Yorktown vs WL — Ranking vs word on street

[Anonymous]

I have a freshman DD at W-L and am surprised at how rigorous her classes are. AP World History, intensified Alg II/Trig, intensified English --all 3 classes are very challenging, and she's learning a lot. (IB doesn't start until Junior year).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The high profile college acceptances (T10, ivies) at W-L are driven by the hooks you mentioned (URM, first gen). At Yorktown, they are driven by athletic recruitment.

Bottom line: neither school will increase your chances at a T10 unless you’ve got one of the aforementioned hooks.

Yep. If you’re a white female it doesn’t matter which school for college acceptance.

Yeah you won't get in. 4.3 GPA no longer gets a white female in UVA unless you play soccer.

I don’t care about elite college acceptance, I am more concern about college readiness and having peers that will make her feel included.

For what it’s worth, my 3 went to WL and did a mix of AP and IB classes, attend/attended UVA and said the IB classes prepared them better for college than AP classes.

This. The IB classes are tough but they prepare you very well for college. I do think the size and focus of the high-achieving cohort at W-L is better because of the IB program. DD has taken a mix of AP/IB (it's our zoned school) and the IB classes have definitely been the most challenging.

She's also in band and the band community is very friendly. I was chatting with a parent at an event this fall who has a freshman in the band. She said she had been a school band director in several places and was really impressed at how nice and welcoming the W-L band was. Her DD was really enjoying it. From her HS experience, my DD made continuing band in college a big priority in school selection.

This is important to remember: transferring into IB (supposedly) requires you to take full IB. No picky-choosey like kids zoned for WL. This is a policy, IMO, APS needs to change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This is important to remember: transferring into IB (supposedly) requires you to take full IB. No picky-choosey like kids zoned for WL. This is a policy, IMO, APS needs to change.

NP whose Yorktown-zoned child wants to apply for IB next year. How would you change it? Either let the YT/Wakefield kids stay even if they don't do full IB, or make it so W-L kids can't dabble in IB, they either do it or not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is important to remember: transferring into IB (supposedly) requires you to take full IB. No picky-choosey like kids zoned for WL. This is a policy, IMO, APS needs to change.

NP whose Yorktown-zoned child wants to apply for IB next year. How would you change it? Either let the YT/Wakefield kids stay even if they don't do full IB, or make it so W-L kids can't dabble in IB, they either do it or not?

WL-zoned kids should not have access to IB classes that YHS/WHS kids do not merely because they live in the designated WL zone. If they want to do IB, they should apply and qualify for the program just like a transfer student.

APS will never do that. That would mean fewer students taking IB classes overall, which would not look good for APS stats or for the IB program. But the factor that will preclude APS from ever considering it in the first place would be the overwhelming outcry from WL-zoned families who want access to it all. Why do you think WL is so popular? Why would anyone NOT want to have their kids at a school that offers the most opportunities and experiences?

I understand why people wouldn't want to send transfers back to their home schools, since that wouldn't happen until they are well into their high school years, friends, activities. But that's another problem with how APS does IB, not really starting the program until 11th grade. Randolph ES has IB, then some of those kids get IB at Jefferson but none of them get to continue to WL without a transfer. So students who have had automatic access to IB from Kindergarten through 8th grade suddenly don't have access for high school. Meanwhile, Jefferson kids who did not go to Randolph either get automatic access to WL's IB by virtue of geography, or have to qualify and transfer to WL from Wakefield because they live south of 50.

Eliminating the automatic geographic eligibility of the Claremont neighborhood residents to Claremont immersion was one of the best (and probably the most "equitable") decisions APS has ever made. They should apply the same to other special programs. And before anyone suggests Wakefield (and next year Yorktown) students have automatic access to AP Capstone that WL students don't: really?! It's two classes - two classes that develop skills WL's IB students are developing in multiple classes - two classes probably already offered at WL and if not, could easily be implemented (but I find it difficult to believe WL does not have AP Seminar? or AP Research? Certainly at least one of them?). Then WL students will truly have it all. The only reason Capstone was implemented at Wakefield was an attempt to raise its profile and perception of academic rigor in order to draw/retain more middle/upper middle class students. The only reason it's being implemented at YHS is because WHS is overcrowded and APS needs to eliminate qualifying reasons for transferring to WHS.

[Anonymous]

OP - Please don't assume your child will get accepted to IB. This year there is a long waitlist. If more kids apply than there are seats, it is simply a lottery. There is a 60 person waitlist this year. (that is for 9th grade, it looks like if you are willing to transfer later there is no waitlist for 10th or 11th)

There is also neighborhood transfer, this year it was only 20 or 30 seats for 9th grade (I think it was 20 and another 30 seats were for the other 3 grades). There is a long waitlist there too. 0 of the many, many kids I know who applied were able to get transfers from YT to W-L. My son knows of 1. APS did state there was a Wakefield preference for neighborhood transfers due to overcrowding. But I honestly have no idea who the other 19 seats were allocated.

OP, Your kid will do well at either school, or frankly any school in APS. As long are your student applies herself, you are supportive of her, and she able to advocate for herself, YT or W-L will serve her well.

Have your child apply for IB and if that doesn't work, try the neighborhood transfer. If neither work, she'll do great at YT. Much of this is beyond your control, unless you plan to move inbound for W-L so don't stress too much OP.



And for the person who implied zoned kids can just get in to IB, it is not true. All students still need to meet the requirements (I don't remember them all but I know starting a language and 7th and keeping the same one through Sr year is one, and being at least in Algebra 1 in 8th grade is another). Plus they strongly encourage 3 intensified classes Freshman year if the student is considering the IB track. So the prerequisites are the same whether zoned or a transfer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The high profile college acceptances (T10, ivies) at W-L are driven by the hooks you mentioned (URM, first gen). At Yorktown, they are driven by athletic recruitment.

Bottom line: neither school will increase your chances at a T10 unless you’ve got one of the aforementioned hooks.

Yep. If you’re a white female it doesn’t matter which school for college acceptance.

Yeah you won't get in. 4.3 GPA no longer gets a white female in UVA unless you play soccer.

I don’t care about elite college acceptance, I am more concern about college readiness and having peers that will make her feel included.

For what it’s worth, my 3 went to WL and did a mix of AP and IB classes, attend/attended UVA and said the IB classes prepared them better for college than AP classes.

This. The IB classes are tough but they prepare you very well for college. I do think the size and focus of the high-achieving cohort at W-L is better because of the IB program. DD has taken a mix of AP/IB (it's our zoned school) and the IB classes have definitely been the most challenging.

She's also in band and the band community is very friendly. I was chatting with a parent at an event this fall who has a freshman in the band. She said she had been a school band director in several places and was really impressed at how nice and welcoming the W-L band was. Her DD was really enjoying it. From her HS experience, my DD made continuing band in college a big priority in school selection.

This is important to remember: transferring into IB (supposedly) requires you to take full IB. No picky-choosey like kids zoned for WL. This is a policy, IMO, APS needs to change.

This isn’t true. So long as your kid takes 3 IB classes in grades 11-12 they can stay at WL. Don’t have to take full IB to keep transfer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - Please don't assume your child will get accepted to IB. This year there is a long waitlist. If more kids apply than there are seats, it is simply a lottery. There is a 60 person waitlist this year. (that is for 9th grade, it looks like if you are willing to transfer later there is no waitlist for 10th or 11th)

There is also neighborhood transfer, this year it was only 20 or 30 seats for 9th grade (I think it was 20 and another 30 seats were for the other 3 grades). There is a long waitlist there too. 0 of the many, many kids I know who applied were able to get transfers from YT to W-L. My son knows of 1. APS did state there was a Wakefield preference for neighborhood transfers due to overcrowding. But I honestly have no idea who the other 19 seats were allocated.

OP, Your kid will do well at either school, or frankly any school in APS. As long are your student applies herself, you are supportive of her, and she able to advocate for herself, YT or W-L will serve her well.

Have your child apply for IB and if that doesn't work, try the neighborhood transfer. If neither work, she'll do great at YT. Much of this is beyond your control, unless you plan to move inbound for W-L so don't stress too much OP.



And for the person who implied zoned kids can just get in to IB, it is not true. All students still need to meet the requirements (I don't remember them all but I know starting a language and 7th and keeping the same one through Sr year is one, and being at least in Algebra 1 in 8th grade is another). Plus they strongly encourage 3 intensified classes Freshman year if the student is considering the IB track. So the prerequisites are the same whether zoned or a transfer.

All W-L students may not be qualified to get the full IB diploma but they can take any IB classes they want. Mix of AP and IB. That's what the PP was referencing was the broader set of choices they have. PP was suggesting policy change such that IB is a program. To that end, I'd love that they change the policy for HB and Tech too. If you go to HB, you go to HB. None of this being allowed to go back to the other schools for classes. It's the best of both worlds piece that is so annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - Please don't assume your child will get accepted to IB. This year there is a long waitlist. If more kids apply than there are seats, it is simply a lottery. There is a 60 person waitlist this year. (that is for 9th grade, it looks like if you are willing to transfer later there is no waitlist for 10th or 11th)

There is also neighborhood transfer, this year it was only 20 or 30 seats for 9th grade (I think it was 20 and another 30 seats were for the other 3 grades). There is a long waitlist there too. 0 of the many, many kids I know who applied were able to get transfers from YT to W-L. My son knows of 1. APS did state there was a Wakefield preference for neighborhood transfers due to overcrowding. But I honestly have no idea who the other 19 seats were allocated.

OP, Your kid will do well at either school, or frankly any school in APS. As long are your student applies herself, you are supportive of her, and she able to advocate for herself, YT or W-L will serve her well.

Have your child apply for IB and if that doesn't work, try the neighborhood transfer. If neither work, she'll do great at YT. Much of this is beyond your control, unless you plan to move inbound for W-L so don't stress too much OP.



And for the person who implied zoned kids can just get in to IB, it is not true. All students still need to meet the requirements (I don't remember them all but I know starting a language and 7th and keeping the same one through Sr year is one, and being at least in Algebra 1 in 8th grade is another). Plus they strongly encourage 3 intensified classes Freshman year if the student is considering the IB track. So the prerequisites are the same whether zoned or a transfer.

All W-L students may not be qualified to get the full IB diploma but they can take any IB classes they want. Mix of AP and IB. That's what the PP was referencing was the broader set of choices they have. PP was suggesting policy change such that IB is a program. To that end, I'd love that they change the policy for HB and Tech too. If you go to HB, you go to HB. None of this being allowed to go back to the other schools for classes. It's the best of both worlds piece that is so annoying.

Arlington’s “programs” are not technically schools because they don’t qualify under state law. As a by product of that distinction, students in the county’s programs, where they apply through a lottery, tend to have more flexibility, classes or sports at the home high school. If IB were to become a “program” within W-L, it would be more like Richard Montgomery HS in Montgomery County. Note that the RM IB students go through a rigorous merit based application. Few make the cut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - Please don't assume your child will get accepted to IB. This year there is a long waitlist. If more kids apply than there are seats, it is simply a lottery. There is a 60 person waitlist this year. (that is for 9th grade, it looks like if you are willing to transfer later there is no waitlist for 10th or 11th)

There is also neighborhood transfer, this year it was only 20 or 30 seats for 9th grade (I think it was 20 and another 30 seats were for the other 3 grades). There is a long waitlist there too. 0 of the many, many kids I know who applied were able to get transfers from YT to W-L. My son knows of 1. APS did state there was a Wakefield preference for neighborhood transfers due to overcrowding. But I honestly have no idea who the other 19 seats were allocated.

OP, Your kid will do well at either school, or frankly any school in APS. As long are your student applies herself, you are supportive of her, and she able to advocate for herself, YT or W-L will serve her well.

Have your child apply for IB and if that doesn't work, try the neighborhood transfer. If neither work, she'll do great at YT. Much of this is beyond your control, unless you plan to move inbound for W-L so don't stress too much OP.



And for the person who implied zoned kids can just get in to IB, it is not true. All students still need to meet the requirements (I don't remember them all but I know starting a language and 7th and keeping the same one through Sr year is one, and being at least in Algebra 1 in 8th grade is another). Plus they strongly encourage 3 intensified classes Freshman year if the student is considering the IB track. So the prerequisites are the same whether zoned or a transfer.

All W-L students may not be qualified to get the full IB diploma but they can take any IB classes they want. Mix of AP and IB. That's what the PP was referencing was the broader set of choices they have. PP was suggesting policy change such that IB is a program. To that end, I'd love that they change the policy for HB and Tech too. If you go to HB, you go to HB. None of this being allowed to go back to the other schools for classes. It's the best of both worlds piece that is so annoying.

Aren't all HS kids allowed to take classes at Arlington Tech? I really need to look into this whole HS business more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is important to remember: transferring into IB (supposedly) requires you to take full IB. No picky-choosey like kids zoned for WL. This is a policy, IMO, APS needs to change.

NP whose Yorktown-zoned child wants to apply for IB next year. How would you change it? Either let the YT/Wakefield kids stay even if they don't do full IB, or make it so W-L kids can't dabble in IB, they either do it or not?

Why don’t they have IB at YHS?

All the weird program quirks in APS were one reason we moved to Fairfax. It always felt like there was a small group in power deciding behind the scenes how to tip the scales in favor of one school or program or another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is important to remember: transferring into IB (supposedly) requires you to take full IB. No picky-choosey like kids zoned for WL. This is a policy, IMO, APS needs to change.

NP whose Yorktown-zoned child wants to apply for IB next year. How would you change it? Either let the YT/Wakefield kids stay even if they don't do full IB, or make it so W-L kids can't dabble in IB, they either do it or not?

Why don’t they have IB at YHS?

All the weird program quirks in APS were one reason we moved to Fairfax. It always felt like there was a small group in power deciding behind the scenes how to tip the scales in favor of one school or program or another.

It’s nothing unusual. Neighboring school districts have various programs (and qualifications for entry) at the different high schools. Including FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - Please don't assume your child will get accepted to IB. This year there is a long waitlist. If more kids apply than there are seats, it is simply a lottery. There is a 60 person waitlist this year. (that is for 9th grade, it looks like if you are willing to transfer later there is no waitlist for 10th or 11th)

There is also neighborhood transfer, this year it was only 20 or 30 seats for 9th grade (I think it was 20 and another 30 seats were for the other 3 grades). There is a long waitlist there too. 0 of the many, many kids I know who applied were able to get transfers from YT to W-L. My son knows of 1. APS did state there was a Wakefield preference for neighborhood transfers due to overcrowding. But I honestly have no idea who the other 19 seats were allocated.

OP, Your kid will do well at either school, or frankly any school in APS. As long are your student applies herself, you are supportive of her, and she able to advocate for herself, YT or W-L will serve her well.

Have your child apply for IB and if that doesn't work, try the neighborhood transfer. If neither work, she'll do great at YT. Much of this is beyond your control, unless you plan to move inbound for W-L so don't stress too much OP.



And for the person who implied zoned kids can just get in to IB, it is not true. All students still need to meet the requirements (I don't remember them all but I know starting a language and 7th and keeping the same one through Sr year is one, and being at least in Algebra 1 in 8th grade is another). Plus they strongly encourage 3 intensified classes Freshman year if the student is considering the IB track. So the prerequisites are the same whether zoned or a transfer.

What I said was that WL-zoned all have access by virtue of geography. I did not say they did not have to meet any pre-requisites. Nevertheless, if they do, they can take IB classes without being full-IB UNLIKE transfers who technically must be FULL-IB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The high profile college acceptances (T10, ivies) at W-L are driven by the hooks you mentioned (URM, first gen). At Yorktown, they are driven by athletic recruitment.

Bottom line: neither school will increase your chances at a T10 unless you’ve got one of the aforementioned hooks.

Yep. If you’re a white female it doesn’t matter which school for college acceptance.

Yeah you won't get in. 4.3 GPA no longer gets a white female in UVA unless you play soccer.

It doesn’t get you in if you’re black or Hispanic either. I think out of state wins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - Please don't assume your child will get accepted to IB. This year there is a long waitlist. If more kids apply than there are seats, it is simply a lottery. There is a 60 person waitlist this year. (that is for 9th grade, it looks like if you are willing to transfer later there is no waitlist for 10th or 11th)

There is also neighborhood transfer, this year it was only 20 or 30 seats for 9th grade (I think it was 20 and another 30 seats were for the other 3 grades). There is a long waitlist there too. 0 of the many, many kids I know who applied were able to get transfers from YT to W-L. My son knows of 1. APS did state there was a Wakefield preference for neighborhood transfers due to overcrowding. But I honestly have no idea who the other 19 seats were allocated.

OP, Your kid will do well at either school, or frankly any school in APS. As long are your student applies herself, you are supportive of her, and she able to advocate for herself, YT or W-L will serve her well.

Have your child apply for IB and if that doesn't work, try the neighborhood transfer. If neither work, she'll do great at YT. Much of this is beyond your control, unless you plan to move inbound for W-L so don't stress too much OP.



And for the person who implied zoned kids can just get in to IB, it is not true. All students still need to meet the requirements (I don't remember them all but I know starting a language and 7th and keeping the same one through Sr year is one, and being at least in Algebra 1 in 8th grade is another). Plus they strongly encourage 3 intensified classes Freshman year if the student is considering the IB track. So the prerequisites are the same whether zoned or a transfer.

All W-L students may not be qualified to get the full IB diploma but they can take any IB classes they want. Mix of AP and IB. That's what the PP was referencing was the broader set of choices they have. PP was suggesting policy change such that IB is a program. To that end, I'd love that they change the policy for HB and Tech too. If you go to HB, you go to HB. None of this being allowed to go back to the other schools for classes. It's the best of both worlds piece that is so annoying.

Aren't all HS kids allowed to take classes at Arlington Tech? I really need to look into this whole HS business more.

No. Arlington Tech is exclusively for the Arlington Tech students. All APS and FCCPS students can take Arlington Career Center classes. There are Career Center busses, and some students drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The high profile college acceptances (T10, ivies) at W-L are driven by the hooks you mentioned (URM, first gen). At Yorktown, they are driven by athletic recruitment.

Bottom line: neither school will increase your chances at a T10 unless you’ve got one of the aforementioned hooks.

Yep. If you’re a white female it doesn’t matter which school for college acceptance.

Yeah you won't get in. 4.3 GPA no longer gets a white female in UVA unless you play soccer.

I don’t care about elite college acceptance, I am more concern about college readiness and having peers that will make her feel included.

For what it’s worth, my 3 went to WL and did a mix of AP and IB classes, attend/attended UVA and said the IB classes prepared them better for college than AP classes.

This. The IB classes are tough but they prepare you very well for college. I do think the size and focus of the high-achieving cohort at W-L is better because of the IB program. DD has taken a mix of AP/IB (it's our zoned school) and the IB classes have definitely been the most challenging.

She's also in band and the band community is very friendly. I was chatting with a parent at an event this fall who has a freshman in the band. She said she had been a school band director in several places and was really impressed at how nice and welcoming the W-L band was. Her DD was really enjoying it. From her HS experience, my DD made continuing band in college a big priority in school selection.

This is important to remember: transferring into IB (supposedly) requires you to take full IB. No picky-choosey like kids zoned for WL. This is a policy, IMO, APS needs to change.

This isn’t true. So long as your kid takes 3 IB classes in grades 11-12 they can stay at WL. Don’t have to take full IB to keep transfer.

That's why I said "supposedly." The policy waivers and hasn't always been enforced, though it has been at times in the past. It was supposed to discourage people from transferring just because they wanted to go to WL instead of their home school. That's not what the IB program is for and should not be used for.