I was perusing DC Urban Moms and Dads yesterday and came across the following comment:
“ We definitely need more capacity, particularly in the Tysons area where FCPS and the county will continue to lowball the projected numbers for new students until our kids are being taught in parking lots. “
This is obviously a topic in its own right, but it got me thinking, if you are not happy with your base school or you believe it is not a good fit for your child what else is offered under FCPS?
Firstly, at the elementary level there are the magnet schools: Bailey’s Elementary for the Arts and Sciences and Hunters Woods Elementary for the Arts and Sciences. Places are awarded by a lottery system. To be eligible, students must be working at or above grade level in language arts and math. The only down side is that students are not provided with transportation, so they must provide their own way to the school.
Secondly, there are the World Languages: Immersion Programs. FCPS offers partial immersion in the following languages: French, German, Japanese, Korean and Spanish at the elementary level. this is again through a lottery system with no transportation provided.
Thirdly, you can apply for Advanced Academic Placement known as Level IV services, which if your child gets a spot, lasts until 8th grade. For most, transportation will be provided. Here is a list of all the Level IV centers; elementary and middle schools.
Finally, if you are really unhappy with your base school you can request a transfer to another school. If you wish to do this, you first need to check if the school you want your child to go to is open for transfers. The best way to do this is to either call the school or check FCPS Dashboard. These are the criteria listed for transfers on the FCPS website:
FCPS considers transfer requests for very specific reasons as outlined in Regulation 2230. They are:
1. Family relocation* Attach a lease or deed for primary residence in requested school’s boundaries.
2. Child care hardship (elementary only)* Attach affidavit for Student Transfer Child Care Requests.
3. Medical, emotional, or social adjustment* Attach current independent, detailed professional documentation.
4. FCPS parent employee working 20 or more hours per week* Provide work location.
5. High school curricular program* Attached appropriate Letter of Understanding.
6. Sibling* Name of sibling and grade at requested school.
7. Senior* rising 6th, 8th, 12th.
* Applicants must provide required documentation to support the transfer request.
Student Application Procedure and Deadlines:
1. Students must be enrolled in their base school before starting the application procedure. Registration information is available at http://www.fcps.edu/dss/osp/StudentRegistration
Unsure about your base school? Boundary information is available at http://boundary.fcps.edu/boundary/
2. Parents must complete and submit the appropriate transfer application and required documentation to the base school by the specified deadlines.
My understanding is that more transfers are successful at the High School level than the elementary, but I know of at least two families in my area that have successfully requested a transfer at the elementary level; one for childcare hardship and one for medical, emotional and social adjustment issues.
FCPS is a huge school district: The largest in Virginia, the 11th largest in the US serving over 180,000 students. When dealing with this many students over such a vast area comes inevitable problems (don’t get me started on snow days!) but also a lot more options than would be possible in a smaller school district.
Find out more information at: http://www.fcps.edu/dss/osp/StudentRegistration/student-transfer/