How's the college admission in Non-TJ FCPS high schools?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Usually kids from wealthier households, with engaged parents, do well in college admissions, no matter the high school.

Higher income/wealth correlates with the catchment areas for McLean, Langley, and Oakton (and N. Arlington).

Agree, but there are also pockets of UMC households scattered around in other pyramids. Students from these families also tend to do well, despite attending a lower rated high school. On top of that, they usually have an easier time leading clubs, getting leads in plays and making athletic teams. These schools may not offer all the AP courses, but that usually doesn’t limit them in the admissions game.

If this were truly an advantage, more UMC would look at buying in low performing school districts so their kids could stand out. Instead, they conclude that their kids benefit, both academically and in terms of college admissions, by being surrounded by more high achieving peers.

Why? Because the hypothetical “same kid” generally ends up aiming lower and achieving less at a lower performing school. The kids who do well at low performing schools, in turn, will do even better at a high performing school.

You can claim otherwise, but you’re tilting at windmills.

This where the UMC parent involvement makes a huge difference. Those kids can get support outside of the classroom, and won’t have to work after school.

I do know families who are house poor because they sacrficed so much to buy into a highly rated school pyramid. Do they have the extra cash to afford tutoring for their kids, to keep up with their higher achieving peers?

My kid went to, what I have heard called here “a gang infested high school”. Well now they are at a big in-state school, and most of their friends are Madison, Langley and Mclean grads, along with a few out of state kids from the Northeast (who need higher stats and $$$ to attend). My kid is keeping up just fine, no academic and/or social issues. They only had some SAT prep during high school. 5s on most AP exams as well. High school is what you make of it. That “gang infested school” worked out just fine.

report

07/20/2025 09:14

Subject: Re:How's the college admission in Non-TJ FCPS high schools?

quote

Anonymous

Super vague question. Way too many schools. Way too many non TJ HS!! Literally hundreds! How can this be useful or relevant to anyone or anything.