Where to live for good schools (McLean, Vienna: elementary schools, closing, taxes)

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by OrangeFish

Oh. I forgot. The schools aren't in Vienna or McLean. At least your postings are consistent, Neen.

Both Canterbury Woods and Wakefield Forest are great elementary schools, as is Frost Middle School and Woodson High School.

I totally agree on Frost and Woodson. Woodson is always among the top 5 high schools in FCPS. As for Canterbury Woods, er, not so much. I've heard varing mixed reports on Canterbury Woods. The GT center is 35% of the school. Since the GT center kids are segregated from the other kids, the RK's don't benefit much from having them there.

Wakefield Forest is good because of its demographics, 82% white and Asian, and only 7% free and reduced lunch. (There are only 8 Black students in the entire school! Those poor kids at Wakefield Forest, I am sure they suffer greatly with this lack of diversity, just like the poor white and Asian kids at TJ suffer.) Of course that's almost always the case, demographics matter more than anything else. FCPS - School Profiles - Wakefield Forest ES - Demographics

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by michgc

Whether kids go to a GT center or stay at their home school, my point is that schols that have a GT center at the school most likely have higher test scores than if they didn't have the GT Center in their school. I imagine Louise Archer would probably perform quite well without their GT Center, but I really don't know. However, it has been known that Fairfax County generally (but not always) puts its GT centers in schools struggling with low enrollment or possibly low test scores/other problems. And as I understand it, the GT center usually operates as its own island within the school, so while the school's scores go up overall, it doesn't magically make it a better school except on paper.

That is why I advised the OP to look at the passing test rate with a grain of salt or to dig further to find out more information about the school. Just comparing ratings from GreatSchool.net across the board does not tell the whole story.

Good post. You are absolutely correct. The GT students are segregated from the rest of the school although their scores count. Years ago, prior to SOL's, their scores went back to be counted with their base school.

I wonder how many people know that Louise Archer was originally a school for Black Students, begun in the basement of Louise Archer's home? The school was in the traditionally Black section of Vienna. Of course most of those homes are gone now and the school has grown, and grown, and grown.

[live_strong28]

Originally Posted by michgc

Whether kids go to a GT center or stay at their home school, my point is that schols that have a GT center at the school most likely have higher test scores than if they didn't have the GT Center in their school. I imagine Louise Archer would probably perform quite well without their GT Center, but I really don't know. However, it has been known that Fairfax County generally (but not always) puts its GT centers in schools struggling with low enrollment or possibly low test scores/other problems. And as I understand it, the GT center usually operates as its own island within the school, so while the school's scores go up overall, it doesn't magically make it a better school except on paper.

That is why I advised the OP to look at the passing test rate with a grain of salt or to dig further to find out more information about the school. Just comparing ratings from GreatSchool.net across the board does not tell the whole story.

Not in McLean.

Churchill Road and Haycock are packed to the gills.

[live_strong28]

Originally Posted by Denton56

Good post. You are absolutely correct. The GT students are segregated from the rest of the school although their scores count. Years ago, prior to SOL's, their scores went back to be counted with their base school.

I wonder how many people know that Louise Archer was originally a school for Black Students, begun in the basement of Louise Archer's home? The school was in the traditionally Black section of Vienna. Of course most of those homes are gone now and the school has grown, and grown, and grown.

As were the Spring Hill and Chesterbrook areas.

[OrangeFish]

Originally Posted by Denton56

Which schools, that previously offered level 4, are now not offering it? Is Flint Hill one of those schools?

Not Flint Hill, as far as I know. One of the schools is Wakefield Forest. The other I really can't name as the principal is still in the process of notifying parents.

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by live_strong28

Not in McLean.

Churchill Road and Haycock are packed to the gills.

That was NOT true when those GT centers were opened. Staff did not open Centers in schools that were ''packed to the gills'', for obvious reasons.

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by OrangeFish

Not Flint Hill, as far as I know. One of the schools is Wakefield Forest. The other I really can't name as the principal is still in the process of notifying parents.

Thanks for the information. Isn't it a little late to let parents know that their GT kids have to go to a different schools in two weeks? I wonder how receiving Principal feels about this influx of students at this late date?

How is it that you know, prior to those in the school? Just curious.

I have heard from parents that Flint Hill is not going to continue Local Level 4. Could be just a rumor, but they have kids in the school. Several parents didn't like the program from the beginning. It always seemed silly since Louise Archer GT center is only a few blocks away.

How strange that Wakefield Forest had only one year of a Local Level 4 and then abandoned it. It must have been a disaster. Because they surely didn't have a sudden large decrease in smart kids over the last year. I can't help but wonder what the real reason is, although I am glad to hear it. The more kids who go to GT centers, the more difficult it will be for FCPS to abolish them.

[OrangeFish]

Originally Posted by Denton56

Thanks for the information. Isn't it a little late to let parents know that their GT kids have to go to a different schools in two weeks? I wonder how receiving Principal feels about this influx of students at this late date?

I agree.

Originally Posted by Denton56

How is it that you know, prior to those in the school? Just curious.

I am involved in GT education in FCPS (as a parent, not as a teacher).

Originally Posted by Denton56

How strange that Wakefield Forest had only one year of a Local Level 4 and then abandoned it. It must have been a disaster. Because they surely didn't have a sudden large decrease in smart kids over the last year.

As I said in my original post, the principal decided to not have it for this school year since so many students/families were opting to go to the GT Center (Canterbury Woods) vs. stay at the base school. I'm not sure that I would say that the program was (using your words) "a disaster" but that many families, for whatever reason, opted to go with the GT Center. Of course families that wanted to stay at the base school then had to decide whether to place their student at the GT Center or opt for Level III services at Wakefield Forest.

As for the number of GT Center-eligible kids this year vs. last year, those statistics have been published by FCPS and posted on Board Docs.

[live_strong28]

Originally Posted by Denton56

That was NOT true when those GT centers were opened. Staff did not open Centers in schools that were ''packed to the gills'', for obvious reasons.

And these were low performing schools before GT? I doubt it.

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by OrangeFish

I agree.



I am involved in GT education in FCPS (as a parent, not as a teacher).



As I said in my original post, the principal decided to not have it for this school year since so many students/families were opting to go to the GT Center (Canterbury Woods) vs. stay at the base school. I'm not sure that I would say that the program was (using your words) "a disaster" but that many families, for whatever reason, opted to go with the GT Center. Of course families that wanted to stay at the base school then had to decide whether to place their student at the GT Center or opt for Level III services at Wakefield Forest.

As for the number of GT Center-eligible kids this year vs. last year, those statistics have been published by FCPS and posted on Board Docs.

Interesting. I think I know you, from the GTAC, or whatever they're calling it now. I am surprised that Carol Horn would tell you about the closing of a Local Level 4 before the parents were told.