HB Woodlawn HS questions

[Anonymous]

I know I am incredibly lucky - my kid got into HB for 9th. Anyone able to answer a few qs?

He wants to do a fall sport at the neighborhood high school. How does that work? I read there are sports buses that leave early but do they go to each school? Do the kids just miss that class every day?

Is there still a shadow day- and is it in the next week or so since we only have 14 days to decide?

Is it still true that there are no intensified classes- and AP classes are co-taught with non-AP?

Kid isn’t sold on the school despite being excited about it before - we’d be crazy not to try it right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know I am incredibly lucky - my kid got into HB for 9th. Anyone able to answer a few qs?

He wants to do a fall sport at the neighborhood high school. How does that work? I read there are sports buses that leave early but do they go to each school? Do the kids just miss that class every day?

Is there still a shadow day- and is it in the next week or so since we only have 14 days to decide?

Is it still true that there are no intensified classes- and AP classes are co-taught with non-AP?

Kid isn’t sold on the school despite being excited about it before - we’d be crazy not to try it right?

If he's not interested, there may be a student on the waitlist who is a better fit for the unique program. I wouldn't just go because you beat the odds. That said, HB students can easily transfer back to their neighborhood high school. It's not uncommon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know I am incredibly lucky - my kid got into HB for 9th. Anyone able to answer a few qs?

He wants to do a fall sport at the neighborhood high school. How does that work? I read there are sports buses that leave early but do they go to each school? Do the kids just miss that class every day?

Is there still a shadow day- and is it in the next week or so since we only have 14 days to decide?

Is it still true that there are no intensified classes- and AP classes are co-taught with non-AP?

Kid isn’t sold on the school despite being excited about it before - we’d be crazy not to try it right?

If he's not interested, there may be a student on the waitlist who is a better fit for the unique program. I wouldn't just go because you beat the odds. That said, HB students can easily transfer back to their neighborhood high school. It's not uncommon.

Thanks but I think it’s just that he doesn’t know anyone else going at this point. And I realize I had questions too. I don’t know how any kid could be 100 percent certain it’s the right place for them since they haven’t gone to school there.

[Anonymous]

i believe the kids who do a high school sport arrange their schedules so that the last block/period of the day is free and there is a sports bus that runs to each high school.

My kid got in for middle school a few years ago and they had a shadow day. I’m pretty sure they do it for high school too. you should get an email from HB soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know I am incredibly lucky - my kid got into HB for 9th. Anyone able to answer a few qs?

He wants to do a fall sport at the neighborhood high school. How does that work? I read there are sports buses that leave early but do they go to each school? Do the kids just miss that class every day?

Is there still a shadow day- and is it in the next week or so since we only have 14 days to decide?

Is it still true that there are no intensified classes- and AP classes are co-taught with non-AP?

Kid isn’t sold on the school despite being excited about it before - we’d be crazy not to try it right?

If he's not interested, there may be a student on the waitlist who is a better fit for the unique program. I wouldn't just go because you beat the odds. That said, HB students can easily transfer back to their neighborhood high school. It's not uncommon.

Just stop. There are lots of different "types" of kids who thrive at HB. And it's reasonable to still have questions even if you've done your research before the lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know I am incredibly lucky - my kid got into HB for 9th. Anyone able to answer a few qs?

yes, HB parent here - happy to help!

He wants to do a fall sport at the neighborhood high school. How does that work? I read there are sports buses that leave early but do they go to each school? Do the kids just miss that class every day?

My kid doesn't do a sport but many do. Pretty sure you arrange your schedule to not have a class in the last block then take the bus to the HS for the sport. This is pretty easy to do. A lot of kids don't have a class that last block anyways. You are not giving up much because HB has an extra class period compared to the other high schools.

Is there still a shadow day- and is it in the next week or so since we only have 14 days to decide?

My kid got in in middle school and there was one for that. Pretty sure they have one for HS too but you will need to check with HB on that.

Is it still true that there are no intensified classes- and AP classes are co-taught with non-AP?

There are intensified math classes, no other intensified classes. It's regular or AP. And there is one DE class (Multivariable Calc).

Still my kid - who took lots of APs - never complained of not being challenged in regular classes somehow. HB classes move faster than regular classes in other high schools because they have to cover more material in less time. That's because HB has one more class than other schools so all classes have less time and need to move faster. This isn't ideal for AP classes though. Sometimes they had to rush to finish material or had no time to do any review.

Some AP classes are taught together with non AP. This is not ideal. Not all of them though.

Kid isn’t sold on the school despite being excited about it before - we’d be crazy not to try it right?

I can't answer this for your kid. For starters, go to the tour day and see what he thinks. He will probably either love it or hate it. It's definitely a different vibe. Also the prospectives on the tour are called muffins and their hosts are called bakers. The admin tries to get the kids to not use these terms but it's been an HB thing for a long time and it sticks. Just one of many little HB things.

HB is a very nice place but it's not for all kids either. If it's important to your kid to be part of a big school sports culture and go to school with his teammates, he might like YHS/WL/WHS better.

[Anonymous]

https://hbwoodlawn.apsva.us/post/admitted-students/

[Anonymous]

Thanks HB parent for the answers! A few more qs-

How do kids “arrange” their schedules for sports? Do you tell the school in advance that’s what you’re considering? What do you mean they have one more class? Online it said they take 7 classes just like anywhere else?

How does the paired AP/non-AP class work? Seems really tricky.

Do HB kids tend to go to football games/homecoming/activities at their local HS? Does it have traditions like that, especially for seniors?

Can kids really pick any staff member to be their adviser? How often do they meet?

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

What sport does your child play

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks HB parent for the answers! A few more qs-

How do kids “arrange” their schedules for sports? Do you tell the school in advance that’s what you’re considering? What do you mean they have one more class? Online it said they take 7 classes just like anywhere else?

No there are 8 blocks (class periods are called blocks and they go through H) but they have a rotating schedule where only 7 blocks meet each day. H is a popular free block even for non athletes. This is my understanding of the schedule at least. I find it very confusing with the daily changes but the kids seem to get it.

My kid never did sports so you will have to get direct information elsewhere. But in general the kids self select their schedule and sign up themselves like they do in college with priority for older grades. If you can’t get the schedule you need, you go to admin for help. No idea how they do this for incoming new 9th students since my kid was already there for middle school.



How does the paired AP/non-AP class work? Seems really tricky.

Your kid will get better info from talking to students since I only get limited info from my own kid. From what I can tell sometimes there are different assignments like different books for AP and non AP in the English classes. I agree it seems very tricky and far from ideal. Also there are fewer AP classes offered and far fewer electives. HB doesn’t even have drivers ed.

Do HB kids tend to go to football games/homecoming/activities at their local HS? Does it have traditions like that, especially for seniors?

My kid didn’t but maybe others do, idk. HB has its own traditions but not traditional high school homecoming or pep rally type of stuff. They have quirky unique traditions.

Can kids really pick any staff member to be their adviser? How often do they meet?

They rank their choices then get assigned one. I think TA meets a couple times a week but kids don’t always go.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Incoming 6th grader- how do the buses work? Are they picked up at local schools? How far in advance? I’m guessing 6-12 take the same bus? Can you share what time your pickup is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Incoming 6th grader- how do the buses work? Are they picked up at local schools? How far in advance? I’m guessing 6-12 take the same bus? Can you share what time your pickup is?

Yes 6-12 take the same bus, although seniors often drive so IDK how many actually take the bus. They use hub stops, which I think are within 1.5 miles of everyone. They try to use central locations for bus stops, so some are schools but others are community centers or parks. Kid's pickup is about 40 minutes before school starts. I think the bus ride is about 30 minutes give or take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks HB parent for the answers! A few more qs-

How do kids “arrange” their schedules for sports? Do you tell the school in advance that’s what you’re considering? What do you mean they have one more class? Online it said they take 7 classes just like anywhere else?

How does the paired AP/non-AP class work? Seems really tricky.

Do HB kids tend to go to football games/homecoming/activities at their local HS? Does it have traditions like that, especially for seniors?

Can kids really pick any staff member to be their adviser? How often do they meet?

Thank you!

My DD recently graduated from HB and lotteried in in 9th grade. Vanessa in the office can probably answer a lot of your questions.

I don’t know the answer to your first question since she didn’t play a sport, but lots of other kids did so it’s possible.

I don’t recall that there were blended AP/non AP classes. Maybe for foreign languages? But perhaps that has changed.

My DD did not attend her home schools games or dances except maybe once or twice with middle school friends. Some kids seemed to do so more often, particularly those that did sports at their home school. HB has plenty of its own traditions and activities. In addition to HoCo, spring fling and prom there are all sorts of other traditions and activities.

Yes, kids pick their advisors. They can also choose to switch. My DD’s advisor was fantastic and was a great influence in her life. Some kids have far less close relationships. Just depends on what you want.

Freshman fall was very challenging socially but my DD ended up loving her time at HB. She also kept up some non-HB friendships, but had to make an effort to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks HB parent for the answers! A few more qs-

How do kids “arrange” their schedules for sports? Do you tell the school in advance that’s what you’re considering? What do you mean they have one more class? Online it said they take 7 classes just like anywhere else?

How does the paired AP/non-AP class work? Seems really tricky.

Do HB kids tend to go to football games/homecoming/activities at their local HS? Does it have traditions like that, especially for seniors?

Can kids really pick any staff member to be their adviser? How often do they meet?

Thank you!

My DD recently graduated from HB and lotteried in in 9th grade. Vanessa in the office can probably answer a lot of your questions.

I don’t know the answer to your first question since she didn’t play a sport, but lots of other kids did so it’s possible.

I don’t recall that there were blended AP/non AP classes. Maybe for foreign languages? But perhaps that has changed.

My DD did not attend her home schools games or dances except maybe once or twice with middle school friends. Some kids seemed to do so more often, particularly those that did sports at their home school. HB has plenty of its own traditions and activities. In addition to HoCo, spring fling and prom there are all sorts of other traditions and activities.

Yes, kids pick their advisors. They can also choose to switch. My DD’s advisor was fantastic and was a great influence in her life. Some kids have far less close relationships. Just depends on what you want.

Freshman fall was very challenging socially but my DD ended up loving her time at HB. She also kept up some non-HB friendships, but had to make an effort to do so.

Some of this info is wrong. There is no HoCo at HB. There is a fall dance but it's not a "homecoming" dance. There is no homecoming at HB. There is just one sport - ultimate.

Yes there are blended AP and non AP classes currently. Two examples are AP Lit and Lang.

Kids get some choice in their advisors but they do not get to completely pick. They get to rank their choices up to 4-5. Then HB admin selects for them amongst that group. My kid didn't get their top choice.

Also just go to the parent meeting where they will answer your questions instead of bugging the office staff.

[Anonymous]

HB kids can go to home school for any after school activity? Not just sports?