Is it better to go to Vienna vs. McLean schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They're both great places to live and have excellent schools. Just my 2 cents, but I don't think there's a big difference at the elementary school level at all. From what I can tell the high schools are also comparable. However, one thing I've learned is that the two years of middle school can be quite different between the Vienna schools (Thoreau/Jackson/Kilmer) and the McLean schools (Longfellow/Cooper). Not so much in terms of the classes themselves, but things like Science Olympiad are much more competitive and serious at the McLean schools, which seems to have its good and bad sides, as you would expect. This also has potentially complex implications if you're interested in TJ as a high school option...

Agree. We are McLean parents with one TJ student.

Our child did not pursue SO at Longfellow after attending the initial seminar. While the local chapter wins or places almost every year, they demand parental commitments which effectively eliminate the possibility of most other sports and extracurricular activities.

SO is not a requirement for TJ admission.

Not sure what the Vienna chapter is like.

[Anonymous]

Langley is ranked over Oakton, which is ranked over McLean. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/rankings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Langley is ranked over Oakton, which is ranked over McLean. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/rankings

Okey ton

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I’m looking to purchase a home either in McLean or Vienna. For purposes of AAP and beyond (college acceptances etc) does it really matter which school district my kid attends. Considering Langley or McLean High in McLean and Madison and Oakton High in Vienna. Is AAP any different or harder?

Are you / your child BIPOC?

McLean HS is majority-BIPOCs. Also, the new principal is a BIPOC, in case these are important factors in deciding if your child should come to McLean (which is a GREAT school!). I recommend it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I’m looking to purchase a home either in McLean or Vienna. For purposes of AAP and beyond (college acceptances etc) does it really matter which school district my kid attends. Considering Langley or McLean High in McLean and Madison and Oakton High in Vienna. Is AAP any different or harder?

Are you / your child BIPOC?

McLean HS is majority-BIPOCs. Also, the new principal is a BIPOC, in case these are important factors in deciding if your child should come to McLean (which is a GREAT school!). I recommend it.

McLean is majority minority, as are Langley and Oakton. It is not majority BIPOC.

[Anonymous]

The real problem with TJ (and to a lesser extent, McL and Langley) is the majority of students in the top half all benefitted from unearned Asian privilege.

[Anonymous]

McLean for academics and Vienna for more balanced academics/sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McLean for academics and Vienna for more balanced academics/sports.

I'd say the opposite. Madison is too sports-focused.

Langley and McLean still have teams that do well and have won state championships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean for academics and Vienna for more balanced academics/sports.

I'd say the opposite. Madison is too sports-focused.

Langley and McLean still have teams that do well and have won state championships.

TJ has a robust athletics program too!

[Anonymous]

One advantage of the McLean schools is the simpler feeder patterns. All of Cooper goes to Langley and all of Longfellow goes to McLean.

The middle schools in Vienna split to two (Kilmer) or three (Thoreau) different high schools, and the high schools in Vienna get kids from two (Madison) or three (Oakton) different middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I’m looking to purchase a home either in McLean or Vienna. For purposes of AAP and beyond (college acceptances etc) does it really matter which school district my kid attends. Considering Langley or McLean High in McLean and Madison and Oakton High in Vienna. Is AAP any different or harder?

Are you / your child BIPOC?

McLean HS is majority-BIPOCs. Also, the new principal is a BIPOC, in case these are important factors in deciding if your child should come to McLean (which is a GREAT school!). I recommend it.

McLean is majority minority, as are Langley and Oakton. It is not majority BIPOC.

I don't understand what you are saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The real problem with TJ (and to a lesser extent, McL and Langley) is the majority of students in the top half all benefitted from unearned Asian privilege.

DP. I have no idea what the quoted text is trying to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The higher the income neighborhood, the harder to go in. Also, try to NOT go to a center school. Easier to get in.

Disagree with the advice to not move to the center. Yes it feels awful to not get in AAP but at least your kid is rubbing elbows with a big pool of AAP kids at recess, lunch, etc. this may lead to friendships with bright kids, and better potential dating pool if your kid is into that (ie: if your kid has a pulse).

This is a very bizarre, even disturbing, take. You're concerned about a potential dating pool for a 3rd to 8th grade student? Gross.

Kids in AAP are not "better" than other kids. I teach AAP in middle school. Two of my classes are AAP, two are general education, and one is honors. Guess which classes have at least 75% of my most significant behavior issues? That's right, the AAP classes! Those classes are 40% of my students, but 75% of my behavior issues.

You are a liar. You're not a teacher. You're a parent of a child that didn't get into AAP. And of course you're not concerned about the dating pool for your child, it's nonexistent. Regardless of yours or my feelings on the matter, the reality is that kids have crushes and want to date each other as young as 4th/5th grade. It happens (and you would know that if you were actually a teacher) but don't worry, your child will not have to deal with it because... well, you already know why.

I agree that the poster you are responding to is lying, one of the primary reasons to be in AAP is to avoid the chair throwers. But, what is your fascination with high school dating prospects for AAP kids? Non-AAP kids seem to be dating earlier and with more frequency TBH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean for academics and Vienna for more balanced academics/sports.

I'd say the opposite. Madison is too sports-focused.

Langley and McLean still have teams that do well and have won state championships.

TJ has a robust athletics program too!

TJ tends to do well with individual sports because that is what their schedule allows. Team sports are much more demanding schedule-wise and doesn't always mesh well with other extra-curriculars and study schedules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I’m looking to purchase a home either in McLean or Vienna. For purposes of AAP and beyond (college acceptances etc) does it really matter which school district my kid attends. Considering Langley or McLean High in McLean and Madison and Oakton High in Vienna. Is AAP any different or harder?

Are you / your child BIPOC?

McLean HS is majority-BIPOCs. Also, the new principal is a BIPOC, in case these are important factors in deciding if your child should come to McLean (which is a GREAT school!). I recommend it.

McLean is majority minority, as are Langley and Oakton. It is not majority BIPOC.

I don't understand what you are saying.

He's saying that Asians aren't really BIPOC. BIPOC is mostly just black and american indian, maybe some latinos with heavy indigenous ancestry.
White hispanics and asians are not BIPOC.