Swanson WL or Williamsburg Yorktown???

[Anonymous]

My kids are brainy/nerdy, not into sports, and a little quirky. Which schools are better?

How about the GT program at these schools as well as HB?

[Anonymous]

I'd look into HB or IB at W-L. The IB program is very inclusive of all types of highly motivated students.

HB is known for its diversity of personalities, and it is not a very sports-oriented environment, although HB students interested in athletics compete for their home schools.

[Anonymous]

Private school in DC.

[Anonymous]

FYI not all Swanson kids go to WL. We are zoned for Swanson and Yorktown. I don't know if all Williamsburg kids go to Yorktown either.

They are all good schools. But they are large public schools, designed to serve a wide range of learners. A smart motivated kid will probably have a great experience, but if you're really looking to choose an environment tailored to your children's specific needs and strengths, I agree that you might want to consider private.

[Anonymous]

Don't make any plans that depend on your kid's getting into HB. There are a lot of parents who care only about the size of the school who apply for their kids to attend, even though it isn't a good fit.

[Anonymous]

HB is also a very unique environment, even assuming you get in.

Swanson feeds both, I can't recall of W'burg does too but I think it does. Arlington doesn't have a formal GT program the way that FCPS does. All four are great schools and you really can't go wrong. The reality is that these are large public high schools, you will see all types of kids.

Where are you looking to live? With probably no exceptions, you've also got great elementary schools to choose from in those pyramids as well.

[Anonymous]

If you are considering W-L or Yorktown, your kids might be interested in crew. The crew teams at both schools don't necessarily attract athletic types. Rowing attracts all kinds of students from the brainy type to the athletic.

[Anonymous]

There are some Swanson students who do feed into Yorktown...I think the ones from McKinley Elem. I am also pretty sure that all the Williamsburg kids go to Yorktown, except for those who transfer to HB or into the IB program at W-L.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are some Swanson students who do feed into Yorktown...I think the ones from McKinley Elem. I am also pretty sure that all the Williamsburg kids go to Yorktown, except for those who transfer to HB or into the IB program at W-L.

Half of McKinley feeds into W-L. All of Tuckahoe is in the Yorktown district. Williamsburg used to be a major feeder for W-L but now just one townhouse development north of Lyon Village is zoned to both Williamsburg and W-L.

[Anonymous]

Think about the level of ethnic and socio-economic diversity you want. If this is important to you, you may want to consider that W-L is more diverse. Also, don't forget that attendance zones are redone now and then. These things do change. We've been in the Arlington schools for about 8 years and some changes have already happened. More will be done when the new schools are built in about 3 years. In general, they CAN (but don't necessarily) happen about once a decade.

[Anonymous]

And don't count on your kid going to a specific school just because the house you buy is zoned for it. Major boundary changes coming in the next few years as all of those schools get more and more crowded.

[Anonymous]

Williamsburg Yorktown