Comparing and contrasting the culture at different FCPS high schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much everyone. This is very helpful information.

Any feedback on the options that haven't been mentioned yet? Am most interested in hearing from those who have (or have recently had) students at these schools. How have you found the social environment?

Langley
Madison
Marshall
Oakton

rich kids. Also, discriminated against in U. Va. admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much everyone. This is very helpful information.

Any feedback on the options that haven't been mentioned yet? Am most interested in hearing from those who have (or have recently had) students at these schools. How have you found the social environment?

Langley
Madison
Marshall
Oakton

rich kids. Also, discriminated against in U. Va. admissions.

In terms of overall wealth of the communities, it goes in this order now:

Langley
McLean
Madison
Marshall
Woodson/Oakton (much more of a range at Oakton, though)
Robinson
Lake Braddock
West Springfield

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much everyone. This is very helpful information.

Any feedback on the options that haven't been mentioned yet? Am most interested in hearing from those who have (or have recently had) students at these schools. How have you found the social environment?

Langley
Madison
Marshall
Oakton

rich kids. Also, discriminated against in U. Va. admissions.

In terms of overall wealth of the communities, it goes in this order now:

Langley
McLean
Madison
Marshall
Woodson/Oakton (much more of a range at Oakton, though)
Robinson
Lake Braddock
West Springfield

yes, but what does this have to do with the cultures of the schools in those communities? That was the question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much everyone. This is very helpful information.

Any feedback on the options that haven't been mentioned yet? Am most interested in hearing from those who have (or have recently had) students at these schools. How have you found the social environment?

Langley
Madison
Marshall
Oakton

rich kids. Also, discriminated against in U. Va. admissions.

In terms of overall wealth of the communities, it goes in this order now:

Langley
McLean
Madison
Marshall
Woodson/Oakton (much more of a range at Oakton, though)
Robinson
Lake Braddock
West Springfield

yes, but what does this have to do with the cultures of the schools in those communities? That was the question.

Oakton is probably less of a "rich kids" school than at five other HS in the county (Langley, McLean, Madison, Marshall and TJ).

[Anonymous]

Oakton is probably less of a "rich kids" school than at five other HS in the county (Langley, McLean, Madison, Marshall and TJ).

Seriously?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Oakton is probably less of a "rich kids" school than at five other HS in the county (Langley, McLean, Madison, Marshall and TJ).

Seriously?

I think that people know-it-all probably is referring to the wealth of the surrounding communities, which may or may not be reflected in the local high school. Oakton has some very rich, but then also some apartment dwellers who bring down the average "wealth" of the school's intake zone, but both groups are definitely represented at the school.

[Anonymous]

[Up]

Anonymous

There's no shortage of available information these days on test scores, demographics, rankings, AP vs. IB, etc. at the various FCPS high schools. What's more difficult to come by is good info on how the atmosphere differs at each. For example, are some schools more cliquish than others? More prone to problems with bullying? Are there bigger party schools"? Places with a strong sports culture where only the "jocks" fit in? Places where it's easier to be a geek? Etc, etc.

There's a good reason for that, which is that the culture of any school will change from time to time depending on who the students are and who the leadership is. For example, a PP trashed Madison is obsessed with sports, but the school now has a new principal. This principal is not a Madison grad and former sports star, as the previous one was, so that is changing the atmosphere there for the better.

OP, I think you'll need to do your own research on this one. DCUM is not the best place to look.

[Anonymous]

^^as

[Anonymous]

Fairfax is a very diverse area, with lots of families constantly moving in and out and around. Not sure any school has the ability to develop a differentiated dominant culture, aside what could be derived from the income level of the families that go there.

[Anonymous]

This principal is not a Madison grad and former sports star, as the previous one was, so that is changing the atmosphere there for the better.

And, then, some people think that sports is a great thing for a school. It raises the morale of the kids and gives them activities for balance in their lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This principal is not a Madison grad and former sports star, as the previous one was, so that is changing the atmosphere there for the better.

And, then, some people think that sports is a great thing for a school. It raises the morale of the kids and gives them activities for balance in their lives.

Sports are still very big at Madison. The problem under the prior principal was that he tolerated bullying and misbehavior by jocks and created an environment in which the kids who were not varsity athletes were made to feel like second-class students. It is much better now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This principal is not a Madison grad and former sports star, as the previous one was, so that is changing the atmosphere there for the better.

And, then, some people think that sports is a great thing for a school. It raises the morale of the kids and gives them activities for balance in their lives.

Sports are still very big at Madison. The problem under the prior principal was that he tolerated bullying and misbehavior by jocks and created an environment in which the kids who were not varsity athletes were made to feel like second-class students. It is much better now.

This worries me as we are looking in the Madison pyramid. Kids are not sporty and not in band. We are not super wealthy. Is it better to go to a lesser school and be on the upper end of it (i.e. like a Herndon school) or go to a Madison type of school where you probably won't be among the super stars. ??

Speaking of Herndon -- are there so many esol/farms kids that the administration's attention is all about that? I know the demographics are trending toward more esol/farms in the past couple of years. Is there any concern about safety/fights/gangs? Can academically inclined kids (again, not sporty) find like-minded peers and good teachers with high expectations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This principal is not a Madison grad and former sports star, as the previous one was, so that is changing the atmosphere there for the better.

And, then, some people think that sports is a great thing for a school. It raises the morale of the kids and gives them activities for balance in their lives.

Sports are still very big at Madison. The problem under the prior principal was that he tolerated bullying and misbehavior by jocks and created an environment in which the kids who were not varsity athletes were made to feel like second-class students. It is much better now.

This worries me as we are looking in the Madison pyramid. Kids are not sporty and not in band. We are not super wealthy. Is it better to go to a lesser school and be on the upper end of it (i.e. like a Herndon school) or go to a Madison type of school where you probably won't be among the super stars. ??

Speaking of Herndon -- are there so many esol/farms kids that the administration's attention is all about that? I know the demographics are trending toward more esol/farms in the past couple of years. Is there any concern about safety/fights/gangs? Can academically inclined kids (again, not sporty) find like-minded peers and good teachers with high expectations?

split the difference and look at Marshall district

[Anonymous]

Any feedback about the culture at Marshall?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Langley: good school but drug problem.

Seriously? You, again?

My kids have all gone to Langley. There is no "drug problem" there - any more than there is at any high school on this list, or in this country, for that matter.

We found Langley to be large enough for all our kids to find their various niches and people. None of them were particularly athletic, and yet all found groups of like-minded kids in theatre, academics, band, and other extracurriculars. Lots of interesting and nice kids, mostly fantastic teachers, and a fabulous academic experience. Highly recommend.