Woodson vs. Fairfax High School: Pros and Cons?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most affluent part of FHS is an attendance island to the west (Willow Springs area) that could be rezoned to Centreville if/when a new high school gets built. In the Woodson pyramid there is also a possibility that at some point the Wakefield Forest area could get moved back to Annandale.

Yeah, probably not since my BF made the trek, 30 years ago from that area to FHS.

That’s irrelevant. The area is closer to at least two other high schools so it all depends on whether they build a new school. The only kids guaranteed to go to FHS are those who live in Fairfax City.

[Anonymous]

They are both good schools. Fairfax had an art academy so that might give it a slight edge if your kids are interested in that.

[Anonymous]

Woodson is a pressure cooker. Fairfax is slightly more laid back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You can't be that familiar with FHS if you didn't know the principal is leaving

What a typical snotty northern virginia thing to say

It seems like she is getting reassigned.
Not sure why

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Woodson is a pressure cooker. Fairfax is slightly more laid back.

Sad that you traffic in cliches. Pressure comes from some parents, not the schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woodson is a pressure cooker. Fairfax is slightly more laid back.

Sad that you traffic in cliches. Pressure comes from some parents, not the schools.

Woodson has a reputation for being a pressure cooker. It is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are both good schools. Fairfax had an art academy so that might give it a slight edge if your kids are interested in that.

You have to apply to the academy programs and application is open to anyone at any FCPS high school. They bus students from around the system to the respective academies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woodson is a pressure cooker. Fairfax is slightly more laid back.

Sad that you traffic in cliches. Pressure comes from some parents, not the schools.

Woodson has a reputation for being a pressure cooker. It is what it is.

That's only because people repeat phrases that make them feel better about their own school choices (every school with higher test scores than mine is a pressure cooker where all the kids are doing drugs, and every school with lower test scores is full of gangs and slackers).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You can't be that familiar with FHS if you didn't know the principal is leaving

What a typical snotty northern virginia thing to say

It seems like she is getting reassigned.
Not sure why

She's moving to Michigan.

[Anonymous]

I agree that it won’t really make a big difference either way. A lot of the kids from both schools are friends with each other from growing up playing rec sports together, going to the same pools, churches, camps, etc.

Woodson is definitely ranked higher academically due to having less kids from lower income homes. But if you’re a household that could afford to live in either district and are somewhat involved in your kids’ education then it really won’t matter which school your kids attend.

Ffx has a fine arts academy if your kids are more interested in that area while Woodson is generally a bit better in sports. But really, they’re both good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You can't be that familiar with FHS if you didn't know the principal is leaving

What a typical snotty northern virginia thing to say

It seems like she is getting reassigned.
Not sure why

She's moving to Michigan.

Illinois, I believe. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/lenart-leaves-fairfax-high-providence-principal-steps-down/ar-BB1gFleD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have experience with both. The biggest difference is that the Woodson population is much more affluent on average than that of Fairfax, which impacts the rigor that can be achieved in the curriculum.

Woodson has a great principal. Fairfax's principal was also great but she's leaving. The atmosphere at both schools is caring and positive (at least on the part of the administration and staff--there's no telling what individual behaviors and student experiences may be present at any given point in time).

Fairfax's last renovation was a bit more recent and their football field is much nicer. I don't know about the rest of the athletic facilities.

The housing stock in Woodson is more expensive because of the schools pyramids.

Um, what? You're clearly not familiar with the boundary of FHS. There are quite a few very affluent neighborhoods that feed into it. PTA is very involved. And because it is not as bit as Woodson, kids get more opportunities to play sports, being involved in this. The school is nice facility. The "rigor" is just as good as Woodson, with kids this year going to Harvard, UVA, and other top schools.

I don't know if it's true the principal is leaving. I had not heard that and it would be a shame if she were leaving.

You can't be that familiar with FHS if you didn't know the principal is leaving.

I don't care what you think. I don't read every announcement, etc. and yes I missed that one. But, I'm very familiar with the feeders into the school vs. Woodson, the community, feel, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most affluent part of FHS is an attendance island to the west (Willow Springs area) that could be rezoned to Centreville if/when a new high school gets built. In the Woodson pyramid there is also a possibility that at some point the Wakefield Forest area could get moved back to Annandale.

Yeah, probably not since my BF made the trek, 30 years ago from that area to FHS.

That’s irrelevant. The area is closer to at least two other high schools so it all depends on whether they build a new school. The only kids guaranteed to go to FHS are those who live in Fairfax City.

Nope. Brentwood, Buckley's Reserve, Hampton Chase/Forest, and Colchester . .. all outside the City and all go to FHS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most affluent part of FHS is an attendance island to the west (Willow Springs area) that could be rezoned to Centreville if/when a new high school gets built. In the Woodson pyramid there is also a possibility that at some point the Wakefield Forest area could get moved back to Annandale.

Yeah, probably not since my BF made the trek, 30 years ago from that area to FHS.

That’s irrelevant. The area is closer to at least two other high schools so it all depends on whether they build a new school. The only kids guaranteed to go to FHS are those who live in Fairfax City.

Nope. Brentwood, Buckley's Reserve, Hampton Chase/Forest, and Colchester . .. all outside the City and all go to FHS.

Your reading comprehension is below grade school level.

[Anonymous]

Both are good schools, if you have a good kid you will be fine.