Are you happy with Thoreau?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there’s a little more. I think Thoreau offers more social connections to Madison and easier grading and easier classes and less homework, nicer facilities and closer (less commute) and less established aap curriculum. Luther offers a better education/more established curriculum and the opposite of most of Thoreau’s benefits (longer commute, harder grading, more homework, old building, etc.). The vast majority are happy with their decisions and over a
Two year period a couple switch each year - that’s it.

Of course, the 75 eighth graders who transferred from LJMS to TMS this year (even though they could have stayed at LJMS with busing) apparently weren't entirely happy. Not sure how many were in AAP vs honors or regular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there’s a little more. I think Thoreau offers more social connections to Madison and easier grading and easier classes and less homework, nicer facilities and closer (less commute) and less established aap curriculum. Luther offers a better education/more established curriculum and the opposite of most of Thoreau’s benefits (longer commute, harder grading, more homework, old building, etc.). The vast majority are happy with their decisions and over a
Two year period a couple switch each year - that’s it.

Of course, the 75 eighth graders who transferred from LJMS to TMS this year (even though they could have stayed at LJMS with busing) apparently weren't entirely happy. Not sure how many were in AAP vs honors or regular.

You, again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there’s a little more. I think Thoreau offers more social connections to Madison and easier grading and easier classes and less homework, nicer facilities and closer (less commute) and less established aap curriculum. Luther offers a better education/more established curriculum and the opposite of most of Thoreau’s benefits (longer commute, harder grading, more homework, old building, etc.). The vast majority are happy with their decisions and over a
Two year period a couple switch each year - that’s it.

So, let's be clear...this is your opinion. And it is not based on any objective evidence. It's really more like urban legend at this point. ( and projected by those who need to denigrate TMS in order to make LJMS look better.)

What PP summarized is accurate. Parents of AAP kids at both schools are satisfied.

Actually, it is a little more than opinion. I have a child at one school and a niece (same grade) at the other school. My sister and I compare assignments, grading, homework, teaching, etc. on a very frequent basis. I have personally seen what is tested in each unit, how it is tested, how frequently it is tested, how it is reviewed, etc., between the schools. I'm not denigrating anything because, as I said, the vast majority are happy with their decision, my niece included. My sister would agree that my niece is not getting as good of an education but she knew that going in and I would agree that my kid will have more difficulties making social connections in 9th grade and I knew that going in. I'm NOT saying one is better than the other because social connections are very important at this age. Thoreau seems like a great school, but from everything I've personally seen, it is a much easier school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there’s a little more. I think Thoreau offers more social connections to Madison and easier grading and easier classes and less homework, nicer facilities and closer (less commute) and less established aap curriculum. Luther offers a better education/more established curriculum and the opposite of most of Thoreau’s benefits (longer commute, harder grading, more homework, old building, etc.). The vast majority are happy with their decisions and over a
Two year period a couple switch each year - that’s it.

Of course, the 75 eighth graders who transferred from LJMS to TMS this year (even though they could have stayed at LJMS with busing) apparently weren't entirely happy. Not sure how many were in AAP vs honors or regular.

You, again?

It is an objective metric. Draw your own conclusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there’s a little more. I think Thoreau offers more social connections to Madison and easier grading and easier classes and less homework, nicer facilities and closer (less commute) and less established aap curriculum. Luther offers a better education/more established curriculum and the opposite of most of Thoreau’s benefits (longer commute, harder grading, more homework, old building, etc.). The vast majority are happy with their decisions and over a
Two year period a couple switch each year - that’s it.

Of course, the 75 eighth graders who transferred from LJMS to TMS this year (even though they could have stayed at LJMS with busing) apparently weren't entirely happy. Not sure how many were in AAP vs honors or regular.

You, again?

It is an objective metric. Draw your own conclusion.

For those new to the game, this person has no child at either school. Draw your own conclusion.

[Anonymous]

We are very happy with Thoreau - our child is in AAP grouped courses and loves her teachers who are engaging and dedicated. She is also taking Algebra I honors which was a tough adjustment but she now does great. We have a choice for our younger child (also in AAP) but we will pick Thoreau without a doubt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Actually, it is a little more than opinion. I have a child at one school and a niece (same grade) at the other school. My sister and I compare assignments, grading, homework, teaching, etc. on a very frequent basis. I have personally seen what is tested in each unit, how it is tested, how frequently it is tested, how it is reviewed, etc., between the schools. I'm not denigrating anything because, as I said, the vast majority are happy with their decision, my niece included. My sister would agree that my niece is not getting as good of an education but she knew that going in and I would agree that my kid will have more difficulties making social connections in 9th grade and I knew that going in. I'm NOT saying one is better than the other because social connections are very important at this age. Thoreau seems like a great school, but from everything I've personally seen, it is a much easier school.

Have you heard from anyone what the high school transition is like? If the Thoreau AAP program is easier, are those kids struggling later, or are they still doing well in the Honors and AP classes in high school?

[Anonymous]

The kids who started in Aap at TMS the first year they offered it are juniors this year. That said, the AP passrates at Madison are and have always been among the highest in the county, si you can connect the dots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there’s a little more. I think Thoreau offers more social connections to Madison and easier grading and easier classes and less homework, nicer facilities and closer (less commute) and less established aap curriculum. Luther offers a better education/more established curriculum and the opposite of most of Thoreau’s benefits (longer commute, harder grading, more homework, old building, etc.). The vast majority are happy with their decisions and over a
Two year period a couple switch each year - that’s it.

Of course, the 75 eighth graders who transferred from LJMS to TMS this year (even though they could have stayed at LJMS with busing) apparently weren't entirely happy. Not sure how many were in AAP vs honors or regular.

You, again?

It is an objective metric. Draw your own conclusion.

For those new to the game, this person has no child at either school. Draw your own conclusion.

The conclusion I draw is that, whenever you don't like a post about LJ, you respond by suggesting there's only one poster with whom you disagree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Actually, it is a little more than opinion. I have a child at one school and a niece (same grade) at the other school. My sister and I compare assignments, grading, homework, teaching, etc. on a very frequent basis. I have personally seen what is tested in each unit, how it is tested, how frequently it is tested, how it is reviewed, etc., between the schools. I'm not denigrating anything because, as I said, the vast majority are happy with their decision, my niece included. My sister would agree that my niece is not getting as good of an education but she knew that going in and I would agree that my kid will have more difficulties making social connections in 9th grade and I knew that going in. I'm NOT saying one is better than the other because social connections are very important at this age. Thoreau seems like a great school, but from everything I've personally seen, it is a much easier school.

Have you heard from anyone what the high school transition is like? If the Thoreau AAP program is easier, are those kids struggling later, or are they still doing well in the Honors and AP classes in high school?

I have heard it as rumors but not first hand so I’m not going to comment on that. Meaning, I don’t personally know kids who attended each school at the same time and now both attend Madison and one struggles and one doesn’t.

[Anonymous]

It's silly to suggest that AAP kids at TMS will struggle in honors or AP classes at Madison or Oakton. Lots of nonAAP kids, kids who just took honors at TMS and they do fine. I have a non AAP kud taking two honors classes at Madison...she isn't struggling, but her grades are proportionate to the effort she applies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's silly to suggest that AAP kids at TMS will struggle in honors or AP classes at Madison or Oakton. Lots of nonAAP kids, kids who just took honors at TMS and they do fine. I have a non AAP kud taking two honors classes at Madison...she isn't struggling, but her grades are proportionate to the effort she applies.

Great point. My son is at Madison and is doing very well. He is not aap but took algebra I honors in 8th grade and just signed up to take AP Calculus AB next year for 12th grade. Right now he has a B+ in pre cal honors Some of his band buddies were in AAP and are on the same track; some taking calc BC. Kid would have taken a total of 8 AP by graduation, including computer science AP, Lang and lit, chemistry, world history? and Physics 1. Some of his friends who did AAP in elementary school have s few more. Some will have a fewer.

My rising 7th grader is in AAP and has a choice but will choose TMS, mainly because it’s close to our house and her friends will attend. I have no doubt she’ll do just as well.

Btw, a lot of the content learned in middle school Science, Soc studies and Eng will be taught again in HS. Foreign Lang and math is a stepping stone to prepare you fir the subsequent HS course, but those classes are more genenersl and not grouped by “AAP” status anyway.

This is an individual choice and different fir each family/child. Do your own thing and stop worrying about the next person. I’m thinking we all love our kids and will make the best choice for us and in our child’s best interest. Arguing is fun, but you’re not going to persuade anyone to do it your way, just because.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's silly to suggest that AAP kids at TMS will struggle in honors or AP classes at Madison or Oakton. Lots of nonAAP kids, kids who just took honors at TMS and they do fine. I have a non AAP kud taking two honors classes at Madison...she isn't struggling, but her grades are proportionate to the effort she applies.

Great point. My son is at Madison and is doing very well. He is not aap but took algebra I honors in 8th grade and just signed up to take AP Calculus AB next year for 12th grade. Right now he has a B+ in pre cal honors Some of his band buddies were in AAP and are on the same track; some taking calc BC. Kid would have taken a total of 8 AP by graduation, including computer science AP, Lang and lit, chemistry, world history? and Physics 1. Some of his friends who did AAP in elementary school have s few more. Some will have a fewer.

My rising 7th grader is in AAP and has a choice but will choose TMS, mainly because it’s close to our house and her friends will attend. I have no doubt she’ll do just as well.

Btw, a lot of the content learned in middle school Science, Soc studies and Eng will be taught again in HS. Foreign Lang and math is a stepping stone to prepare you fir the subsequent HS course, but those classes are more genenersl and not grouped by “AAP” status anyway.

This is an individual choice and different fir each family/child. Do your own thing and stop worrying about the next person. I’m thinking we all love our kids and will make the best choice for us and in our child’s best interest. Arguing is fun, but you’re not going to persuade anyone to do it your way, just because.

Lots of drivvel and didn’t clarify that my kid went to TMS non AAP. Point being he is doing similarly as his band friends that were in AAP (TMS, LJMS, and KMS). So anecdotally it Doesn’t matter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's silly to suggest that AAP kids at TMS will struggle in honors or AP classes at Madison or Oakton. Lots of nonAAP kids, kids who just took honors at TMS and they do fine. I have a non AAP kud taking two honors classes at Madison...she isn't struggling, but her grades are proportionate to the effort she applies.

Nearly everyone - Thoreau parents included - say if tj is the goal, go to lj. Why is that?

[Anonymous]

The academics at LJ are more rigorous (I've seen the comparison first-hand with my two LJ kids and their TMS counterparts) and LJ has solid track record of TJ acceptances (15-20 year), while TMS generally has only a handful of TJ-bound students. Not only does LJ provide a cohort of like-minded peers, but the LJ kids who do go to TJ are very well-prepared to succeed there. I know of a number of TJ students from LJ (including my child) who are among the top-performing students at TJ. In addition, LJ is very well-represented on the lists of National Merit Semifinalists from the Vienna area. LJ simply is outstanding preparation for the challenging curriculum at TJ.