Flint Hill Vs. Cooper/Langley

[sunshine237]

My rising 7th grader is currently in the AAP program in the Langley triangle. We are hearing a lot of instances of bullying and other social infractions at Cooper which made us look at Flint Hill. What are the key differences between these schools to consider? Of course, fees and class size is a given. However, are the schools comparable in other areas, including academics, rigor, global curriculum? Langley's course offerings including AP and IB options look comparable to FH upper school offering, however, is the admit to IVY and top schools comparable? Since both Cooper and Langley recently renovated their buildings, do they have newer technology?

[Anonymous]

sunshine237 wrote:My rising 7th grader is currently in the AAP program in the Langley triangle. We are hearing a lot of instances of bullying and other social infractions at Cooper which made us look at Flint Hill. What are the key differences between these schools to consider? Of course, fees and class size is a given. However, are the schools comparable in other areas, including academics, rigor, global curriculum? Langley's course offerings including AP and IB options look comparable to FH upper school offering, however, is the admit to IVY and top schools comparable? Since both Cooper and Langley recently renovated their buildings, do they have newer technology?

College placements out of Langley will be better than out of Flint Hill, although Langley only has AP (not IB).

I'd go with Flint Hill if my kid were struggling academically at Cooper, but middle school kind of sucks everywhere, and Langley has a lot to offer for a public high school.

[sunshine237]

Anonymous wrote:

sunshine237 wrote:My rising 7th grader is currently in the AAP program in the Langley triangle. We are hearing a lot of instances of bullying and other social infractions at Cooper which made us look at Flint Hill. What are the key differences between these schools to consider? Of course, fees and class size is a given. However, are the schools comparable in other areas, including academics, rigor, global curriculum? Langley's course offerings including AP and IB options look comparable to FH upper school offering, however, is the admit to IVY and top schools comparable? Since both Cooper and Langley recently renovated their buildings, do they have newer technology?

College placements out of Langley will be better than out of Flint Hill, although Langley only has AP (not IB).

I'd go with Flint Hill if my kid were struggling academically at Cooper, but middle school kind of sucks everywhere, and Langley has a lot to offer for a public high school.

Thanks. I would think that college placements will be harder at Langley, because of a competitive student body? Also, there is better college counselling at Flint Hill that starts at 9th grade? Is that incorrect?

[Anonymous]

This is the FCPS thread. If you want information about Flint Hill, go to the private school thread.

[Anonymous]

I have a child at Cooper and I’m not aware of any kind of bullying that makes it stand out from any other middle school. The school is terrific and the staff is supportive. If your child is being bullied, he/she can seek help from the staff if they are unable to advocate for his/herself. Middle school is scary no matter where you are — particularly for girls. If you shield your child from all potential injustices, you are potentially preventing them from learning how to navigate injustice in their adult life.

[Anonymous]

Cooper has been fantastic for my shy child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a child at Cooper and I’m not aware of any kind of bullying that makes it stand out from any other middle school. The school is terrific and the staff is supportive. If your child is being bullied, he/she can seek help from the staff if they are unable to advocate for his/herself. Middle school is scary no matter where you are — particularly for girls. If you shield your child from all potential injustices, you are potentially preventing them from learning how to navigate injustice in their adult life.

I agree - I'm not aware of anything at Cooper; Most of the kids just want to get good grades - I've heard the social circle respects the academically superior.

As per:

Anonymous wrote:If you shield your child from all potential injustices, you are potentially preventing them from learning how to navigate injustice in their adult life.

I think it depends on the injustice - I went through Herndon Middle with kids carrying knives that constantly threatened others. I've heard of stories where girls were harassed to the point of suicide. This is not a time to teach life lessons - this is a time to intervene. The child's mind will stop growing under stress not just academically but also emotionally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child at Cooper and I’m not aware of any kind of bullying that makes it stand out from any other middle school. The school is terrific and the staff is supportive. If your child is being bullied, he/she can seek help from the staff if they are unable to advocate for his/herself. Middle school is scary no matter where you are — particularly for girls. If you shield your child from all potential injustices, you are potentially preventing them from learning how to navigate injustice in their adult life.

I agree - I'm not aware of anything at Cooper; Most of the kids just want to get good grades - I've heard the social circle respects the academically superior.

As per:

Anonymous wrote:If you shield your child from all potential injustices, you are potentially preventing them from learning how to navigate injustice in their adult life.

I think it depends on the injustice - I went through Herndon Middle with kids carrying knives that constantly threatened others. I've heard of stories where girls were harassed to the point of suicide. This is not a time to teach life lessons - this is a time to intervene. The child's mind will stop growing under stress not just academically but also emotionally.

I agree it depends on the type of injustice, but I have found Cooper to be very supportive of the students. My own child has a ton of anxiety, and Cooper has been wonderful in shepherding him through middle school. He is ready for high school -- something we weren't sure he would be ready for, but he is!

[Anonymous]

7th and 8th grades are difficult no matter where your child attends. If you think your child is particularly vulnerable s smaller school for those years may be the answer. You can always go to back for HS when kids settle down a bit and become more inward facing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child at Cooper and I’m not aware of any kind of bullying that makes it stand out from any other middle school. The school is terrific and the staff is supportive. If your child is being bullied, he/she can seek help from the staff if they are unable to advocate for his/herself. Middle school is scary no matter where you are — particularly for girls. If you shield your child from all potential injustices, you are potentially preventing them from learning how to navigate injustice in their adult life.

I agree - I'm not aware of anything at Cooper; Most of the kids just want to get good grades - I've heard the social circle respects the academically superior.

As per:

Anonymous wrote:If you shield your child from all potential injustices, you are potentially preventing them from learning how to navigate injustice in their adult life.

I think it depends on the injustice - I went through Herndon Middle with kids carrying knives that constantly threatened others. I've heard of stories where girls were harassed to the point of suicide. This is not a time to teach life lessons - this is a time to intervene. The child's mind will stop growing under stress not just academically but also emotionally.

I agree it depends on the type of injustice, but I have found Cooper to be very supportive of the students. My own child has a ton of anxiety, and Cooper has been wonderful in shepherding him through middle school. He is ready for high school -- something we weren't sure he would be ready for, but he is!

NP. Agree 100%.

[Anonymous]

For most/all local public HSs and privates, the Ivy and t25 college admissions are driven by legacy status, musical/athletic hooks, and non-academic factors.

Both Langley HS and FH will be fine academically. For a student with no hooks, t20 and Ivy admissions will be a dice roll in both cases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For most/all local public HSs and privates, the Ivy and t25 college admissions are driven by legacy status, musical/athletic hooks, and non-academic factors.

Both Langley HS and FH will be fine academically. For a student with no hooks, t20 and Ivy admissions will be a dice roll in both cases.

Disagree. It's just that there are a lot of kids as academically accomplished as the typical somewhat above-average Langley kid. The parents only want their kids to be around other high-performing kids from wealthy families, and then they are surprised when it turns out there's a lot of competition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:7th and 8th grades are difficult no matter where your child attends. If you think your child is particularly vulnerable s smaller school for those years may be the answer. You can always go to back for HS when kids settle down a bit and become more inward facing.

Related question. We switched our kid to parochial middle because there was lots of teasing/bullying in public ES with the plans of switching back to public for HS ? The middle school is definitely a better experience so far for our DD. Has anyone done this? We’re thry able to assimilate into HS?