Looking for real insight into LCPS - specifically Blue Ridge Middle and Loudon Valley HS

[Anonymous]

We're looking at a relocation that would put us in the Blue Ridge Middle and Loudon Valley HS track. I've read reviews on Niche and Great Schools.com but looking for real resources. The HS has a lot of students based on what we're used to.

Aside from the schools being predominantly white and being in the news for not wanting to discuss BLM or critical race theory, what should we really expect? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're looking at a relocation that would put us in the Blue Ridge Middle and Loudon Valley HS track. I've read reviews on Niche and Great Schools.com but looking for real resources. The HS has a lot of students based on what we're used to.

Aside from the schools being predominantly white and being in the news for not wanting to discuss BLM or critical race theory, what should we really expect? Thanks!

Curious, you indicated that you were used to this environment, but is it what you are looking for?

[Anonymous]

I don't know much about Valley, so no help there.

BRMS is a fantastic middle school, IMO. It is highly structured and very positive with clear expectations, but the kids have age-appropriate amounts of freedom (to choose courses, electives, activities, etc.) within the boundaries. The principal is the most enthused person I have ever met about middle-school aged kids -- which can be a really difficult age. He is 100% positive (but very realistic, too) about the development stage that they're at and how much they're changing over those three years. I compare him to my own MS principal, who clearly felt he was literally in the "junior league" and wanted to be a high school principal, and the difference is really stark. I think my kids are having a much, much more positive and encouraging experience as middle schoolers than I did.

They offer multiple music electives (including orchestra and guitar, which were not options I had) and foreign language options starting in 7th grade, but I think that's pretty standard across LCPS schools? They also do in-school "clubs", where one period every so often is club time. All teachers and staff run a club, including the principal (I think he runs the Math Club?), so there are tons of options; they do them during school time so that everyone can participate, which isn't always the case with after-school activities.

One of the things I admire is that there are 700+ kids there and the school administration, every year, learns every kid's name/face, usually by fall break. Each grade has a dean/counselor and secretary that "follow" them all three years, so when your kids starts in 6th grade, their 6th grade dean/counselor/secretary become their 7th grade, then 8th grade dean/counselor/secretary; then that group of admins picks up the next incoming class of 6th graders. So they really get to know the kids over three years.

We've lived here several years and every single parent I talked to had had nothing but praise for Blue Ridge. My impression is that they wish the high school was as well-run as Blue Ridge is, but like I said, no experience with LVHS yet.

[Anonymous]

To PP, thank you for your thoughtful response! I really appreciate it. Based on what you write, it sounds like a great environment. Have you been able to find a sense of community among other students and families? And is there any other forums or Facebook groups etc that I can get a sense of the community? We’re relocating from a school that had so much good word of mouth…and it’s been great for our one child but there is no sense of community outside the school among the families. It’s the teachers, admin and the same handful of parents driving things. Since we won’t have family nearby, we’re hoping to find a vibrant community to be involved with. Thanks again for all the info!

[Anonymous]

I think, from my experience here, that community is what you put into it and how much of an effort you're willing to make. Western Loudoun is semi- to mostly-rural and that means it can be difficult to connect with neighbors. There may not be any other kids or parents at the bus stop to meet, you don't chit-chat with people when you're getting your mail (unless perhaps you're living in parts of Purcellville proper or Hamilton or the other small 'burgs around here) because maybe you're both on 2-3 acre lots or more, so you wave and that's about it. At MS age, you're dropping kids off at school or they're taking the bus -- you have to make an effort to get involved if you want to meet other parents, and BRMS students are scattered all the way from nearly-Leesburg to past Purcellville. If you're a church-goer, it's probably easier to find/get involved with a community and get to know people.

While there are many people out this way who have been here for a very long time (and make it known, lol), it's also full of transplants and, as I think is fairly typical in the DMV area, there's a decent level of turnover as people move in/out. Many, many people don't have family in the area. Quite a few people are federal workers who are telecommuting most of the time, especially now. I'll be honest, we have been here several years and still don't feel like we've had much luck in building a social circle -- it's a lot of work under normal circumstances and about half the time we have lived here has been during the pandemic, which totally put a damper on most socializing. IME, it's not that people are unfriendly, and *many* people want to connect with others and build a social circle, but for whatever reasons it is still difficult to find people you connect with. However, I have found that getting involved with the school has helped me in this area. As far as things being driven by teachers, admin and a small group of parents ... I'm pretty sure that's the norm for a lot of places? I also feel like BRMS admin and teachers really focus on students/what happens at school, you're not going to see them driving community-type things for parents; that's really on the PTO. The school is happy to have parents involved, don't get me wrong, and they definitely WANT parents involved in things like, oh, donating pastries for a teacher coffee cart or helping with the school musical, or attending school concerts or the spelling bee. And if you meet admin once or twice, your name gets remembered, too. But there's no MS school-based sport teams or things like that where you might run into other parents and get to know them. (There are plenty of club/private sports.) You have to make the effort to get involved in order to get to know people, and the people you are going to meet are likely to be those who also have the time/inclination to be involved.

The BRMS PTO does have a website, but it's a private group and you can only join if you have kids there. I think there are other social media accounts for the PTO, maybe insta? I'm not on there, so I'm not sure. Western Loudoun Community Connect is another good FB group, also private, you'd have to ask to join and let them know you're moving to the area. If you search "western Loudoun" on Facebook groups, that might be useful in terms of getting a sense of the community.

Good luck with your move.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, meant to say that the BRMS PTO does have a Facebook page that's a private group.

[Anonymous]

The front office staff at LCHS wear mesh masks. Yes, really. There have been many complaints to the school board. Nothing has been done.

[Anonymous]

Loudoun County HS (Leesburg) is not the same as Loudoun Valley HS (Purcellville).

[Anonymous]

I had one go through BRMS and two go through LVHS. We moved here from Arlington to get away from Arlington Public Schools.

The best way to describe it is they're pretty typical of what you would expect a middle school or high school to be in America. They have pretty good teachers, decent curricula, good enrichment programs outside the classroom, good opportunities in the arts (LVHS marching band was once featured on The West Wing and goes to Disney/Thanksgiving Parade from time to time), sports (the LVHS cross country team won the national championship a few years ago), theater (BRMS has a great theater department). The kids mostly grew up in the elementary schools that feed in and have known each other for years, so it can be a little hard to break in. The parents are less intense than the Arlington/Fairfax variety, although they also skew more politically conservative. The administration of the schools is ... ok. The LVHS principal was involved in a scandal of sorts a few years back for encouraging grade inflation, and my experience is that school isn't terribly demanding except for the AP courses.

There have been some issues that are hardly unique to LVHS/BRMS. For example, vaping is an issue and they now limit access to bathrooms, even locking some at LVHS. There were some incidents of cyberbullying at BRMS that my child was aware of that actually involved the sheriff. Etc. etc. But these are blips.

My DD got into UVA from LVHS and is doing very well. There's something to be said for the "big fish in a small pond" thing. Valley is much smaller than other schools in the area, so overcrowding isn't a problem.

My junior is in track, lacrosse, NHS, Spanish club. A few other activities. I mean, she doesn't exactly love school, but the complains are generic rather than something specific.

Like I said, very very normal.