Whats the best public high school in Virginia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Fairfax County: McLean, Langley, Madison, Woodson
OR in Arlington County: Yorktown
OR George Mason in Falls Church City

I wouldn't include Madison on that list.

Agreed. Top three in Fairfax besides TJ are McLean, Langley and Woodson. I'd give the nod to McLean, particularly if you want to be close to DC and want a bit of diversity in your child's school. Langley caters to an exclusively upper-income crowd, and Madison is very sports-oriented. If that type of school interests you, Oakton is probably better than Madison.

I think McLean is a fine school, but I favor Woodson. They seem to have a very average demographic, but impressive merits.

Could you expand on your comment about Woodson? I'm interested in this school but don't know much about it. Langley and McLean are talked up much more often on the boards but I'm not sure why. Housing in the Woodson district appears more affordable than McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Fairfax County: McLean, Langley, Madison, Woodson
OR in Arlington County: Yorktown
OR George Mason in Falls Church City

I wouldn't include Madison on that list.

Agreed. Top three in Fairfax besides TJ are McLean, Langley and Woodson. I'd give the nod to McLean, particularly if you want to be close to DC and want a bit of diversity in your child's school. Langley caters to an exclusively upper-income crowd, and Madison is very sports-oriented. If that type of school interests you, Oakton is probably better than Madison.

I think McLean is a fine school, but I favor Woodson. They seem to have a very average demographic, but impressive merits.

Could you expand on your comment about Woodson? I'm interested in this school but don't know much about it. Langley and McLean are talked up much more often on the boards but I'm not sure why. Housing in the Woodson district appears more affordable than McLean.

Langley is made up of a very affluent student body, as is McLean -- though McLean does pull from a couple of neighborhoods that are more financially challenged. But something would be very wrong if these two schools did not have the fine reputation that they do have. However, Woodson is pretty impressive itself. Yet Woodson is very middle class, with lovely but far more modest neighborhoods feeding into it. Woodson also has a very strong, dedicated and vocal parent community. I have always liked the vibe I get from the school.

And for the record, I do not have a child at any of these schools. I am basing my info on what I read and from friends who have kids at these high schools. Tho I live in NOVA, my child goes to a private high school in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every eligbile FCPS high school (meaning TJ was excluded) was "listed in the top 5% of publics schools in the nation, based on the annual challenge index - which measures a schools effort to challenge all students".[See Fairfax County Public Schools handbook 2009-2010].

When you think of it that way, does it really matter what high school your child goes to? You could send DC to Mt. Vernon or Edison and they would still be challenged while getting a good education, especially if parents are setting high expectations for their kids. As with most everything in life, they'll get out of it what they put into it.

The "Challenge Index" is not very meaningful. It doesn't measure how well students perform on the AP/IB exams, only how many of these exams were administered to students at a school.

Do you have personal experience with Mt. Vernon or Edison? The principal at Mt. Vernon seems very dynamic, but SAT scores keep sliding and are well below national averages. A lot of parents posted to Fort Belvoir move to Springfield or Fairfax so their kids can attend West Springfield, Lake Braddock or Robinson rather than Mt. Vernon.

This is so true and I wish people would stop judging "the best" public schools based on this index. Like the pp said, it does not take into account how many students actually get passing scores on the AP/IB test - just the number of students in the school who are taking them. I think you also need to take into account whether you want AP/IB, the size of the school, and the elective offerings at the school (some schools have Academies). I think it is really ignorant to say a school is "the best" just based on that challenge index.

I completely agree! I wish the Post would ditch Jay Matthews. I do not find his column to provide useful information/

I don't exactly know who you mean by "ignorant". I'm the parent who thinks you can get a a great education at any Fairfax HS, including Mt. Vernon and Edison. I agree the index shouldn't be used to determine the "best" schools. It's just an indication of how many students are afforded a challenging environment - which is the best indicator of college success, not test scores. Based on the index, Fairfax County schools are in the top 5% of challenging schools in the nation. What objective measures are you using to support your determination of what the best schools are? Test scores aren't a better measure and shouldn't be used in isolation, but that seems to be the measuring stick everyone is using. Just who does that make 'ignorant'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every eligbile FCPS high school (meaning TJ was excluded) was "listed in the top 5% of publics schools in the nation, based on the annual challenge index - which measures a schools effort to challenge all students".[See Fairfax County Public Schools handbook 2009-2010].

When you think of it that way, does it really matter what high school your child goes to? You could send DC to Mt. Vernon or Edison and they would still be challenged while getting a good education, especially if parents are setting high expectations for their kids. As with most everything in life, they'll get out of it what they put into it.

The "Challenge Index" is not very meaningful. It doesn't measure how well students perform on the AP/IB exams, only how many of these exams were administered to students at a school.

Do you have personal experience with Mt. Vernon or Edison? The principal at Mt. Vernon seems very dynamic, but SAT scores keep sliding and are well below national averages. A lot of parents posted to Fort Belvoir move to Springfield or Fairfax so their kids can attend West Springfield, Lake Braddock or Robinson rather than Mt. Vernon.

This is so true and I wish people would stop judging "the best" public schools based on this index. Like the pp said, it does not take into account how many students actually get passing scores on the AP/IB test - just the number of students in the school who are taking them. I think you also need to take into account whether you want AP/IB, the size of the school, and the elective offerings at the school (some schools have Academies). I think it is really ignorant to say a school is "the best" just based on that challenge index.

I completely agree! I wish the Post would ditch Jay Matthews. I do not find his column to provide useful information/

I don't exactly know who you mean by "ignorant". I'm the parent who thinks you can get a a great education at any Fairfax HS, including Mt. Vernon and Edison. I agree the index shouldn't be used to determine the "best" schools. It's just an indication of how many students are afforded a challenging environment - which is the best indicator of college success, not test scores. Based on the index, Fairfax County schools are in the top 5% of challenging schools in the nation. What objective measures are you using to support your determination of what the best schools are? Test scores aren't a better measure and shouldn't be used in isolation, but that seems to be the measuring stick everyone is using. Just who does that make 'ignorant'.

No, I wasn't referring to you at all! I think we are in complete agreement, because I think all Fairfax Co. schools are challenging and have their own strengths. I was referring to the earlier posters who just listed "the best" schools and were basing that on the rankings done by Jay Mathews in the Post. Choosing your high school based on that list is ignorant IMO. That is only one measure of the many things that make up a good high school. So, sorry if you thought that - I should not have quoted your post in my response.

[Anonymous]

Langley has the most drugs...rich caucasian kids, not alot of diversity. Friends that went there experienced things that go on at raunchy Vegas parties. It is touted as the best because of $ of parents. I grew up in Fairfax Co...Lake Braddock, Robinson, Woodson, West Springfield, etc..all very solid, decent schools. There is no 'best.

[Anonymous]

My husband went to a public HS in the midwest where only 5% went to 4-year colleges. He scored a perfect score on his SATS (back when it meant something) is fluent in 3 languages. Just about any school in this area will give your child a decent education. This 'best' thing is absurd.

That said-- competition at some of these top high schools is ulcer inducing. Sometimes better to be a big fish in a little pond. I know several friends from college that were Valedictorians in their little HS and wouldn't even be in top 10 around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Langley has the most drugs...rich caucasian kids, not alot of diversity. Friends that went there experienced things that go on at raunchy Vegas parties. It is touted as the best because of $ of parents. I grew up in Fairfax Co...Lake Braddock, Robinson, Woodson, West Springfield, etc..all very solid, decent schools. There is no 'best.

Langley is touted as the best because its test scores are the best in the county besides TJ, not because of the $ of the parents - though I guess you could say all that $ pays for a lot of SAT prep courses!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Langley has the most drugs...rich caucasian kids, not alot of diversity. Friends that went there experienced things that go on at raunchy Vegas parties. It is touted as the best because of $ of parents. I grew up in Fairfax Co...Lake Braddock, Robinson, Woodson, West Springfield, etc..all very solid, decent schools. There is no 'best.

Langley is touted as the best because its test scores are the best in the county besides TJ, not because of the $ of the parents - though I guess you could say all that $ pays for a lot of SAT prep courses!

and not far off from the other top Arlington and Fairfax Co. schools.... I am somebody that was a 4.0+, high SAT, State Championship athlete that was told by some top universities that they had met their "quota" of kids from my HighSchool/geographic area. My point is sometimes it does not pay to be in that environment. In some ways it was more limiting from me and while i agree I got a sound education---even at the top schools in the area I had many sub-par teachers along the way. This is why I don't think it is necessary to get so caught up in 'the best'. I strive for sound, decent with some diversity for more kids.

[Anonymous]

Langley's test scores are NOT the best in the country...in fact they were below several other VA schools. Thomas Jefferson HS is rated as America's best--#1; McLean is #55; Langley is #76; Woodson is #90.

Don't get me wrong--it's a great school...but chill out Langley parents. I've met my share of dummies from there as well.

http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/high-schools/2008/12/04/best-high-schools-gold-medal-list.html

[Anonymous]

test scores do not directly equate to competence of teaching staff, or overall quality of a school.

Think about this area...is it any surprise that the wealthiest areas of the regions produce the best scores...$ earns. The kids at those schools are enrolled in extracurricular SAT prep courses, etc.. Also--- the HS themselves lack any sort of diversity so naturally they will score better than a multi-cultural school, but does that mean they are 'better' than the multi-cultural school...ask yourselves that one.

Here's an example-- Arlington Co.. has some of the wealthiest neighborhoods as well...Country Club Hills, Rivercrest (homes in the Millions of dollars); Lyon Village (avg. priced home $1.1 million); yet right across Columbia Pike some of poorest areas in the region. These regions all feed into the local HS. The local HS is rated # 8 best in the Washington Metro. area. It still ranks nationally as one of the best---yet while it has great scores they aren't quite at the magnitude of a Langley, etc., simply because of the diversity of the population. This does not mean this HS is not as good as the other HS. I would rather see people debating the quality of the teaching staff, resources, etc. than scores which don't give represent the big picture in regards to educational experience as a whole.

As someone else noted---local Universities often put a cap on # of students admitted from any one HS.

[Anonymous]

I don't think those of us who think a great education is available at all Fairfax high schools are going to convince those that are looking for the "best" school. For whatever reason, having your kid at the "best" school satisfies some need these parents have. It's really not about the education - which we've all shown can be had at any of these schools - it's about the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Langley's test scores are NOT the best in the country...in fact they were below several other VA schools. Thomas Jefferson HS is rated as America's best--#1; McLean is #55; Langley is #76; Woodson is #90.

Don't get me wrong--it's a great school...but chill out Langley parents. I've met my share of dummies from there as well.

http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/high-schools/2008/12/04/best-high-schools-gold-medal-list.html

Langley has the best SAT scores in Fairfax COUNTY after TJ. No one said it was the best in the country.

The US News ratings reflects a weighted approach that take into account various factors such as performance of SAT scores, the extent to which economically challenged students perform better than expected on standardized tests, etc. Under that type of approach, McLean - which has a diverse student population along with a lot of affluent kids - fares better than Langley.

But, yeah, chilling out would be a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think those of us who think a great education is available at all Fairfax high schools are going to convince those that are looking for the "best" school. For whatever reason, having your kid at the "best" school satisfies some need these parents have. It's really not about the education - which we've all shown can be had at any of these schools - it's about the parents.

I agree. This question will have a different answer for every kid. Or if instead of saying "best" you clarify what you're actually asking. Such as, "Which school has the highest amount of privileged kids? Which school has the least amount of ESL students? Which school have the highest test scores? Etc., etc.

[Anonymous]

These posts are so silly. We are talking about PUBLIC school. There is some weird pride like 'car bragging' etc that some of these ppl have about their PUBLIC HS. Your kids did not have to test to get into these schools, you are not paying tuition....it is weird to me to brag about the school.

Now if your kid gets into Harvard---go ahead put that bumper sticker on the back of your car. If you are paying $60k a year for your childs private school---go ahead and brag about it....but bragging about something that is a public school is just plain weird.

We could have chosen to live anywhere in this area and it certainly wasnt' going to be a 'wasteland' away from city amenities which came with a long commute to boot- just to get bragging rights about a public HS. Get over yourselves, you freaks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think those of us who think a great education is available at all Fairfax high schools are going to convince those that are looking for the "best" school. For whatever reason, having your kid at the "best" school satisfies some need these parents have. It's really not about the education - which we've all shown can be had at any of these schools - it's about the parents.

Agree with this. But the question keeps coming up on this site and others so people must be hoping that somehow there will be an answer to this question. I teach at a Fairfax Co. school (Marshall) which is well regarded, but certainly never gets the praise that Langley and McLean do. But it is a great school with dedicated teachers and staff and a great IB program and Academy. So, certainly if you had a motivated student, he/she could get an excellent education there, even if it is not the "best".