Is it better to go to Vienna vs. McLean schools

[Anonymous]

Hi, I’m looking to purchase a home either in McLean or Vienna. For purposes of AAP and beyond (college acceptances etc) does it really matter which school district my kid attends. Considering Langley or McLean High in McLean and Madison and Oakton High in Vienna. Is AAP any different or harder?

[Anonymous]

They are all in Fairfax County Public Schools, so they are all in the same school district.

All of the schools you mentioned are good and have similar offerings.

You should not just assume your child will get into AAP if you live in any of these areas. AAP is the same curriculum in any AAP Level 4 local program or center. However, it can be very hard to get into from some elementary schools, kids with great stats are rejected every year from schools in these areas.

[Anonymous]

The higher the income neighborhood, the harder to go in. Also, try to NOT go to a center school. Easier to get in.

[Anonymous]

Mclean has better schools for AAP.

[Anonymous]

They're both great places to live and have excellent schools. Just my 2 cents, but I don't think there's a big difference at the elementary school level at all. From what I can tell the high schools are also comparable. However, one thing I've learned is that the two years of middle school can be quite different between the Vienna schools (Thoreau/Jackson/Kilmer) and the McLean schools (Longfellow/Cooper). Not so much in terms of the classes themselves, but things like Science Olympiad are much more competitive and serious at the McLean schools, which seems to have its good and bad sides, as you would expect. This also has potentially complex implications if you're interested in TJ as a high school option...

[Anonymous]

Langley is rated over Oakton which is rated over McLean which is rated over Madison for DC metro schools by USNews & World. We moved to McLean so our DD could attend Langley

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Langley is rated over Oakton which is rated over McLean which is rated over Madison for DC metro schools by USNews & World. We moved to McLean so our DD could attend Langley

Asian?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Langley is rated over Oakton which is rated over McLean which is rated over Madison for DC metro schools by USNews & World. We moved to McLean so our DD could attend Langley

Asian?

Indian

[Anonymous]

This is very simple decision.

On a tiger parent level of 1 (low tigerness) to 10 (max tigerness).

Go to McLean/Longfellow if you are in the 9 or 10. Else you would find yourself super stressed. Be ready to do all the things a tiger parent at level 9 or 10 would do.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, no. It doesn’t really matter the way people think it does.

AAP Level IV is the same across FCPS. Same curriculum, same eligibility, same expectations. It’s not “harder” or more impressive in McLean/Langley than in Vienna.

The bigger difference is parent culture, not academics. Some areas have more test prep and pressure, which makes it feel more competitive, but the instruction itself isn’t meaningfully different.

As for high school, Langley, McLean, Madison, and Oakton all send kids to top colleges every year. Colleges review students in the context of their own school, and being in AAP or a specific pyramid doesn’t give an edge on applications.

Bottom line: pick the area that works best for your family and your kid. From an AAP and college standpoint, they’re all excellent and essentially equivalent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The higher the income neighborhood, the harder to go in. Also, try to NOT go to a center school. Easier to get in.

Disagree with the advice to not move to the center. Yes it feels awful to not get in AAP but at least your kid is rubbing elbows with a big pool of AAP kids at recess, lunch, etc. this may lead to friendships with bright kids, and better potential dating pool if your kid is into that (ie: if your kid has a pulse).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, no. It doesn’t really matter the way people think it does.

AAP Level IV is the same across FCPS. Same curriculum, same eligibility, same expectations. It’s not “harder” or more impressive in McLean/Langley than in Vienna.

The bigger difference is parent culture, not academics. Some areas have more test prep and pressure, which makes it feel more competitive, but the instruction itself isn’t meaningfully different.

As for high school, Langley, McLean, Madison, and Oakton all send kids to top colleges every year. Colleges review students in the context of their own school, and being in AAP or a specific pyramid doesn’t give an edge on applications.

Bottom line: pick the area that works best for your family and your kid. From an AAP and college standpoint, they’re all excellent and essentially equivalent.

All of the HSs in FCPS send kids to the top colleges. Langley, McLean, and Oakton send more but that is due to things like parents who can afford to pay for those colleges, parents who are aware of those colleges, and parents who have spent their lives making sure that their kids know that those are the colleges to aim for. Schools wiht higher FARMS rates send fewer kids because there have been fewer kids guided down the path needed to get into those colleges. The ones who go tend to be UMC families at that school, which was partially selected because there would be less competition applying from those schools. Welcome to Northern Virginia.

[Anonymous]

There are huge differences in sports competitiveness and it varies by sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The higher the income neighborhood, the harder to go in. Also, try to NOT go to a center school. Easier to get in.

Disagree with the advice to not move to the center. Yes it feels awful to not get in AAP but at least your kid is rubbing elbows with a big pool of AAP kids at recess, lunch, etc. this may lead to friendships with bright kids, and better potential dating pool if your kid is into that (ie: if your kid has a pulse).

Kids aren’t dating until high school or college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The higher the income neighborhood, the harder to go in. Also, try to NOT go to a center school. Easier to get in.

Disagree with the advice to not move to the center. Yes it feels awful to not get in AAP but at least your kid is rubbing elbows with a big pool of AAP kids at recess, lunch, etc. this may lead to friendships with bright kids, and better potential dating pool if your kid is into that (ie: if your kid has a pulse).

Kids aren’t dating until high school or college.

Don't we all wish that were the case.....