What is Landon like?

[Anonymous]

Every boy I’ve met there has been fantastic. This sounds like a bunch of BS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's incredibly rude to most - if not all the Landon students - who are barely adults to paint them with such broad strokes and call them "pricks." These are kids after all.

Our son has been at Landon since 5th grade. He has a low-key, quiet-ish personality with a witty sense of humor. While he does not party much on weekends, he has tons of friends that he hangs out with at school. He also enjoys watching football, soccer, lacrosse games with them against competing IAC teams and loves the school spirit. He is academically strong so long as he works hard and keeps up with his assignments. If he slacks off, the grades definitely fall off so you need to consistently apply yourself. The teacher-coach model is outstanding and he has strong connections with several teachers. Mr. Neill runs a tight ship and his administration is receptive to parent concerns/comments. Landon is definitely on an upward trajectory and I think it sounds like a great environment for both your sons.

Keeping strong the Landon posts that praise the head. I hope y'all are on the payroll for these posts.

I went to STA when Jim Neill was there. Even typing Landon gives me a pit in my stomach, but he's as good as they come, and I'd trust him with my kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a rough forum to ask for people's opinions about schools! I would suggest going to visit and talking to real, current parents. In my personal experience it was a wonderful place for my son. He was challenged academically, tried new things (new sports, theatre, art), had pride in his school and in his classmates, and most importantly made strong and meaningful connections with his teachers/coaches/mentors. He visits when he's home from college just to have lunch with his advisor and hang out with the ceramics teacher. The education prepared him for college and the interpersonal skills and values the school fostered have helped him grow into an adult. It's a wonderful place -- go check it out yourself and don't listen to the nay-sayers.

Agree!! It is a wonderful place for my son. He has nice, supportive friends, and excellent and understanding teachers. We are surprised at how thoughtful the entire experience has been.

[Anonymous]

George Huguely, the murderer, went there. Here’s a nice quote from the Baltimore sun:

Huguely finished the eighth grade at Mater Dei School in Bethesda and matriculated to nearby Landon School, an elite boys' private school. He did not want for confidence. Thrust into a football game as a freshman, he promised a coach he would make a big play -- in exchange for a kiss from the coach's fiancee, according to a Washington Post profile in 2006. Huguely promptly intercepted a pass, then walked off the field to ask for the fiancee's number.

[Anonymous]

The Unabomber went to Harvard and UMichigan. So what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Unabomber went to Harvard and UMichigan. So what?

Those aren’t DC prep schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every boy I’ve met there has been fantastic. This sounds like a bunch of BS.

No, it’s a real thing.

[Anonymous]

If you are from DC area there is definitely a Landon boy reputation. It is also clearly a generalization but I wouldn’t say it is based off of nothing. It also doesn’t mean a boy who graduated from there is not a decent kid or wonderful man. But there is a type and they do seem to produce a cluster of guys who reflect that type… there are plenty of real life examples that you don’t need to dig too hard to find either.

That being said I second those who say to speak to parents of current students, especially the parents of kids who would be in your kids graduating class. There is a school culture and then each grade has their own culture too. Some classes are frankly better than others. This doesn’t just go for Landon, but all private school classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would strongly object to my high school aged daughter dating a Landon boy. The school seems to breed toxic masculinity

Please. This is so stupid. Have you been to the school? If not, keep your stereotypes to yourself.

FWIW my son and his friends are objectively completely nice and lovely boys--much better than some of the jerks we encountered in public and coed private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Unabomber went to Harvard and UMichigan. So what?

Those aren’t DC prep schools.

So what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are from DC area there is definitely a Landon boy reputation. It is also clearly a generalization but I wouldn’t say it is based off of nothing. It also doesn’t mean a boy who graduated from there is not a decent kid or wonderful man. But there is a type and they do seem to produce a cluster of guys who reflect that type… there are plenty of real life examples that you don’t need to dig too hard to find either.

That being said I second those who say to speak to parents of current students, especially the parents of kids who would be in your kids graduating class. There is a school culture and then each grade has their own culture too. Some classes are frankly better than others. This doesn’t just go for Landon, but all private school classes.

What is the Landon reputation?

The grounds are nice and the school has an excellent website and marketing materials. I love the idea of my son being ethical and moral but the guys I have met from Landon are everything but ethical and moral. I just don’t want to pay all that money to turn my son into a jerk.

[Anonymous]

Hate to tell you but there are jerks at every local private and public school. I could tell you crazy stories about some St. Alban’s boys from a number of years ago.

[Anonymous]

Landon culture promotes frat bro lifestyle well beyond the school years. That said, there are some great kids that go there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Landon culture promotes frat bro lifestyle well beyond the school years. That said, there are some great kids that go there

This middle aged Landon had to let everyone know he played lacrosse for Landon. It was really quite sad. I am sure he was probably cool as a teenager but he still talks about it 20-25 years later? He was such a douche. He was rich but not like generational wealth.