

True, but they also exist in the AAP classes - consider the parent popularuion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Churchill Road is the local Level IV center for the AAP program.

Definitely a reason to avoid. Center schools are the worst.

Why? Be honest.

They usually attract the families most motivated to get their kids into AAP, thus it’s more competitive. Then they tend to have at least half the classes from grade 3-6 as AAP, which creates a culture of AAP vs. non-AAP students, even though there is very little difference in the curriculum between them. (I’m a Churchill Road parent so I don’t dislike the school, but that’s the common belief about center schools). If your kid gets into AAP, it’s great. If they don’t, it’s still fine but they might feel bad about it.

+1
I would add, there is very little difference in both the curriculum, AND the abilities of the two groups of students. Separating the vast middle is just nonsense.

I have heard that the non AAP classes are full of disruptive kids. I have seen many families switch to private if kid does not get into AAP.

At a school like Churchill Road, there are not many disruptive kids and the disruptive kids who do go there are just as likely to be in AAP as not.

What you’ve “heard” just sounds like the typical bias that exists among some families hellbent to get their own kids into AAP.

I have 3 kids who are at or were at Churchill. My current child has several disruptive kids in the class. My older kids are in AAP. Their classes didn’t have many disruptive kids at all, nothing like my current child’s class. The people I heard about the disruptive kids in gened are the ones who switched because their kid who didn’t get in to AAP but was borderline probably was stuck with the bad kids in large classes so they left for private since they could afford it, didn’t want to virtual school or both.

OK. I’m convinced. Best to just avoid this pyramid entirely because you aren’t going to be able to keep these disruptive kids in Gen Ed forever. Next thing you know they’ll be at Langley and treated just like the ex-AAP kids who went to CRES and Cooper.

Pp here. I have kids in this pyramid. I do not think this is unique to Churchill. Many other schools in FCPS and probably any school system has to deal with large class sizes and limited resources. My child’s class or grade seems to have a lot of disruptive kids. I don’t know if this has to do with Covid and because these are the kids who may not have gone to preschool or were pulled out during Covid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Churchill Road is the local Level IV center for the AAP program.

Definitely a reason to avoid. Center schools are the worst.

Why? Be honest.

They usually attract the families most motivated to get their kids into AAP, thus it’s more competitive. Then they tend to have at least half the classes from grade 3-6 as AAP, which creates a culture of AAP vs. non-AAP students, even though there is very little difference in the curriculum between them. (I’m a Churchill Road parent so I don’t dislike the school, but that’s the common belief about center schools). If your kid gets into AAP, it’s great. If they don’t, it’s still fine but they might feel bad about it.

+1
I would add, there is very little difference in both the curriculum, AND the abilities of the two groups of students. Separating the vast middle is just nonsense.

I have heard that the non AAP classes are full of disruptive kids. I have seen many families switch to private if kid does not get into AAP.

At a school like Churchill Road, there are not many disruptive kids and the disruptive kids who do go there are just as likely to be in AAP as not.

What you’ve “heard” just sounds like the typical bias that exists among some families hellbent to get their own kids into AAP.

I have 3 kids who are at or were at Churchill. My current child has several disruptive kids in the class. My older kids are in AAP. Their classes didn’t have many disruptive kids at all, nothing like my current child’s class. The people I heard about the disruptive kids in gened are the ones who switched because their kid who didn’t get in to AAP but was borderline probably was stuck with the bad kids in large classes so they left for private since they could afford it, didn’t want to virtual school or both.

OK. I’m convinced. Best to just avoid this pyramid entirely because you aren’t going to be able to keep these disruptive kids in Gen Ed forever. Next thing you know they’ll be at Langley and treated just like the ex-AAP kids who went to CRES and Cooper.

It isn’t just one family either. I have heard this from at least 15 families whether they switched schools or are still at the school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Churchill Road is the local Level IV center for the AAP program.

Definitely a reason to avoid. Center schools are the worst.

Why? Be honest.

They usually attract the families most motivated to get their kids into AAP, thus it’s more competitive. Then they tend to have at least half the classes from grade 3-6 as AAP, which creates a culture of AAP vs. non-AAP students, even though there is very little difference in the curriculum between them. (I’m a Churchill Road parent so I don’t dislike the school, but that’s the common belief about center schools). If your kid gets into AAP, it’s great. If they don’t, it’s still fine but they might feel bad about it.

+1
I would add, there is very little difference in both the curriculum, AND the abilities of the two groups of students. Separating the vast middle is just nonsense.

I have heard that the non AAP classes are full of disruptive kids. I have seen many families switch to private if kid does not get into AAP.

At a school like Churchill Road, there are not many disruptive kids and the disruptive kids who do go there are just as likely to be in AAP as not.

What you’ve “heard” just sounds like the typical bias that exists among some families hellbent to get their own kids into AAP.

I have 3 kids who are at or were at Churchill. My current child has several disruptive kids in the class. My older kids are in AAP. Their classes didn’t have many disruptive kids at all, nothing like my current child’s class. The people I heard about the disruptive kids in gened are the ones who switched because their kid who didn’t get in to AAP but was borderline probably was stuck with the bad kids in large classes so they left for private since they could afford it, didn’t want to virtual school or both.

Anonymous wrote:Our DS will enter kindergarten next year! The plan was always to send him to the local parochial catholic school but my husband really wants to send him to public.
I am a VERY nervous since I grew up going to private throughout (the families and academics were great)
Are the kids and families friendly at Churchill? Is there weird gender and woke ideology at Churchill? Are the academics good? Do they use textbooks or are they on screens mostly? Is there homework to reinforce concepts? Any other reassurance is welcomed!
Thank you!
Worried parent

CRS is good as an elementary school.
Middle school and high school in that pyramid have some issues you mentioned.
You can transfer kids to private after 6th grade if these bother you:
https://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/English-7-HN-Syllabus_Cooper.pdf
https://fairfaxschoolsmonitor.com/beware-the-social-studies-curriculum-part-i/
https://fairfaxschoolsmonitor.com/beware-the-social-studies-curriculum-part-2/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Churchill Road is the local Level IV center for the AAP program.

Definitely a reason to avoid. Center schools are the worst.

Why? Be honest.

They usually attract the families most motivated to get their kids into AAP, thus it’s more competitive. Then they tend to have at least half the classes from grade 3-6 as AAP, which creates a culture of AAP vs. non-AAP students, even though there is very little difference in the curriculum between them. (I’m a Churchill Road parent so I don’t dislike the school, but that’s the common belief about center schools). If your kid gets into AAP, it’s great. If they don’t, it’s still fine but they might feel bad about it.

+1
I would add, there is very little difference in both the curriculum, AND the abilities of the two groups of students. Separating the vast middle is just nonsense.

I have heard that the non AAP classes are full of disruptive kids. I have seen many families switch to private if kid does not get into AAP.

At a school like Churchill Road, there are not many disruptive kids and the disruptive kids who do go there are just as likely to be in AAP as not.

What you’ve “heard” just sounds like the typical bias that exists among some families hellbent to get their own kids into AAP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Churchill Road is the local Level IV center for the AAP program.

Definitely a reason to avoid. Center schools are the worst.

Why? Be honest.

They usually attract the families most motivated to get their kids into AAP, thus it’s more competitive. Then they tend to have at least half the classes from grade 3-6 as AAP, which creates a culture of AAP vs. non-AAP students, even though there is very little difference in the curriculum between them. (I’m a Churchill Road parent so I don’t dislike the school, but that’s the common belief about center schools). If your kid gets into AAP, it’s great. If they don’t, it’s still fine but they might feel bad about it.

+1
I would add, there is very little difference in both the curriculum, AND the abilities of the two groups of students. Separating the vast middle is just nonsense.

I have heard that the non AAP classes are full of disruptive kids. I have seen many families switch to private if kid does not get into AAP.