School Board under Chair Justin Castillo seemingly ignores important data School Board allows FCCPS press office to spin data New School Board leadership required to take action By Mark Kaye, JD/MBA What is below the topline is worrisome regarding the most recent Falls Church City Public School standard of learning (SOL) scores. The FCCPS press office was fast to tout the impressive “system wide” scores in English and mathematics. WTOP new radio reported state-wide scores and pointed out that FCC schools are small and many kids come from college educated families that help them succeed. Lifting up the hood at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle SchoolRead More →

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Note: In this post, School Board Candidate Becky Smerdon lays out data revealing that while FCCPS does a good job with its high achieving kids, when it comes to our economically disadvantaged students, the outcome is not so rosy.   By Becky Smerdon – School Board Candidate Falls Church is a wealthy, well-educated city that invests significant resources into its public schools. The “Little City” is, according to Forbes Magazine, the wealthiest “county” in the country, our property taxes are the highest in the state, and our school system is among the top 5 school divisions in per-pupil-expenditures.  Falls Church City Public Schools is amongRead More →

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This a a copy of the press release that was jointly released by School Board Candidates, Smerdon and Kaye in response to the Falls Church News Press guest editorial by current School Board Chair, Justin Castillo. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 8, 2015 The Falls Church Times The Falls Church Post By Becky Smerdon, Ph.D. and Mark Kaye, J.D. Note to Editors: In a guest editorial in the Falls Church News Press, School Board Chair, Justin Castillo, published a guest editorial. We wish to take issue with what Mr. Castillo did not say in his commentary. With regard to enrollment, increases have been driven in aRead More →

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