lake braddock vs robinson vs woodson

[Anonymous]

You can't go wrong with West Springfield, Lake Braddock, or Robinson. All three are great schools - excellent academics, low pressure, enough diversity (ethnic, social, economic, personality) that your kids will find their place.

Woodson has a rep of being a pressure cooker of overscheduled kids, hyper-involved parents, and suicides. I'm sure type-A, super driven, competitive types are very very happy there. If your kid doesn't fall into that category, probably not the best environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can't go wrong with West Springfield, Lake Braddock, or Robinson. All three are great schools - excellent academics, low pressure, enough diversity (ethnic, social, economic, personality) that your kids will find their place.

Woodson has a rep of being a pressure cooker of overscheduled kids, hyper-involved parents, and suicides. I'm sure type-A, super driven, competitive types are very very happy there. If your kid doesn't fall into that category, probably not the best environment.

Meh. You trade in crude stereotypes.

You could just as easily claim that West Springfield, Lake Braddock and Robinson are second-tier schools where middle-brow types who can't afford homes in the top school districts, but are scared of majority-minority schools with too much (as opposed to "enough") diversity, congregate to pat each other on the back and compare notes on Virginia Tech and JMU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You can't go wrong with West Springfield, Lake Braddock, or Robinson. All three are great schools - excellent academics, low pressure, enough diversity (ethnic, social, economic, personality) that your kids will find their place.

Woodson has a rep of being a pressure cooker of overscheduled kids, hyper-involved parents, and suicides. I'm sure type-A, super driven, competitive types are very very happy there. If your kid doesn't fall into that category, probably not the best environment.



Meh. You trade in crude stereotypes.

You could just as easily claim that West Springfield, Lake Braddock and Robinson are second-tier schools where middle-brow types who can't afford homes in the top school districts, but are scared of majority-minority schools with too much (as opposed to "enough") diversity, congregate to pat each other on the back and compare notes on Virginia Tech and JMU.

You could, but you'd just be speaking from the entitled, hyper-competitive and snobby perspective of the exact type of student and parent that desires Woodson. In fact, I think your description is the perfect example of this point. OP, if you want your child to look at other area schools as "second tier, middle-brow" and full of poors, then by all means, your people are in Woodson!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You can't go wrong with West Springfield, Lake Braddock, or Robinson. All three are great schools - excellent academics, low pressure, enough diversity (ethnic, social, economic, personality) that your kids will find their place.

Woodson has a rep of being a pressure cooker of overscheduled kids, hyper-involved parents, and suicides. I'm sure type-A, super driven, competitive types are very very happy there. If your kid doesn't fall into that category, probably not the best environment.



Meh. You trade in crude stereotypes.

You could just as easily claim that West Springfield, Lake Braddock and Robinson are second-tier schools where middle-brow types who can't afford homes in the top school districts, but are scared of majority-minority schools with too much (as opposed to "enough") diversity, congregate to pat each other on the back and compare notes on Virginia Tech and JMU.

You could, but you'd just be speaking from the entitled, hyper-competitive and snobby perspective of the exact type of student and parent that desires Woodson. In fact, I think your description is the perfect example of this point. OP, if you want your child to look at other area schools as "second tier, middle-brow" and full of poors, then by all means, your people are in Woodson!

It's not just Woodson parents rolling their eyes when you stereotype WTW to make your middle-of-the-pack school sound better. Parents at schools like Lee and West Potomac know exactly what code language you're using when you claim WS/LB/Robinson have "enough" diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You can't go wrong with West Springfield, Lake Braddock, or Robinson. All three are great schools - excellent academics, low pressure, enough diversity (ethnic, social, economic, personality) that your kids will find their place.

Woodson has a rep of being a pressure cooker of overscheduled kids, hyper-involved parents, and suicides. I'm sure type-A, super driven, competitive types are very very happy there. If your kid doesn't fall into that category, probably not the best environment.



Meh. You trade in crude stereotypes.

You could just as easily claim that West Springfield, Lake Braddock and Robinson are second-tier schools where middle-brow types who can't afford homes in the top school districts, but are scared of majority-minority schools with too much (as opposed to "enough") diversity, congregate to pat each other on the back and compare notes on Virginia Tech and JMU.

You could, but you'd just be speaking from the entitled, hyper-competitive and snobby perspective of the exact type of student and parent that desires Woodson. In fact, I think your description is the perfect example of this point. OP, if you want your child to look at other area schools as "second tier, middle-brow" and full of poors, then by all means, your people are in Woodson!

It's not just Woodson parents rolling their eyes when you stereotype WTW to make your middle-of-the-pack school sound better. Parents at schools like Lee and West Potomac know exactly what code language you're using when you claim WS/LB/Robinson have "enough" diversity.

+1000

[Anonymous]

The .inority students at West Springfield score exceptionally well. Look at test scores from WSHS for blacks and hispanics. They are very high.

I am sure LB and Robinso. Show similar achievement.

[Anonymous]

I think the awoodson suicide culture should give everyone pause.

[Anonymous]

I will say this about Woodson: I wouldn't recommend it if your child has any sort of learning, emotional or social quirks. We sent our oldest who struggled and my view -- as a teacher elsewhere -- was that admin really didn't care/want to focus on mental health and wellness until it was too late. I also saw a culture where teachers -- my kid's -- were not terribly supportive and didn't make the pressure feeling of the place any less. It was an intense four years and my son really, really hated that there wasn't a space for quirky kids who needed more support and less intensity.

We pupil placed to Robinson for our second who finished the IB program with a diploma and it's just night and day. My second kid had a mentor teacher who was amazing.

Strangely both kids ended up at W&M. My son called his first year of college de-programming from Woodson. DD just saw W&M as Robinson 2.0.

Both schools are fine academically. Socially and culturally, they are completely different animals.

[Anonymous]

I think the woodson suicide culture should give everyone pause.

+ 1000

Couldn't agree more. By "enough" diversity, I mean that the students at West Springfield, Robinson, and Lake Braddock come from a much broader pool of social, economic, religious, and ethnic groups than Woodson. Meaning most students have a better chance of finding their niche at those schools. Are you a super high-achieving type-A overscheduled Captain America type? You'll find some at those three schools. Are you a lower-income, apartment dwelling student with high academic potential but less involved parents? You'll find some at those three schools. Are you from a non-christian religion and want to dress according to your religion? You'll fit in at those three schools. Are you an average middle-class student who doesn't really care about being the best and just want to get through school, go to college, and do your thing? Plenty of people like you.

Diversity is not always code for skin color. It is EXACTLY that kind of thinking that turns people off to schools like Woodson. And probably makes the students kill themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I think the woodson suicide culture should give everyone pause.

+ 1000

Couldn't agree more. By "enough" diversity, I mean that the students at West Springfield, Robinson, and Lake Braddock come from a much broader pool of social, economic, religious, and ethnic groups than Woodson. Meaning most students have a better chance of finding their niche at those schools. Are you a super high-achieving type-A overscheduled Captain America type? You'll find some at those three schools. Are you a lower-income, apartment dwelling student with high academic potential but less involved parents? You'll find some at those three schools. Are you from a non-christian religion and want to dress according to your religion? You'll fit in at those three schools. Are you an average middle-class student who doesn't really care about being the best and just want to get through school, go to college, and do your thing? Plenty of people like you.

Diversity is not always code for skin color. It is EXACTLY that kind of thinking that turns people off to schools like Woodson. And probably makes the students kill themselves.

PP here. Also want to add that among the high achieving students -- my son was one -- there was a strong "Penn Face" phenomenon at Woodson. The Penn Face is the pressure to always present yourself as if you have all of the pieces of your life in order. It’s the pressure to say you’re OK and act OK even when you don’t feel OK.

https://thetab.com/us/penn/2016/08/31/dear-class-of-2020-dont-let-the-penn-face-get-to-you-2337

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I think the woodson suicide culture should give everyone pause.

+ 1000

Couldn't agree more. By "enough" diversity, I mean that the students at West Springfield, Robinson, and Lake Braddock come from a much broader pool of social, economic, religious, and ethnic groups than Woodson. Meaning most students have a better chance of finding their niche at those schools. Are you a super high-achieving type-A overscheduled Captain America type? You'll find some at those three schools. Are you a lower-income, apartment dwelling student with high academic potential but less involved parents? You'll find some at those three schools. Are you from a non-christian religion and want to dress according to your religion? You'll fit in at those three schools. Are you an average middle-class student who doesn't really care about being the best and just want to get through school, go to college, and do your thing? Plenty of people like you.

Diversity is not always code for skin color. It is EXACTLY that kind of thinking that turns people off to schools like Woodson. And probably makes the students kill themselves.

Just stop You are trying to dig yourself out of a hole, but you just keep digging deeper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't go wrong with West Springfield, Lake Braddock, or Robinson. All three are great schools - excellent academics, low pressure, enough diversity (ethnic, social, economic, personality) that your kids will find their place.

Woodson has a rep of being a pressure cooker of overscheduled kids, hyper-involved parents, and suicides. I'm sure type-A, super driven, competitive types are very very happy there. If your kid doesn't fall into that category, probably not the best environment.

Meh. You trade in crude stereotypes.

You could just as easily claim that West Springfield, Lake Braddock and Robinson are second-tier schools where middle-brow types who can't afford homes in the top school districts, but are scared of majority-minority schools with too much (as opposed to "enough") diversity, congregate to pat each other on the back and compare notes on Virginia Tech and JMU.

I went to an Ivy League college from a public school and live in the Robinson / LBSS / WSHS area. I think we consider ourselves to be down to earth and people who are professional like doctors and lawyers but for work life balance reason chose to work for the government or work part time. I think we think our schools are awesome. My kids are only in ES and I think the older kids I see at our local HS are awesome and going to great colleges so much so that I don't see a reason to think it would be "better" if my kids went to TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the awoodson suicide culture should give everyone pause.

I agree, this is very troubling and personally, that was one of the reasons we avoided a house zoned for Woodson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't go wrong with West Springfield, Lake Braddock, or Robinson. All three are great schools - excellent academics, low pressure, enough diversity (ethnic, social, economic, personality) that your kids will find their place.

Woodson has a rep of being a pressure cooker of overscheduled kids, hyper-involved parents, and suicides. I'm sure type-A, super driven, competitive types are very very happy there. If your kid doesn't fall into that category, probably not the best environment.

Meh. You trade in crude stereotypes.

You could just as easily claim that West Springfield, Lake Braddock and Robinson are second-tier schools where middle-brow types who can't afford homes in the top school districts, but are scared of majority-minority schools with too much (as opposed to "enough") diversity, congregate to pat each other on the back and compare notes on Virginia Tech and JMU.

I went to an Ivy League college from a public school and live in the Robinson / LBSS / WSHS area. I think we consider ourselves to be down to earth and people who are professional like doctors and lawyers but for work life balance reason chose to work for the government or work part time. I think we think our schools are awesome. My kids are only in ES and I think the older kids I see at our local HS are awesome and going to great colleges so much so that I don't see a reason to think it would be "better" if my kids went to TJ.

Well said. Count us and many of our friends in that category as well. Our kids attended and graduated from those "second-tier" schools and were accepted into schools even elitist DCUMers aspire to. Also, plenty of us can afford to live in whichever neighborhood we want but actually CHOOSE to live here. PP's snobbish post confirms that we have made a good choice by staying out of the judgmental snooty "top school district" locations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't go wrong with West Springfield, Lake Braddock, or Robinson. All three are great schools - excellent academics, low pressure, enough diversity (ethnic, social, economic, personality) that your kids will find their place.

Woodson has a rep of being a pressure cooker of overscheduled kids, hyper-involved parents, and suicides. I'm sure type-A, super driven, competitive types are very very happy there. If your kid doesn't fall into that category, probably not the best environment.

Meh. You trade in crude stereotypes.

You could just as easily claim that West Springfield, Lake Braddock and Robinson are second-tier schools where middle-brow types who can't afford homes in the top school districts, but are scared of majority-minority schools with too much (as opposed to "enough") diversity, congregate to pat each other on the back and compare notes on Virginia Tech and JMU.

I went to an Ivy League college from a public school and live in the Robinson / LBSS / WSHS area. I think we consider ourselves to be down to earth and people who are professional like doctors and lawyers but for work life balance reason chose to work for the government or work part time. I think we think our schools are awesome. My kids are only in ES and I think the older kids I see at our local HS are awesome and going to great colleges so much so that I don't see a reason to think it would be "better" if my kids went to TJ.

I think you think we think Woodson should be avoided if you trash it and then say some generically nice things about your school that could be said about any school in the county, but you're wrong.