Floris Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maria Allen Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > foxmill/carson/oakton parent Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> >
> > > >
> > > > FTA: She said the school district would
> have
> > > paid
> > > > the online fee, as it did for her other
> son,
> > if
> > > > Matthew had been enrolled then at South
> Lakes
> > > High
> > > > School, where he is now a ninth-grader.
> > >
> > >
> > > I've heard something about that, but I think
> > there
> > > are some limitations on that. At any rate, it
> > > seems like a neat idea if it would work for
> us.
> > > I'd be all over it if FCPS would let kids do
> > that
> > > and not charge them.
> >
> >
> > My SLHS senior has also taken AP courses
> online.
> > He is just finishing online AP Psychology, and
> > will start AP Macroeconomics in a few days. A
> plus
> > for him is starting school every day at 9am
> > instead of 7:20 since the online course
> replaces
> > first period. He also takes several IB courses
> at
> > South Lakes, but he isn't a Diploma Candidate
> and
> > these AP courses interested him. The online
> > courses are demanding but very structured and
> > predictable, which he also finds appealing.
> >
> > You can see the online course catalogue at
> >
>
http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/onlinecampus/crse-cat.htm.
>
> > FCPS contracts with Apex Learning
> > www.apexlearning.com for the 15 or so AP
> courses.
> > As long as your student takes only seven
> courses
> > in all, Fairfax County pays for the online
> course.
> > I don't know if there is a limit to the number
> of
> > online courses a student can take, but I know
> that
> > some take more than one.
> >
> > Most of the FCPS students enrolled in the
> online
> > courses are there because of scheduling
> conflicts
> > at their AP schools.
> >
> > The FCPS online campus won't provide you with a
> > great deal of information about the courses. If
> > you are interested, go the the provider's
> website
> > www.apexlearning.com where you can see a
> detailed
> > syllabus for each course.
>
> Hi Maria,
>
> I am wondering if the online courses offered by
> the county might solve some of the issues
> regarding access to certain classes that some
> students at South lakes say are not offered due to
> lower enrollments.
>
> Can you also give me and idea of home many
> Students in South Lakes are enrolled in the IB
> Diploma program, how many are enrolled in some IB
> courses, and how many students are simply enrolled
> in General Education curriculum?
>
> What I have been try to understand regarding this
> RD is:
>
> What resources and or classes would South Lakes
> like to have that they currently do not offer?
>
> What are the true benifits for the Fox Mill and
> Floris students who would be asked to leave Oakton
> and Westfield and attend South Lakes?
>
> Other than diluting the percentages of FRM and
> ESOL numbers, what benifits do you expect if this
> RD goes through, as in relates to aiding those
> "disadvantaged" students?
>
> What are your thoughts on why almost all of the IB
> Program schools in the County have lower
> enrollment numbers, as well as higher Mobility
> rates and higher percentages of FRM and ESOL
> students?
>
> 2007 SAT I average AP/IB
>
> Oakton 1680 AP
> Madison 1679 AP
> Marshall 1644 IB
> Westfield 1616 AP
> Chantilly 1623 AP
> Robinson 1649 IB/AP
> South Lakes 1596 IB
> West Potomac 1574 AP
> Fairfax 1574 AP
> Stuart 1534 IB
> Falls Church 1512 AP
> Annandale 1510 IB
> Lee 1507 IB
> Mt. Vernon 1505 IB
> Edison 1491 IB
> Hayfield 1484 AP
>
> Why is South Lakes not supporting a County Wide
> RD, when it is apparent that there are many other
> schools that share similar demogramphics,
> declining enrollments, higher ESOL and FRM
> students, just like South Lakes?
>
> What are your thoughts on why the South Lakes
> enrollments are declining, when all of the Western
> Fairfax County schools are growing?
>
> I have heard that one of the reasons for decling
> enrollments, is that the Reston population is
> aging, and if this is true, it raises another
> question--
>
> As I look at the enrollment statistics over the
> last 10 years for South Lakes, it appears that
> enrollments for almost all races are stable or
> rising, except for Caucasian race, which is
> showing dramatic declines (over 500 less Caucasian
> students). What this is suggesting is that it is
> only the Caucasian Families and households that
> are aging. This is statistically very unlikely,
> but since I do not live in Reston, I wondered what
> your thoughts are regarding the declining
> enrollment at South Lakes.
>
> Do you feel that there is a relationship between
> the IB schools, as it relates to lower SAT scores,
> lower enrollments, higher mobility rates, higher
> FRM and ESOL students?, or is it just a
> coincindence?
>
> Is there a statistic that shows the relative SAT
> scores of those students enrolled in IB Diploma
> and IB classes, compared to the SAT scores of
> those students who are enrolled in the General
> Edcucation courses?
>
> I and many other interested parents are trying to
> understand what South Lakes realy wants in their
> school.
>
> Does South Lakes want to be perceived as a
> mainstream HS, on par with Oakton, Langley,
> Madison, Chantilly as it relates to Sports, SAT
> scores, etc.? If so, it would seem that South
> Lakes would need to drop IB, and go back to an AP
> based school.
>
> Does South Lakes enjoy being one of the few
> schools in the County to offer the IB curriculum?
> It seems that for those few students in South
> Lakes who acheive the IB Diploma (45 students last
> year and 25 the year before), IB offers almost
> automatic entrance into top universities in the
> nation, but what about the rest of the students?
>
> I do not think a school can appeal to both the
> general ed students, and still maintain a "school
> within a school" environment that South Lakes
> currently has in place. You cannot have the
> "exclusive club of IB diploma students", and also
> attract the main stream students who will fill up
> the football roster, booster clubs etc. Those
> parents with bright, but not gifted children are
> going to gravitate towards the more main stream
> schools in the area that offer, a more balance mix
> of Academics, and the extracurricular activities,
> found at these schools.
>
> In summary, what are the benifits of the RD for
> the incoming Students who are not going to persue
> the IB Diploma?
>
> How will the incoming Freshman student who did not
> take a Language class in 7th or 8th grade be able
> to enter the IB Diploma program<
>
> Do you feel the the benifits of an IB program that
> has issued less that 100 diplomas over the last 5
> years to students in South Lakes, justifies the
> costs?
>
> Almost everything that I have read about IB leads
> me to believe that IB should be offered in an
> Acadamy type school, where parents and students
> "voluntarilly" place into the program.
>
> I have many other questions and concerns, but will
> have to save them for the SB meetings on the 30th
> and 31st.
>
> Any other South Lakes RD supporters are also
> welcome to chime in.
rolls his eyes