Worth it to move from "bad" school pyramid to Marshall?

[Anonymous]

Not worth moving. The same dearth in teaching abounds.

[Anonymous]

i wouldn't consider marshall good maybe the best of the worst

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are currently zoned for Luther Jackson middle/Falls Church high and don't really want to send our child there. We can afford a home in the Marshall pyramid, although we'd be more stretched financially. I have read threads about Marshall going downhill; would a move there still be worth it from our current pyramid?

If the eventual goal is college remember your DC is compared against their peers first. If the can be a big fish at Falls Church stay put and invest in tutors and test prep as needed to help your kid stand out.

This is only a potential consideration if you’re talking about some state schools. Otherwise it’s irrelevant. Top schools will take multiple kids from a top school over any kids at a lower-ranked school with inferior credentials.

Um, what? So a student from a “better” HS who lacks the qualifications will be accepted into these universities?

Reading comprehension apparently isn’t your strong suit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i wouldn't consider marshall good maybe the best of the worst

That makes sense if you only consider ~5 High Schools in Ffx Co. to be good.

[Anonymous]

Falls Church is not that bad and Marshall is not that good, so it makes no sense to move for a small upgrade. Most kids do better with AP anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are currently zoned for Luther Jackson middle/Falls Church high and don't really want to send our child there. We can afford a home in the Marshall pyramid, although we'd be more stretched financially. I have read threads about Marshall going downhill; would a move there still be worth it from our current pyramid?

You can transfer to Marshall for IB if it has capacity. No need to move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are currently zoned for Luther Jackson middle/Falls Church high and don't really want to send our child there. We can afford a home in the Marshall pyramid, although we'd be more stretched financially. I have read threads about Marshall going downhill; would a move there still be worth it from our current pyramid?

If the eventual goal is college remember your DC is compared against their peers first. If the can be a big fish at Falls Church stay put and invest in tutors and test prep as needed to help your kid stand out.

This is only a potential consideration if you’re talking about some state schools. Otherwise it’s irrelevant. Top schools will take multiple kids from a top school over any kids at a lower-ranked school with inferior credentials.

Considering VA has a number of excellent state schools it is relevant. If UVA, W&M or VT are on your radar being top 5% of students applying from your school is highly relevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are currently zoned for Luther Jackson middle/Falls Church high and don't really want to send our child there. We can afford a home in the Marshall pyramid, although we'd be more stretched financially. I have read threads about Marshall going downhill; would a move there still be worth it from our current pyramid?

If the eventual goal is college remember your DC is compared against their peers first. If the can be a big fish at Falls Church stay put and invest in tutors and test prep as needed to help your kid stand out.

This is only a potential consideration if you’re talking about some state schools. Otherwise it’s irrelevant. Top schools will take multiple kids from a top school over any kids at a lower-ranked school with inferior credentials.

Considering VA has a number of excellent state schools it is relevant. If UVA, W&M or VT are on your radar being top 5% of students applying from your school is highly relevant.

Even then, you just have a hypothesis that it’s better to be a big fish in a smaller pond. If there’s not enough oxygen in the pond, your kid won’t end up a big fish.

We also know some schools see well over 5% of the class admitted to UVA, while others don’t.

[Anonymous]

You are choosing between two meh high schools in FCPS, go with the one where you kid will stand out the best. In the end your kid is competing against their peers and the school profile as they compete for college admissions.

If college isn’t the goal then it really doesn’t matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the Woodson pyramid instead, unless you know for sure you’ll want IB. Housing is more affordable and the schools are better.

Location doesn't work for us - due to family situation and our jobs, need to stay in falls church area.

Annandale parts of Woodson are so close to Falls Church.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are currently zoned for Luther Jackson middle/Falls Church high and don't really want to send our child there. We can afford a home in the Marshall pyramid, although we'd be more stretched financially. I have read threads about Marshall going downhill; would a move there still be worth it from our current pyramid?

You can transfer to Marshall for IB if it has capacity. No need to move.

But there's no IB bus. So public transit would be the only way to get to Marshall.

[Anonymous]

Falls Church has about 1925 kids and 15 transfers to Marshall this year. Few people think it’s worth transferring.

The recent boundary changes were also kind to Falls Church and unkind to Marshall. Falls Church picked up single-family neighborhoods in Annandale from Justice, while Marshall lost single-family neighborhoods in Vienna to Madison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are currently zoned for Luther Jackson middle/Falls Church high and don't really want to send our child there. We can afford a home in the Marshall pyramid, although we'd be more stretched financially. I have read threads about Marshall going downhill; would a move there still be worth it from our current pyramid?

You can transfer to Marshall for IB if it has capacity. No need to move.

But there's no IB bus. So public transit would be the only way to get to Marshall.

Or a parent driving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Falls Church has about 1925 kids and 15 transfers to Marshall this year. Few people think it’s worth transferring.

The recent boundary changes were also kind to Falls Church and unkind to Marshall. Falls Church picked up single-family neighborhoods in Annandale from Justice, while Marshall lost single-family neighborhoods in Vienna to Madison.

Isn't that Sleepy Hollow Road? Those homes are nice and will benefit Falls Church HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Falls Church has about 1925 kids and 15 transfers to Marshall this year. Few people think it’s worth transferring.

The recent boundary changes were also kind to Falls Church and unkind to Marshall. Falls Church picked up single-family neighborhoods in Annandale from Justice, while Marshall lost single-family neighborhoods in Vienna to Madison.

Isn't that Sleepy Hollow Road? Those homes are nice and will benefit Falls Church HS.

Sleepy Hollow Woods and Columbia Pines. North of Columbia Pike, west of Sleepy Hollow Road, and east of Gallows Road. 100% single-family homes.

Yes, it will benefit Falls Church HS.