- 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 School and Thomas Jefferson Elementary School suggests we may not always have such impressive system wide SOL scores. Using data from Virginia’s Department of Education – Mathematics scores at MEH and two local middle schools in Arlington highlight the situation our kids are facing:
MEH’s noticeably lower scores in mathematics are even more pronounced when examining the much lower percentage of kids at MEH who scored “advanced pass” versus the kids at our nearby peer schools in Arlington County:
As FCCPS is fast to announce its success – it would be informative to know how they explain MEH’s weak math results. If not remedied, the weakness in math will reverberate into high school, SAT scores, and ultimately college acceptance.
The same situation is happening at TJ in both English and mathematics:
George Mason High School is doing very well in comparison to Arlington’s Yorktown and Washington & Lee high schools. But the question must be asked – will the ‘seed corn’ for GMHS at TJ and MEH do as well as the current GMHS students?
Action must be taken to investigate and remedy this situation.
Current School Board members and candidates Chairman Castillo and Kieran Sharpe seemingly ignored this important data while promoting other aspects of the schools. This will not benefit the kids and schools in the long run. While nice to promote the successes of our kids – we must also deal with the tough issues too.
This data indicates why new leadership is required on the School Board.
We must do better.
Contact and Additional Information for School Board candidate Mark Kaye:
Mr. Kaye has an MBA from The University of Chicago and his law degree is from Georgetown University.
Mr. Kaye can be contacted at KayeForFCCSchools@gmail.com
I suspect that the 7th grade Math SOL scores are a result of the 7th grade math debacle last year. If you are not aware, the children taking 7th grade math (i.e. not honors) had 3 teachers with subs in between. It was a real mess. It appeared to me to be a classic example of how FCCPS caters to the gifted and the special needs, but not to the average student. The best teachers were given to the smartest kids – not a good plan in my view.
Nancy,
Yes, I heard of that 7th grade math debacle via other parents. Your comment highlights the poor School Board oversight/management of School Super Toni Jones. As you noted, the schools are good at IB/honors … but weak for the vast middle. All kids can do very well with the resources available in FCC … but the School Board fails the kids.
Thanks,
Mark Kaye