How to decide where to enroll?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I would look at one of the schools in the Langley, McLean or Madison pyramids that has a strong "Local Level IV" program but gives qualified students the option of attending an AAP center. Examples are Spring Hill, Chesterbrook, Franklin Sherman and Wolftrap.

+1 on Spring Hill, Wolf Trap and Chesterbrook

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I would look at one of the schools in the Langley, McLean or Madison pyramids that has a strong "Local Level IV" program but gives qualified students the option of attending an AAP center. Examples are Spring Hill, Chesterbrook, Franklin Sherman and Wolftrap.

+1 on Spring Hill, Wolf Trap and Chesterbrook

+1 on FS as well. Great, smaller school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+1 on Chesterbrook. Great Level IV program, but not as "tiger mom" as Haycock. If your kid doesn't qualify for AAP, they still can take up to three AAP classes if they test into it each quarter (well, testing and space availability). Great community and fun school. Also, easy commute to DC.

I find this a bit interesting as I belong to another chat/list serve and area moms from Chesterbrook seem quite Elitist. If the Queen bee doesn't agree with your post watch out. I've never posted a thing about schools or neighborhoods on that list serve having seen some responses. I think you really just need to get a feel for schools by going to PTA meetings, going on tours, asking people yourself when your there about their opinions, asking people you already know who go there or know people at schools that they can connect you to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 on Chesterbrook. Great Level IV program, but not as "tiger mom" as Haycock. If your kid doesn't qualify for AAP, they still can take up to three AAP classes if they test into it each quarter (well, testing and space availability). Great community and fun school. Also, easy commute to DC.

I find this a bit interesting as I belong to another chat/list serve and area moms from Chesterbrook seem quite Elitist. If the Queen bee doesn't agree with your post watch out. I've never posted a thing about schools or neighborhoods on that list serve having seen some responses. I think you really just need to get a feel for schools by going to PTA meetings, going on tours, asking people yourself when your there about their opinions, asking people you already know who go there or know people at schools that they can connect you to.

Ah, Haycock mom feeling threatened I see. Don't worry, there is room enough for both schools at the top.

[Anonymous]

I potentially could be a mom at BOTH schools in the future. So no I do not feel threatened about the schools rather though by some people in my area. Point is that I'm doing my own research other than reading a chat board to best decide which school my kids will attend. I do like to come here for general info about the AAP program but thats about all I can believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people care about Oakton? There is absolutely nothing remarkable about Oakton.

Nothing bad about it, either.
(I am not an Oakton parent)

Oakton is often rated higher than Madison, McLean, or Woodson. Not sure what you mean about unremarkable. It's a great school and scores highly every year on those top high school polls. It also has great facilities. OP, if you can help it, I'd live closer to DC. Vienna/Oakton area is quite far from DC and not as desirable with your budget. We live near Tysons and I hear people complain about the commute all the time. Arlington has smaller classes than FCPS so something to consider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people care about Oakton? There is absolutely nothing remarkable about Oakton.

Nothing bad about it, either.
(I am not an Oakton parent)

Oakton is often rated higher than Madison, McLean, or Woodson. Not sure what you mean about unremarkable. It's a great school and scores highly every year on those top high school polls. It also has great facilities. OP, if you can help it, I'd live closer to DC. Vienna/Oakton area is quite far from DC and not as desirable with your budget. We live near Tysons and I hear people complain about the commute all the time. Arlington has smaller classes than FCPS so something to consider.

This. +100. Have lived in both. Vienna/Oakton definitely far out with traffic getting worse by the day. Also growing resentment about overcrowding at many schools, particularly in the Tysons/Vienna area where adequate provision have not been made for growth. Incoming classes greatly underestimated every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
+1 on Chesterbrook. Great Level IV program, but not as "tiger mom" as Haycock. If your kid doesn't qualify for AAP, they still can take up to three AAP classes if they test into it each quarter (well, testing and space availability). Great community and fun school. Also, easy commute to DC.

I find this a bit interesting as I belong to another chat/list serve and area moms from Chesterbrook seem quite Elitist. If the Queen bee doesn't agree with your post watch out. I've never posted a thing about schools or neighborhoods on that list serve having seen some responses. I think you really just need to get a feel for schools by going to PTA meetings, going on tours, asking people yourself when your there about their opinions, asking people you already know who go there or know people at schools that they can connect you to.

Funny, I only moved into the area a year ago from out of town and I'm part of two list serves for the Chesterbrook area and I haven't seen that kind of mentality - even from the moms in person. Maybe I'm not on the "right" list serve. I'm sure there are some Queen Bees, but doesn't every school have a few of those. Of course, I stay away from PTAs, so maybe I'm not running into them as much. Most of the moms I have met (even being a newbie) have been downright nice and friendly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people care about Oakton? There is absolutely nothing remarkable about Oakton.

Nothing bad about it, either.
(I am not an Oakton parent)

Oakton is often rated higher than Madison, McLean, or Woodson. Not sure what you mean about unremarkable. It's a great school and scores highly every year on those top high school polls. It also has great facilities. OP, if you can help it, I'd live closer to DC. Vienna/Oakton area is quite far from DC and not as desirable with your budget. We live near Tysons and I hear people complain about the commute all the time. Arlington has smaller classes than FCPS so something to consider.

This. +100. Have lived in both. Vienna/Oakton definitely far out with traffic getting worse by the day. Also growing resentment about overcrowding at many schools, particularly in the Tysons/Vienna area where adequate provision have not been made for growth. Incoming classes greatly underestimated every year.

Have lived in both as well. Arlington has its own issues - growing student population and nowhere to build schools that satisfy all whose kids would be sent there. Read the thread on the future of HB Woodlawn and the MS redistricting options if you have any doubt on that score.

[Anonymous]

Unless Arlington now has AAP, comments about Arlington schools really belong on another thread. We moved out because the curriculum for gifted students was so limited.