Fairfax County Schools

[05c6400]

Originally Posted by ZakAttack

Be happy you got into GMU. With an EE major and good grades, you will be marketable, especially in the DC metro area. High school in Fairfax County is what you make of it. Teachers aren't going to hold your hand, and most parents will not do so, either.

GMU was ranked by the Princetown Review as one of the best 100 "best value" colleges for 2009. It was also named the #1 university to watch by U.S. News and World Report.

But, then of course, they also just crowned a male homecoming queen at a televised basketball game.

I am happy that I got my degree and the opportunity to do so. Heck I may even go back to do my Masters at GMU.

[claremarie]

"understand your point, but I do not understand why people still justify that a good school means that home prices need to be higher??? That does not make sense! The two should remain separate."

Why is this so hard to understand? If you're currently in college, or have graduated from college, then surely you understand the basic principles of supply and demand that determine the price of anything, including houses. Most homebuyers want to live in a neighborhood with good schools; therefore, homes located in such neighborhoods will generally cost more than comparable homes in neighborhoods assigned to bad schools.

[05c6400]

Originally Posted by claremarie

"understand your point, but I do not understand why people still justify that a good school means that home prices need to be higher??? That does not make sense! The two should remain separate."

Why is this so hard to understand? If you're currently in college, or have graduated from college, then surely you understand the basic principles of supply and demand that determine the price of anything, including houses. Most homebuyers want to live in a neighborhood with good schools; therefore, homes located in such neighborhoods will generally cost more than comparable homes in neighborhoods assigned to bad schools.

It is not hard to understand.... Again, Thomas Jefferson is the Public Elite according to Newsweek and houses around that school do not cost as much as houses in McLean for McLean and Langley Highschools.

For the level of education that is provided by Fairfax County Public Schools does not justify the cost of homes in the county. I think the quality of schools/education in Fairfax County is over inflated.

[TrippingJay]

Originally Posted by 05c6400

It is not hard to understand.... Again, Thomas Jefferson is the Public Elite according to Newsweek and houses around that school do not cost as much as houses in McLean for McLean and Langley Highschools.

For the level of education that is provided by Fairfax County Public Schools does not justify the cost of homes in the county. I think the quality of schools/education in Fairfax County is over inflated.

The houses in TJ's vicinity are not zoned for TJ; they fall into the Annandale Pyramid. Ironically, Weyanoke Elementary which is right next-door to TJ is a Title 1 school.

[claremarie]

"It is not hard to understand.... Again, Thomas Jefferson is the Public Elite according to Newsweek and houses around that school do not cost as much as houses in McLean for McLean and Langley Highschools."

And again, TJ is a MAGNET school. It is not the neighborhood high school. The children from the homes surrounding the school do not attend TJ unless they win admission there. Therefore, the value of those homes will reflect the quality of the regular high school in that neighborhood, not the quality of TJ.
It's not hard to understand, but you don't understand it.

[05c6400]

There is a difference between understanding and accepting a myth that Fairfax County Public Schools provide a great education.

[reiliz]

Here is the bottom line. Low Teacher-Student ratios = more attention given to individual students. School districts that can afford Teacher aides will do better because more attention is given to students. Also the less children a family has will produce better school districts. Do your own research and you will find that everything I write is true. The one dynamic that cannot be explained is this, schools that perform well in standardized exams but whose students do not perform well in class. My best guess is that these are generally good students who get bored but are able to rev it up when needed.

Thats all from me, attack at will.