Comments on Our Loudoun Schools: Following Fairfax?

John,
Another day is here. Please explain why ...

2008-05-06T23:01:00.000-04:00

John,
Another day is here. Please explain why more citizen/School Board meetings are NOT held within school buildings? Particularly with respect to budget talks. Transparent government is what the public wants. Sitting on the polished dais at Education Court does nothing to bolster public support for LCPS initiatives. I hope the reason against more outreach isn't that the flattering

$350 million budget shortfall for Fairfax predicte...

2008-05-06T18:36:00.000-04:00

$350 million budget shortfall for Fairfax predicted next year...

Michele,
Fix the systems that you think are unf...

2008-05-02T21:27:00.000-04:00

Michele,
Fix the systems that you think are unfairly using GPA scores without normalizing them for different schools. If this is really happening there are lots of other non-Loudoun children in the same boat.

If Loudoun were to add .5 to everyone's GPA how would that make things fairer? Everyone else would do the same.

Here's a real solution: Anyone who thinks the GPA

Talk to any college admissions officer and they wi...

2008-05-02T09:52:00.000-04:00

Talk to any college admissions officer and they will tell you that GPA and the difficulty of the course load are the first things they look at, followed by SAT scores. A growing number of high schools no longer even use class rank. But Ed, you miss the point that GPA, along with SAT or ACT test scores, is the determining factor when it comes not only to admissions, but to academic scholarships.

A student's rank plus the SAT scores plus the AP t...

2008-05-01T19:11:00.000-04:00

A student's rank plus the SAT scores plus the AP test scores are all more important than a raw GPA score.

I'd rather my child have a 3.2 GPA and be #10 in a class of 400 than have a 4.0 GPA and be #352.

Grade inflation is bad because it distorts the information parents use to assess their child's development. If everyone is getting all As how can one tell if they are exceptional

What about the equally hard-working child whose av...

2008-05-01T15:18:00.000-04:00

What about the equally hard-working child whose average is an84 in a course? Is someone who earns an 84 really a "C" student? Not by most school systems' standards. But let's talk about the disadvantage our kids have when they apply or are considered for academic scholarships. There are a considerable amount of students applying to out-of-state schools, especially now that the competition

I agree that the large percentages of out of state...

2008-04-30T20:00:00.000-04:00

I agree that the large percentages of out of state students attending Virginia colleges when qualified residents are turned away is wrong. That said, I don't really think adjusting the grade scale is what is needed here. After all, each year approximately 10% of the graduating class at Potomac Falls has a 4.0 GPA or higher. By lowering the grade scale, we will increase that , but the only thing I

John, don't you think that remark about being Fair...

2008-04-29T19:09:00.000-04:00

John, don't you think that remark about being Fairfax County's little brother is a bit disingenuous? Everyone knows we look to Fairfax on school issues because of Fairfax's national reputation for excellence. Many of us who moved to Loudoun moved from Fairfax. They're the primary source of competition for our teachers, not Prince William, Faquier, or Clark. While our school system is probaby

FCPS definitely does not have a John Stevens! Tha...

2008-04-28T15:40:00.000-04:00

FCPS definitely does not have a John Stevens! Thanks for all your new ideas.

Interesting post. As the father of a middle-school...

2008-04-28T14:22:00.000-04:00

Interesting post. As the father of a middle-schooler (rising freshman), I have to admit it would be easier for ME to keep track of grading on a 10 point scale. On the other hand, I will bet that grading gets LESS lenient on a 10 point scale. Those parents in Fairfax might want to consider that as well. Not to mention, I'll bet that extra credit goes out the window...