Top 25 NOVA High Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not at all surprised and going to get worse as Duran and company drive out teachers. People need to wake up to how badly he’s managing things and stop drinking the syphax koolaid.

So true. His clueless leadership style is demoralizing to say the least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly? I am surprised the pass advanced rate at TJ for math is as low as it is. Then we have schools considered in the top with math pass advance rates under 2% what is going on with math instruction in this state?

Honestly? Just looking at those numbers I am not wow by any of them. But I think there is also more to a school and what makes it great than test scores or absentee rates? I don't know.

I don't put too much stock into that stuff.

As a parent who sent kid to TH and reaped the many benefits I am glad we did put a lot of stock into that stuff. HS matters people.

I would argue high school matters more than college; i went to an elite college and it’s assumed you are already a good writer, fast reader and note taker, have excellent study skills, and are capable at math. There was very little instruction in foundational topics, everything was taught at an advanced level from get go.

Yes. That's the way it's supposed to be. High school is supposed to prepare you for college. Hence, "college prep" curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly? I am surprised the pass advanced rate at TJ for math is as low as it is. Then we have schools considered in the top with math pass advance rates under 2% what is going on with math instruction in this state?

Honestly? Just looking at those numbers I am not wow by any of them. But I think there is also more to a school and what makes it great than test scores or absentee rates? I don't know.

I don't put too much stock into that stuff.

As a parent who sent kid to TH and reaped the many benefits I am glad we did put a lot of stock into that stuff. HS matters people.

I would argue high school matters more than college; i went to an elite college and it’s assumed you are already a good writer, fast reader and note taker, have excellent study skills, and are capable at math. There was very little instruction in foundational topics, everything was taught at an advanced level from get go.

Yes. That's the way it's supposed to be. High school is supposed to prepare you for college. Hence, "college prep" curriculum.

Yes, HS should prepare you for college, but that doesn’t mean it “matters more.” Would-be employers are looking at where you went to college/how you did there. I really doubt they care where you attended HS. Some don’t even care which collehe, as long as you have a degree & skills.

[Anonymous]

Sir Patrick Murphy is NOT impressed with Roberto.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly? I am surprised the pass advanced rate at TJ for math is as low as it is. Then we have schools considered in the top with math pass advance rates under 2% what is going on with math instruction in this state?

Honestly? Just looking at those numbers I am not wow by any of them. But I think there is also more to a school and what makes it great than test scores or absentee rates? I don't know.

I don't put too much stock into that stuff.

As a parent who sent kid to TH and reaped the many benefits I am glad we did put a lot of stock into that stuff. HS matters people.

I would argue high school matters more than college; i went to an elite college and it’s assumed you are already a good writer, fast reader and note taker, have excellent study skills, and are capable at math. There was very little instruction in foundational topics, everything was taught at an advanced level from get go.

Yes. That's the way it's supposed to be. High school is supposed to prepare you for college. Hence, "college prep" curriculum.

Yes, HS should prepare you for college, but that doesn’t mean it “matters more.” Would-be employers are looking at where you went to college/how you did there. I really doubt they care where you attended HS. Some don’t even care which collehe, as long as you have a degree & skills.

If your HS has not prepared you for college, much less an elite college, then you won’t be attending an elite college.

Did you see the scathing feedback from APS grads on how they were not provided to write in college? Or all the parents who say the gen ed classes aren’t rigorous enough for college?

This is why APS is falling in the local rankings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly? I am surprised the pass advanced rate at TJ for math is as low as it is. Then we have schools considered in the top with math pass advance rates under 2% what is going on with math instruction in this state?

Honestly? Just looking at those numbers I am not wow by any of them. But I think there is also more to a school and what makes it great than test scores or absentee rates? I don't know.

I don't put too much stock into that stuff.

As a parent who sent kid to TH and reaped the many benefits I am glad we did put a lot of stock into that stuff. HS matters people.

I would argue high school matters more than college; i went to an elite college and it’s assumed you are already a good writer, fast reader and note taker, have excellent study skills, and are capable at math. There was very little instruction in foundational topics, everything was taught at an advanced level from get go.

Yes. That's the way it's supposed to be. High school is supposed to prepare you for college. Hence, "college prep" curriculum.

Yes, HS should prepare you for college, but that doesn’t mean it “matters more.” Would-be employers are looking at where you went to college/how you did there. I really doubt they care where you attended HS. Some don’t even care which collehe, as long as you have a degree & skills.

If your HS has not prepared you for college, much less an elite college, then you won’t be attending an elite college.

Did you see the scathing feedback from APS grads on how they were not provided to write in college? Or all the parents who say the gen ed classes aren’t rigorous enough for college?

This is why APS is falling in the local rankings.

Where do you find that feedback from grads? I'd like to see it.
I'm a parent of two - one who took more gen ed core classes, the other intensified and AP. The former is now in college and can attest directly to the fact that the gen ed classes are not rigorous enough for college. And this is not an elite college they're attending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sir Patrick Murphy is NOT impressed with Roberto.

Go back to the gym, Pat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly? I am surprised the pass advanced rate at TJ for math is as low as it is. Then we have schools considered in the top with math pass advance rates under 2% what is going on with math instruction in this state?

Honestly? Just looking at those numbers I am not wow by any of them. But I think there is also more to a school and what makes it great than test scores or absentee rates? I don't know.

I don't put too much stock into that stuff.

As a parent who sent kid to TH and reaped the many benefits I am glad we did put a lot of stock into that stuff. HS matters people.

I would argue high school matters more than college; i went to an elite college and it’s assumed you are already a good writer, fast reader and note taker, have excellent study skills, and are capable at math. There was very little instruction in foundational topics, everything was taught at an advanced level from get go.

Yes. That's the way it's supposed to be. High school is supposed to prepare you for college. Hence, "college prep" curriculum.

Yes, HS should prepare you for college, but that doesn’t mean it “matters more.” Would-be employers are looking at where you went to college/how you did there. I really doubt they care where you attended HS. Some don’t even care which collehe, as long as you have a degree & skills.

If your HS has not prepared you for college, much less an elite college, then you won’t be attending an elite college.

Did you see the scathing feedback from APS grads on how they were not provided to write in college? Or all the parents who say the gen ed classes aren’t rigorous enough for college?

This is why APS is falling in the local rankings.

Where do you find that feedback from grads? I'd like to see it.
I'm a parent of two - one who took more gen ed core classes, the other intensified and AP. The former is now in college and can attest directly to the fact that the gen ed classes are not rigorous enough for college. And this is not an elite college they're attending.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ELAAC-alumni-data-2019.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0nYswqgCDPfiKJDiw40lrvx3kESSxGPl8Mofg1Tz91qG1xHwaW5gd6bUg

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly? I am surprised the pass advanced rate at TJ for math is as low as it is. Then we have schools considered in the top with math pass advance rates under 2% what is going on with math instruction in this state?

Honestly? Just looking at those numbers I am not wow by any of them. But I think there is also more to a school and what makes it great than test scores or absentee rates? I don't know.

I don't put too much stock into that stuff.

As a parent who sent kid to TH and reaped the many benefits I am glad we did put a lot of stock into that stuff. HS matters people.

I would argue high school matters more than college; i went to an elite college and it’s assumed you are already a good writer, fast reader and note taker, have excellent study skills, and are capable at math. There was very little instruction in foundational topics, everything was taught at an advanced level from get go.

Yes. That's the way it's supposed to be. High school is supposed to prepare you for college. Hence, "college prep" curriculum.

Yes, HS should prepare you for college, but that doesn’t mean it “matters more.” Would-be employers are looking at where you went to college/how you did there. I really doubt they care where you attended HS. Some don’t even care which collehe, as long as you have a degree & skills.

If your HS has not prepared you for college, much less an elite college, then you won’t be attending an elite college.

Did you see the scathing feedback from APS grads on how they were not provided to write in college? Or all the parents who say the gen ed classes aren’t rigorous enough for college?

This is why APS is falling in the local rankings.

Where do you find that feedback from grads? I'd like to see it.
I'm a parent of two - one who took more gen ed core classes, the other intensified and AP. The former is now in college and can attest directly to the fact that the gen ed classes are not rigorous enough for college. And this is not an elite college they're attending.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ELAAC-alumni-data-2019.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0nYswqgCDPfiKJDiw40lrvx3kESSxGPl8Mofg1Tz91qG1xHwaW5gd6bUg

Thank you.
Sounds like at least one parent provided comments. Nevertheless, it's telling that the AP students had the same complaints about writing. It would be interesting to have more information about which AP courses the students took and to link the students' comments with their AP courseloads. Also, I'm surprised by the comments indicating the need for more short writings and types of writing. That seems to be all my kids have ever done through gen ed and intensified coursework, beginning in elementary school.

I'm sad to read the one comment about focusing more on writing and less on literature. I think this indicates APS' failure to illuminate the value of literature - for cultural understandings and euphemisms, to viewing and understanding things from different perspectives, to actually earning how to write and to appreciate others' writing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://northernvirginiamag.com/family/education/2023/10/02/top-25-high-schools-northern-virginia/

Feel like this underrates APS schools unfairly.

How so? All of the 25 schools included have very good stats, and very comparable stats. It doesn't really matter which one is #5 and which one is #7.

[Anonymous]

Where do Academies of Loudoun stand?

[Anonymous]

I always find the complaints about writing interesting. My kid is only in 6th, but I find that since 5th he has had a lot of writing projects. He just wrote a 5-paragraph essay and when I asked him to explain the basics of a 5-paragraph essay for history, he was able to explain what each paragraph should have in it. The essays come back graded and edited so it seems like he is getting age level appropriate writing instruction so far (and I feel like he has had grammar pounded into his head in English class this year).

Reading some of these comments in the link I really don't understand. Is it the student or the instruction? Again, my kid is in 6th grade, and he was doing citations last year in 5th for science papers/presentations. In fact, he is doing the science fair now and doing research (went to the library looked up books, made an outline for his research, wrote a bibliography, etc).

That being said, I am not sure I really received in depth writing instruction until law school. It was at that point where I was on a law journal and my editors sat me down and we went line by line through everything. It was very valuable instruction. I do write for a living now lol (even if my DCUM posts do not provide evidence of it).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always find the complaints about writing interesting. My kid is only in 6th, but I find that since 5th he has had a lot of writing projects. He just wrote a 5-paragraph essay and when I asked him to explain the basics of a 5-paragraph essay for history, he was able to explain what each paragraph should have in it. The essays come back graded and edited so it seems like he is getting age level appropriate writing instruction so far (and I feel like he has had grammar pounded into his head in English class this year).

Reading some of these comments in the link I really don't understand. Is it the student or the instruction? Again, my kid is in 6th grade, and he was doing citations last year in 5th for science papers/presentations. In fact, he is doing the science fair now and doing research (went to the library looked up books, made an outline for his research, wrote a bibliography, etc).

That being said, I am not sure I really received in depth writing instruction until law school. It was at that point where I was on a law journal and my editors sat me down and we went line by line through everything. It was very valuable instruction. I do write for a living now lol (even if my DCUM posts do not provide evidence of it).

Sounds like your kid had a strong teacher who taught good writing skills. People used to say all the time "well APS taught my kid how to read' or "Our teacher used phonics". The point is that good writing instruction isn't happening throughout the system. Just like good reading instruction wasn't the norm before APS focused on structured literacy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always find the complaints about writing interesting. My kid is only in 6th, but I find that since 5th he has had a lot of writing projects. He just wrote a 5-paragraph essay and when I asked him to explain the basics of a 5-paragraph essay for history, he was able to explain what each paragraph should have in it. The essays come back graded and edited so it seems like he is getting age level appropriate writing instruction so far (and I feel like he has had grammar pounded into his head in English class this year).

Reading some of these comments in the link I really don't understand. Is it the student or the instruction? Again, my kid is in 6th grade, and he was doing citations last year in 5th for science papers/presentations. In fact, he is doing the science fair now and doing research (went to the library looked up books, made an outline for his research, wrote a bibliography, etc).

That being said, I am not sure I really received in depth writing instruction until law school. It was at that point where I was on a law journal and my editors sat me down and we went line by line through everything. It was very valuable instruction. I do write for a living now lol (even if my DCUM posts do not provide evidence of it).

Sounds like your kid had a strong teacher who taught good writing skills. People used to say all the time "well APS taught my kid how to read' or "Our teacher used phonics". The point is that good writing instruction isn't happening throughout the system. Just like good reading instruction wasn't the norm before APS focused on structured literacy.

The complaints about writing are geared more to high school, not elementary and middle school instruction. The problem is that your 5 paragraph essay isn't going expand to full-length papers in high school. Without taking AP Research, maybe some IB classes - we're not at WL so don't know, don't expect any real writing instruction appropriate for high school students looking toward college.

Same with grammar, although I don't get the impression that grammar instruction is consistent across our elementary/middle schools. Our kiddos are now out of middle school; so maybe APS is making more effort now.....can only hope! Problem with the grammar part is that, even if you get actual grammar instruction in elementary or into middle school, it isn't going to be reinforced or enforced moving forward. It's like "we taught that, it ends in 6th grade curriculum; either they know it or they don't, we're focused on content only." One of my children's high school English teacher even told the class that they "could" spend a few days teaching grammar, but they aren't going to. Even in AP English, they are not planning any lengthy papers. Maybe one up-to-ten-pager; but that's still a maybe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always find the complaints about writing interesting. My kid is only in 6th, but I find that since 5th he has had a lot of writing projects. He just wrote a 5-paragraph essay and when I asked him to explain the basics of a 5-paragraph essay for history, he was able to explain what each paragraph should have in it. The essays come back graded and edited so it seems like he is getting age level appropriate writing instruction so far (and I feel like he has had grammar pounded into his head in English class this year).

Reading some of these comments in the link I really don't understand. Is it the student or the instruction? Again, my kid is in 6th grade, and he was doing citations last year in 5th for science papers/presentations. In fact, he is doing the science fair now and doing research (went to the library looked up books, made an outline for his research, wrote a bibliography, etc).

That being said, I am not sure I really received in depth writing instruction until law school. It was at that point where I was on a law journal and my editors sat me down and we went line by line through everything. It was very valuable instruction. I do write for a living now lol (even if my DCUM posts do not provide evidence of it).

Sounds like your kid had a strong teacher who taught good writing skills. People used to say all the time "well APS taught my kid how to read' or "Our teacher used phonics". The point is that good writing instruction isn't happening throughout the system. Just like good reading instruction wasn't the norm before APS focused on structured literacy.

The complaints about writing are geared more to high school, not elementary and middle school instruction. The problem is that your 5 paragraph essay isn't going expand to full-length papers in high school. Without taking AP Research, maybe some IB classes - we're not at WL so don't know, don't expect any real writing instruction appropriate for high school students looking toward college.

Same with grammar, although I don't get the impression that grammar instruction is consistent across our elementary/middle schools. Our kiddos are now out of middle school; so maybe APS is making more effort now.....can only hope! Problem with the grammar part is that, even if you get actual grammar instruction in elementary or into middle school, it isn't going to be reinforced or enforced moving forward. It's like "we taught that, it ends in 6th grade curriculum; either they know it or they don't, we're focused on content only." One of my children's high school English teacher even told the class that they "could" spend a few days teaching grammar, but they aren't going to. Even in AP English, they are not planning any lengthy papers. Maybe one up-to-ten-pager; but that's still a maybe.

The lack of grammar instruction has been a problem for a long time. I was identified as gifted when i was a kid and we had pull out instruction. They pulled us out of writing/grammar I guess because they assumed I knew it? I did not lol.