Yorktown VS Washington liberty non-IB

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure where you are moving from but all of NOVA can be a lot more intense academically than other areas of the country. DC has had friends who transferred thinking they were advanced only to now have peers taking math a year or two beyond what is them.

All of the schools prepare kids for college. All three already have multiple kids going to Ivys next year. They will all have tons of UVA, JMU and VT. They all work to send the kids to college - some may feel too much so!! The difference in Arlington is about culture and feel.

Arlington is no where near as academically intense as FCPS or MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I believe a lot of that pressure comes from the anxiety and pressure WL parents knowingly or unwittingly put on their kids who feel they have to meet very high expectations of their parents. Then because the kids seem to be handling it and having fun with their teammates etc., the parents assume the kids aren't overly stressed and doing just fine.

W-L parent here of a current full-IB senior. I am likely guilty of this. On the one hand, you don't want your kid to be stressed out. On the other hand, you want them to do as well as they can. In my kid's case, he's shown himself capable of getting excellent grades while taking a challenging course load, and spending 20-25 hours a week on an extra-curricular activity (sport) that he loves. I know he needs more downtime (and more sleep!), so I try to encourage that when he can make that work, but its hard. Not sure what the right answer is here.

It is hard. Just keep making sure your kid knows you're fine if he wants or needs to scale back.
It would be great if a lot more parents recognized this for themselves as you do. People are so dumbstruck by how many teens are suffering from anxiety and they don't seem to understand why or how they may be contributing to it.

Yes!! Its a hard balance and good for you, and everyone that can realize it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure where you are moving from but all of NOVA can be a lot more intense academically than other areas of the country. DC has had friends who transferred thinking they were advanced only to now have peers taking math a year or two beyond what is them.

All of the schools prepare kids for college. All three already have multiple kids going to Ivys next year. They will all have tons of UVA, JMU and VT. They all work to send the kids to college - some may feel too much so!! The difference in Arlington is about culture and feel.

Arlington is no where near as academically intense as FCPS or MCPS.

Was this the conversation? Why are you trolling an APS convo?

[Anonymous]

Hi OP. Let’s get this back on track. My kid is a freshman IB transfer to W-L and is really liking it. Having watched older sib do virtual tours for college, we surfed the internet for pictures and videos featuring W-L and then we drove around the school and surrounding neighborhood a few times to tour. DC was kinda adorable, texting pics of the school and grounds to a friend also considering a transfer but who didn’t get to “tour”. Teachers did a good job helping DC adjust and make new friends. PE teacher especially was amazing - many friendships formed in that class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's group was split between the two schools. Academics seem comparable. WL has a little more school spirit. It also has trailers, something YHS doesn't. Drugs aren't more prominent at either one. It depends upon the circles.

Trailers will go away once they open addition next year, which will free up some of the campus space.