Is it better to go to Vienna vs. McLean schools

[Anonymous]

The real problem with TJ (and to a lesser extent, McL and Langley) is the majority of students in the top half all benefitted from unearned Asian privilege.

[Anonymous]

McLean for academics and Vienna for more balanced academics/sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McLean for academics and Vienna for more balanced academics/sports.

I'd say the opposite. Madison is too sports-focused.

Langley and McLean still have teams that do well and have won state championships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean for academics and Vienna for more balanced academics/sports.

I'd say the opposite. Madison is too sports-focused.

Langley and McLean still have teams that do well and have won state championships.

TJ has a robust athletics program too!

[Anonymous]

One advantage of the McLean schools is the simpler feeder patterns. All of Cooper goes to Langley and all of Longfellow goes to McLean.

The middle schools in Vienna split to two (Kilmer) or three (Thoreau) different high schools, and the high schools in Vienna get kids from two (Madison) or three (Oakton) different middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I’m looking to purchase a home either in McLean or Vienna. For purposes of AAP and beyond (college acceptances etc) does it really matter which school district my kid attends. Considering Langley or McLean High in McLean and Madison and Oakton High in Vienna. Is AAP any different or harder?

Are you / your child BIPOC?

McLean HS is majority-BIPOCs. Also, the new principal is a BIPOC, in case these are important factors in deciding if your child should come to McLean (which is a GREAT school!). I recommend it.

McLean is majority minority, as are Langley and Oakton. It is not majority BIPOC.

I don't understand what you are saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The real problem with TJ (and to a lesser extent, McL and Langley) is the majority of students in the top half all benefitted from unearned Asian privilege.

DP. I have no idea what the quoted text is trying to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The higher the income neighborhood, the harder to go in. Also, try to NOT go to a center school. Easier to get in.

Disagree with the advice to not move to the center. Yes it feels awful to not get in AAP but at least your kid is rubbing elbows with a big pool of AAP kids at recess, lunch, etc. this may lead to friendships with bright kids, and better potential dating pool if your kid is into that (ie: if your kid has a pulse).

This is a very bizarre, even disturbing, take. You're concerned about a potential dating pool for a 3rd to 8th grade student? Gross.

Kids in AAP are not "better" than other kids. I teach AAP in middle school. Two of my classes are AAP, two are general education, and one is honors. Guess which classes have at least 75% of my most significant behavior issues? That's right, the AAP classes! Those classes are 40% of my students, but 75% of my behavior issues.

You are a liar. You're not a teacher. You're a parent of a child that didn't get into AAP. And of course you're not concerned about the dating pool for your child, it's nonexistent. Regardless of yours or my feelings on the matter, the reality is that kids have crushes and want to date each other as young as 4th/5th grade. It happens (and you would know that if you were actually a teacher) but don't worry, your child will not have to deal with it because... well, you already know why.

I agree that the poster you are responding to is lying, one of the primary reasons to be in AAP is to avoid the chair throwers. But, what is your fascination with high school dating prospects for AAP kids? Non-AAP kids seem to be dating earlier and with more frequency TBH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean for academics and Vienna for more balanced academics/sports.

I'd say the opposite. Madison is too sports-focused.

Langley and McLean still have teams that do well and have won state championships.

TJ has a robust athletics program too!

TJ tends to do well with individual sports because that is what their schedule allows. Team sports are much more demanding schedule-wise and doesn't always mesh well with other extra-curriculars and study schedules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I’m looking to purchase a home either in McLean or Vienna. For purposes of AAP and beyond (college acceptances etc) does it really matter which school district my kid attends. Considering Langley or McLean High in McLean and Madison and Oakton High in Vienna. Is AAP any different or harder?

Are you / your child BIPOC?

McLean HS is majority-BIPOCs. Also, the new principal is a BIPOC, in case these are important factors in deciding if your child should come to McLean (which is a GREAT school!). I recommend it.

McLean is majority minority, as are Langley and Oakton. It is not majority BIPOC.

I don't understand what you are saying.

He's saying that Asians aren't really BIPOC. BIPOC is mostly just black and american indian, maybe some latinos with heavy indigenous ancestry.
White hispanics and asians are not BIPOC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The real problem with TJ (and to a lesser extent, McL and Langley) is the majority of students in the top half all benefitted from unearned Asian privilege.

DP. I have no idea what the quoted text is trying to say.

Too many asians busting the grading curve so unless your kid can hang with the asian kids, they should be prepared to be a recruitable athlete or something along those lines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The higher the income neighborhood, the harder to go in. Also, try to NOT go to a center school. Easier to get in.

Disagree with the advice to not move to the center. Yes it feels awful to not get in AAP but at least your kid is rubbing elbows with a big pool of AAP kids at recess, lunch, etc. this may lead to friendships with bright kids, and better potential dating pool if your kid is into that (ie: if your kid has a pulse).

This is a very bizarre, even disturbing, take. You're concerned about a potential dating pool for a 3rd to 8th grade student? Gross.

Kids in AAP are not "better" than other kids. I teach AAP in middle school. Two of my classes are AAP, two are general education, and one is honors. Guess which classes have at least 75% of my most significant behavior issues? That's right, the AAP classes! Those classes are 40% of my students, but 75% of my behavior issues.

You are a liar. You're not a teacher. You're a parent of a child that didn't get into AAP. And of course you're not concerned about the dating pool for your child, it's nonexistent. Regardless of yours or my feelings on the matter, the reality is that kids have crushes and want to date each other as young as 4th/5th grade. It happens (and you would know that if you were actually a teacher) but don't worry, your child will not have to deal with it because... well, you already know why.

I’m not lying. I am in fact a teacher. It is incredibly disturbing to focus on a “dating pool” for children who are 8–13 years old.

Some research about early vs. late dating behavior that you may find interesting, and hopefully persuasive:

- Developmental readiness: National public health guidance emphasizes supporting physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral development in childhood and early adolescence, prioritizing sleep, school success, and secure relationships with caregivers, none of which require or benefit from romantic involvement at ages 8–13. Introducing dating, or even the idea of dating, during this stage can add stressors that conflict with core developmental needs and preventive-care priorities.

- Risk of victimization and harm: Adolescent dating violence is a documented public health problem. National-level research shows substantial prevalence of verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual dating violence among teens, with associations to depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicidal ideation. Beginning romantic relationships even earlier than teen years increases exposure to these risks before children have developed the skills to navigate them safely.

- Prevention models target pre-dating ages: Evidence-based programs like the CDC’s "Dating Matters" focus on teaching healthy relationship skills to 11–to-14-year-olds “before they start dating,” precisely to reduce risk behaviors and prevent victimization, underscoring that early adolescence is for skill-building rather than dating itself.


Outcomes of delaying dating versus early dating:

Factor: Exposure to interpersonal violence risk
--- Early dating (middle school/early HS): Higher prevalence and earlier exposure to dating violence and associated harms
--- Delayed dating (late HS or later): Reduced exposure during skill-building years; prevention benefits align with later initiation

Factor: Mental health correlates
--- Early dating (middle school/early HS): Increased depression, anxiety, and substance use correlates in populations experiencing teen dating violence
--- Delayed dating (late HS or later): Lower near-term risk profiles when skills are taught before dating; better fit with developmental priorities

Factor: Skill development timing
--- Early dating (middle school/early HS): Relationship skills often underdeveloped, increasing conflict and coercion risk
--- Delayed dating (late HS or later): Skills taught first, then applied, improving safety and boundary-setting


Delaying dating aligns with best practices for physical and mental health: teach communication, boundaries, and safety first; then introduce romantic contexts. Longitudinal work on teen dating violence shows trajectories from adolescent victimization into adulthood, reinforcing the value of later initiation after skills and supports are in place.


>>> In short: early romantic involvement can outpace children's emotional regulation and safety skills, elevating risks that all the public health frameworks explicitly aim to prevent in early adolescence. We are fighting to keep kids safe in this ever-changing world, and promoting early dating elevates risk to children's physical and mental health.<<<

The reason people think you are lying is because of your comment about behavior issues. AAP selects for behavior along with academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I’m looking to purchase a home either in McLean or Vienna. For purposes of AAP and beyond (college acceptances etc) does it really matter which school district my kid attends. Considering Langley or McLean High in McLean and Madison and Oakton High in Vienna. Is AAP any different or harder?

Are you / your child BIPOC?

McLean HS is majority-BIPOCs. Also, the new principal is a BIPOC, in case these are important factors in deciding if your child should come to McLean (which is a GREAT school!). I recommend it.

McLean is majority minority, as are Langley and Oakton. It is not majority BIPOC.

I don't understand what you are saying.

He's saying that Asians aren't really BIPOC. BIPOC is mostly just black and american indian, maybe some latinos with heavy indigenous ancestry.
White hispanics and asians are not BIPOC.

Asians absolutely are BIPOCs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The higher the income neighborhood, the harder to go in. Also, try to NOT go to a center school. Easier to get in.

Disagree with the advice to not move to the center. Yes it feels awful to not get in AAP but at least your kid is rubbing elbows with a big pool of AAP kids at recess, lunch, etc. this may lead to friendships with bright kids, and better potential dating pool if your kid is into that (ie: if your kid has a pulse).

This is a very bizarre, even disturbing, take. You're concerned about a potential dating pool for a 3rd to 8th grade student? Gross.

Kids in AAP are not "better" than other kids. I teach AAP in middle school. Two of my classes are AAP, two are general education, and one is honors. Guess which classes have at least 75% of my most significant behavior issues? That's right, the AAP classes! Those classes are 40% of my students, but 75% of my behavior issues.

Responding late to this but as a former “gifted” student who was pretty much always very well behaved, I found myself acting up in a class along with my classmates when we were placed in a class for a short period of time with a teacher who was teaching very slow and very basic. It was torture, so mind numbing you could barely get through the class. I suggest you challenge your students and keep their brains engaged and occupied, you might be pleasantly surprised by how their behavior changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I’m looking to purchase a home either in McLean or Vienna. For purposes of AAP and beyond (college acceptances etc) does it really matter which school district my kid attends. Considering Langley or McLean High in McLean and Madison and Oakton High in Vienna. Is AAP any different or harder?

Are you / your child BIPOC?

McLean HS is majority-BIPOCs. Also, the new principal is a BIPOC, in case these are important factors in deciding if your child should come to McLean (which is a GREAT school!). I recommend it.

McLean is majority minority, as are Langley and Oakton. It is not majority BIPOC.

I don't understand what you are saying.

He's saying that Asians aren't really BIPOC. BIPOC is mostly just black and american indian, maybe some latinos with heavy indigenous ancestry.
White hispanics and asians are not BIPOC.

Asians absolutely are BIPOCs.

No, not really. Its more of a black and indigenous focused acronym.