Is Western high school going to be sought after?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No it will not sought after because of Coates and McNair feeders. Sorry.

I saw that correction, I wasn’t aware of that. It makes sense.

Explain please,.

[Anonymous]

What correction? There's no correction - Coates and McNair are part of ALL Western HS scenarios. If PP is talking about the proposed Coates boundary changes - that doesn't actually change anything about who is zoned to Western. The part of Coates that moved to Herndon is already zoned to Herndon HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No it will not sought after because of Coates and McNair feeders. Sorry.

I saw that correction, I wasn’t aware of that. It makes sense.

Explain please,.

I misunderstood and thought that the Coates kids being moved to Herndon would be a shift in the HS they attend. I didn’t realize that those Coates students already attend Herndon. The boundary change is decreasing population at Coates by moving kids from Coates to an ES that feeds to Herndon where the students already attend.

[Anonymous]

The ideal FCPS from a personal perspective for most parents is one that offers a wide range of AP classes, but has average test scores. That way Larlo or Larla can take 10+ AP courses boast their GPA and whose 1450+ SAT stands well above the average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The ideal FCPS from a personal perspective for most parents is one that offers a wide range of AP classes, but has average test scores. That way Larlo or Larla can take 10+ AP courses boast their GPA and whose 1450+ SAT stands well above the average.

To be fair, a 1450 on the SAT is well above the average, it is the 97th percentile. The 90th percentile tends to fall between 1350-1370. Average test scores across the country are close to 1040 (google search, that seems low to me), the average test score in Virginia was 1101 (google search, again that seems low). Fairfax County average score was 1183. All of those seem low to me, really low.

Parents in FCPS who are focused on colleges, want their kids at a school where they have challenging classes. They want a peer group that helps their kid stay focused. Pretty much every HS in FCPS provides challenging courses, the difference is in the sie of the cohort focused on college and then the size of the cohort focused on top schools. I am not listing every HS in the county because I don’t know them all or their reputations. TJ, Langley, McLean, Oakton have reputations for a cohort focused on the top 25 schools. The SAT scores are really high, hence the 1450 comment above, and kids take a ton of AP classes. Chantilly, Centerville, Westfield, Marshall, Madison and South Lakes tend to be more balanced with kids interested focused on college but not necessarily thinking top 25. Some kids will be on that path, others are less focused on the prestige schools and attending a good college. I know kids from those schools who ended up at top 20 schools and I know kids at Shenandoah type schools, a good school but not flashy. Herndon, Mount Vernon, Justice, Lewis tend to have more kids who will not attend college. The kids who do go to college get into the same range of schools as the more mid range schools but there are fewer of them. Some would tell you that the higher achieving kids at these schools stand a better chance at top schools because they stand out more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ideal FCPS from a personal perspective for most parents is one that offers a wide range of AP classes, but has average test scores. That way Larlo or Larla can take 10+ AP courses boast their GPA and whose 1450+ SAT stands well above the average.

To be fair, a 1450 on the SAT is well above the average, it is the 97th percentile. The 90th percentile tends to fall between 1350-1370. Average test scores across the country are close to 1040 (google search, that seems low to me), the average test score in Virginia was 1101 (google search, again that seems low). Fairfax County average score was 1183. All of those seem low to me, really low.

Parents in FCPS who are focused on colleges, want their kids at a school where they have challenging classes. They want a peer group that helps their kid stay focused. Pretty much every HS in FCPS provides challenging courses, the difference is in the sie of the cohort focused on college and then the size of the cohort focused on top schools. I am not listing every HS in the county because I don’t know them all or their reputations. TJ, Langley, McLean, Oakton have reputations for a cohort focused on the top 25 schools. The SAT scores are really high, hence the 1450 comment above, and kids take a ton of AP classes. Chantilly, Centerville, Westfield, Marshall, Madison and South Lakes tend to be more balanced with kids interested focused on college but not necessarily thinking top 25. Some kids will be on that path, others are less focused on the prestige schools and attending a good college. I know kids from those schools who ended up at top 20 schools and I know kids at Shenandoah type schools, a good school but not flashy. Herndon, Mount Vernon, Justice, Lewis tend to have more kids who will not attend college. The kids who do go to college get into the same range of schools as the more mid range schools but there are fewer of them. Some would tell you that the higher achieving kids at these schools stand a better chance at top schools because they stand out more.

Oh, yes. Our goal should be to have all our kids go to "top twenty" schools.
What makes them "better?"
Did you read the article/editorial in WAPO about some of these schools and how many "disabled" kids get accommodations in their "elite" colleges?
Do you really think your child will get a better education there?

FWIW, DH went to one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The ideal FCPS from a personal perspective for most parents is one that offers a wide range of AP classes, but has average test scores. That way Larlo or Larla can take 10+ AP courses boast their GPA and whose 1450+ SAT stands well above the average.

I have a slightly above average child who works hard but isn't a rock star and I agree with this assessment - Oakton makes it hard for a child like mine to stand out. A new school like Western provides my child with far more opportunities as a 9th or 10th grader than Oakton would. That's why we would prefer for our ES to be zoned to Western. That and I would feel a lot better having a new driver going to Western than taking the narrow windy roads or hopping on 66 to get to Oakton. It's much safer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ideal FCPS from a personal perspective for most parents is one that offers a wide range of AP classes, but has average test scores. That way Larlo or Larla can take 10+ AP courses boast their GPA and whose 1450+ SAT stands well above the average.

To be fair, a 1450 on the SAT is well above the average, it is the 97th percentile. The 90th percentile tends to fall between 1350-1370. Average test scores across the country are close to 1040 (google search, that seems low to me), the average test score in Virginia was 1101 (google search, again that seems low). Fairfax County average score was 1183. All of those seem low to me, really low.

Parents in FCPS who are focused on colleges, want their kids at a school where they have challenging classes. They want a peer group that helps their kid stay focused. Pretty much every HS in FCPS provides challenging courses, the difference is in the sie of the cohort focused on college and then the size of the cohort focused on top schools. I am not listing every HS in the county because I don’t know them all or their reputations. TJ, Langley, McLean, Oakton have reputations for a cohort focused on the top 25 schools. The SAT scores are really high, hence the 1450 comment above, and kids take a ton of AP classes. Chantilly, Centerville, Westfield, Marshall, Madison and South Lakes tend to be more balanced with kids interested focused on college but not necessarily thinking top 25. Some kids will be on that path, others are less focused on the prestige schools and attending a good college. I know kids from those schools who ended up at top 20 schools and I know kids at Shenandoah type schools, a good school but not flashy. Herndon, Mount Vernon, Justice, Lewis tend to have more kids who will not attend college. The kids who do go to college get into the same range of schools as the more mid range schools but there are fewer of them. Some would tell you that the higher achieving kids at these schools stand a better chance at top schools because they stand out more.

Just did the whole college thing with my oldest. There is a prevailing opinion that colleges have a cap for each FCPS school. So yeah, steel sharpens steel, but a 1450 at Langley puts you at a disadvantage as opposed to a 1450 at Lewis based on the cap. Just take a look at the college forum on here and see all of the UMC students rejected from places like UVA and VT. VT had over 50K applicants last year for around 7K spots, wouldn’t you rather compete against fewer high stat kids for a spot. Mine was also above average but not amazing. Happily attending GMU.

[Anonymous]

I have a senior who is a tippy top student at a middle of the pack fcps school. She signed up for a certain AP class this year only to find out a few days before school started that the class was cancelled due to not enough students enrolling. This is a class they have had every other year and that she was super passionate about taking and had done a lot of work over the summer in order to prepare for it.

This is why parents want a large cohort of high achieving kids - so their kids don't miss out on opportunities due to not enough peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a senior who is a tippy top student at a middle of the pack fcps school. She signed up for a certain AP class this year only to find out a few days before school started that the class was cancelled due to not enough students enrolling. This is a class they have had every other year and that she was super passionate about taking and had done a lot of work over the summer in order to prepare for it.

This is why parents want a large cohort of high achieving kids - so their kids don't miss out on opportunities due to not enough peers.

And, it can also be true that the class may be too full for your child. Or, it is only ta7ght at the same time as another AP class that only has one session.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ideal FCPS from a personal perspective for most parents is one that offers a wide range of AP classes, but has average test scores. That way Larlo or Larla can take 10+ AP courses boast their GPA and whose 1450+ SAT stands well above the average.

I have a slightly above average child who works hard but isn't a rock star and I agree with this assessment - Oakton makes it hard for a child like mine to stand out. A new school like Western provides my child with far more opportunities as a 9th or 10th grader than Oakton would. That's why we would prefer for our ES to be zoned to Western. That and I would feel a lot better having a new driver going to Western than taking the narrow windy roads or hopping on 66 to get to Oakton. It's much safer.

Now I love you.

Because I agree with what you have to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ideal FCPS from a personal perspective for most parents is one that offers a wide range of AP classes, but has average test scores. That way Larlo or Larla can take 10+ AP courses boast their GPA and whose 1450+ SAT stands well above the average.

To be fair, a 1450 on the SAT is well above the average, it is the 97th percentile. The 90th percentile tends to fall between 1350-1370. Average test scores across the country are close to 1040 (google search, that seems low to me), the average test score in Virginia was 1101 (google search, again that seems low). Fairfax County average score was 1183. All of those seem low to me, really low.

Parents in FCPS who are focused on colleges, want their kids at a school where they have challenging classes. They want a peer group that helps their kid stay focused. Pretty much every HS in FCPS provides challenging courses, the difference is in the sie of the cohort focused on college and then the size of the cohort focused on top schools. I am not listing every HS in the county because I don’t know them all or their reputations. TJ, Langley, McLean, Oakton have reputations for a cohort focused on the top 25 schools. The SAT scores are really high, hence the 1450 comment above, and kids take a ton of AP classes. Chantilly, Centerville, Westfield, Marshall, Madison and South Lakes tend to be more balanced with kids interested focused on college but not necessarily thinking top 25. Some kids will be on that path, others are less focused on the prestige schools and attending a good college. I know kids from those schools who ended up at top 20 schools and I know kids at Shenandoah type schools, a good school but not flashy. Herndon, Mount Vernon, Justice, Lewis tend to have more kids who will not attend college. The kids who do go to college get into the same range of schools as the more mid range schools but there are fewer of them. Some would tell you that the higher achieving kids at these schools stand a better chance at top schools because they stand out more.

Oh, yes. Our goal should be to have all our kids go to "top twenty" schools.
What makes them "better?"
Did you read the article/editorial in WAPO about some of these schools and how many "disabled" kids get accommodations in their "elite" colleges?
Do you really think your child will get a better education there?

FWIW, DH went to one of them.

I didn’t say that. The question was about why parents target different schools. My answer was meant to dive into why some parents target schools like Langley and other parents do not. Parents who sacrifice to buy or rent a place in Langley, McLean, or Oakton boundaries tend to be parents who want a large cohort of driven kids who are targeting top tier colleges. I did not say it makes them better.

My kid will be going to Western. He hasn’t picked out colleges he wants to go to yet but we will support him with whatever choices he makes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ideal FCPS from a personal perspective for most parents is one that offers a wide range of AP classes, but has average test scores. That way Larlo or Larla can take 10+ AP courses boast their GPA and whose 1450+ SAT stands well above the average.

To be fair, a 1450 on the SAT is well above the average, it is the 97th percentile. The 90th percentile tends to fall between 1350-1370. Average test scores across the country are close to 1040 (google search, that seems low to me), the average test score in Virginia was 1101 (google search, again that seems low). Fairfax County average score was 1183. All of those seem low to me, really low.

Parents in FCPS who are focused on colleges, want their kids at a school where they have challenging classes. They want a peer group that helps their kid stay focused. Pretty much every HS in FCPS provides challenging courses, the difference is in the sie of the cohort focused on college and then the size of the cohort focused on top schools. I am not listing every HS in the county because I don’t know them all or their reputations. TJ, Langley, McLean, Oakton have reputations for a cohort focused on the top 25 schools. The SAT scores are really high, hence the 1450 comment above, and kids take a ton of AP classes. Chantilly, Centerville, Westfield, Marshall, Madison and South Lakes tend to be more balanced with kids interested focused on college but not necessarily thinking top 25. Some kids will be on that path, others are less focused on the prestige schools and attending a good college. I know kids from those schools who ended up at top 20 schools and I know kids at Shenandoah type schools, a good school but not flashy. Herndon, Mount Vernon, Justice, Lewis tend to have more kids who will not attend college. The kids who do go to college get into the same range of schools as the more mid range schools but there are fewer of them. Some would tell you that the higher achieving kids at these schools stand a better chance at top schools because they stand out more.

Oh, yes. Our goal should be to have all our kids go to "top twenty" schools.
What makes them "better?"
Did you read the article/editorial in WAPO about some of these schools and how many "disabled" kids get accommodations in their "elite" colleges?
Do you really think your child will get a better education there?

FWIW, DH went to one of them.

I didn’t say that. The question was about why parents target different schools. My answer was meant to dive into why some parents target schools like Langley and other parents do not. Parents who sacrifice to buy or rent a place in Langley, McLean, or Oakton boundaries tend to be parents who want a large cohort of driven kids who are targeting top tier colleges. I did not say it makes them better.

My kid will be going to Western. He hasn’t picked out colleges he wants to go to yet but we will support him with whatever choices he makes.

How about we not mention Langley, McLean, and Oakton, but focus on the overall subject matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Luckily, “FARMS” is not contagious, so if your family has a good income, your kid will most likely do well despite higher FARMS percentage of students at a school. They might also get first “dibs” in leadership positions and athletic teams.

It negatively impacts the learning environment. Schools have to teach to the lowest common denominator. If 25% of the students are below grade level, teachers waste alot of time trying to bring students up to grade level and neglect the higher performing students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ideal FCPS from a personal perspective for most parents is one that offers a wide range of AP classes, but has average test scores. That way Larlo or Larla can take 10+ AP courses boast their GPA and whose 1450+ SAT stands well above the average.

To be fair, a 1450 on the SAT is well above the average, it is the 97th percentile. The 90th percentile tends to fall between 1350-1370. Average test scores across the country are close to 1040 (google search, that seems low to me), the average test score in Virginia was 1101 (google search, again that seems low). Fairfax County average score was 1183. All of those seem low to me, really low.

Parents in FCPS who are focused on colleges, want their kids at a school where they have challenging classes. They want a peer group that helps their kid stay focused. Pretty much every HS in FCPS provides challenging courses, the difference is in the sie of the cohort focused on college and then the size of the cohort focused on top schools. I am not listing every HS in the county because I don’t know them all or their reputations. TJ, Langley, McLean, Oakton have reputations for a cohort focused on the top 25 schools. The SAT scores are really high, hence the 1450 comment above, and kids take a ton of AP classes. Chantilly, Centerville, Westfield, Marshall, Madison and South Lakes tend to be more balanced with kids interested focused on college but not necessarily thinking top 25. Some kids will be on that path, others are less focused on the prestige schools and attending a good college. I know kids from those schools who ended up at top 20 schools and I know kids at Shenandoah type schools, a good school but not flashy. Herndon, Mount Vernon, Justice, Lewis tend to have more kids who will not attend college. The kids who do go to college get into the same range of schools as the more mid range schools but there are fewer of them. Some would tell you that the higher achieving kids at these schools stand a better chance at top schools because they stand out more.

Just did the whole college thing with my oldest. There is a prevailing opinion that colleges have a cap for each FCPS school. So yeah, steel sharpens steel, but a 1450 at Langley puts you at a disadvantage as opposed to a 1450 at Lewis based on the cap. Just take a look at the college forum on here and see all of the UMC students rejected from places like UVA and VT. VT had over 50K applicants last year for around 7K spots, wouldn’t you rather compete against fewer high stat kids for a spot. Mine was also above average but not amazing. Happily attending GMU.

In-State colleges have caps. Less relevant to out of state and privates.