Anyone know what is going on a Woodson?

[Anonymous]

Yes, I have also thought that the more middle class incomes in the woodson area could add to the stress--knowing states schools are the only option, financially. there are a ton of great private schools around the country that will take these super smart kids, but not for the price of local in state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I have also thought that the more middle class incomes in the woodson area could add to the stress--knowing states schools are the only option, financially. there are a ton of great private schools around the country that will take these super smart kids, but not for the price of local in state.

I see this argument on many Woodson threads, probably by the same one or two people. Those who can afford a 600-800k home are not middle class. And I have heard many people say that Langley and McLean is a pressure cooker, even if they haven't had the same suicide numbers.

And VA has a range of public colleges. A kid who doesn't get into UVA can go to JMU or Tech. I'm not seeing why there would be more competition for state schools than at a wealthier school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I have also thought that the more middle class incomes in the woodson area could add to the stress--knowing states schools are the only option, financially. there are a ton of great private schools around the country that will take these super smart kids, but not for the price of local in state.

I see this argument on many Woodson threads, probably by the same one or two people. Those who can afford a 600-800k home are not middle class. And I have heard many people say that Langley and McLean is a pressure cooker, even if they haven't had the same suicide numbers.

And VA has a range of public colleges. A kid who doesn't get into UVA can go to JMU or Tech. I'm not seeing why there would be more competition for state schools than at a wealthier school.

Woodson zoned 5-600k homes are the definition of middle class in the DC area. Moron

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I have also thought that the more middle class incomes in the woodson area could add to the stress--knowing states schools are the only option, financially. there are a ton of great private schools around the country that will take these super smart kids, but not for the price of local in state.

I see this argument on many Woodson threads, probably by the same one or two people. Those who can afford a 600-800k home are not middle class. And I have heard many people say that Langley and McLean is a pressure cooker, even if they haven't had the same suicide numbers.

And VA has a range of public colleges. A kid who doesn't get into UVA can go to JMU or Tech. I'm not seeing why there would be more competition for state schools than at a wealthier school.

So what is your theory, then? People are trying to be helpful, and you're responding defensively, as if the observation is meant as an attack on the income levels of the average Woodson family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I have also thought that the more middle class incomes in the woodson area could add to the stress--knowing states schools are the only option, financially. there are a ton of great private schools around the country that will take these super smart kids, but not for the price of local in state.

I see this argument on many Woodson threads, probably by the same one or two people. Those who can afford a 600-800k home are not middle class. And I have heard many people say that Langley and McLean is a pressure cooker, even if they haven't had the same suicide numbers.

And VA has a range of public colleges. A kid who doesn't get into UVA can go to JMU or Tech. I'm not seeing why there would be more competition for state schools than at a wealthier school.

So what is your theory, then? People are trying to be helpful, and you're responding defensively, as if the observation is meant as an attack on the income levels of the average Woodson family.

No, I'm not defensive. I'm just saying that I wouldn't call them middle-class, although I'm sure you're right that they're closer to middle class than Langley etc. I think it is related to income but not in the way you mention. Middle class or not, Woodson isn't filled with trust fund kids. It's filled with parents who think of it as a deal but with the reputation of more expensive areas. These parents who bought for that reason are also more likely, in my opinion, to be more type A and push their kids harder. I just don't think it's because of some sense that the kids have to go in-state or because they know they don't have a trust fund and have to work in life (which I remember reading on another thread, not here).

Believe me, I'm not trying to defend Woodson. It is insane that there have been this many suicides there, and I really hope they are involving some experts who know what changes they need to make to get this under control.

Previous PP with the name-calling, grow up!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:^^^ that's not the teachers fault. How often do you hear parents on this thread spouting off about merit pay for teachers. Teachers who produce get better pay. Well how the hell is that measured? Oh that's right! Test scores.
Check out the thread on Hayfield. Bunch of a$$holes talking about how terrible Lee, Annandale, Stuart etc... are. They would never send their kids to a GS 5! Well, pick your poison. You want your property values, I guess some eggs get cracked in that omelette. God forbid you don't have a big enough "peer" group.
Quit blaming the administration and teachers. Or move ffs. You don't like the culture of that GS 10 school? Well honey, there are a bunch of 5's right down the road.

Much easier to spout off about how great her $40,000 private was.

Sweetheart- my kid is slated to go to a very undesirable high school, as per these threads. The only people who have my sympathy in these scenarios are the kids. You parents are the worst.

Exactly. Do you think it was my first choice to pay big money to send my three kids to private high schools? I was quite happy with the elementary and middle school so I'm not the private school 'snob' these folk want to make me out to be. It ended up being a necessity because it is my KIDS that mattered. Your child will probably do fine in the 'undesirable' school because you get it.

Who put a gun to your head and made you live in Great Falls and send your kids to Langley? If it was so horrible, you could have pupil placed them to South Lakes or Marshall. Easier to spend hundreds of thousands on privates, I guess, and then come on here railing against people trying to do their best at the public schools or the "illegal children" who attend them.

THIS. We live in Great Falls and our kids attend Langley. They are happy and enjoy school. But if they didn't? We would do exactly as the PP suggested and pupil place for South Lakes or Marshall. What's the point of spending so much money on privates that cultivate the same - or WORSE - culture of competitiveness? Why wouldn't you place your child in a less competitive school if they were feeling pressure?

All privates are not alike. If you tried to pupil place in South Lakes because your kid was not happy or thriving at Langley, you would be put in the Non-IB program and if your kid was smart, the principal would tell you it was not a good idea. You have to start IB Freshman year.

I hear this a lot from fellow Great Falls people. They have the big house, expensive cars, large diamonds, take multiple expensive vacations, but when it comes to their kids, they think private school as an alternative is a waste. That's your choice. There are a lot more unhappy kids than you think at Langley, and other competitive publics, but they are loathe to talk about it with what they feel are unsympathetic adults.

Coming from a Jewish family, education is very important to us. Jews studied even in concentration camps, and have always equated education and survival. Perhaps that makes me particularly attuned to whether or not my kids enjoy learning, rather than just going through the motions. My boys attended a private many here either have never heard of, or if they have, make fun of. Too bad, because they are missing out.

The fact is, Fairfax county schools have been going downhill and a lot of that is due to the school board and the way our tax dollars are spent.

So wait a minute. Aside from your obsession with the size of other women's diamonds, you keep claiming that privates (specifically Bullis, of course) are the panacea for "unhappy kids." No mention of all of the wealth on constant display at these privates - wealth that far exceeds what one finds at even the "best" publics. You complain about the competitive parents at FCPS high schools, but no mention at all of the same type of parents who populate private schools. Why is this? Why do you think privates - specifically Bullis - are so much healthier and lower-stress for kids? Hint: they're not. You're simply paying a fortune to happily be lulled into feeling like your kids are not under the academic and social pressure you claim they would be at a public. You're so full of it.

Smaller classes. Better meals. Individualized curriculum. Better guidance support. Need I go
He n?

"Better meals"??? Oh, honey.

Food is fuel. Or do only eat kale?

My kids and most of the other kids I know bring their own healthy, nutritious meals from home. It's called common sense.

I would imagine you have to, given the crap served up in the publics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This little tidbit caught my eye:

“There are parents who have too high expectations for their children,” Goodwin says. “They don’t realize how hard it is to get into college [now].” Case in point: Goodwin notes that the average weighted GPA for a Whitman student accepted to Maryland last year was 4.35.

Ridiculous. And we wonder why kids are falling apart?

So parents are the ones with too high expectations? The problem couldn't possibly be how hard it is to get into college now, even state schools? These standards are crazy! Kids at these high schools have an expectation that they need to go to college to have a middle class lifestyle. Then they see kids who take "only 5 APS" getting rejected at your basic state college, even some with 8....Of course they will feel stressed.

PP here. You are exactly correct. That's why I think blaming the parents is ridiculous. Add to this, that the colleges will expect more from No. VA students than from other areas. The whole college process is toxic now.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:You really think a guidance counselor with hundreds of students is going to be able to properly guide students? They may give some helpful information or talk to a student if a student comes to them, but they aren't going out of their way to encourage kids to take classes well above their comfort zone. They may encourage kids take some AP classes, but I don't think they're the ones encouraging kids to take 5 plus AP's.

Exactly. We regularly get emails from school instructing parents to wisely counsel their kids about NOT taking too many APs. There is constant information about how much work AP classes entail and to be sure students aren't overloading on those classes. No one has ever encouraged or insisted students take more than they can handle.

There have been recent lawsuits. Don't doubt it

OMG. Links, please?

Loudoun County parents sue over suicide of their son:

http://loudounnow.com/2016/12/06/loudoun-parents-sue-school-counselor-over-sons-suicide/

NY parents sue:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/upstate-n-y-parents-sue-school-daughter-suicide-article-1.2808970

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/oct/23/mundelein-high-school-sued-in-connection-to-teens-/

Here's a college case:

https://bossip.com/902420/update-father-of-upenn-track-star-who-jumped-to-her-death-says-stress-over-school-led-to-her-suicide/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I have also thought that the more middle class incomes in the woodson area could add to the stress--knowing states schools are the only option, financially. there are a ton of great private schools around the country that will take these super smart kids, but not for the price of local in state.

I see this argument on many Woodson threads, probably by the same one or two people. Those who can afford a 600-800k home are not middle class. And I have heard many people say that Langley and McLean is a pressure cooker, even if they haven't had the same suicide numbers.

And VA has a range of public colleges. A kid who doesn't get into UVA can go to JMU or Tech. I'm not seeing why there would be more competition for state schools than at a wealthier school.

You are correct. We consider ourselves very fortunate that we had the money to put our daughter in private. It would have been very difficult to do so if we needed financial aid. We can also afford whatever college she chose to attend. It certainly made our issues much easier to solve, and that was something that hit me really hard. So many children get stuck, feeling like they have no real recourse. How much power does a teenager really have against an administration and teachers? None. Even when their friends have intervened and gone to counselors for their friends, it hasn't helped in a lot of cases. Breaks my heart.

When my son was in 7th grade, a kid in his class committed suicide. My son barely knew him, but having struggled himself with being bullied, etc, he was in tears. He wanted to move time backwards and let this kid know he got it, that he was there and that he wasn't alone. And as parents, we need to let our kids know that if they even suspect a friend is in trouble, to come to us so we can help.

[Anonymous]

Well, maybe collectively, people should calm down and smart kids should take themselves out of the rat race. If a tier 3 school finds themselves with smart tier 1 students who didn't want to take 15 APs, then maybe that school will become better quality in the long run.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I have also thought that the more middle class incomes in the woodson area could add to the stress--knowing states schools are the only option, financially. there are a ton of great private schools around the country that will take these super smart kids, but not for the price of local in state.

I see this argument on many Woodson threads, probably by the same one or two people. Those who can afford a 600-800k home are not middle class. And I have heard many people say that Langley and McLean is a pressure cooker, even if they haven't had the same suicide numbers.

And VA has a range of public colleges. A kid who doesn't get into UVA can go to JMU or Tech. I'm not seeing why there would be more competition for state schools than at a wealthier school.

How can you say 600-800k homeowners in this area are not middle class? That makes zero sense. The area is filled with military officers and fed workers. No one is rolling in extra dough - they're paying for a house in a good school district, and won't have enough savings for private college. They're exactly middle class. People with big trust funds and lobbyists with big paychecks aren't living in Annandale outside the beltway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^ that's not the teachers fault. How often do you hear parents on this thread spouting off about merit pay for teachers. Teachers who produce get better pay. Well how the hell is that measured? Oh that's right! Test scores.
Check out the thread on Hayfield. Bunch of a$$holes talking about how terrible Lee, Annandale, Stuart etc... are. They would never send their kids to a GS 5! Well, pick your poison. You want your property values, I guess some eggs get cracked in that omelette. God forbid you don't have a big enough "peer" group.
Quit blaming the administration and teachers. Or move ffs. You don't like the culture of that GS 10 school? Well honey, there are a bunch of 5's right down the road.

Much easier to spout off about how great her $40,000 private was.

Sweetheart- my kid is slated to go to a very undesirable high school, as per these threads. The only people who have my sympathy in these scenarios are the kids. You parents are the worst.

Exactly. Do you think it was my first choice to pay big money to send my three kids to private high schools? I was quite happy with the elementary and middle school so I'm not the private school 'snob' these folk want to make me out to be. It ended up being a necessity because it is my KIDS that mattered. Your child will probably do fine in the 'undesirable' school because you get it.

Who put a gun to your head and made you live in Great Falls and send your kids to Langley? If it was so horrible, you could have pupil placed them to South Lakes or Marshall. Easier to spend hundreds of thousands on privates, I guess, and then come on here railing against people trying to do their best at the public schools or the "illegal children" who attend them.

THIS. We live in Great Falls and our kids attend Langley. They are happy and enjoy school. But if they didn't? We would do exactly as the PP suggested and pupil place for South Lakes or Marshall. What's the point of spending so much money on privates that cultivate the same - or WORSE - culture of competitiveness? Why wouldn't you place your child in a less competitive school if they were feeling pressure?

All privates are not alike. If you tried to pupil place in South Lakes because your kid was not happy or thriving at Langley, you would be put in the Non-IB program and if your kid was smart, the principal would tell you it was not a good idea. You have to start IB Freshman year.

I hear this a lot from fellow Great Falls people. They have the big house, expensive cars, large diamonds, take multiple expensive vacations, but when it comes to their kids, they think private school as an alternative is a waste. That's your choice. There are a lot more unhappy kids than you think at Langley, and other competitive publics, but they are loathe to talk about it with what they feel are unsympathetic adults.

Coming from a Jewish family, education is very important to us. Jews studied even in concentration camps, and have always equated education and survival. Perhaps that makes me particularly attuned to whether or not my kids enjoy learning, rather than just going through the motions. My boys attended a private many here either have never heard of, or if they have, make fun of. Too bad, because they are missing out.

The fact is, Fairfax county schools have been going downhill and a lot of that is due to the school board and the way our tax dollars are spent.

So wait a minute. Aside from your obsession with the size of other women's diamonds, you keep claiming that privates (specifically Bullis, of course) are the panacea for "unhappy kids." No mention of all of the wealth on constant display at these privates - wealth that far exceeds what one finds at even the "best" publics. You complain about the competitive parents at FCPS high schools, but no mention at all of the same type of parents who populate private schools. Why is this? Why do you think privates - specifically Bullis - are so much healthier and lower-stress for kids? Hint: they're not. You're simply paying a fortune to happily be lulled into feeling like your kids are not under the academic and social pressure you claim they would be at a public. You're so full of it.

Smaller classes. Better meals. Individualized curriculum. Better guidance support. Need I go
He n?

"Better meals"??? Oh, honey.

Food is fuel. Or do only eat kale?

My kids and most of the other kids I know bring their own healthy, nutritious meals from home. It's called common sense.

I would imagine you have to, given the crap served up in the publics.

Perhaps, but at least we don't have the racism problem that Bullis has.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, maybe collectively, people should calm down and smart kids should take themselves out of the rat race. If a tier 3 school finds themselves with smart tier 1 students who didn't want to take 15 APs, then maybe that school will become better quality in the long run.

This is exactly the path we're taking with our kids. Couldn't agree more.

[Anonymous]

A kid who doesn't get into UVA can go to JMU or Tech.

Big whoop! Add the top 4 schools - TOGETHER - take maybe the top 1/3 of the class
Add in another 3 Va colleges and maybe the top 1/2 of the class can be accommodated.
Fact is the bottom half of the class (most) are VERY well prepared for college
and can do very well out-of-state.

[Anonymous]

I asked the counselor, "did YOU take AP classes in high school because I did (late 1970's in MoCo) and I remember what it was like"

My two graduated from Woodson w/in the last 4-7 yrs so I realize that was some time back but their total number of APs was: 3 and 1. We said NO to any more. We saw the writing on the wall early, 9th grade maybe, re: Va colleges and didn't like where Woodson would likely send them so preparing for out of state (w/merit aid was the best option.