Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it is not crossfield issue then, it is Franklin Farm issue.

Franklin Farm does not need to persuade anybody else that they want to go to KAA because of a shorter commute.

Franklin farm just needs to figure out what your whole community needs.

I'm a Franklin Farm resident. My neighbors need to get a grip. Western HS/KAA is going to be a dream school.

The only thing that might be crappy is for elite athletes who could be Varsity starters all four years of high school but who might not have access to Varsity-level sports at the new school in the first year or two.

Otherwise, it's a dream! New schools often draw top talent with regard to teachers and admin, the resources (e.g., robotics lab, ceramics lab, pool, and auditorium) available are top-tier, and the commute is significantly less scary for a teen driver.

Oakton has been great, as has Chantilly for the other side of Franklin Farm. I'm sure Western/KAA will be just as good.

Academy-wise, the best Western HS could do is perform close to Chantilly. I don't see Western HS coming out of the gate (next 10 years) and getting even close to Oakton level. There is no incentive for Oakton people to leave an excellent school and go to an unknown.

I see there are gains from quality of education for Fox Mills moving to Western HS. Let's go Option B.

I'm so confused about what is just sooooo amazing about Oakton. Please share.

#6 in Virginia High Schools (660+ public and 300 private)
#9 in Washington, DC Metro Area High Schools (64 metropolitan DC HS)
#4 in Fairfax County Public Schools High Schools (FCPS has 30 HS)

So, you basically have one of the top high schools in the area. It's number 3 in FCPS if you don't count the crown jewel of the DC area, Thomas Jefferson which is a govenor's school. If given the option, why wouldn't you want to attend a top high school? Generally top high schools have a combination of a high performing student body coupled with outstanding teachers. This combination pushes the students to achieve higher and provides additonal opportunites for excellence.

To downplay it means you're either unaware of its excellence, or your kids are mediorcre.

Anonymous wrote:Ask your community to respect others first before asking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it is not crossfield issue then, it is Franklin Farm issue.

Franklin Farm does not need to persuade anybody else that they want to go to KAA because of a shorter commute.

Franklin farm just needs to figure out what your whole community needs.

I'm a Franklin Farm resident. My neighbors need to get a grip. Western HS/KAA is going to be a dream school.

The only thing that might be crappy is for elite athletes who could be Varsity starters all four years of high school but who might not have access to Varsity-level sports at the new school in the first year or two.

Otherwise, it's a dream! New schools often draw top talent with regard to teachers and admin, the resources (e.g., robotics lab, ceramics lab, pool, and auditorium) available are top-tier, and the commute is significantly less scary for a teen driver.

Oakton has been great, as has Chantilly for the other side of Franklin Farm. I'm sure Western/KAA will be just as good.

Academy-wise, the best Western HS could do is perform close to Chantilly. I don't see Western HS coming out of the gate (next 10 years) and getting even close to Oakton level. There is no incentive for Oakton people to leave an excellent school and go to an unknown.

I see there are gains from quality of education for Fox Mills moving to Western HS. Let's go Option B.

I'm so confused about what is just sooooo amazing about Oakton. Please share.

#6 in Virginia High Schools (660+ public and 300 private)
#9 in Washington, DC Metro Area High Schools (64 metropolitan DC HS)
#4 in Fairfax County Public Schools High Schools (FCPS has 30 HS)

So, you basically have one of the top high schools in the area. It's number 3 in FCPS if you don't count the crown jewel of the DC area, Thomas Jefferson which is a govenor's school. If given the option, why wouldn't you want to attend a top high school? Generally top high schools have a combination of a high performing student body coupled with outstanding teachers. This combination pushes the students to achieve higher and provides additonal opportunites for excellence.

To downplay it means you're either unaware of its excellence, or your kids are mediorcre.

Generally top schools have parents with money that have been willing to supplement and get tutors for their kids which translates into higher test scores. Kids are attending RSM summer math classes so that they have been introduced to the material and can get an A in their math class. Kids are working with tutors to prep for classes, AP/IB exams, and the SATs.

Less wealthy schools have fewer kids with the money for the supplementing and tutoring so their test scores are lower. The difference between SLHS and Herndon is that Herndon has more parents who can provide tutors and supplement then Herndon not that SLHS has better teachers.

I want to move from SLHS to the new school but I know that my kid will go great at SLHS. He is smart and we are involved parents who will make sure that he has the support he needs. He would do well at Herndon, he would do well at Oakton. It isn’t the school, it is the parents and what they can provide. An immigrant household that doesn’t earn much but whose parents value education will make sure that their kid is attending and doing their work and will do well in school because they are involved.

Schools that have higher income families in them do well because the parents tend to be educated, with HS, college, and graduate degrees. Those parents want their kids to go to college and know what is needed to go to college, and go to a great college. Schools with lower incomes tend to have families without degrees who are less likely to worry about school and college for a variety of reasons, like putting food on the table.

Oakton families will do well whereever they land because the parents want the kids to do well. Just like I know my kid will do well at SLHS. I prefer AP and I like the idea of the program they are discussing at the new school. I want my kid to stay with the kids he went to MS with and not just his ES cohort. But he will be academically successful wherever he lands.

Yes, students from caring family would do well anywhere they go. But I'd still prefer my child to attend schools where everyone else is working hard, high achieving or had their academics "supplemented by rich parents". Because what western HS is going to be is unknown. Why would I give up a sure winner like Oakton (and we lived here for 10 years) and go to the Unknown so willingly.

You gave the reason why Fox Mill prefers the new HS (AP) over SLHS (IB). Then we are aligned, Fox Mill and Xfld both get what the want in Option B.

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, students from caring family would do well anywhere they go. But I'd still prefer my child to attend schools where everyone else is working hard, high achieving or had their academics "supplemented by rich parents". Because what western HS is going to be is unknown. Why would I give up a sure winner like Oakton (and we lived here for 10 years) and go to the Unknown so willingly.

Not Fox Mill.
Please tell me why my taxes should pay for the (not insignificant) extra cost for your child to go on an extremely long bus ride over a very short one.

Yes, students from caring family would do well anywhere they go. But I'd still prefer my child to attend schools where everyone else is working hard, high achieving or had their academics "supplemented by rich parents". Because what western HS is going to be is unknown. Why would I give up a sure winner like Oakton (and we lived here for 10 years) and go to the Unknown so willingly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it is not crossfield issue then, it is Franklin Farm issue.

Franklin Farm does not need to persuade anybody else that they want to go to KAA because of a shorter commute.

Franklin farm just needs to figure out what your whole community needs.

I'm a Franklin Farm resident. My neighbors need to get a grip. Western HS/KAA is going to be a dream school.

The only thing that might be crappy is for elite athletes who could be Varsity starters all four years of high school but who might not have access to Varsity-level sports at the new school in the first year or two.

Otherwise, it's a dream! New schools often draw top talent with regard to teachers and admin, the resources (e.g., robotics lab, ceramics lab, pool, and auditorium) available are top-tier, and the commute is significantly less scary for a teen driver.

Oakton has been great, as has Chantilly for the other side of Franklin Farm. I'm sure Western/KAA will be just as good.

Academy-wise, the best Western HS could do is perform close to Chantilly. I don't see Western HS coming out of the gate (next 10 years) and getting even close to Oakton level. There is no incentive for Oakton people to leave an excellent school and go to an unknown.

I see there are gains from quality of education for Fox Mills moving to Western HS. Let's go Option B.

I'm so confused about what is just sooooo amazing about Oakton. Please share.

#6 in Virginia High Schools (660+ public and 300 private)
#9 in Washington, DC Metro Area High Schools (64 metropolitan DC HS)
#4 in Fairfax County Public Schools High Schools (FCPS has 30 HS)

So, you basically have one of the top high schools in the area. It's number 3 in FCPS if you don't count the crown jewel of the DC area, Thomas Jefferson which is a govenor's school. If given the option, why wouldn't you want to attend a top high school? Generally top high schools have a combination of a high performing student body coupled with outstanding teachers. This combination pushes the students to achieve higher and provides additonal opportunites for excellence.

To downplay it means you're either unaware of its excellence, or your kids are mediorcre.

Generally top schools have parents with money that have been willing to supplement and get tutors for their kids which translates into higher test scores. Kids are attending RSM summer math classes so that they have been introduced to the material and can get an A in their math class. Kids are working with tutors to prep for classes, AP/IB exams, and the SATs.

Less wealthy schools have fewer kids with the money for the supplementing and tutoring so their test scores are lower. The difference between SLHS and Herndon is that Herndon has more parents who can provide tutors and supplement then Herndon not that SLHS has better teachers.

I want to move from SLHS to the new school but I know that my kid will go great at SLHS. He is smart and we are involved parents who will make sure that he has the support he needs. He would do well at Herndon, he would do well at Oakton. It isn’t the school, it is the parents and what they can provide. An immigrant household that doesn’t earn much but whose parents value education will make sure that their kid is attending and doing their work and will do well in school because they are involved.

Schools that have higher income families in them do well because the parents tend to be educated, with HS, college, and graduate degrees. Those parents want their kids to go to college and know what is needed to go to college, and go to a great college. Schools with lower incomes tend to have families without degrees who are less likely to worry about school and college for a variety of reasons, like putting food on the table.

Oakton families will do well whereever they land because the parents want the kids to do well. Just like I know my kid will do well at SLHS. I prefer AP and I like the idea of the program they are discussing at the new school. I want my kid to stay with the kids he went to MS with and not just his ES cohort. But he will be academically successful wherever he lands.

Anonymous wrote:

So, you basically have one of the top high schools in the area. It's number 3 in FCPS if you don't count the crown jewel of the DC area, Thomas Jefferson which is a govenor's school. If given the option, why wouldn't you want to attend a top high school? Generally top high schools have a combination of a high performing student body coupled with outstanding teachers. This combination pushes the students to achieve higher and provides additonal opportunites for excellence.

To downplay it means you're either unaware of its excellence, or your kids are mediorcre.

Here is a secret: there are outstanding teachers and mediocre teachers at every high school. And, some of those kids that you consider "mediocre" will likely outpace your kid in the future.

Yes, I am sure that Oakton is a good school. But, why should the taxpayers pay additional funds for long bus routes for your kid when there will be a school that will be just as good nearby?

The Western High School will have plenty of high achieving kids--just like Carson has. There will also be some kids that are strugglers--and I am sure they are also at Oakton. There may be more of those at Oakton, but I appreciate my children being exposed to all kinds of people. That is a learning experience that is also valuable.

So, you basically have one of the top high schools in the area. It's number 3 in FCPS if you don't count the crown jewel of the DC area, Thomas Jefferson which is a govenor's school. If given the option, why wouldn't you want to attend a top high school? Generally top high schools have a combination of a high performing student body coupled with outstanding teachers. This combination pushes the students to achieve higher and provides additonal opportunites for excellence.

To downplay it means you're either unaware of its excellence, or your kids are mediorcre.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question…why do people with kids already in Oakton HS care?

I don't have any high schoolers but perhaps property value concerns?

It’s impossible to account for siblings forever - I had a kid in elementary when others were in college. If they follow through with the AI sub school (robotics, computer vision, machine learning) Western will be THE coveted school, full stop. God knows leaving that in FCPS hands is risky but if it happens it will be national news. The demographics are always mixed in this area - we have lots of immigrant families - by the same token there are lots of parents who are serious about academics. Personally I’d like to see Fox Mill in there since they send the kids to Carson with the Oak Hill AAP kids - it’s be nice to keep them together. I also feel bad for Emerald Chase who is at Oak Hill then cast off elsewhere. The neighborhood is often visited by Chantilly Highlands kids via the woods and basketball courts. That said if I were in charge I’d draw a demographic radius circle around neighborhoods and that is who would be going. Forget agendas- public high school are intended to be primarily proximity. The lobbying to stay or go is next level. We go in all scenarios so Let’s go Western! Stop spending time on personal agendas and property value woes and get the AI and AE programs going.

Thank you. Too many people forgetting this. It's one thing to argue that you don't want your kids attending a school that won't have access to the same programming as others while it's still very new. It's another thing to say your neighborhood should always get to be zoned for a school far away when several others are closer, just because you like that school better.

That is part of the wacky county model we have down south.

If you go to the north east, schools are town based so people just move to whatever town's high schools they want to go to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question…why do people with kids already in Oakton HS care?

I don't have any high schoolers but perhaps property value concerns?

It’s impossible to account for siblings forever - I had a kid in elementary when others were in college. If they follow through with the AI sub school (robotics, computer vision, machine learning) Western will be THE coveted school, full stop. God knows leaving that in FCPS hands is risky but if it happens it will be national news. The demographics are always mixed in this area - we have lots of immigrant families - by the same token there are lots of parents who are serious about academics. Personally I’d like to see Fox Mill in there since they send the kids to Carson with the Oak Hill AAP kids - it’s be nice to keep them together. I also feel bad for Emerald Chase who is at Oak Hill then cast off elsewhere. The neighborhood is often visited by Chantilly Highlands kids via the woods and basketball courts. That said if I were in charge I’d draw a demographic radius circle around neighborhoods and that is who would be going. Forget agendas- public high school are intended to be primarily proximity. The lobbying to stay or go is next level. We go in all scenarios so Let’s go Western! Stop spending time on personal agendas and property value woes and get the AI and AE programs going.

Thank you. Too many people forgetting this. It's one thing to argue that you don't want your kids attending a school that won't have access to the same programming as others while it's still very new. It's another thing to say your neighborhood should always get to be zoned for a school far away when several others are closer, just because you like that school better.

That is part of the wacky county model we have down south.

If you go to the north east, schools are town based so people just move to whatever town's high schools they want to go to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it is not crossfield issue then, it is Franklin Farm issue.

Franklin Farm does not need to persuade anybody else that they want to go to KAA because of a shorter commute.

Franklin farm just needs to figure out what your whole community needs.

I'm a Franklin Farm resident. My neighbors need to get a grip. Western HS/KAA is going to be a dream school.

The only thing that might be crappy is for elite athletes who could be Varsity starters all four years of high school but who might not have access to Varsity-level sports at the new school in the first year or two.

Otherwise, it's a dream! New schools often draw top talent with regard to teachers and admin, the resources (e.g., robotics lab, ceramics lab, pool, and auditorium) available are top-tier, and the commute is significantly less scary for a teen driver.

Oakton has been great, as has Chantilly for the other side of Franklin Farm. I'm sure Western/KAA will be just as good.

Academy-wise, the best Western HS could do is perform close to Chantilly. I don't see Western HS coming out of the gate (next 10 years) and getting even close to Oakton level. There is no incentive for Oakton people to leave an excellent school and go to an unknown.

I see there are gains from quality of education for Fox Mills moving to Western HS. Let's go Option B.

I'm so confused about what is just sooooo amazing about Oakton. Please share.

#6 in Virginia High Schools (660+ public and 300 private)
#9 in Washington, DC Metro Area High Schools (64 metropolitan DC HS)
#4 in Fairfax County Public Schools High Schools (FCPS has 30 HS)

So, you basically have one of the top high schools in the area. It's number 3 in FCPS if you don't count the crown jewel of the DC area, Thomas Jefferson which is a govenor's school. If given the option, why wouldn't you want to attend a top high school? Generally top high schools have a combination of a high performing student body coupled with outstanding teachers. This combination pushes the students to achieve higher and provides additonal opportunites for excellence.

To downplay it means you're either unaware of its excellence, or your kids are mediorcre.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it is not crossfield issue then, it is Franklin Farm issue.

Franklin Farm does not need to persuade anybody else that they want to go to KAA because of a shorter commute.

Franklin farm just needs to figure out what your whole community needs.

I'm a Franklin Farm resident. My neighbors need to get a grip. Western HS/KAA is going to be a dream school.

The only thing that might be crappy is for elite athletes who could be Varsity starters all four years of high school but who might not have access to Varsity-level sports at the new school in the first year or two.

Otherwise, it's a dream! New schools often draw top talent with regard to teachers and admin, the resources (e.g., robotics lab, ceramics lab, pool, and auditorium) available are top-tier, and the commute is significantly less scary for a teen driver.

Oakton has been great, as has Chantilly for the other side of Franklin Farm. I'm sure Western/KAA will be just as good.

Academy-wise, the best Western HS could do is perform close to Chantilly. I don't see Western HS coming out of the gate (next 10 years) and getting even close to Oakton level. There is no incentive for Oakton people to leave an excellent school and go to an unknown.

I see there are gains from quality of education for Fox Mills moving to Western HS. Let's go Option B.

I'm so confused about what is just sooooo amazing about Oakton. Please share.

#6 in Virginia High Schools (660+ public and 300 private)
#9 in Washington, DC Metro Area High Schools (64 metropolitan DC HS)
#4 in Fairfax County Public Schools High Schools (FCPS has 30 HS)

So, you basically have one of the top high schools in the area. It's number 3 in FCPS if you don't count the crown jewel of the DC area, Thomas Jefferson which is a govenor's school. If given the option, why wouldn't you want to attend a top high school? Generally top high schools have a combination of a high performing student body coupled with outstanding teachers. This combination pushes the students to achieve higher and provides additonal opportunites for excellence.

To downplay it means you're either unaware of its excellence, or your kids are mediorcre.

Serious question: can an above average kid who wasn't in AAP stand out and feel successful somewhere like Oakton, or will they just kind of fall through the cracks? Of course schools like you describe are great for the kids who have always been high achievers. But as a parent of a younger child I see schools like Oakton as a potential "rich get richer" situation where my kid will always lose out to those same kids who have always been at the top of the heap either through natural talents and/or from parents willing to push them much harder than I am willing to push my own kid for the sake of their long-term mental health.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it is not crossfield issue then, it is Franklin Farm issue.

Franklin Farm does not need to persuade anybody else that they want to go to KAA because of a shorter commute.

Franklin farm just needs to figure out what your whole community needs.

I'm a Franklin Farm resident. My neighbors need to get a grip. Western HS/KAA is going to be a dream school.

The only thing that might be crappy is for elite athletes who could be Varsity starters all four years of high school but who might not have access to Varsity-level sports at the new school in the first year or two.

Otherwise, it's a dream! New schools often draw top talent with regard to teachers and admin, the resources (e.g., robotics lab, ceramics lab, pool, and auditorium) available are top-tier, and the commute is significantly less scary for a teen driver.

Oakton has been great, as has Chantilly for the other side of Franklin Farm. I'm sure Western/KAA will be just as good.

Academy-wise, the best Western HS could do is perform close to Chantilly. I don't see Western HS coming out of the gate (next 10 years) and getting even close to Oakton level. There is no incentive for Oakton people to leave an excellent school and go to an unknown.

I see there are gains from quality of education for Fox Mills moving to Western HS. Let's go Option B.

I'm so confused about what is just sooooo amazing about Oakton. Please share.

#6 in Virginia High Schools (660+ public and 300 private)
#9 in Washington, DC Metro Area High Schools (64 metropolitan DC HS)
#4 in Fairfax County Public Schools High Schools (FCPS has 30 HS)

So, you basically have one of the top high schools in the area. It's number 3 in FCPS if you don't count the crown jewel of the DC area, Thomas Jefferson which is a govenor's school. If given the option, why wouldn't you want to attend a top high school? Generally top high schools have a combination of a high performing student body coupled with outstanding teachers. This combination pushes the students to achieve higher and provides additonal opportunites for excellence.

To downplay it means you're either unaware of its excellence, or your kids are mediorcre.