HB Woodlawn - I know nothing. Help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are trying to make the same decision.

Clearly HB has more resources and better facilities. Smaller class sizes. Better test scores.

Our impression is that it also gets, on balance, the more engaged and committed teachers—all of whom are dealing with fewer students and are more supported than at Y or WL.

But what about HB for a kid who isn’t all that “quirky”, doesn’t have an elaborate menu of pronouns, and is just a good student, highly social? It’s difficult to tell what % of the student population is fairly normal v those that are more in the (maybe stereotypical) “freaks and geeks” or ultra-woke mold that HB seems to cater to? (FTR it’s great those kids have a place they can thrive, and no issue with DC being in that kind of environment… just unclear whether *everyone* is like that or there’s more of a mix than is readily apparent.)

So your kid is "normal" and the HB kids are "freaks and geeks" or "ultra-woke"?!

HB is not for you. Please just keep your kid at his home school where he can have his "normal" experience with his bro's. Let "those kids" - your words - at HB live in peace without the toxicity your son would bring.

DP. Actually the history of HB was that it opened exactly to support kids who had those sorts of alternative learning styles for whom a large comprehensive high school wasn't a good fit. The so-called quirky kids. Over the decades it has become a haven for families wanting to get their kids out of the giant middle and and high schools and into an environment perceived as closer to a private school experience. It sounds like PP is trying to figure out exactly that, whether it's maintained its quirky vibe or if it now reflects an experience that a kid who would do just fine at Yorktown or W-L would also enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are trying to make the same decision.

Clearly HB has more resources and better facilities. Smaller class sizes. Better test scores.

Our impression is that it also gets, on balance, the more engaged and committed teachers—all of whom are dealing with fewer students and are more supported than at Y or WL.

But what about HB for a kid who isn’t all that “quirky”, doesn’t have an elaborate menu of pronouns, and is just a good student, highly social? It’s difficult to tell what % of the student population is fairly normal v those that are more in the (maybe stereotypical) “freaks and geeks” or ultra-woke mold that HB seems to cater to? (FTR it’s great those kids have a place they can thrive, and no issue with DC being in that kind of environment… just unclear whether *everyone* is like that or there’s more of a mix than is readily apparent.)

So your kid is "normal" and the HB kids are "freaks and geeks" or "ultra-woke"?!

HB is not for you. Please just keep your kid at his home school where he can have his "normal" experience with his bro's. Let "those kids" - your words - at HB live in peace without the toxicity your son would bring.

DP. Actually the history of HB was that it opened exactly to support kids who had those sorts of alternative learning styles for whom a large comprehensive high school wasn't a good fit. The so-called quirky kids. Over the decades it has become a haven for families wanting to get their kids out of the giant middle and and high schools and into an environment perceived as closer to a private school experience. It sounds like PP is trying to figure out exactly that, whether it's maintained its quirky vibe or if it now reflects an experience that a kid who would do just fine at Yorktown or W-L would also enjoy.

DP here. Correction: HB was founded for both the "quirky" kids with "issues" who need extra attention; BUT ALSO the naturally exceptional and brainy kids. The latter group is referring to those kids who needed challenging classes, well before GT/AAP/call it whatever existed, before the local testing center chains existed, and before certain parents sought daily tutoring for their kids to keep up with AP classes.

There was no in between (kind of student), historically. Please be sure to post accurate information. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

My daughter just got into H-B Woodlawn 8th grade so this thread has been useful as we are relatively new to the area. She's been attending Dorothy Hamm for a year which I can't say enough good things a about.

She tested as gifted but has problems with her grades and some minor discipline issues around her commitment to achieve. I won't turn down the opportunity and how lucky we are but I wonder how well this school can handle her lack of discipline. Fortunately we are literally next door and I can stay involved.


Are the teachers and staff responsive to parent involvement? Dorothy Hamm has been phenomenal in that regard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter just got into H-B Woodlawn 8th grade so this thread has been useful as we are relatively new to the area. She's been attending Dorothy Hamm for a year which I can't say enough good things a about.

She tested as gifted but has problems with her grades and some minor discipline issues around her commitment to achieve. I won't turn down the opportunity and how lucky we are but I wonder how well this school can handle her lack of discipline. Fortunately we are literally next door and I can stay involved.


Are the teachers and staff responsive to parent involvement? Dorothy Hamm has been phenomenal in that regard.

HB works best for students who are self-motivated since there is a lot of freedom. It makes sense to try it out for a year or so, and if it’s not the best environment, transferring back to the home high school is no problem. In fact, transferring back to the home school is not uncommon. The HB philosophy is not ideal for all students.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I stated she got into 8th. She got into 9th actually just today as previously number 3 on the waiting list

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter just got into H-B Woodlawn 8th grade so this thread has been useful as we are relatively new to the area. She's been attending Dorothy Hamm for a year which I can't say enough good things a about.

She tested as gifted but has problems with her grades and some minor discipline issues around her commitment to achieve. I won't turn down the opportunity and how lucky we are but I wonder how well this school can handle her lack of discipline. Fortunately we are literally next door and I can stay involved.


Are the teachers and staff responsive to parent involvement? Dorothy Hamm has been phenomenal in that regard.

HB works best for students who are self-motivated since there is a lot of freedom. It makes sense to try it out for a year or so, and if it’s not the best environment, transferring back to the home high school is no problem. In fact, transferring back to the home school is not uncommon. The HB philosophy is not ideal for all students.

This is not always true for high performing students who have free academic time because they finished all the work quickly. HB lacks the tools for kids to learn on their own unless they have access to facilities/resources/teachers elsewhere. Their science labs are a joke using half baked equipment, some purchased from Amazon. Many classes are blended so they can't possibly teach to everyone. Based upon experience, many teachers have no time (or motivation) to discuss topics with kids who want to learn more and are often turned away. Recently, I think there has even been discussion in Town Meeting to do away with the AP program, thus completing the loop of some people trying to make HB a special needs school in all but name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter just got into H-B Woodlawn 8th grade so this thread has been useful as we are relatively new to the area. She's been attending Dorothy Hamm for a year which I can't say enough good things a about.

She tested as gifted but has problems with her grades and some minor discipline issues around her commitment to achieve. I won't turn down the opportunity and how lucky we are but I wonder how well this school can handle her lack of discipline. Fortunately we are literally next door and I can stay involved.


Are the teachers and staff responsive to parent involvement? Dorothy Hamm has been phenomenal in that regard.

HB works best for students who are self-motivated since there is a lot of freedom. It makes sense to try it out for a year or so, and if it’s not the best environment, transferring back to the home high school is no problem. In fact, transferring back to the home school is not uncommon. The HB philosophy is not ideal for all students.

This is not always true for high performing students who have free academic time because they finished all the work quickly. HB lacks the tools for kids to learn on their own unless they have access to facilities/resources/teachers elsewhere. Their science labs are a joke using half baked equipment, some purchased from Amazon. Many classes are blended so they can't possibly teach to everyone. Based upon experience, many teachers have no time (or motivation) to discuss topics with kids who want to learn more and are often turned away. Recently, I think there has even been discussion in Town Meeting to do away with the AP program, thus completing the loop of some people trying to make HB a special needs school in all but name.

This is incoherent, ill-informed, and teacher bashing. Teachers vary in every school, but neither of my kids have ever been turned away by a HB teacher when they wanted to go deeper into a niche interest. They were supported in crafting independent studies, proposing new classes, or less formal projects. HB, much like any university experience, is going to be what a student makes of it. Lots of kids aren’t ready for taking full advantage.

Suggesting blended classes make it impossible to meet all students’ needs is counter to plenty of research.

I heard the discussions about getting rid of AP was brought up by high school students and probably not going to happen. But even if it did, AP is not the most academically challenging possibility. I trust there would be an alternative of some kind. All the top local private schools have gotten rid of AP classes in recent years and it wasn’t to make Sidwell “a special needs school.”

Again, HB is serious about empowering students, for better and for worse. It seems for your kid(s) it was for worse, but there’s no need to universalize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter just got into H-B Woodlawn 8th grade so this thread has been useful as we are relatively new to the area. She's been attending Dorothy Hamm for a year which I can't say enough good things a about.

She tested as gifted but has problems with her grades and some minor discipline issues around her commitment to achieve. I won't turn down the opportunity and how lucky we are but I wonder how well this school can handle her lack of discipline. Fortunately we are literally next door and I can stay involved.


Are the teachers and staff responsive to parent involvement? Dorothy Hamm has been phenomenal in that regard.

HB works best for students who are self-motivated since there is a lot of freedom. It makes sense to try it out for a year or so, and if it’s not the best environment, transferring back to the home high school is no problem. In fact, transferring back to the home school is not uncommon. The HB philosophy is not ideal for all students.

This is not always true for high performing students who have free academic time because they finished all the work quickly. HB lacks the tools for kids to learn on their own unless they have access to facilities/resources/teachers elsewhere. Their science labs are a joke using half baked equipment, some purchased from Amazon. Many classes are blended so they can't possibly teach to everyone. Based upon experience, many teachers have no time (or motivation) to discuss topics with kids who want to learn more and are often turned away. Recently, I think there has even been discussion in Town Meeting to do away with the AP program, thus completing the loop of some people trying to make HB a special needs school in all but name.

This is incoherent, ill-informed, and teacher bashing. Teachers vary in every school, but neither of my kids have ever been turned away by a HB teacher when they wanted to go deeper into a niche interest. They were supported in crafting independent studies, proposing new classes, or less formal projects. HB, much like any university experience, is going to be what a student makes of it. Lots of kids aren’t ready for taking full advantage.

Suggesting blended classes make it impossible to meet all students’ needs is counter to plenty of research.

I heard the discussions about getting rid of AP was brought up by high school students and probably not going to happen. But even if it did, AP is not the most academically challenging possibility. I trust there would be an alternative of some kind. All the top local private schools have gotten rid of AP classes in recent years and it wasn’t to make Sidwell “a special needs school.”

Again, HB is serious about empowering students, for better and for worse. It seems for your kid(s) it was for worse, but there’s no need to universalize.

This is true. Over the years, students have created their own challenging courses with a faculty member knowledgeable in the particular area of interest. HB could easily supplant AP Courses with classes of equal rigour like at St Albans for example. HB is not limited by the APS secondary school course of study.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter just got into H-B Woodlawn 8th grade so this thread has been useful as we are relatively new to the area. She's been attending Dorothy Hamm for a year which I can't say enough good things a about.

She tested as gifted but has problems with her grades and some minor discipline issues around her commitment to achieve. I won't turn down the opportunity and how lucky we are but I wonder how well this school can handle her lack of discipline. Fortunately we are literally next door and I can stay involved.


Are the teachers and staff responsive to parent involvement? Dorothy Hamm has been phenomenal in that regard.

HB works best for students who are self-motivated since there is a lot of freedom. It makes sense to try it out for a year or so, and if it’s not the best environment, transferring back to the home high school is no problem. In fact, transferring back to the home school is not uncommon. The HB philosophy is not ideal for all students.

This is not always true for high performing students who have free academic time because they finished all the work quickly. HB lacks the tools for kids to learn on their own unless they have access to facilities/resources/teachers elsewhere. Their science labs are a joke using half baked equipment, some purchased from Amazon. Many classes are blended so they can't possibly teach to everyone. Based upon experience, many teachers have no time (or motivation) to discuss topics with kids who want to learn more and are often turned away. Recently, I think there has even been discussion in Town Meeting to do away with the AP program, thus completing the loop of some people trying to make HB a special needs school in all but name.

My point is that HB may not be a good fit for students who are not self-motivated to do the work, because of the high level of student freedom. Historically, grades have suffered for a number of those students, and many transfer back to their home schools. Of course, if you get a spot, it’s not a bad idea to try HB for a year if the program appeals to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter just got into H-B Woodlawn 8th grade so this thread has been useful as we are relatively new to the area. She's been attending Dorothy Hamm for a year which I can't say enough good things a about.

She tested as gifted but has problems with her grades and some minor discipline issues around her commitment to achieve. I won't turn down the opportunity and how lucky we are but I wonder how well this school can handle her lack of discipline. Fortunately we are literally next door and I can stay involved.


Are the teachers and staff responsive to parent involvement? Dorothy Hamm has been phenomenal in that regard.

HB works best for students who are self-motivated since there is a lot of freedom. It makes sense to try it out for a year or so, and if it’s not the best environment, transferring back to the home high school is no problem. In fact, transferring back to the home school is not uncommon. The HB philosophy is not ideal for all students.

This is not always true for high performing students who have free academic time because they finished all the work quickly. HB lacks the tools for kids to learn on their own unless they have access to facilities/resources/teachers elsewhere. Their science labs are a joke using half baked equipment, some purchased from Amazon. Many classes are blended so they can't possibly teach to everyone. Based upon experience, many teachers have no time (or motivation) to discuss topics with kids who want to learn more and are often turned away. Recently, I think there has even been discussion in Town Meeting to do away with the AP program, thus completing the loop of some people trying to make HB a special needs school in all but name.

This is incoherent, ill-informed, and teacher bashing. Teachers vary in every school, but neither of my kids have ever been turned away by a HB teacher when they wanted to go deeper into a niche interest. They were supported in crafting independent studies, proposing new classes, or less formal projects. HB, much like any university experience, is going to be what a student makes of it. Lots of kids aren’t ready for taking full advantage.

Suggesting blended classes make it impossible to meet all students’ needs is counter to plenty of research.

I heard the discussions about getting rid of AP was brought up by high school students and probably not going to happen. But even if it did, AP is not the most academically challenging possibility. I trust there would be an alternative of some kind. All the top local private schools have gotten rid of AP classes in recent years and it wasn’t to make Sidwell “a special needs school.”

Again, HB is serious about empowering students, for better and for worse. It seems for your kid(s) it was for worse, but there’s no need to universalize.

yeah, this is the craziest take on HB I have ever seen

HB teachers are super devoted to teaching, they teach more periods than other APS high school teachers, serve as advisors, often do one-off classes on things kids are interested in...

[Anonymous]

I saw the colleges the grads of HB went to last year and I wasn't super impressed. Are we sure it is a good school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter just got into H-B Woodlawn 8th grade so this thread has been useful as we are relatively new to the area. She's been attending Dorothy Hamm for a year which I can't say enough good things a about.

She tested as gifted but has problems with her grades and some minor discipline issues around her commitment to achieve. I won't turn down the opportunity and how lucky we are but I wonder how well this school can handle her lack of discipline. Fortunately we are literally next door and I can stay involved.


Are the teachers and staff responsive to parent involvement? Dorothy Hamm has been phenomenal in that regard.

HB works best for students who are self-motivated since there is a lot of freedom. It makes sense to try it out for a year or so, and if it’s not the best environment, transferring back to the home high school is no problem. In fact, transferring back to the home school is not uncommon. The HB philosophy is not ideal for all students.

This is not always true for high performing students who have free academic time because they finished all the work quickly. HB lacks the tools for kids to learn on their own unless they have access to facilities/resources/teachers elsewhere. Their science labs are a joke using half baked equipment, some purchased from Amazon. Many classes are blended so they can't possibly teach to everyone. Based upon experience, many teachers have no time (or motivation) to discuss topics with kids who want to learn more and are often turned away. Recently, I think there has even been discussion in Town Meeting to do away with the AP program, thus completing the loop of some people trying to make HB a special needs school in all but name.

This is incoherent, ill-informed, and teacher bashing. Teachers vary in every school, but neither of my kids have ever been turned away by a HB teacher when they wanted to go deeper into a niche interest. They were supported in crafting independent studies, proposing new classes, or less formal projects. HB, much like any university experience, is going to be what a student makes of it. Lots of kids aren’t ready for taking full advantage.

Suggesting blended classes make it impossible to meet all students’ needs is counter to plenty of research.

I heard the discussions about getting rid of AP was brought up by high school students and probably not going to happen. But even if it did, AP is not the most academically challenging possibility. I trust there would be an alternative of some kind. All the top local private schools have gotten rid of AP classes in recent years and it wasn’t to make Sidwell “a special needs school.”

Again, HB is serious about empowering students, for better and for worse. It seems for your kid(s) it was for worse, but there’s no need to universalize.

yeah, this is the craziest take on HB I have ever seen

HB teachers are super devoted to teaching, they teach more periods than other APS high school teachers, serve as advisors, often do one-off classes on things kids are interested in...

Parents really need to know what's being taught, and whether the material is at grade or above grade level, before saying how great any school is. Hard working does not necessarily correlate with good teaching. Nor does being nice or teaching more periods than other APS hs teachers. A few (non-exhaustive) examples from a few students: Written assignments are not graded based upon the actual writing and very little to no feedback is ever given (multiple English and history classes). Some English and history classes seem to have too many coloring and art projects as an option, and writing assignments are in the form of short answers and not fully developed essays, again with no feedback on structure, grammar, style, or coherence. One high school English class spent more than a month on a book with a Lexile score in the 700s when books should be in the 1000/1100s minimally and arguably should be above that since it's an English class. Science fair projects are extremely limited unless you have access to a lab/advisor elsewhere, and some science class lessons seem to be at a level (drawings included) that an elementary school class would be taught at. Math lessons are rushed because there are multiple kids that need in-class remediation and subsequent tests are not graded for weeks. Plus they're talking of getting rid of AP classes with no comparable substitution being suggested.

Anyone who is arguing otherwise probably doesn't have a kid who constantly faces these issues. At some point, taglines such as self-motivation, independence, and self-directed learning becomes demotivating and demeaning if you have to constantly ask teachers for what feels like a favor each time for more stimulating and rigorous assignments, also knowing that you'll be turned away more often than not. HB has its merits as an inviting place with no real bullying and mostly nice teachers; however, coupled with examples such as above and with its lax policy on cellphones, attendance, open campus, etc., it doesn't fit the bill of being an academically focused school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw the colleges the grads of HB went to last year and I wasn't super impressed. Are we sure it is a good school?

Something like 97% of the kids who go to HB go to college, which is way higher than the other schools. That is the metric, not which schools.

[Anonymous]

To the above PP, I’m sorry that’s been your kid’s experience. It’s not consistent with what my kid encountered. Good thing it’s a choice, I guess. I take it yours has withdrawn given your concerns? Or have you talked admin? My HB student really liked and trusted the principal.

I agree feedback on written work is limited in high school, but I saw that in other APS schools too. I blame the School Board/superintendent. we reap what we sow when there are 35 kids per English class like some sections at certain high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw the colleges the grads of HB went to last year and I wasn't super impressed. Are we sure it is a good school?

No you didn’t. APS does not publish this data anywhere and, apparently, does not even track it. (Which is insane to me). Arlington Magazine publishes a list of acceptances by high school, which is absolutely different from matriculation days. For example, one kid who gets in to Harvard (and thus unsurprisingly gets into Dartmouth and Michigan and UVA) shows up four time: one acceptance at each school. This metric makes it incredible difficult to track actual college outcome results. I’m told that many students do not end up reporting to APS where they matriculate. The best you can do is scour insta posts but those are entirely self reported and highly inaccurate. And you have to be a total crazy person. Accordingly, you have no idea what the “colleges HB grads went to last year.”