VA Middle and high school selection and rent/buy choice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. OP again. I thought the same but McLean high area has 30-40% price increase in the last two years. I can not make any upgrade house wise if buying there. I am also concerned about my son not being able to make to AAP in Fairfax. Is it worthy to paying all the “premiums” to be in McLean to be non-AAP students? I have more confidence in my daughter making to AAP starting 3rd grade next year.
Regarding Marshall high, is it much better than WL? Do we have data how much UVA admission for Marshall and McLean?

You have a misconception of admission procedures. High admission rate from McLean does not mean admission chance is higher. Unlike parents, UVA does not consider any high school to be "prestigious." That is, UVA does not award premium status to a student just because they go to McLean HS versus a kid that goes to W-L. Universities consider every student in the context of their individual high school only - meaning they are compared against their high school classmates and not against other high schools.

There are other reasons you may want McLean - but assuming your child's probability of admission is higher is incorrect and may likely lead to disappointment.