Luther Jackson vs Thoreau

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually from TJ perspective, both schools send few kids so it doesn't matter much. Thoreau is newer and nicer, LJ has better AAP academics and afterschool programs. In terms of bully/drug, each school has its own problems.

How is Thoreau newer? I went there in the 70s?

[Anonymous]

Thoreau building is newer and nicer compared with LJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wrote extensively on this. Search.

How is this helpful? There are likely any number of threads on both schools. If there is a link to your extensive write up, post it.

Do some basic due diligence before asking.

DP—I did conduct a search and found a similar comment from a 2 year old thread telling OP to “search.”
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/964813.page

School quality is fairly dynamic so 2+ year old posts aren’t necessarily helpful. If your answer is still relevant to the topic at hand, please post a link.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually from TJ perspective, both schools send few kids so it doesn't matter much. Thoreau is newer and nicer, LJ has better AAP academics and afterschool programs. In terms of bully/drug, each school has its own problems.

Is that because parents from those schools don't invest heavily in outside enrichment? I'm very interested in the continuing impact of wealth on TJ admissions.

[Anonymous]

My kid is in LJ now and this 2 year old thread is still relevant. We picked LJ over Thoreau mainly for its academics, so far it has been great. Some of her friends chose Thoreau and I heard they are satisfied too.

[Anonymous]

What specifically about the academics? Better teachers? Better course offerings?

[Anonymous]

Also curious

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually from TJ perspective, both schools send few kids so it doesn't matter much. Thoreau is newer and nicer, LJ has better AAP academics and afterschool programs. In terms of bully/drug, each school has its own problems.

Is that because parents from those schools don't invest heavily in outside enrichment? I'm very interested in the continuing impact of wealth on TJ admissions.

Thoreau is in a high SES area so wealth doesn’t seem to be a factor. I’m not familiar with which schools feed into Luther Jackson or it’s overall demographics. My impression from living in Vienna is that TJ isn’t that important to Vienna families.

[Anonymous]

DC is at LJ too and the academies are definitely rigorous. A lot of homework and studying required- a big change given our elementary had a no homework policy.

[Anonymous]

LJ has a much stronger AAP program- teachers expect a lot from the kids. I think Thoreau is a good school, so your kid will do fine there too.

[Anonymous]

Following this too, since we'll have to make this decision in a couple years. Can someone level with me about the crime/drug behavior? I've heard back things about LJ but now see some negative posts about Thoreau, too.

Honestly, though, by the time your kid is in 6th grade, don't they have a strong social network that they want to maintain? I feel like that, more than anything, may drive our decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Since both offer AAP, is there a benefit to choosing one over the other? We are zoned for Thoreau but some of DC’s AAP friend’s (who graduate from ES this spring) are electing LJ, despite it being farther away. Would love input parents whose kids attended either (or anyone who has a general understanding of the two programs). Thanks!

My son in 7th chose Thoreau but has several friends that chose LJ. Thoreau has been easier than 5th and 6th grade at the elementary AAP center. The homework load is less than elementary and the expectations are less. He is getting As on projects and writing that his elementary school would (and did) give a 3. His friends at LJ have a lot more homework and aren’t getting straight As like most at Thoreau. LJ AAP will definitely prepare your kid for high school better.

+1 this is our experience too. LJ also have more academic oriented after-school programs like MathCounts and Science Olympiad that Thoreau does not offer.

Those programs are the golden ticket to TJ!

This is very counter intuitive but both there are fewer admits from MathCounts and Science Olympiad from LJ for the last 3 years. Similar stories from other schools as well.

These used to be golden tickets but now looks like a golden cage.

That's untrue. People like to spread these rumors to help reduce the competition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What specifically about the academics? Better teachers? Better course offerings?

The curriculum and teachers are both FCPS so basically identical. Some people just enjoy splitting hairs and imagining these things are different when they really aren't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What specifically about the academics? Better teachers? Better course offerings?

The curriculum and teachers are both FCPS so basically identical. Some people just enjoy splitting hairs and imagining these things are different when they really aren't.

Former FCPS teacher: this is not an accurate depiction. LJ IS more rigorous and not just with the AAP/honors curriculum. Their foreign language instruction is better, too. I have friends at JMHS and they’ve said the LJ kids are better prepared for 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since both offer AAP, is there a benefit to choosing one over the other? We are zoned for Thoreau but some of DC’s AAP friend’s (who graduate from ES this spring) are electing LJ, despite it being farther away. Would love input parents whose kids attended either (or anyone who has a general understanding of the two programs). Thanks!

My son in 7th chose Thoreau but has several friends that chose LJ. Thoreau has been easier than 5th and 6th grade at the elementary AAP center. The homework load is less than elementary and the expectations are less. He is getting As on projects and writing that his elementary school would (and did) give a 3. His friends at LJ have a lot more homework and aren’t getting straight As like most at Thoreau. LJ AAP will definitely prepare your kid for high school better.

+1 this is our experience too. LJ also have more academic oriented after-school programs like MathCounts and Science Olympiad that Thoreau does not offer.

Those programs are the golden ticket to TJ!

This is very counter intuitive but both there are fewer admits from MathCounts and Science Olympiad from LJ for the last 3 years. Similar stories from other schools as well.

These used to be golden tickets but now looks like a golden cage.

That's untrue. People like to spread these rumors to help reduce the competition.

I am writing from personal experience. We lived through this and if you have time and inclination you can piece together this information.

Child did exceptionally well in MathCounts and Science Olympiad. In fact teacher mentioned that child was the only one from school who was able to reach "x" ever in school history - she was there a long time and knows for a fact during that time period, but she mentioned she was guessing about the years prior to that. I am keeping it vague to protect identity.

We had ratings to narrow down finalists, etc. So we know where the kids fall. Surprisingly many who did well did not get in.

Regardless, I would strongly encourage everyone who is interested to do both MathCounts and Science Olympiad. It was a wonderful experience and hugely beneficial - at least to my child. TJ is not the end goal.