Woodson and West Springfield High School

[Anonymous]

Are they similar to each other? Can anyone speak one way about either of the schools? Are the teachers supportive? Thank you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are they similar to each other? Can anyone speak one way about either of the schools? Are the teachers supportive? Thank you

Generally they are similar. Woodson is more academically focused and has a significant (for NoVa) number of Jewish students. West Springfield has a larger military presence and the housing is less expensive. Another reason why the Woodson pyramid is stronger academically is that the feeder middle school (Frost) is an AAP center, while the feeder middle school to West Springfield (Irving) is not.

[Anonymous]

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

They are similar. West Springfield is more middle class, Woodson is more pressure cooker, but these differences are really small. Basically, they are both good suburban high schools with lots of options for classes and friend groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are similar. West Springfield is more middle class, Woodson is more pressure cooker, but these differences are really small. Basically, they are both good suburban high schools with lots of options for classes and friend groups.

The term "pressure cooker" is a trope used by parents to try and disparage other schools with more high-performing kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are similar. West Springfield is more middle class, Woodson is more pressure cooker, but these differences are really small. Basically, they are both good suburban high schools with lots of options for classes and friend groups.

The term "pressure cooker" is a trope used by parents to try and disparage other schools with more high-performing kids.

No, it refers to something else.

[Anonymous]

OP here, I'm glad to hear about the different choices for friend groups. High school can be clicky by nature and I'm glad that there can be some relief for that. I am aware about woodson and the academic pressure, I'm sure you would find the same in a lot of high schools. I'm concerned about my child being in a friendly environment, and not in a hyper competitive one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are similar. West Springfield is more middle class, Woodson is more pressure cooker, but these differences are really small. Basically, they are both good suburban high schools with lots of options for classes and friend groups.

The term "pressure cooker" is a trope used by parents to try and disparage other schools with more high-performing kids.

Weren't there a number of suicides amongst Woodson students a few years back bc of the pressure cooker atmosphere?


No, it refers to something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are similar. West Springfield is more middle class, Woodson is more pressure cooker, but these differences are really small. Basically, they are both good suburban high schools with lots of options for classes and friend groups.

The term "pressure cooker" is a trope used by parents to try and disparage other schools with more high-performing kids.

No, it refers to something else.

Weren't there a number of suicides amongst Woodson students a few years back bc of the pressure cooker atmosphere?

[Anonymous]

There was a few in a row about 10 years ago, it was very sad. What I heard was it wasn't so much from administration or teachers but from the families. They have the administrator retire early although I have heard that none of this came from him or directives toward the staff. Since then it seems to be a very concerted effort there to make sure that the teachers are aware of the stress level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I'm glad to hear about the different choices for friend groups. High school can be clicky by nature and I'm glad that there can be some relief for that. I am aware about woodson and the academic pressure, I'm sure you would find the same in a lot of high schools. I'm concerned about my child being in a friendly environment, and not in a hyper competitive one.

We are leaving FCPS this summer for that reason. Everything is hyper competitive—sports, music, drama, academics. If this is truly your goal, then I would pause. I’ve taught HS in the county for a long time and really like a lot of things FCPS has, but a laid back atmosphere is not one of them.

If you are set on one of those two schools though, I’d choose WSHS. Woodson is intense (or was when I was teaching there a few years ago).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are similar. West Springfield is more middle class, Woodson is more pressure cooker, but these differences are really small. Basically, they are both good suburban high schools with lots of options for classes and friend groups.

The term "pressure cooker" is a trope used by parents to try and disparage other schools with more high-performing kids.

No, it refers to something else.

Weren't there a number of suicides amongst Woodson students a few years back bc of the pressure cooker atmosphere?

That was almost a decade ago and there have been student suicides at other schools.

Calling Woodson a "pressure cooker" is no more informative than calling West Springfield a "slacker school."

[Anonymous]

I've witnessed a West Springfield parent berate his kid to the point of tears during an athletic contest, and then get ejected from the game for yelling at the referees, so I wouldn't necessarily assume WSHS is a low-key place.

[Anonymous]

We are leaving FCPS this summer for that reason. Everything is hyper competitive—sports, music, drama, academics. If this is truly your goal, then I would pause. I’ve taught HS in the county for a long time and really like a lot of things FCPS has, but a laid back atmosphere is not one of them.

If you are set on one of those two schools though, I’d choose WSHS. Woodson is intense (or was when I was teaching there a few years ago).
I agree about the hyper competitiveness. It seems like if your child didn't start an activity by age 5 they are not ready for any sort of team. Just my observation. Seems like most people do private music lessons so by the time they're in Middle School they are several years ahead where are you moving to? We may be getting out of the insanity here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've witnessed a West Springfield parent berate his kid to the point of tears during an athletic contest, and then get ejected from the game for yelling at the referees, so I wouldn't necessarily assume WSHS is a low-key place.

I wonder if I saw the same thing you're talking about. Was this where the team still won and the parent made his child cry? Heartbreaking.