Aside from getting into an immersion program, are there other ways a child can qualify or be granted entrance into a school outside of their assigned school based on their home address?

Sure, but you have to be a pain in the A** to do it.

The system works to keep everyone in their home school, but there are always exceptions.

Just call up the SB and request that you want to go to Langley. Half the county (in geographical area) already goes there any way.

So do I need to contact the school board or can principals coordinate a transfer? We're not looking at Langley - we're still trying to get through elementary school. Thanks for your replies. And yes, I don't mind being a pain in the arse if I have to be.

What are your reason's for a transfer? What school does your child attend now and what school are you looking at? Number of students at the school play a big factor.

If you have a friend that lives in the school district you want to go to, claim that she is the day care provider. You will have to provide your own transportation though.

77Sharp Wrote:
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> Aside from getting into an immersion program, are
> there other ways a child can qualify or be granted
> entrance into a school outside of their assigned
> school based on their home address?

77Sharp -

For the basic rules -

http://www.fcps.edu/ss/student-transfer/StudentTransferFAQs.pdf

Thank you for the link, Westfield Dad. I have had a hard time filtering through all of the info on the fcps website and had not read that before. It was rather disappointing to read, but I plan to go forward and fight for a transfer. We'll move if we have to.

Anyone know of other forums where parents discuss fcps? For being such a highly rated school district I am utterly disappointed in our elementary school thus far.

are you sure that the school you want your child to attend is actually
"better" than they one assigned for your home address?

Most FCPS schools(high/middle/elementary) are all crap....

If you really care about your child's education, sen him/her to private school.

Even the new US president doesn't send the kids to public schools.

77SHARP Wrote:
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> Thank you for the link, Westfield Dad. I have had
> a hard time filtering through all of the info on
> the fcps website and had not read that before. It
> was rather disappointing to read, but I plan to go
> forward and fight for a transfer. We'll move if
> we have to.
>
> Anyone know of other forums where parents discuss
> fcps? For being such a highly rated school
> district I am utterly disappointed in our
> elementary school thus far.

I should have mentioned two other ways out -

1) If your kids are eligible - a combination of IQ scores and teacher pleasing they call Gifted Behaviors Rating Scale(GBRS) - starting in 3rd grade there are GT Centers or at some ESes, "Local Level IV" classes.

There's a Yahoo group for GT - Fairfax County Association for the Gifted - www.fcag.org.

2) Not a recommendation, but there are also two elementary magnet schools -

http://www.fcps.edu/news/magnet.htm

I am curious I would like to know the School. My kids go to Ravensworth Elementary and it has real problems but I feel I can help move them off the dime. The class sizes are big the administration is good at some things I guess but not in many vital areas. Many of the teachers are very good though. I feel like fighting for my kids and the good teachers.

You might be surprised what continuous presence at the school and communication with the board, supervisors and superintendent can do. It takes a lot of involvement though. That and you have to motivate and organize other parents. They all think they are powerless and are in it alone - not true. Sadly the PTA is mostly a social organization. They do great things for the school but they are Not advocates for educational issues.

I have to agree with Marty. Newington Forest Elementary is awful. Principal and staff members are all in little cliches. No support, and if you have a problem that you take to the school, your business will be out before you are out of the door! South County Secondary is just as bad. No support, a lot of young teachers right out of college trying to tell you about your kid when you as an adult have at least 20 years on them. The are dishonest in many ways, and do not handle situations they way that they should!

You will need to get the Principals involved to agree to a transfer. There is a form to submit. There are several acceptable reasons, like where you work, and childcare arrangements, among others. Most principals approve transfers, but you will need to provide transportation.

I just found the information that you need:
http://www.fcps.edu/ss/student-transfer/index.htm

Good Luck! I hope that your child can go to the school you choose.

I got my child out of that horrible Hayfield Elementary by
getting day care in the Bush Hill area.
Once you get a day care provider or babysitter, you just fill out the paperwork and it usually goes through. It is easy to do this while they are in elementary school...

The down side is that I had to drive him to school everyday. He did ride the bus to the daycare, and I was there to pick him up from the bus stop.

Children First stated:

"South County Secondary is just as bad. No support, a lot of young teachers right out of college trying to tell you about your kid when you as an adult have at least 20 years on them."

So you'll only listen to information about your child if it comes from a teacher that is the same age or older than you? You do realize that those teachers were also once young and right out of college? One must be given a chance in order to gain experience.

Many people that have actually been educated about teaching know that new teachers can be preferential to older, "experienced" teachers, as they are much more flexible when it comes to innovative teaching methods in response to a changing student population. They also have more energy and are less jaded.

^ But do the younger teachers have more experience in the "soft skills" of dealing with people (like parents)?? Younger teachers have been raised in the era of technology and are probably good at "messaging", but how are they at actual real time verbal communication? That matters, especially when you are dealing with 40 and 50 year old parents. The older parents appreciate experience and people who understand them. Experience matters and what looks like "jaded" to a younger teacher is actually the fact that the older teacher has learned a lot of "methods" over the years (and what the youngers think is innovative is usually something that was in vogue years ago and is being recycled). The younger teacher's "energy" can be misdirected because of lack of experience.

The parents are pretty savvy about teachers. Most of them prefer that their child have an experienced teacher (if given the choice).

Shadow Wrote:
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> Sure, but you have to be a pain in the A** to do
> it.
>
> The system works to keep everyone in their home
> school, but there are always exceptions.


This is quite true. The way to get your kid moved is to ask for a 'pupil placement' - this granted by your home school's principal. If you are denied a pupil placement you can appeal - appeals are generally granted. Why do you want to change schools?

77SHARP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thank you for the link, Westfield Dad. I have had
> a hard time filtering through all of the info on
> the fcps website and had not read that before. It
> was rather disappointing to read, but I plan to go
> forward and fight for a transfer. We'll move if
> we have to.
>
> Anyone know of other forums where parents discuss
> fcps? For being such a highly rated school
> district I am utterly disappointed in our
> elementary school thus far.



Are you really going tomove ? How is the school disappointing you ? It may just be cheaper to go to private they get paid to here you and will be nicer about it

Some people rent a room (on paper) from somebody they know in the school district where they want their child. They have to then provide the transportation, but the lease is what they look for.
A sticky situation, particularly if somebody finds out you have a huge house in another school district and you are basically leasing a closet.

Many of the Asians in our pyramid use their Grandparents' address to get into our magnate school. My kid wants a playdate with a classmate and we have to go to Alexandria to get to where she really lives.

lol

Asians Wrote:
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> Many of the Asians in our pyramid use their
> Grandparents' address to get into our magnate
> school. My kid wants a playdate with a classmate
> and we have to go to Alexandria to get to where
> she really lives.
>
> lol


LOL PLAY DATES

Yeah, I knew someone who lived in Arlington, but owned a home in another county (which they were renting out). They used the home they owned in the other county as their address and I suppose since they were paying RE taxes there (even though renters were living there), the school district wasn't going to argue with them. Both of their kids went to high school in the "other" county.

Please let the registrars at you child's school know if there are any kids not living in the school boundary. Especially the kids that live in Arlington, City of Alexandria, Maryland, Prince William county and DC. it also helps to alert the schools (registrar) of the kids not in their school district. With you help it is faster to get the kids in their proper school.

Snitches get stitches.

BTW, your grammar is a great example of what FCPS produces.



Need yourself Wrote:
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> Please let the registrars at you child's school
> know if there are any kids not living in the
> school boundary. Especially the kids that live in
> Arlington, City of Alexandria, Maryland, Prince
> William county and DC. it also helps to alert the
> schools (registrar) of the kids not in their
> school district. With you help it is faster to
> get the kids in their proper school.

Parents screw up their kids so much these days. Just go to the school you are suppose to go to. If you do not like public school pay and go private. When you decide that is not good enough for your little monster home school so we do not have to listen to your bitching about how bad the schools are. Both my kids went to fairfax co public schools and both have 2 college degrees today with great jobs. I know your brat is no better then my kids so stop being an idiot. It's your fault your brats are fucked up today not the schools
Parents screw their kids up and blame the school system

BigMgMac Wrote:
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> Parents screw up their kids so much these days.
> Just go to the school you are suppose to go to. If
> you do not like public school pay and go private.
> When you decide that is not good enough for your
> little monster home school so we do not have to
> listen to your bitching about how bad the schools
> are. Both my kids went to fairfax co public
> schools and both have 2 college degrees today with
> great jobs. I know your brat is no better then my
> kids so stop being an idiot. It's your fault your
> brats are fucked up today not the schools
> Parents screw their kids up and blame the school
> system


While I'd tend to agree with the general drift, it's a completely different school system now than it used to be. Especially at the elementary levels.

Alternative website - DC Urban Mom.