APS high school or private?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The biggest weakness we have found in APS is the English classes. Even in intensified English, my kid has only read one book as a freshman and it was Night, which is very short. They were supposed to read Romeo and Juliet but then the teacher gave up and just had them read a summary in modern English. I think the problem is that any student can self-select into intensified classes and with English it is easier to dumb down the class than it is with math. Is that worth $60K/year, hard to say but something I think it is.

How many students does one English teacher have during a day? If she or he assigned even a 3 page paper, how many pages would she grade in one night? How could she or he possibly check them all for AI? How could she meet with the kids and the drafts of 50 kids or more? The numbers in English class just don’t allow for real back and forth on analytical thinking, the editing process, or one on one learning. It’s the weakness many of us leave public school for — and even great public schools like APS. My child graduating from one of the elite private schools here in the DC can write more clearly than many of the newly minted lawyers. For me, that is worth it.

[Anonymous]

OP has a 7th grader so that kid will be applying as an 8th grader for 9th grade. An 8th grader can't apply to Potomac, Sidwell Friends, GDS or Maret without knowing that they are applying. The kids have to write essays and interview. They have to take an admissions test. Parents can do a tour without the kids but if the parents like it, the kids need to go through the application process. At that point it is hard to tell the kids "eh we decided it isn't worth the money" if they get excited about going and get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP has a 7th grader so that kid will be applying as an 8th grader for 9th grade. An 8th grader can't apply to Potomac, Sidwell Friends, GDS or Maret without knowing that they are applying. The kids have to write essays and interview. They have to take an admissions test. Parents can do a tour without the kids but if the parents like it, the kids need to go through the application process. At that point it is hard to tell the kids "eh we decided it isn't worth the money" if they get excited about going and get in.

Exactly. I’m saying don’t torture your kid with the process — including interviews — if you aren’t willing to pay. You need to be real comfortable with $60k for four years or don’t put your kid through that. You may still decide as a family that you are going to choose YHS or W-L, although most people who gain admission in 9th to those schools (plus the Cathedral schools) choose to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP has a 7th grader so that kid will be applying as an 8th grader for 9th grade. An 8th grader can't apply to Potomac, Sidwell Friends, GDS or Maret without knowing that they are applying. The kids have to write essays and interview. They have to take an admissions test. Parents can do a tour without the kids but if the parents like it, the kids need to go through the application process. At that point it is hard to tell the kids "eh we decided it isn't worth the money" if they get excited about going and get in.

As I said in the OP, we have the ability to pay for private.

The cost-benefit here is more about other factors, including a longer commute, leaving a solid friend group, the hassle of applying with the risk of not getting in, etc. As a parent, the strong writing curriculum, a more individual environment, and assistance with the college process all sound good. I do worry about college gate keeping at the private, as we aren't well connected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We would go for Arlington Tech. It is a very good STEM school. Note that AT is not trying to be TJ.

But if he wants AP he should stick to W-L or look at TJ. No APs at AT - just DE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in the same position with one 1 in private and 1 in APS. I will say that your kid will be a dime a dozen at WL and the college app process will be worse than being in a smaller private. You'll have 50-100 kids applying to the same school as your kid as opposed to private... and you'll get more individual attention for the college process at a private. APS does pretty much nothing but send you webcasts to view to prepare for college apps.

Not going to comment on the idea of chances being lower from public (which is what you are saying) but many families in public pay a private college counselor and bonus, you pick someone you want who is a good fit for you not who your school employs. You can pay for the whole process to be supported or just out source some parts of it. Still a hell of a lot cheaper than private school.

This is the best bang for the buck if your goal is Ivy-level schools. Work with a counselor early on - ideally before 9th - to develop the narrative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP has a 7th grader so that kid will be applying as an 8th grader for 9th grade. An 8th grader can't apply to Potomac, Sidwell Friends, GDS or Maret without knowing that they are applying. The kids have to write essays and interview. They have to take an admissions test. Parents can do a tour without the kids but if the parents like it, the kids need to go through the application process. At that point it is hard to tell the kids "eh we decided it isn't worth the money" if they get excited about going and get in.

As I said in the OP, we have the ability to pay for private.

The cost-benefit here is more about other factors, including a longer commute, leaving a solid friend group, the hassle of applying with the risk of not getting in, etc. As a parent, the strong writing curriculum, a more individual environment, and assistance with the college process all sound good. I do worry about college gate keeping at the private, as we aren't well connected.

Go through the process. Your child may only like a few - ours did not like a handful that we considered academically great. It’s a lot of work to apply and your kid and you may decide that as you go through the process there are benefits you did not realize or costs. Bottom line, you have no choice right now and you have to be real comfortable with the idea that you likely won’t have that choice. Way more kids apply to these schools than gain admission.

As to your college thing, well, not our experience. At all. To the contrary, we see the lack of any real fair evaluative processes at the public schools as a huge disservice to academically motivated students. Giving everyone As for work that isnt truly challenging. A failure for smart kids. As earned at the Big3 are evaluated fairly by the teachers and colleges and have real meaning beyond everyone is a valedictorian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in the same position with one 1 in private and 1 in APS. I will say that your kid will be a dime a dozen at WL and the college app process will be worse than being in a smaller private. You'll have 50-100 kids applying to the same school as your kid as opposed to private... and you'll get more individual attention for the college process at a private. APS does pretty much nothing but send you webcasts to view to prepare for college apps.

Not going to comment on the idea of chances being lower from public (which is what you are saying) but many families in public pay a private college counselor and bonus, you pick someone you want who is a good fit for you not who your school employs. You can pay for the whole process to be supported or just out source some parts of it. Still a hell of a lot cheaper than private school.

This is the best bang for the buck if your goal is Ivy-level schools. Work with a counselor early on - ideally before 9th - to develop the narrative.

NP how do you find a good one?

[Anonymous]

This is a tough decision - there is no clear right answer. Just because you can afford it does not mean it is worth it and even if private schools were free, there are tradeoffs (commute, etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a tough decision - there is no clear right answer. Just because you can afford it does not mean it is worth it and even if private schools were free, there are tradeoffs (commute, etc).

A lot of wealthy families do stick with the Arlington public schools through high school, or return to public high school after private for the younger grades. For many who opt for the neighborhood high schools, it's about community and friend groups. Some students strongly identify with the school that represents their neighborhood and they take pride in that, especially if they are athletes. College acceptances and academics are strong in general. For some that choose private for high school, it's about the experience. New England boarding schools are a good option for the students who want that experience. The Cathedral Schools (NCS and St. Albans) are popular local choices that do offer limited 9th grade spots at that entry point.

[Anonymous]

Opportunities at TJ are truly unique. If your kid can get in, and wants to go, send them. It is a lifestyle but it suits many STEM kids just fine. Can be easier socially if in marching band or crew.
- parent of an Arlington TJ graduate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Opportunities at TJ are truly unique. If your kid can get in, and wants to go, send them. It is a lifestyle but it suits many STEM kids just fine. Can be easier socially if in marching band or crew.
- parent of an Arlington TJ graduate

I’m curious about Crew at TJ, is the transportation aspect difficult from Arlington?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Opportunities at TJ are truly unique. If your kid can get in, and wants to go, send them. It is a lifestyle but it suits many STEM kids just fine. Can be easier socially if in marching band or crew.
- parent of an Arlington TJ graduate

I’m curious about Crew at TJ, is the transportation aspect difficult from Arlington?

Not about TJ Crew specifically, but the main difference is that Fairfax County schools don't allocate any funding for crew and transportation. Practice is also typically at the Occoquon River vs the Potomac.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The biggest weakness we have found in APS is the English classes. Even in intensified English, my kid has only read one book as a freshman and it was Night, which is very short. They were supposed to read Romeo and Juliet but then the teacher gave up and just had them read a summary in modern English. I think the problem is that any student can self-select into intensified classes and with English it is easier to dumb down the class than it is with math. Is that worth $60K/year, hard to say but something I think it is.

I agree, but I will say this improves once they get to AP classes. Not just AP English, but also seminar & research. And I hear that IB is great for writing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The biggest weakness we have found in APS is the English classes. Even in intensified English, my kid has only read one book as a freshman and it was Night, which is very short. They were supposed to read Romeo and Juliet but then the teacher gave up and just had them read a summary in modern English. I think the problem is that any student can self-select into intensified classes and with English it is easier to dumb down the class than it is with math. Is that worth $60K/year, hard to say but something I think it is.

Which high school was this? Not our experience at all. I would complain about this to APS.