Why is Flint Hill seen as a weaker school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because FHS accepts widely resulting in a large range of academic abilities. This makes it very similar to a public school. Other schools in the area cater to kids who excel academically which makes them more "elite".

Take that for what you will. We applied to FHS. I then realized that it was very similar to our local public and figured that I'd save the money.

This is it. As a result, teachers must cater to a less academically minded students. Those who work hard to do well and go above and beyond get left behind and, as in many such environments, left to fend for themselves if they want something beyond the basics. This is available at the local well-rated public schools and is not worth the extremely high tuition.

[Anonymous]

FFS! What publics have you people been sending your kids to over the last 4 years? FHS is decidedly NOT similar to the public my kid was in before. Not even close. It's better in pretty much every measurable way (except the price tag, of course), and I'm certainly not known to be a FH cheerleader. I'd like to know where these magical public schools are located, so I can move there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because FHS accepts widely resulting in a large range of academic abilities. This makes it very similar to a public school. Other schools in the area cater to kids who excel academically which makes them more "elite".

Take that for what you will. We applied to FHS. I then realized that it was very similar to our local public and figured that I'd save the money.

This is it. As a result, teachers must cater to a less academically minded students. Those who work hard to do well and go above and beyond get left behind and, as in many such environments, left to fend for themselves if they want something beyond the basics. This is available at the local well-rated public schools and is not worth the extremely high tuition.

This is just absolutely gross with the snobbery in full display. My kids are more college ready than many of their peers both in public and private school. They aren’t burned out competing against those with the exact same academic capabilities and they don’t get to retake their exams or redo their work to get desired grades. The rigor is there if you want it and not for those who don’t

[Anonymous]

VA is not known for great privates OP. The further south you go-- the worse the privates are. Do Potomac or public insted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because FHS accepts widely resulting in a large range of academic abilities. This makes it very similar to a public school. Other schools in the area cater to kids who excel academically which makes them more "elite".

Take that for what you will. We applied to FHS. I then realized that it was very similar to our local public and figured that I'd save the money.

This is it. As a result, teachers must cater to a less academically minded students. Those who work hard to do well and go above and beyond get left behind and, as in many such environments, left to fend for themselves if they want something beyond the basics. This is available at the local well-rated public schools and is not worth the extremely high tuition.

I have had kids at a strong local public and FH US and this just isn't true. Just like every school, classes are leveled. My hardworking honors/AP student is not being "left behind" because some of his friends go to the learning center and take regular classes. They are just apples and oranges in the same fruit bowl.

Outside of the class sizes, the language arts instruction is far superior to public school and my kids can play sports starting in MS which isn't an option in public because the teams are limited in size and the schools are huge. It's also closer to our home so we have that going for us too. IMO it isn't any different than SSSAS, St. Andrews, or Bullis but is certainly only a step up from BASIS on the DCUM hate scale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is nothing about Flint Hill, other than class sizes, that sets it apart from a good public high school.

It’s the secular version of Paul VI or O’Connell or BI, but it cost an extra $20k.

You are spot on.

Ditto

[Anonymous]

Two major reasons that come to mind are that in NOVA its well known as a school that takes the kids that can’t get in to/can’t handle the academic load at Potomac or even SSSAS. And its much too far out to even be part of the conversation about schools for less academic kids like Bullis, Edmund Burke, Field or St Andrews. Flint hill is too far out to attract the same demographics as the other privates in this conversation. And honestly, the only schools recognized as highly desirable outside of DC are Potomac, Holton, Landon, Stone Ridge and Prep. No other school in VA or MD truly competes with the DC privates for applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two major reasons that come to mind are that in NOVA its well known as a school that takes the kids that can’t get in to/can’t handle the academic load at Potomac or even SSSAS. And its much too far out to even be part of the conversation about schools for less academic kids like Bullis, Edmund Burke, Field or St Andrews. Flint hill is too far out to attract the same demographics as the other privates in this conversation. And honestly, the only schools recognized as highly desirable outside of DC are Potomac, Holton, Landon, Stone Ridge and Prep. No other school in VA or MD truly competes with the DC privates for applicants.

Except that FH would be relevant for the 1.5 million people who live "too far out" in Western Fairfax/Loudoun/prince William counties in the 2-3 large counties that have the highest average income in the country. The DC proper population is less than the catchment area for FH

[Anonymous]

It's a rich people school, not a smart kids school.

[Anonymous]

A few reasons. FHS is a lot newer in comparison to many schools. It is further out. It isn't "old money" vibes. It also is not a pressure cooker enviornment. There are a wider range of students. However, in my opinion and from what I have seen this actually helps the kids in college admissions. (less students applying to ivys than a school like Sidwell)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VA is not known for great privates OP. The further south you go-- the worse the privates are. Do Potomac or public insted.

It’s “farther south.” But someone as well-educated as you knows that. I’m sure this is just a typo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VA is not known for great privates OP. The further south you go-- the worse the privates are. Do Potomac or public insted.

It’s “farther south.” But someone as well-educated as you knows that. I’m sure this is just a typo.

They must have gone to FH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two major reasons that come to mind are that in NOVA its well known as a school that takes the kids that can’t get in to/can’t handle the academic load at Potomac or even SSSAS. And its much too far out to even be part of the conversation about schools for less academic kids like Bullis, Edmund Burke, Field or St Andrews. Flint hill is too far out to attract the same demographics as the other privates in this conversation. And honestly, the only schools recognized as highly desirable outside of DC are Potomac, Holton, Landon, Stone Ridge and Prep. No other school in VA or MD truly competes with the DC privates for applicants.

Except that FH would be relevant for the 1.5 million people who live "too far out" in Western Fairfax/Loudoun/prince William counties in the 2-3 large counties that have the highest average income in the country. The DC proper population is less than the catchment area for FH

Ergo two different student composition bases. As you have described.

This is not hard, Flint Hill is attracting families that don't want Catholic and don't want public.

The 'inside the beltway" privates are older, have a longer track record and frankly, most people on this website really don't care about outer suburbs and their schools. It's jut reality.

if this was FairfaxSuburbanMoms.com then there would be a different conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People on here always say that Flint Hill is a weaker school academically, but it has 24 APs, Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Post-AP Latin, and many teachers with advanced degrees, some from Ivy Leagues. Additionally, the Robotics team is one of the strongest in the area and the Latin program is also very strong. What is causing people to say that FH doesn’t have strong academics?

Another reason: FH was explicitly founded as a segregation academy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two major reasons that come to mind are that in NOVA its well known as a school that takes the kids that can’t get in to/can’t handle the academic load at Potomac or even SSSAS. And its much too far out to even be part of the conversation about schools for less academic kids like Bullis, Edmund Burke, Field or St Andrews. Flint hill is too far out to attract the same demographics as the other privates in this conversation. And honestly, the only schools recognized as highly desirable outside of DC are Potomac, Holton, Landon, Stone Ridge and Prep. No other school in VA or MD truly competes with the DC privates for applicants.

Except that FH would be relevant for the 1.5 million people who live "too far out" in Western Fairfax/Loudoun/prince William counties in the 2-3 large counties that have the highest average income in the country. The DC proper population is less than the catchment area for FH

Ergo two different student composition bases. As you have described.

This is not hard, Flint Hill is attracting families that don't want Catholic and don't want public.

The 'inside the beltway" privates are older, have a longer track record and frankly, most people on this website really don't care about outer suburbs and their schools. It's jut reality.

if this was FairfaxSuburbanMoms.com then there would be a different conversation.

I thought that site was NSFW.