25 High Schools - Rank Best to Worst

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can google "FCPS SAT scores" and get one ranking that way. I actually just checked that a couple of days ago to see what the average scores are in this area and if I remember correctly the top four were Langley, Woodson, McLean and Oakton.
You can also compile the AP or IB participation and scores or SOL scores from each school in the school information link on the FCPS website and get another ranking, but that's a lot more work.
None of this tells you anything about the spread at each school, though. A higher average SES is just going to have a higher average score.

Trying to "rank" these schools based on one factor alone is ridiculous. The ordering above might as easily give us this for the first three:

1. Langley -- 2 suicides last month
2. Woodson -- 2 suicides last week
3. McLean -- Heroin OD over the summer.

Rankings only add to the stress that already runs rampant in this area. If you're interested in certain schools go visit them. Talk to people who go there. Rankings tell you NOTHING about how your child will fare as a student there.

[Anonymous]

Oops. And not to forget, McLean -- teachers who won't write recommendations.

[Anonymous]

Oakton Rocks!!! The only top 4 with no 'problems' to write about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oakton Rocks!!! The only top 4 with no 'problems' to write about.

Except that nobody knows which neighborhoods will actually GO to Oakton in 9 years when my DD starts HS. I can't spend $850k on a house on a guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oakton Rocks!!! The only top 4 with no 'problems' to write about.

Except that nobody knows which neighborhoods will actually GO to Oakton in 9 years when my DD starts HS. I can't spend $850k on a house on a guess.

LOL. Miss by 200 yards and set your kid up for lifetime of failure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can google "FCPS SAT scores" and get one ranking that way. I actually just checked that a couple of days ago to see what the average scores are in this area and if I remember correctly the top four were Langley, Woodson, McLean and Oakton.
You can also compile the AP or IB participation and scores or SOL scores from each school in the school information link on the FCPS website and get another ranking, but that's a lot more work.
None of this tells you anything about the spread at each school, though. A higher average SES is just going to have a higher average score.

Trying to "rank" these schools based on one factor alone is ridiculous. The ordering above might as easily give us this for the first three:

1. Langley -- 2 suicides last month
2. Woodson -- 2 suicides last week
3. McLean -- Heroin OD over the summer.

Rankings only add to the stress that already runs rampant in this area. If you're interested in certain schools go visit them. Talk to people who go there. Rankings tell you NOTHING about how your child will fare as a student there.

Ugh. Did you really have to take the bait? Why not add:

4. Marshall - Grad/addict charged criminally last month in connection with #3.

Shame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oakton Rocks!!! The only top 4 with no 'problems' to write about.

Except that nobody knows which neighborhoods will actually GO to Oakton in 9 years when my DD starts HS. I can't spend $850k on a house on a guess.

Weirdest boundaries in the county for sure.

[Anonymous]

Cuz Marshall wasn't in those 4 listed as having the top SATs.

And things that happen post-HS aren't really related to that school in the same way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cuz Marshall wasn't in those 4 listed as having the top SATs.

And things that happen post-HS aren't really related to that school in the same way.

They are when recent grads drive current HS students into DC to buy dope. Most of Alifom's friends went or still go to Marshall.

[Anonymous]

1 TJ
2 Langley
3 McLean
4 Madison
5 Oakton
6 Fairfax
7 Marshall
8 Robinson
9 Herndon
10 Lake Braddock
11 West Springfield
12 Chantilly
13 Centreville
14 South Lakes
15 Falls Church
16 South County
16 West Potomac
16 Woodson
16 Annandale
16 Hayfield
16 Edison
16 Lee
16 Stuart
16 Mount Vernon

[Anonymous]

Well, I suppose that if you buy far from the school, you're screwed. But, there are nice homes close by, so that would be a sure fit for Oakton. Granted, it's more $ to live closer to the school, as it is closer to the metro and that in itself is worth the $.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1 TJ
2 Langley
3 McLean
4 Madison
5 Oakton
6 Fairfax
7 Marshall
8 Robinson
9 Herndon
10 Lake Braddock
11 West Springfield
12 Chantilly
13 Centreville
14 South Lakes
15 Falls Church
16 South County
16 West Potomac
16 Woodson
16 Annandale
16 Hayfield
16 Edison
16 Lee
16 Stuart
16 Mount Vernon

Hmm. The placement of Fairfax and Woodson here would seem to suggest a Fairfax Rebel at work.

[Anonymous]

What is the point of this time-wasting task? Is there any one person on here who has children in all schools, or for that matter, has even STEPPED into all the high schools on this list? You cannot "rank" schools by looking at any ONE factor - or even any FIVE factors - and achieve any kind of logical result. I have to wonder the motivations of the OP. Clearly, the snow day has resulted in boredom in some. Go clean your house or something, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the point of this time-wasting task? Is there any one person on here who has children in all schools, or for that matter, has even STEPPED into all the high schools on this list? You cannot "rank" schools by looking at any ONE factor - or even any FIVE factors - and achieve any kind of logical result. I have to wonder the motivations of the OP. Clearly, the snow day has resulted in boredom in some. Go clean your house or something, OP.

I've been inside all but Centreville, Westfield and South County, but I still wouldn't waste time ranking the schools. If people want to look at objective data like SATs and SOL scores, that information is readily available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
1 TJ
2 Langley
3 McLean
4 Madison
4 Marshall
4 Oakton
5 Chantilly
5 Robinson
5 Lake Braddock
5 West Springfield
5 Westfield
5 Woodson
6 Fairfax
7 Centreville
7 South County
7 Annandale
7 Herndon
8 Falls Church
9 West Potomac
9 Hayfield
9 Edison
10 Lee
10 South Lakes
10 Stuart
10 Mount Vernon

How did you put Chantilly so high?

From US News (top fcps taken from the top 10, after Loudon Co. schools removed)
1) TJ

2) Langley
3) Madison
4) Mclean
5) Woodson
6) Oakton

7) Lake Braddock
8-9) Loudon CO schools
10) West Springfield
11) Fairfax

14) Robinson
15) Chantilly
16) Marshall

20) South County

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/rankings

2011 SAT scores:

1) TJ (2186)

2) Langley (1812)

3-5) Mclean, Woodson and Oakton (1750s)

6) Madison (1730)

7-8) Marshall, Lake Braddock (at 1700 +/-)

9-10) Robinson, West Springfield (1660s)

FCPS average: 1654

All other HS are below that average.

http://fairfax.homebyschool.com/fairfax-county-high-school-rankings-sat-2011/