Private or HB Woodlawn in APS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have one in HB and one in private. The one in HB likes it just fine, though probably doesn't take advantage of all it has to offer. The main benefit is the smaller size and closer community feel, plus the administration is great.

If my private schooler had also won the HB lottery, I probably would have switched due to the cost. However, my kid would not have wanted to move, as they love their private school. I do think it has many advantages HB doesn't, such as opportunities to play sports. At HB, you can't have your middle schooler go to their home school for sports. In HS you can arrange it so this is possible, but it takes up a class period. And if you haven't been playing since a young age, it can be very hard to make the team at other APS high schools, whereas at private this is much more accessible, and kid has been able to try out many sports, all at the school (no driving around like rec leagues). Another difference is that HB offers music and arts classes as electives, while at our private, they are built into the curriculum for everyone. For academics, I would say the private emphasizes reading and writing more, but there is less math differentiation (because it's smaller and more individualized for each student vs. having three separate class levels).

Thank you - this is very helpful. Does HBW (or any APS middle schools) have differentiation for math at 3 levels for each grade? That would be na improvement over ES, if so, and part of our reason for looking at private.

[Anonymous]

I thought I read that HB had fewer math levels than other Arlington schools but you should definitely verify that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have one in HB and one in private. The one in HB likes it just fine, though probably doesn't take advantage of all it has to offer. The main benefit is the smaller size and closer community feel, plus the administration is great.

If my private schooler had also won the HB lottery, I probably would have switched due to the cost. However, my kid would not have wanted to move, as they love their private school. I do think it has many advantages HB doesn't, such as opportunities to play sports. At HB, you can't have your middle schooler go to their home school for sports. In HS you can arrange it so this is possible, but it takes up a class period. And if you haven't been playing since a young age, it can be very hard to make the team at other APS high schools, whereas at private this is much more accessible, and kid has been able to try out many sports, all at the school (no driving around like rec leagues). Another difference is that HB offers music and arts classes as electives, while at our private, they are built into the curriculum for everyone. For academics, I would say the private emphasizes reading and writing more, but there is less math differentiation (because it's smaller and more individualized for each student vs. having three separate class levels).

Thank you - this is very helpful. Does HBW (or any APS middle schools) have differentiation for math at 3 levels for each grade? That would be na improvement over ES, if so, and part of our reason for looking at private.

Yes, I think all the APS middle schools offer that (math 6/7/8, pre-algebra, algebra, intensified algebra, etc). Math probably isn't a reason to go private in and of itself, in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

DD took math 6 accelerated, and is now doing Algebra in 7th. That’s the highest level (except there apparently is a girl in her grade taking the next level because she was in a different school system before)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought I read that HB had fewer math levels than other Arlington schools but you should definitely verify that

I think this is true at the HS level, but at MS level, kids can take HS classes since they're all in the same building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought I read that HB had fewer math levels than other Arlington schools but you should definitely verify that

Yes. Fewer AP offerings too. The grade sizes are small (65-70 kids) and the kids are overwhelmingly alternative/quirky. If your kid is more traditional and plays sports they won’t like it. HB gets out too late to make it to home high school for sports.

I have heard from kids that came in at 9th that it was cliquey because most of the kids in their started in 6th grade.

Calling teachers by their first names is another weird thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought I read that HB had fewer math levels than other Arlington schools but you should definitely verify that

Yes. Fewer AP offerings too. The grade sizes are small (65-70 kids) and the kids are overwhelmingly alternative/quirky. If your kid is more traditional and plays sports they won’t like it. HB gets out too late to make it to home high school for sports.

I have heard from kids that came in at 9th that it was cliquey because most of the kids in their started in 6th grade.

Calling teachers by their first names is another weird thing.

They can make it back to their home HS for sports.

I don't think the kids are that quirky/alternative anymore. Nowadays so many APS parents try to get their kids in just for the small size to escape the regular overcrowded schools, so it's really much of the same kinds of students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought I read that HB had fewer math levels than other Arlington schools but you should definitely verify that

Yes. Fewer AP offerings too. The grade sizes are small (65-70 kids) and the kids are overwhelmingly alternative/quirky. If your kid is more traditional and plays sports they won’t like it. HB gets out too late to make it to home high school for sports.

I have heard from kids that came in at 9th that it was cliquey because most of the kids in their started in 6th grade.

Calling teachers by their first names is another weird thing.

They can make it back to their home HS for sports.

I don't think the kids are that quirky/alternative anymore. Nowadays so many APS parents try to get their kids in just for the small size to escape the regular overcrowded schools, so it's really much of the same kinds of students.

That would be false. It is still a very quirky student body, almost like it was hand selected.

You should go read the VA public board. There is a new thread about HB.

AP classes are mixed with kids not in AP in addition to there being fewer offerings.

[Anonymous]

If it was for MS it would be no-brainer- throw them in and see how they do. They could always go back to home school.

It is trickier for HS vs private because if they don’t like HB, you can’t switch to private and admissions after day 1 of 9th are virtually unheard of.

My son got into HB for 9th, but had zero interest in it so it made it easier. Two of his older friends transferred out in HS and went to home high school.

[Anonymous]

HB unless he’s an athlete.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it was for MS it would be no-brainer- throw them in and see how they do. They could always go back to home school.

It is trickier for HS vs private because if they don’t like HB, you can’t switch to private and admissions after day 1 of 9th are virtually unheard of.

My son got into HB for 9th, but had zero interest in it so it made it easier. Two of his older friends transferred out in HS and went to home high school.

This. Send your kid for MS and see how they like it, and if they get tired of it, they can apply for private HS.

I posted on the other thread that it's a very small building and grounds footprint surrounded by tall buildings, so I think it would feel claustrophobic to spend 7 years there. I believe the old campus had more space. It's good for going off campus for lunch, though.

[Anonymous]

What does HB stand for?

[Anonymous]

Go to St Alban’s if he gets in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HB unless he’s an athlete.

Unless he plays Ultimate!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to St Alban’s if he gets in.

That seems oddly specific?