Which APS middle and high school for an anxious child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. This was a mixed bag of responses! I should have said which neighborhood school, since this is really a question about where to look for housing. We can decide whether to apply for HB Woodlawn or not later. (Although I definitely appreciate that advice.) So of the neighborhood schools, which one(s) are best or good for her?

The lottery of HBW is a ridiculous long shot, so set that aside. I would actually aim for Williamsburg and Yorktown. They are not academic focused, because by and large it’s wealthy families who already have a path for their child and it doesn’t depend on grades. They are intense about sports though. But if your kid stays away from lacrosse and such it’s pretty chill.

Wow. Somebody is super petty and jealous.

What? No jealousy here, we go to Yorktown. The more academic students do IB at WL so it’s a natural pressure valve on academic competition. I mean there have been whole threads about how success in career often doesn’t correlate to grades or academic pedigree, why would it be surprising to embrace that if you are a family of means.

Im not sure where you get your info but Yorktown is a pressure cooker. Kids with all As, team sports, all the things didnt get into UVA or VT last year- our state schools! Too many kids had excellent grades/extracurriculars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Let’s try to stay on topic, folks! We’re not even talking about HB Woodlawn here. This is just about schools that a house can be zoned for!

In case anyone has other input - we’re not moving to avoid Kenmore at all. We’re moving because we want a new house. But we do want to make sure we choose a house that’s zoned for the best fit for our child, if there is a school that’s a better fit than others. I think the only middle school no one has recommended is Gunston. Is that because it’s so overcrowded?

I would guess the reason is that this board tends to attract high-income, intense individuals and Gunston has a lot of middle-and lower income families. Not a lot of people on this board who have middle schoolers are zoned for it. I am zoned for Gunston but DD goes to HBW. DS will be in sixth next year and I presume he will go to Gunston and I have no qualms about the school.

I didn't want to recommend Gunston because I don't have a kid who goes there, but most of what I have heard about Gunston is good. One kid and her family are sort of neutral about it, but everyone else is pretty enthusiastic about how much they like Gunston. I don't know how well they do with accommodations, but I've also never heard that they are bad with accommodations or that kids get lost in the crowd.

I suppose I did recommend Wakefield even though I do'nt have a kid there, but that's because it just sounds more low-key than the other schools I've heard about. The family I know who is more neutral about Gunston is highly enthusiastic about Wakefield.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Let’s try to stay on topic, folks! We’re not even talking about HB Woodlawn here. This is just about schools that a house can be zoned for!

In case anyone has other input - we’re not moving to avoid Kenmore at all. We’re moving because we want a new house. But we do want to make sure we choose a house that’s zoned for the best fit for our child, if there is a school that’s a better fit than others. I think the only middle school no one has recommended is Gunston. Is that because it’s so overcrowded?

I would guess the reason is that this board tends to attract high-income, intense individuals and Gunston has a lot of middle-and lower income families. Not a lot of people on this board who have middle schoolers are zoned for it. I am zoned for Gunston but DD goes to HBW. DS will be in sixth next year and I presume he will go to Gunston and I have no qualms about the school.

I didn't want to recommend Gunston because I don't have a kid who goes there, but most of what I have heard about Gunston is good. One kid and her family are sort of neutral about it, but everyone else is pretty enthusiastic about how much they like Gunston. I don't know how well they do with accommodations, but I've also never heard that they are bad with accommodations or that kids get lost in the crowd.

I suppose I did recommend Wakefield even though I do'nt have a kid there, but that's because it just sounds more low-key than the other schools I've heard about. The family I know who is more neutral about Gunston is highly enthusiastic about Wakefield.

This is OP. This is helpful. Thank you. We are considering houses (or townhouses, I guess they are?) in Fairlington, which is Gunston and Wakefield. But a happy kid is obviously more important that the third bedroom that we’re looking for, so we’ll focus on other neighborhoods if folks were having a bad experience at Gunston. Thanks for your help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Let’s try to stay on topic, folks! We’re not even talking about HB Woodlawn here. This is just about schools that a house can be zoned for!

In case anyone has other input - we’re not moving to avoid Kenmore at all. We’re moving because we want a new house. But we do want to make sure we choose a house that’s zoned for the best fit for our child, if there is a school that’s a better fit than others. I think the only middle school no one has recommended is Gunston. Is that because it’s so overcrowded?

I would guess the reason is that this board tends to attract high-income, intense individuals and Gunston has a lot of middle-and lower income families. Not a lot of people on this board who have middle schoolers are zoned for it. I am zoned for Gunston but DD goes to HBW. DS will be in sixth next year and I presume he will go to Gunston and I have no qualms about the school.

I didn't want to recommend Gunston because I don't have a kid who goes there, but most of what I have heard about Gunston is good. One kid and her family are sort of neutral about it, but everyone else is pretty enthusiastic about how much they like Gunston. I don't know how well they do with accommodations, but I've also never heard that they are bad with accommodations or that kids get lost in the crowd.

I suppose I did recommend Wakefield even though I do'nt have a kid there, but that's because it just sounds more low-key than the other schools I've heard about. The family I know who is more neutral about Gunston is highly enthusiastic about Wakefield.

This is OP. This is helpful. Thank you. We are considering houses (or townhouses, I guess they are?) in Fairlington, which is Gunston and Wakefield. But a happy kid is obviously more important that the third bedroom that we’re looking for, so we’ll focus on other neighborhoods if folks were having a bad experience at Gunston. Thanks for your help!

Several of my neighbors switched their kids from Gunston to private. They said there were issues with bullies, overcrowding, rough kids, and academics were mixed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HB Woodlawn may be small, sure, but it’s pretty intense academically and really isn’t a place for kids with special needs. I think she’d be better off in one of the neighborhood schools, probably Wakefield.

Haha no, it follows the same curriculum as the rest of APS, with similar academic pathways. Just in a not overcrowded school in a gorgeous building

Two of my kids went to HB. I believe I know more about the school than you do.

So a random lottery school somehow ends up academic more advanced without any admission criteria? You are full of BS. It’s not a magnet, it’s lottery ticket.

Are you for real?

Yes, the academic profile of the average HB student is higher than the average at any of the neighborhood high schools, not because it’s a magnet school with admissions criteria, but because it tends to attract higher achievers as lottery applicants. It’s not like every 5th grader in the county applies to HB; the large majority don’t, and I suspect some families have never even heard of it.

It’s not that complicated, idiot.

It's not only the kids, it's the schedule. Kids take I think one more class than regular middle schools, so they only have each class four days instead of five. So they have less time to get through the same curriculum, which means the pace is quicker.

[Anonymous]

OP, I don't think it really matters. They're all big schools in a place with academically driven parents and students. I'd look for a school where your child will have friends and then work at building them a social network to find their niche.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP, you didn't mention. Does your child have an IEP or 504 in place already?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Let’s try to stay on topic, folks! We’re not even talking about HB Woodlawn here. This is just about schools that a house can be zoned for!

In case anyone has other input - we’re not moving to avoid Kenmore at all. We’re moving because we want a new house. But we do want to make sure we choose a house that’s zoned for the best fit for our child, if there is a school that’s a better fit than others. I think the only middle school no one has recommended is Gunston. Is that because it’s so overcrowded?

I would guess the reason is that this board tends to attract high-income, intense individuals and Gunston has a lot of middle-and lower income families. Not a lot of people on this board who have middle schoolers are zoned for it. I am zoned for Gunston but DD goes to HBW. DS will be in sixth next year and I presume he will go to Gunston and I have no qualms about the school.

I didn't want to recommend Gunston because I don't have a kid who goes there, but most of what I have heard about Gunston is good. One kid and her family are sort of neutral about it, but everyone else is pretty enthusiastic about how much they like Gunston. I don't know how well they do with accommodations, but I've also never heard that they are bad with accommodations or that kids get lost in the crowd.

I suppose I did recommend Wakefield even though I do'nt have a kid there, but that's because it just sounds more low-key than the other schools I've heard about. The family I know who is more neutral about Gunston is highly enthusiastic about Wakefield.

This is OP. This is helpful. Thank you. We are considering houses (or townhouses, I guess they are?) in Fairlington, which is Gunston and Wakefield. But a happy kid is obviously more important that the third bedroom that we’re looking for, so we’ll focus on other neighborhoods if folks were having a bad experience at Gunston. Thanks for your help!

Several of my neighbors switched their kids from Gunston to private. They said there were issues with bullies, overcrowding, rough kids, and academics were mixed.

This is OP. Which private schools did they go to? I’m not even aware of that many private middle school options in south Arlington. We could probably do private school for 3 years and then back to public for high school if the middle options aren’t good fits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Let’s try to stay on topic, folks! We’re not even talking about HB Woodlawn here. This is just about schools that a house can be zoned for!

In case anyone has other input - we’re not moving to avoid Kenmore at all. We’re moving because we want a new house. But we do want to make sure we choose a house that’s zoned for the best fit for our child, if there is a school that’s a better fit than others. I think the only middle school no one has recommended is Gunston. Is that because it’s so overcrowded?

I would guess the reason is that this board tends to attract high-income, intense individuals and Gunston has a lot of middle-and lower income families. Not a lot of people on this board who have middle schoolers are zoned for it. I am zoned for Gunston but DD goes to HBW. DS will be in sixth next year and I presume he will go to Gunston and I have no qualms about the school.

I didn't want to recommend Gunston because I don't have a kid who goes there, but most of what I have heard about Gunston is good. One kid and her family are sort of neutral about it, but everyone else is pretty enthusiastic about how much they like Gunston. I don't know how well they do with accommodations, but I've also never heard that they are bad with accommodations or that kids get lost in the crowd.

I suppose I did recommend Wakefield even though I do'nt have a kid there, but that's because it just sounds more low-key than the other schools I've heard about. The family I know who is more neutral about Gunston is highly enthusiastic about Wakefield.

This is OP. This is helpful. Thank you. We are considering houses (or townhouses, I guess they are?) in Fairlington, which is Gunston and Wakefield. But a happy kid is obviously more important that the third bedroom that we’re looking for, so we’ll focus on other neighborhoods if folks were having a bad experience at Gunston. Thanks for your help!

Several of my neighbors switched their kids from Gunston to private. They said there were issues with bullies, overcrowding, rough kids, and academics were mixed.

This is OP. Which private schools did they go to? I’m not even aware of that many private middle school options in south Arlington. We could probably do private school for 3 years and then back to public for high school if the middle options aren’t good fits.

There are a bunch in Alexandria, which is not far from Fairlington: SSSAS, Burgundy Farm, Alexandria Country Day, etc. Also some Catholic schools in Arlington (St. Thomas More). Another one that could be a good fit is The Sycamore School in Ballston.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. This was a mixed bag of responses! I should have said which neighborhood school, since this is really a question about where to look for housing. We can decide whether to apply for HB Woodlawn or not later. (Although I definitely appreciate that advice.) So of the neighborhood schools, which one(s) are best or good for her?

The lottery of HBW is a ridiculous long shot, so set that aside. I would actually aim for Williamsburg and Yorktown. They are not academic focused, because by and large it’s wealthy families who already have a path for their child and it doesn’t depend on grades. They are intense about sports though. But if your kid stays away from lacrosse and such it’s pretty chill.

Wow. Somebody is super petty and jealous.

What? No jealousy here, we go to Yorktown. The more academic students do IB at WL so it’s a natural pressure valve on academic competition. I mean there have been whole threads about how success in career often doesn’t correlate to grades or academic pedigree, why would it be surprising to embrace that if you are a family of means.

Im not sure where you get your info but Yorktown is a pressure cooker. Kids with all As, team sports, all the things didnt get into UVA or VT last year- our state schools! Too many kids had excellent grades/extracurriculars.

Uhh, that’s a problem with every NOVA school, my point is there is a large population not focused on all As

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HB Woodlawn may be small, sure, but it’s pretty intense academically and really isn’t a place for kids with special needs. I think she’d be better off in one of the neighborhood schools, probably Wakefield.

Haha no, it follows the same curriculum as the rest of APS, with similar academic pathways. Just in a not overcrowded school in a gorgeous building

Two of my kids went to HB. I believe I know more about the school than you do.

So a random lottery school somehow ends up academic more advanced without any admission criteria? You are full of BS. It’s not a magnet, it’s lottery ticket.

Are you for real?

Yes, the academic profile of the average HB student is higher than the average at any of the neighborhood high schools, not because it’s a magnet school with admissions criteria, but because it tends to attract higher achievers as lottery applicants. It’s not like every 5th grader in the county applies to HB; the large majority don’t, and I suspect some families have never even heard of it.

It’s not that complicated, idiot.

It's not only the kids, it's the schedule. Kids take I think one more class than regular middle schools, so they only have each class four days instead of five. So they have less time to get through the same curriculum, which means the pace is quicker.

Oh, wow I’m going to print this and send to school board since the inequity that is HBW is just yawning wider. WL is overcrowded and being supersized, while HB students are capped in size with a academic enrichment. Holy absolute F.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HB Woodlawn may be small, sure, but it’s pretty intense academically and really isn’t a place for kids with special needs. I think she’d be better off in one of the neighborhood schools, probably Wakefield.

Haha no, it follows the same curriculum as the rest of APS, with similar academic pathways. Just in a not overcrowded school in a gorgeous building

Two of my kids went to HB. I believe I know more about the school than you do.

So a random lottery school somehow ends up academic more advanced without any admission criteria? You are full of BS. It’s not a magnet, it’s lottery ticket.

Are you for real?

Yes, the academic profile of the average HB student is higher than the average at any of the neighborhood high schools, not because it’s a magnet school with admissions criteria, but because it tends to attract higher achievers as lottery applicants. It’s not like every 5th grader in the county applies to HB; the large majority don’t, and I suspect some families have never even heard of it.

It’s not that complicated, idiot.

It's not only the kids, it's the schedule. Kids take I think one more class than regular middle schools, so they only have each class four days instead of five. So they have less time to get through the same curriculum, which means the pace is quicker.

Oh, wow I’m going to print this and send to school board since the inequity that is HBW is just yawning wider. WL is overcrowded and being supersized, while HB students are capped in size with a academic enrichment. Holy absolute F.

Because you think the school board has no idea?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Let’s try to stay on topic, folks! We’re not even talking about HB Woodlawn here. This is just about schools that a house can be zoned for!

In case anyone has other input - we’re not moving to avoid Kenmore at all. We’re moving because we want a new house. But we do want to make sure we choose a house that’s zoned for the best fit for our child, if there is a school that’s a better fit than others. I think the only middle school no one has recommended is Gunston. Is that because it’s so overcrowded?

I would guess the reason is that this board tends to attract high-income, intense individuals and Gunston has a lot of middle-and lower income families. Not a lot of people on this board who have middle schoolers are zoned for it. I am zoned for Gunston but DD goes to HBW. DS will be in sixth next year and I presume he will go to Gunston and I have no qualms about the school.

I didn't want to recommend Gunston because I don't have a kid who goes there, but most of what I have heard about Gunston is good. One kid and her family are sort of neutral about it, but everyone else is pretty enthusiastic about how much they like Gunston. I don't know how well they do with accommodations, but I've also never heard that they are bad with accommodations or that kids get lost in the crowd.

I suppose I did recommend Wakefield even though I do'nt have a kid there, but that's because it just sounds more low-key than the other schools I've heard about. The family I know who is more neutral about Gunston is highly enthusiastic about Wakefield.

This is OP. This is helpful. Thank you. We are considering houses (or townhouses, I guess they are?) in Fairlington, which is Gunston and Wakefield. But a happy kid is obviously more important that the third bedroom that we’re looking for, so we’ll focus on other neighborhoods if folks were having a bad experience at Gunston. Thanks for your help!

Very few three bedroom places in Fairlington. We live there and it’s a nice community and several people we know are happy with Gunston.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. This was a mixed bag of responses! I should have said which neighborhood school, since this is really a question about where to look for housing. We can decide whether to apply for HB Woodlawn or not later. (Although I definitely appreciate that advice.) So of the neighborhood schools, which one(s) are best or good for her?

The lottery of HBW is a ridiculous long shot, so set that aside. I would actually aim for Williamsburg and Yorktown. They are not academic focused, because by and large it’s wealthy families who already have a path for their child and it doesn’t depend on grades. They are intense about sports though. But if your kid stays away from lacrosse and such it’s pretty chill.

WMS / YHS parent here with an ADHD kid who struggles with anxiety. Those schools are decidedly NOT chill. They do NOT want to help your kid. Their MO is to push as many SN kids as possible into private schools.

+1. I can’t speak to the autism part, but in our experience no one on the sped team at Williamsburg actually believes ADHD exists other than the school psychologist, and she alone cannot overrule everyone else on the team to get kids the supports they need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HB Woodlawn may be small, sure, but it’s pretty intense academically and really isn’t a place for kids with special needs. I think she’d be better off in one of the neighborhood schools, probably Wakefield.

Haha no, it follows the same curriculum as the rest of APS, with similar academic pathways. Just in a not overcrowded school in a gorgeous building

Two of my kids went to HB. I believe I know more about the school than you do.

So a random lottery school somehow ends up academic more advanced without any admission criteria? You are full of BS. It’s not a magnet, it’s lottery ticket.

Are you for real?

Yes, the academic profile of the average HB student is higher than the average at any of the neighborhood high schools, not because it’s a magnet school with admissions criteria, but because it tends to attract higher achievers as lottery applicants. It’s not like every 5th grader in the county applies to HB; the large majority don’t, and I suspect some families have never even heard of it.

It’s not that complicated, idiot.

It's not only the kids, it's the schedule. Kids take I think one more class than regular middle schools, so they only have each class four days instead of five. So they have less time to get through the same curriculum, which means the pace is quicker.

Oh, wow I’m going to print this and send to school board since the inequity that is HBW is just yawning wider. WL is overcrowded and being supersized, while HB students are capped in size with a academic enrichment. Holy absolute F.

Because you think the school board has no idea?

Oh you misunderstood. As part of an equity lawsuit.