Top High Schools in VA 2020 - US News

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My very motivated dd went from a 1010 psat to a 1320 sat. No tutors, just workbooks, khan academy and schedules she made herself.

My very unmotivated kid went up 100 points with just cursory review of an SAT practice book while being nagged by his mom. OH, yes, the second SAT was the morning after Homecoming and the Homecoming Dance, which he enjoyed.

Studies show that practice tests are the most effective way to improve score. That's what they mostly do in the classes.

My DD went from 1210 (PSATs) to 1400 with no studying. No prep. Nothing. That was good enough for her; she will be at W & M next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lake Braddock is #26. What the hell!

+1

And Robinson?

C'mon

Robinson was #18 in the state. With over 330 schools in VA considered, that's very good.

The WS, LB and Robinson pyramids are the "Goldilocks" pyramids in FCPS. They are pyramids where parents often assert the schools are just right - full academic programs, but not too much pressure; not very AAP/TJ/ratings-focused; and some diversity but not so many ESOL/FARMS kids that the schools overlook students who don't fall in those categories.

If this true, the solid assessments of those schools by US News (## 7, 18, and 26 in the state) should make them happy, before they forget about them altogether.

[Anonymous]

This thread just highlights how some parents live vicariously through their kids/derive self-esteem from academic/sports’ rankings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the %age of Asian-Americans in the state and what is the %age in these schools? I think three things determine how good the schools will perform in a very oversimplified way. You can usually find 1 and 3 in school reports. Not easy to finde
1) SES (FARMS students belong in low SES households)
2) Parents education level (Or better still - Mom's education level)
3) %age of Asian-Americans

Stuyvesant is heavily Asian but also heavily FARMS/low SES with mothers with low educational attainment.

[Anonymous]

In a big county or metro area, it's helpful to have third-party rankings to get a handle on which schools are the strongest. Sometimes the school systems themselves don't want to let you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In a big county or metro area, it's helpful to have third-party rankings to get a handle on which schools are the strongest. Sometimes the school systems themselves don't want to let you know.

It is useful, yes. But, there is no way to ensure your child will get to TJ...Non magnet, sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the %age of Asian-Americans in the state and what is the %age in these schools? I think three things determine how good the schools will perform in a very oversimplified way. You can usually find 1 and 3 in school reports. Not easy to finde
1) SES (FARMS students belong in low SES households)
2) Parents education level (Or better still - Mom's education level)
3) %age of Asian-Americans

Stuyvesant is heavily Asian but also heavily FARMS/low SES with mothers with low educational attainment.

The interesting thing about Stuyvesant, Bronx Science and the rest, is that the same low SES Asian families also spend the money on outside private schooling. This is largely because of the legacy of the Chinese Imperial Examination system, that was entirely meritocratic and existed in Korea and Vietnam as well. Anyone from any class could sit for those exams and gain government employment. Its rather interesting from a cultural perspective that its legacy still is present today after existing for around 2,000 years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_examination