Staying put at Jackson Reed HS or committing to Bishop Ireton

[Anonymous]

I am feeling a little undecided. My DS attends Jackson Reed HS but we are out of bounds for this school. We got in Jackson Reed through the elementary school DC lottery feeder schools ( which allow you to follow that elementary school pathway through high school). Which means if he leave Jackson Reed he can’t go back there because of the difficulty to get in. My DD was accepted at Bishop Ireton (not in an entry year) because he wanted to go there because of the academics and their basketball program which he played at his school now and is very good. The problem is he changed his mind because he feel he want to just stay where he is because of his basketball team and his friends. I’d rather him just go to BI and in most cases my DS is a chilled kid and would just deal with my choice and adjust. Question is what should I do listen to him and he later regrets it or make the choice for him because it’s not just about basketball it’s also about academics as well?

[Anonymous]

What grade is he in? Is he on the JR basketball team? What specifically did he/you like better about the academics at BI?

In general in high school, I would respect my kid's decision unless there was a really clear, objective reason not to.

[Anonymous]

Let your kid make the final decision and then support his decision.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, I don’t think the academics at BI are materially better than at Jackson-Reed. I know you said you were out of zone, but where do you live? Is the commute to Alexandria an issue? Good luck.

[Anonymous]

BI is a fairly conservative Catholic school especially given the Arch Di of Arlington. Is your son prepared for that? My kids attended Holy Trinity (a Jesuit Parish) and have had trouble adjusting to the politics of St. Johns, which is definitely more "liberal" than BI.

[Anonymous]

It’s a tough choice. If he doesn’t like the new school he’ll blame you for making him change and since you can’t go back to JR that would make it even tougher. What specifically about the academics at BI do you prefer? Is DC currently doing any AP classes at JR? Is he pushing himself academically or does he need more support? These are questions that will help you decide.

[Anonymous]

The basketball team comment is throwing me. JR usually has a very strong basketball team while BI doesn’t.

Is the thinking your kid will get playing time at BI vs JR?

[Anonymous]

If you REALLY want him to have a catholic education (which would be partial at best by joining for just 10th-12th), then move. But to commute somewhere that has fewer academic options seems unnecessary if your kid isn't 1000% on board. Ireton isn't known for its academics. It may have a less chaotic environment, but it's not more rigorous and doesn't lead to better college outcomes. I'm not saying it's a worse school! But it doesn't have anything JR has. If you were going the opposite way, I'd understand more.

[Anonymous]

What is the academic issue? If you want him to learn more or get better grades at JR, hire a tutor.

[Anonymous]

If the DS is actually a DD based on the typo in your OP, BI's girls team is really good and usually has good results for college recruiting. But if there's no preference for playing in college or if DS is actually a DS, it might not be worth the time and effort to commute from DC, especially just for the academics.

--BI parent whose kids love the school but they've been frustrated with the unevenness of the teaching the last few years in a few departments. (It's a nice school though: comfortable, safe, usually calm, smaller than public but big enough that there's a social group for everyone.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let your kid make the final decision and then support his decision.

This. My parents let me switch high schools after my sophomore year. Best thing I've ever done.

[Anonymous]

Is JR a good school?

[Anonymous]

I’d definitely stay at JR for the basketball team. 🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, I don’t think the academics at BI are materially better than at Jackson-Reed. I know you said you were out of zone, but where do you live? Is the commute to Alexandria an issue? Good luck.

If he takes honors classes most are MUCH more challenging and demanding than area publics, including honors at publics. Less so w/ APs which are more equal across the board

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, I don’t think the academics at BI are materially better than at Jackson-Reed. I know you said you were out of zone, but where do you live? Is the commute to Alexandria an issue? Good luck.

If he takes honors classes most are MUCH more challenging and demanding than area publics, including honors at publics. Less so w/ APs which are more equal across the board

Is BI known to be more rigorous than the other WCAC schools?