Arlington schools vs. Fairfax schools (Springfield, Oakton: home, neighborhood, magnet school)

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by objectmaster

Thanks for the replies, I based my assumption on Churchill, Wakefield, and a few others. Basically I just focused on K grade, and these schools only offered half-day (overcrowding? educational philosophy?). Even the full day schools have half-day on at least one day (usually Monday), and this for most grades.

I did take a peek at the Newsweek ranking, but I personally do not hold that much of such rankings. According to the ranking, Florida (I'm from Tampa) has 19 of the top 100 schools, exceeding New York's tally by around 7. Although possible, I'm skeptic based on the funding available to schools in NY and FL.

FCPS was expanding full day kindergartens across the county, but that has slowed (or stopped) due to budget issues.

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by DC resident

I did some more research [see below]. It appears in Fairfax there is a session called After Kindergarten that operates from the end of morning K until the end of the school day. The program comes with a fee and is based on income. If you make over $50K after K costs $276.

Als note Fairfax, like Arlington offers before and after care typically beginning around 7am and ending at 6pm. The costs in Fairfax for the morning is $125 and the after school is another $276. Total cost including After K 125+276+276= $677. I think before and after care in Arlington totals $474.

From the Fairfax County Public School Website
Fairfax
School Year Program
During the school year, children may be enrolled in three separate sessions
(below). Enrollment and fees are separate for each program and session.
Before School (BS): operates from 7:15 a.m. until the time school begins.
After Kindergarten (AK): operates from the end of the morning
kindergarten class until the end of the regular school day. Kindergarten
children needing care after the regular school day ends must enroll in
both the after kindergarten and after school sessions.
Note: In schools with an early release schedule on Mondays,
children who are enrolled in the after kindergarten program, but
not the after school program, may attend SACC until the regular
Tuesday through Friday school dismissal time.
Children enrolled in the AK program must be enrolled in the school’s
morning kindergarten class. Acceptance into the school’s morning
kindergarten class is based upon availability and approval by the
school. Space is limited. Therefore, it is recommended that parents
make this request to their school offi ce as soon as possible. Enrollment
in SACC does not guarantee enrollment in the school’s morning
kindergarten class.
After School (AS): operates from the end of the school day until
6:15 p.m. In schools where children are released early on Mondays,
SACC service begins when children are released.

After K is basically just daycare. It is SACC.

[sweetpotater58]

Arlington is fine, but Fairfax overall is better, and from what I have been hearing, cuts due to economic downturn are going to be more drastic in Arlington than Fairfax. People keep forgetting that Fairfax next year will be getting a major jolt to it's economy (though gradually) due to the military base realignment of Fort Belvior-which means more people, businesses will be coming into the county and will have a major impact of tax base. Not knocking Arlington, but it has no room to grow, Fairfax, believe it or not still has some major areas around old Lorton prison and this along with areas likely to be upgraded surrounding Fort Belvior are going to begin jumpstarting Fairfax County financially-perhaps it will not be all that great, but it will be something more than Arlington will see.

[mpascal]

Originally Posted by sweetpotater58

Arlington is fine, but Fairfax overall is better, and from what I have been hearing, cuts due to economic downturn are going to be more drastic in Arlington than Fairfax. People keep forgetting that Fairfax next year will be getting a major jolt to it's economy (though gradually) due to the military base realignment of Fort Belvior-which means more people, businesses will be coming into the county and will have a major impact of tax base. Not knocking Arlington, but it has no room to grow, Fairfax, believe it or not still has some major areas around old Lorton prison and this along with areas likely to be upgraded surrounding Fort Belvior are going to begin jumpstarting Fairfax County financially-perhaps it will not be all that great, but it will be something more than Arlington will see.

I guess I'm interested on what you're basing your assessment that Fairfax is "overall better" than Arlington. I'm not advocating a competition. I think it's a comparison of two different things altogether, and each have their strengths. It is simply not true that Arlington is going to be hit harder than Fairfax by the current economic situation, having heard the presentation directly from our superintendent. Relative to the rest of the state, and northern VA especially, Arlington is in great shape. Our enrollment is growing, obviously not in the numbers of Fairfax given our relative size, but we do have room within current facilities, without having to worry about locations to build new schools. Again, really not intending to get into a pissing match, just feel defensive of my district when I perceive blanket statements to be made without backing them up.

[dutchessofdennis]

You may also want to consider that Arlington has approx 20,000 students in the public school system. I believe Fairfax county has 160,000? It's kind of like class size -- do you want your child in the big class or the small one? The problems are the same only on a much bigger scale in Fairfax County -- not to mention the higher foreclosure rate (due to larger # of homes) means less tax dollars. Fairfax is experiencing much bigger budget cuts than Arlington PS.

[michgc]

I don't know if one district is better than another but just to clarify kindergarten and other grades' hours in Fairfax:

Mondays:
School is about 4 hours for grades 1-6 plus full day kindergarten
School is about 2 hours for half-day kindergarten

Tuesday-Friday:
School is about 7 hours for grades 1-6 plus full day kindergarten
School is about 3 1/2 hours for half-day kindergarten

All elementary schools in Fairfax County were originally supposed to be offering full-day kindergarten by the 2009-2010 school year, but because of budget cuts, that has not happened. I think about 75% of the schools do offer full-day kindergarten to date.

[irvine]

Originally Posted by sweetpotater58

Arlington is fine, but Fairfax overall is better, and from what I have been hearing, cuts due to economic downturn are going to be more drastic in Arlington than Fairfax.

Fairfax (public schools) this past spring has proposed eliminating gymnastics and swimming & diving from their athletic offerings because of budgetary cuts. Arlington, on the other hand has money to continue full funding of all current varsity sports, with the exception of riflery, crew and ice hockey, which usually require additional funds. Fairfax a decade ago eliminated Boys Gymnastics because of funding issues, and Arlington reluctantly did the same as the Fairfax schools were the only competition.

It doesn't seem like Arlington is particularly strapped for cash right now:
Arlington has recently expanded its language offerings to include Chinese and Arabic at the middle and high school levels (in conjunction with NOVA). All three high schools have added AP micro and macro economics, among other recent course additions. W-L HS recently purchased expensive digital prototyping equipment for its new technology labs. Also, Arlington is rebuilding all three of it's high schools and aquatic facilities.

The school system is laying of a few part-time library assistants and other aides, but that's all.

Also, there are individual schools in Arlington that are better than their counterparts in Fairfax, and vice versa. As to which school system offers better programs, has better teachers, better teaching pedagogy, etc is up for debate I suppose. And while Arlington lacks a Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Arlington students are allowed to attend.

[claremarie]

"Fairfax (public schools) this past spring has proposed eliminating gymnastics and swimming & diving from their athletic offerings because of budgetary cuts."

If I'm not mistaken, the proposed elimination of swimming and diving was related to the proposed change in high school start times, rather than to budget cuts. When the Fairfax Co. Rec Centers were built, the deal was that county high schools would use those pools for practices and meets, thereby saving the county from building pools at the high schools. The proposed schedule change would have pushed back the team practice times to much later in the afternoon, a time when the REC center pools are already booked with other activities and therefore not available for the high school teams.

[OrangeFish]

Originally Posted by irvine

And while Arlington lacks a Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Arlington students are allowed to attend.

I have heard from folks involved with FCAG that Arlington students that attempted to get in to TJ had math skills that were nowhere near where they needed to be to test well for TJ, never mind attend for four years.

[irvine]

Originally Posted by claremarie

"If I'm not mistaken, the proposed elimination of swimming and diving was related to the proposed change in high school start times, rather than to budget cuts.

My mistake about swimming and diving. Thanks for correcting me. Fairfax proposed cutting indoor track and and girls gymnastics this past January because of an influx of students and a reduction in state aid, according to the Post. I don't know if either sport has been officially cut. But if Fairfax cuts a sport, Arlington usually follows suit.

In response to OrangeFish, I can't comment on the current quality of middle school math in Arlington or Fairfax so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. However, Arlington students are admitted annually to TJHSST.