Robinson

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I'm in the foreign service, and my kids have done the IB curriculum in overseas schools. I really appreciate the interdisciplinary approach, and that it teaches kids how to think and write well. There's less reliance on worksheets and quizzes, and is more inquiry-based depending on the interests of the learner. I'm actually thinking of moving into the Robinson school district for the IB program, specifically.

+1 I'm a Robinson parent who purposefully chose it (even though we had the option to go to LBSS because our kids were in AAP). I prefer IB over AP. All the AP parents think there's nothing you can't get in AP that you get in IB, but it's just not accurate in my opinion. The AP courses don't seem as writing intensive, inquiry or lab-based as the IB courses.

The latest Robinson SAT scores (Class of 2023) were actually below the county average and 26 points lower than at Lake Braddock.

Seems like the IB parents think there’s nothing you can get at an AP high school that you can’t get at an IB high school, but that’s just not accurate, apparently. The IB courses just don’t seem to teach as much.

The SATs cover lower-level material learned before AP and IB courses begin (geometry, algebra I and II, some early pre-calc/stats, and basic English). IB and AP courses have nothing to do with SATs.

You’re not going to impress anyone because you took an IB course if you’ve never mastered or can’t even retain the lower-level material. And the current trend is for top schools to reverse the “test optional” approach of the Covid years and require SAT or ACT scores.

FCPS has been dropping the ball in many areas and Robinson kids pay the price.

Robinson is the only high school that does not have an AAP feeder school. That is the explanation for SAT scores. Which have historically been roughly the same as LBSS (some years Robinson is higher, some years LBSS is higher) which DOES have an AAP feeder school and is AP. That this one year there's a difference (I haven't even looked) doesn't tell you much.

Not true. Annandale doesn’t have an AAP feeder school.

Ok, Robinson is one of the very few high schools that doesn't have an AAP feeder and it has consistently been strong/equivalent with schools that do in terms of SAT scores.

It has lower SAT scores than you’d expect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the foreign service, and my kids have done the IB curriculum in overseas schools. I really appreciate the interdisciplinary approach, and that it teaches kids how to think and write well. There's less reliance on worksheets and quizzes, and is more inquiry-based depending on the interests of the learner. I'm actually thinking of moving into the Robinson school district for the IB program, specifically.

+1 I'm a Robinson parent who purposefully chose it (even though we had the option to go to LBSS because our kids were in AAP). I prefer IB over AP. All the AP parents think there's nothing you can't get in AP that you get in IB, but it's just not accurate in my opinion. The AP courses don't seem as writing intensive, inquiry or lab-based as the IB courses.

The latest Robinson SAT scores (Class of 2023) were actually below the county average and 26 points lower than at Lake Braddock.

Seems like the IB parents think there’s nothing you can get at an AP high school that you can’t get at an IB high school, but that’s just not accurate, apparently. The IB courses just don’t seem to teach as much.

The SATs cover lower-level material learned before AP and IB courses begin (geometry, algebra I and II, some early pre-calc/stats, and basic English). IB and AP courses have nothing to do with SATs.

You’re not going to impress anyone because you took an IB course if you’ve never mastered or can’t even retain the lower-level material. And the current trend is for top schools to reverse the “test optional” approach of the Covid years and require SAT or ACT scores.

FCPS has been dropping the ball in many areas and Robinson kids pay the price.

Robinson is the only high school that does not have an AAP feeder school. That is the explanation for SAT scores. Which have historically been roughly the same as LBSS (some years Robinson is higher, some years LBSS is higher) which DOES have an AAP feeder school and is AP. That this one year there's a difference (I haven't even looked) doesn't tell you much.

Not true. Annandale doesn’t have an AAP feeder school.

Ok, Robinson is one of the very few high schools that doesn't have an AAP feeder and it has consistently been strong/equivalent with schools that do in terms of SAT scores.

It has lower SAT scores than you’d expect.

Not really--its average over time is around 1200--just a touch below Lake Braddock which houses the AAP program. It doesn't have a high FRL, but it's not a "rich" school like some of the other higher performing schools in the district. There isn't a culture of SAT test prep etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the foreign service, and my kids have done the IB curriculum in overseas schools. I really appreciate the interdisciplinary approach, and that it teaches kids how to think and write well. There's less reliance on worksheets and quizzes, and is more inquiry-based depending on the interests of the learner. I'm actually thinking of moving into the Robinson school district for the IB program, specifically.

+1 I'm a Robinson parent who purposefully chose it (even though we had the option to go to LBSS because our kids were in AAP). I prefer IB over AP. All the AP parents think there's nothing you can't get in AP that you get in IB, but it's just not accurate in my opinion. The AP courses don't seem as writing intensive, inquiry or lab-based as the IB courses.

The latest Robinson SAT scores (Class of 2023) were actually below the county average and 26 points lower than at Lake Braddock.

Seems like the IB parents think there’s nothing you can get at an AP high school that you can’t get at an IB high school, but that’s just not accurate, apparently. The IB courses just don’t seem to teach as much.

The SATs cover lower-level material learned before AP and IB courses begin (geometry, algebra I and II, some early pre-calc/stats, and basic English). IB and AP courses have nothing to do with SATs.

You’re not going to impress anyone because you took an IB course if you’ve never mastered or can’t even retain the lower-level material. And the current trend is for top schools to reverse the “test optional” approach of the Covid years and require SAT or ACT scores.

FCPS has been dropping the ball in many areas and Robinson kids pay the price.

Robinson is the only high school that does not have an AAP feeder school. That is the explanation for SAT scores. Which have historically been roughly the same as LBSS (some years Robinson is higher, some years LBSS is higher) which DOES have an AAP feeder school and is AP. That this one year there's a difference (I haven't even looked) doesn't tell you much.

Not true. Annandale doesn’t have an AAP feeder school.

Ok, Robinson is one of the very few high schools that doesn't have an AAP feeder and it has consistently been strong/equivalent with schools that do in terms of SAT scores.

It has lower SAT scores than you’d expect.

Not really--its average over time is around 1200--just a touch below Lake Braddock which houses the AAP program. It doesn't have a high FRL, but it's not a "rich" school like some of the other higher performing schools in the district. There isn't a culture of SAT test prep etc.

I think the last part is a big driver of it. We’re in Robinson and my impression is it’s mostly a MC / UMC pyramid but parents are just a lot more lax re: advancement and prepping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the foreign service, and my kids have done the IB curriculum in overseas schools. I really appreciate the interdisciplinary approach, and that it teaches kids how to think and write well. There's less reliance on worksheets and quizzes, and is more inquiry-based depending on the interests of the learner. I'm actually thinking of moving into the Robinson school district for the IB program, specifically.

+1 I'm a Robinson parent who purposefully chose it (even though we had the option to go to LBSS because our kids were in AAP). I prefer IB over AP. All the AP parents think there's nothing you can't get in AP that you get in IB, but it's just not accurate in my opinion. The AP courses don't seem as writing intensive, inquiry or lab-based as the IB courses.

The latest Robinson SAT scores (Class of 2023) were actually below the county average and 26 points lower than at Lake Braddock.

Seems like the IB parents think there’s nothing you can get at an AP high school that you can’t get at an IB high school, but that’s just not accurate, apparently. The IB courses just don’t seem to teach as much.

The SATs cover lower-level material learned before AP and IB courses begin (geometry, algebra I and II, some early pre-calc/stats, and basic English). IB and AP courses have nothing to do with SATs.

You’re not going to impress anyone because you took an IB course if you’ve never mastered or can’t even retain the lower-level material. And the current trend is for top schools to reverse the “test optional” approach of the Covid years and require SAT or ACT scores.

FCPS has been dropping the ball in many areas and Robinson kids pay the price.

Robinson is the only high school that does not have an AAP feeder school. That is the explanation for SAT scores. Which have historically been roughly the same as LBSS (some years Robinson is higher, some years LBSS is higher) which DOES have an AAP feeder school and is AP. That this one year there's a difference (I haven't even looked) doesn't tell you much.

Not true. Annandale doesn’t have an AAP feeder school.

Ok, Robinson is one of the very few high schools that doesn't have an AAP feeder and it has consistently been strong/equivalent with schools that do in terms of SAT scores.

It has lower SAT scores than you’d expect.

Not really--its average over time is around 1200--just a touch below Lake Braddock which houses the AAP program. It doesn't have a high FRL, but it's not a "rich" school like some of the other higher performing schools in the district. There isn't a culture of SAT test prep etc.

I think the last part is a big driver of it. We’re in Robinson and my impression is it’s mostly a MC / UMC pyramid but parents are just a lot more lax re: advancement and prepping.

Also my guess. Big focus on extracurriculars (sports, music, theater), but I'm not aware of anyone in our circles who's done test prep/Kumon/RSM/whatever. If they do, they keep it to themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the foreign service, and my kids have done the IB curriculum in overseas schools. I really appreciate the interdisciplinary approach, and that it teaches kids how to think and write well. There's less reliance on worksheets and quizzes, and is more inquiry-based depending on the interests of the learner. I'm actually thinking of moving into the Robinson school district for the IB program, specifically.

+1 I'm a Robinson parent who purposefully chose it (even though we had the option to go to LBSS because our kids were in AAP). I prefer IB over AP. All the AP parents think there's nothing you can't get in AP that you get in IB, but it's just not accurate in my opinion. The AP courses don't seem as writing intensive, inquiry or lab-based as the IB courses.

The latest Robinson SAT scores (Class of 2023) were actually below the county average and 26 points lower than at Lake Braddock.

Seems like the IB parents think there’s nothing you can get at an AP high school that you can’t get at an IB high school, but that’s just not accurate, apparently. The IB courses just don’t seem to teach as much.

The SATs cover lower-level material learned before AP and IB courses begin (geometry, algebra I and II, some early pre-calc/stats, and basic English). IB and AP courses have nothing to do with SATs.

You’re not going to impress anyone because you took an IB course if you’ve never mastered or can’t even retain the lower-level material. And the current trend is for top schools to reverse the “test optional” approach of the Covid years and require SAT or ACT scores.

FCPS has been dropping the ball in many areas and Robinson kids pay the price.

Robinson is the only high school that does not have an AAP feeder school. That is the explanation for SAT scores. Which have historically been roughly the same as LBSS (some years Robinson is higher, some years LBSS is higher) which DOES have an AAP feeder school and is AP. That this one year there's a difference (I haven't even looked) doesn't tell you much.

Not true. Annandale doesn’t have an AAP feeder school.

Ok, Robinson is one of the very few high schools that doesn't have an AAP feeder and it has consistently been strong/equivalent with schools that do in terms of SAT scores.

It has lower SAT scores than you’d expect.

Not really--its average over time is around 1200--just a touch below Lake Braddock which houses the AAP program. It doesn't have a high FRL, but it's not a "rich" school like some of the other higher performing schools in the district. There isn't a culture of SAT test prep etc.

I think the last part is a big driver of it. We’re in Robinson and my impression is it’s mostly a MC / UMC pyramid but parents are just a lot more lax re: advancement and prepping.

Also my guess. Big focus on extracurriculars (sports, music, theater), but I'm not aware of anyone in our circles who's done test prep/Kumon/RSM/whatever. If they do, they keep it to themselves.

+1 That's my experience too, with kids now that have spanned 10 years at Robinson. My kids have been in the upper academic level at Robinson (all honors, IB diploma, a couple of AP courses) and still there's not much talk of academic enrichment. More emphasis on extracurriculars like sports, band, theater, visual art than maximizing scores or academic acceleration.

[Anonymous]

Friend’s kids went to Robinson and one ended up at Syracuse and went to Mary Washington. I didn’t get a sense that the push towards Ivies was much of a thing there.

[Anonymous]

How is the UVA acceptance rate? Is it still top 10 percent of the class over there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is the UVA acceptance rate? Is it still top 10 percent of the class over there?

No FCPS school gets UVA acceptance rate at top 10% that I know of--it's usually the top 3-5%. That seems to be the same. Seems similar percentages for W&M and VT Engineering too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is the UVA acceptance rate? Is it still top 10 percent of the class over there?

No FCPS school gets UVA acceptance rate at top 10% that I know of--it's usually the top 3-5%. That seems to be the same. Seems similar percentages for W&M and VT Engineering too.

There are some closer to top 10% than top 3-5%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is the UVA acceptance rate? Is it still top 10 percent of the class over there?

No FCPS school gets UVA acceptance rate at top 10% that I know of--it's usually the top 3-5%. That seems to be the same. Seems similar percentages for W&M and VT Engineering too.

There are some closer to top 10% than top 3-5%.

Which ones? I mean other than TJ? From what I've gathered from others I know at other high schools (LBSS, Woodson, McLean), it seems pretty standard that it's the top 3-5%. I was stuck waiting with a bunch of FCPS HS parents while our kids competed at a regional event and we compared Naviance charts (you know you're dredging the barrels of conversation topics at that point) and we were all struck how very similar they were at least for UVA/WM/VT.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My DC is a rising 7th at Robinson SS. We've heard good things about it from neighbors who seem happy. It does seem middle of the road compared to Woodson, McLean, Langley, etc. but honestly I feel that most public schools in the area are pretty much the same. We supplement with tutoring classes and extracurricular like other families in FFX co. On the upside, we love our neighborhood and the walkability to the ES and secondary school. We had thought of sending kid to Lake Braddock for continued AAP but it didn't seem worth it. We like walking to school so that won out.

Thank you PP. We are another AAP family sending our kid to Robinson for 7th. We also live like a five minute walk away. It just doesn't make sense to tack on a bus ride when there's a perfectly good school right here.

You are choosing being able to walk to school over receiving a more rigorous education with overall more capable peers? That is insane, and that is why Robinson underperforms its demographics - the community there has messed up values.

We choose to defer AAP and keep our kid at his base school. It has Advanced Math and a regular Level III pull out. We did not want to change schools and the Center he was going to is one that is stupid competitive. He is in ES, he doesn't need to be competing with kids for 4s or whatever the hell it is the kids are competing for at his Center school. And you know what? We are not alone. 70% of the parents whose kids are accepted into AAP at our Base school don't send them to the Center. Every year, there are kids who return form the Center school to the base school.

We feed into Carson by the way. There are plenty of really good ES that don't have Level IV or have Local Level IV. Many parents don't see attending a Center as the end all and be all of our kids academic life. I strongly suspect that my kid will do great in High School, regardless of deferring Level IV placement.

What school is this?

[Anonymous]

I just found out that the pregnant girls get sent to Robinson. They have a daycare there too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just found out that the pregnant girls get sent to Robinson. They have a daycare there too.

Kids get moved around many FCPS schools when they have a need. Robinson is not the FCPS maternity ward, and there is no daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just found out that the pregnant girls get sent to Robinson. They have a daycare there too.

"Pregnant girls get sent to Robinson"? What? Students are being "sent" somewhere because they are pregnant? Ugh. Well, I guess it is better than the 1950s bs of being thrown out of school, but it is still ridiculous and arguably discriminatory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just found out that the pregnant girls get sent to Robinson. They have a daycare there too.

"Pregnant girls get sent to Robinson"? What? Students are being "sent" somewhere because they are pregnant? Ugh. Well, I guess it is better than the 1950s bs of being thrown out of school, but it is still ridiculous and arguably discriminatory.

I don't think they are forcefully "sent" but they are often encouraged to transfer to Bryant or Mountain View because those schools offer additional flexibiliies for kids with nontraditional needs.