Yorktown HS vs Private?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those schools are facing overcrowding, plus Yorktown loses many of its top students to W-L for IB, whereas W-L gets to offer both AP and IB.

This just isn't true.

W-L has a total of 247 IB transfer students for IB this year. Assuming 50/50 split for Yorktown and Wakefield (which is unlikely -- more would seek to flee Wakefield), that's an average of just under 31 students per class. Factor in the fact that IB plays second fiddle to Advanced Placement in terms of college placement, and no, it doesn't track that "many" Yorktown students choose to go to W-L for IB.

IB appeals to a certain kind of student for sure. But it's not exactly considered to be high rigor, at least not compared to AP.

https://www.apsva.us/statistics/pupil-transfer-report/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yorktown is a top rated high school and I don't think you should hesitate to send your child there for academic reasons. I don't find the overcrowding to be much of a problem for our children but if it would bother your kid and you want to spend the extra money on a private school then obviously you can make that choice. I personally would not spend the money in a county with such good public schools. A student who takes intensified and AP classes will get a great education and be competitive for college applications.

For the areas it serves, it seems to punch below its weight.

As parent of current YHS senior, I totally agree. I have a kid at WMS and I'm leaning toward IB at W&L.

That's a good choice for some average kids, sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are four middle schools in Arlington, not just two.

But only Swanson and Williamsburg feed into Yorktown. So, really only two for purposes of this discussion. In the future, please try to keep up. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I know a few families with kids there and kids who have graduated in the last few years. Never heard anything bad, other than that it is not exactly diverse. I plan to send my daughter there unless she tests into TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those schools are facing overcrowding, plus Yorktown loses many of its top students to W-L for IB, whereas W-L gets to offer both AP and IB.

Not true at all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those schools are facing overcrowding, plus Yorktown loses many of its top students to W-L for IB, whereas W-L gets to offer both AP and IB.

This just isn't true.

W-L has a total of 247 IB transfer students for IB this year. Assuming 50/50 split for Yorktown and Wakefield (which is unlikely -- more would seek to flee Wakefield), that's an average of just under 31 students per class. Factor in the fact that IB plays second fiddle to Advanced Placement in terms of college placement, and no, it doesn't track that "many" Yorktown students choose to go to W-L for IB.

IB appeals to a certain kind of student for sure. But it's not exactly considered to be high rigor, at least not compared to AP.

https://www.apsva.us/statistics/pupil-transfer-report/


Plus- it is much easier to get college credit for AP classes than IB. Most colleges don't even look at standard level courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yorktown is a top rated high school and I don't think you should hesitate to send your child there for academic reasons. I don't find the overcrowding to be much of a problem for our children but if it would bother your kid and you want to spend the extra money on a private school then obviously you can make that choice. I personally would not spend the money in a county with such good public schools. A student who takes intensified and AP classes will get a great education and be competitive for college applications.

For the areas it serves, it seems to punch below its weight.

Seems to be the case if you look at college placement: http://www.arlingtonmagazine.com/September-October-2016/Where-Arlington-Grads-Applied-and-Were-Accepted-to-College/
But they did send one to Princeton.

[Anonymous]

Been saying it for years...

Your kid will shine brighter at Wakefield...

They only take a few from Wakefield into UVA, Williams and Mary etc.
But it's easier to be in that handful, than in the preppy sea of perfectly good at Yorktown.
Just sayin'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those schools are facing overcrowding, plus Yorktown loses many of its top students to W-L for IB, whereas W-L gets to offer both AP and IB.

This just isn't true.

W-L has a total of 247 IB transfer students for IB this year. Assuming 50/50 split for Yorktown and Wakefield (which is unlikely -- more would seek to flee Wakefield), that's an average of just under 31 students per class. Factor in the fact that IB plays second fiddle to Advanced Placement in terms of college placement, and no, it doesn't track that "many" Yorktown students choose to go to W-L for IB.

IB appeals to a certain kind of student for sure. But it's not exactly considered to be high rigor, at least not compared to AP.

https://www.apsva.us/statistics/pupil-transfer-report/

The top colleges at every admissions event I have attended (and considering I have 3 in college who went to high school in Arlington that's a lot) consistently state that when they want their applicants to take the classes their school offers that are the most rigorous , they consider IB more rigorous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Been saying it for years...

Your kid will shine brighter at Wakefield...

They only take a few from Wakefield into UVA, Williams and Mary etc.
But it's easier to be in that handful, than in the preppy sea of perfectly good at Yorktown.
Just sayin'

This is such a seductive and cynical but bogus way of thinking. "Go. Be a big fish in a small pond!" Whatever.

[Anonymous]

Not exactly your question, OP, but recently picked a private over WL after having two other DC go to WL. Loved WL when there were "only" around 420 in a class but the overcrowding is a real issue to us. Don't think the school board is dealing with it either. So far very good experience at the private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Been saying it for years...

Your kid will shine brighter at Wakefield...

They only take a few from Wakefield into UVA, Williams and Mary etc.
But it's easier to be in that handful, than in the preppy sea of perfectly good at Yorktown.
Just sayin'

This is such a seductive and cynical but bogus way of thinking. "Go. Be a big fish in a small pond!" Whatever.

But it's how it goes. Doesn't make Wakefield the best or even the better choice for your kid, but any admissions officer will tell you this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Been saying it for years...

Your kid will shine brighter at Wakefield...

They only take a few from Wakefield into UVA, Williams and Mary etc.
But it's easier to be in that handful, than in the preppy sea of perfectly good at Yorktown.
Just sayin'

This is such a seductive and cynical but bogus way of thinking. "Go. Be a big fish in a small pond!" Whatever.

But it's how it goes. Doesn't make Wakefield the best or even the better choice for your kid, but any admissions officer will tell you this.

College admission is a game. And many people will game the system by taking every little advantage they can, especially when you have an average student. (I have an average student, but am not willing to move).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Been saying it for years...

Your kid will shine brighter at Wakefield...

They only take a few from Wakefield into UVA, Williams and Mary etc.
But it's easier to be in that handful, than in the preppy sea of perfectly good at Yorktown.
Just sayin'

This is such a seductive and cynical but bogus way of thinking. "Go. Be a big fish in a small pond!" Whatever.

But it's how it goes. Doesn't make Wakefield the best or even the better choice for your kid, but any admissions officer will tell you this.

College admission is a game. And many people will game the system by taking every little advantage they can, especially when you have an average student. (I have an average student, but am not willing to move).

I don't think you have to move. I think you can transfer.
I don't really have much sympathy for that response. Yes, it is a game and plenty of people think they are winning it by paying a premium for a zipcode. Maybe there are people on the other side of tracks that have some advantages too. That's a good thing.

[Anonymous]

APS admissions rates to Ivies seem to be below-average except for Cornell and maybe Penn: http://www.arlingtonmagazine.com/September-October-2016/Where-Arlington-Grads-Applied-and-Were-Accepted-to-College/index.php?cparticle=8&siarticle=7#artanc

Brown - 3.6%
Columbia - 4.9%
Cornell - 20%
Dartmouth - 4.5%
Harvard - 2.6%
Princeton - 3.0%
Penn - 7.3%
Yale - 2.8%