Vienna VA - Feedback Please on MS and HS Options

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think maybe PP was partly saying that the Town residents pay Vienna taxes and Ffx Cnty taxes... so Fairfax County is getting a good deal b/c the county doesn't have to provide police services to Vienna (proper) and yet the county gets their taxes. Of course, the county IS providing schools, roads and other things that town of Vienna residents use. But, the idea would be that the residents in the town of Vienna cost the county a little less b/c some services are being provided by the town of Vienna (which the residents pay for through additional taxes).

The town pays for most of its own roads. The rest are funded by the state.

Well, yes... but the Town of Vienna residents are using the roads in the county as well. So, the Town residents are getting the value of their county taxes on that as well as schools and other public services. They just pay a premium so to speak for their immediate community having more direct accountability (and hopefully more responsive services).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anonymous

Parts of Vienna near Wolf Trap (the performing arts center, not the elementary school) are zoned for Longfellow MS/McLean HS or Cooper MS/Langley HS, both excellent as well. McLean is quite similar to Madison, though with less emphasis on sports and more emphasis on student publications and performing arts.

Not really a lot of private schools in Vienna - closest is probably Flint Hill in Oakton.

NP here. Disagree that Madison is just a jock school. This was the case under the old principal, but is changing. Both schools have good bands and orchestras.

For K-8, there is also Green Hedges School, a private in Vienna.

Not arguing with either PP, but I don't think anyone could claim that a school is just a "jock school" if that school has the what? -- 3rd highest average SAT score in FCPS. I don't know where it is this year, but it is typically in the top 5 high schools for SAT scores. Doesn't seem like a "jock school" in reality even if that is sort of the message within the walls. Many schools have a "jock" mentality inside the school... that is standard high school b.s.

Didn't say that Madison was "just a jock school," but great to hear that the current principal (he came from Thoreau, right?) is changing the culture to be more inclusive.

[Anonymous]

(My post got stuck inside the prior quote)

Not arguing with either PP, but I don't think anyone could claim that a school is just a "jock school" if that school has the what? -- 3rd highest average SAT score in FCPS. I don't know where it is this year, but it is typically in the top 5 high schools for SAT scores. Doesn't seem like a "jock school" in reality even if that is sort of the message within the walls. Many schools have a "jock" mentality inside the school... that is standard high school b.s.

[Anonymous]

(My post got stuck inside the prior post)

Not arguing with either PP, but I don't think anyone could claim that a school is just a "jock school" if that school has the what? -- 3rd highest average SAT score in FCPS. I don't know where it is this year, but it is typically in the top 5 high schools for SAT scores. Doesn't seem like a "jock school" in reality even if that is sort of the message within the walls. Many schools have a "jock" mentality inside the school... that is standard high school b.s.

[Anonymous]

[Up]

Anonymous




(

My post got stuck inside the prior post)

Not arguing with either PP, but I don't think anyone could claim that a school is just a "jock school" if that school has the what? -- 3rd highest average SAT score in FCPS. I don't know where it is this year, but it is typically in the top 5 high schools for SAT scores. Doesn't seem like a "jock school" in reality even if that is sort of the message within the walls. Many schools have a "jock" mentality inside the school... that is standard high school b.s.

+1

[Anonymous]

Residents of the Town of Vienna (TOV) pay the "base County taxes (Real estate, storm-water and Pest control - $1.161/$100 FY16) and an additional $0.225/$100 (FY16) to the TOV.

Residents of the County pay the base County tax plus additional assessments for a menu of charges that depend on their specific location within the County - examples include: Reston Town Center, general Transport investments, Rail improvements, Rt. 28, Tysons, leaf collection and a refuse collection fee.

So, the general principle is to charge residents for the services/investments that they use or that contribute to the value of housing in their area. The County Dept of Tax Assessment website has more specific information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
[Up]

Anonymous




(

My post got stuck inside the prior post)

Not arguing with either PP, but I don't think anyone could claim that a school is just a "jock school" if that school has the what? -- 3rd highest average SAT score in FCPS. I don't know where it is this year, but it is typically in the top 5 high schools for SAT scores. Doesn't seem like a "jock school" in reality even if that is sort of the message within the walls. Many schools have a "jock" mentality inside the school... that is standard high school b.s.

+1

Madison often has the fourth highest SAT scores in FCPS (after TJ, Langley and McLean) and is almost always in the top six.

Clearly, there are many high-achieving kids there. The "jock school" label was largely due to the atmosphere created by a former principal, who had been an athlete at Madison and was known to cut athletes some extra slack. It bothered some parents, including some whose own kids played sports. From what I've heard, the new principal is great and sets a better tone. I assume he's picking his battles and, if most people are happy with the band director, wouldn't replace someone who's brought considerable recognition to the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

[Up]

Anonymous




(

My post got stuck inside the prior post)

Not arguing with either PP, but I don't think anyone could claim that a school is just a "jock school" if that school has the what? -- 3rd highest average SAT score in FCPS. I don't know where it is this year, but it is typically in the top 5 high schools for SAT scores. Doesn't seem like a "jock school" in reality even if that is sort of the message within the walls. Many schools have a "jock" mentality inside the school... that is standard high school b.s.



+1

Madison often has the fourth highest SAT scores in FCPS (after TJ, Langley and McLean) and is almost always in the top six.

Clearly, there are many high-achieving kids there. The "jock school" label was largely due to the atmosphere created by a former principal, who had been an athlete at Madison and was known to cut athletes some extra slack. It bothered some parents, including some whose own kids played sports. From what I've heard, the new principal is great and sets a better tone. I assume he's picking his battles and, if most people are happy with the band director, wouldn't replace someone who's brought considerable recognition to the program.

The former principal also bothered parents by not showing up at any events except sports events. Not back-to-school night, freshman orientation, orchestra performances, plays, etc. New guy is much better.

BTW, PP, I see what you did there regarding the band director

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

[Up]

Anonymous




(

My post got stuck inside the prior post)

Not arguing with either PP, but I don't think anyone could claim that a school is just a "jock school" if that school has the what? -- 3rd highest average SAT score in FCPS. I don't know where it is this year, but it is typically in the top 5 high schools for SAT scores. Doesn't seem like a "jock school" in reality even if that is sort of the message within the walls. Many schools have a "jock" mentality inside the school... that is standard high school b.s.



+1

Madison often has the fourth highest SAT scores in FCPS (after TJ, Langley and McLean) and is almost always in the top six.

Clearly, there are many high-achieving kids there. The "jock school" label was largely due to the atmosphere created by a former principal, who had been an athlete at Madison and was known to cut athletes some extra slack. It bothered some parents, including some whose own kids played sports. From what I've heard, the new principal is great and sets a better tone. I assume he's picking his battles and, if most people are happy with the band director, wouldn't replace someone who's brought considerable recognition to the program.

The former principal also bothered parents by not showing up at any events except sports events. Not back-to-school night, freshman orientation, orchestra performances, plays, etc. New guy is much better.

BTW, PP, I see what you did there regarding the band director

Sorry, mixed up two threads.

[Anonymous]

It's not top 10 in VA. You shouldn't speak of the past as if it were the present. Sadly, Madison has dropped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not top 10 in VA. You shouldn't speak of the past as if it were the present. Sadly, Madison has dropped.

Go away, troll.

[Anonymous]

Not a troll. Check your facts. Madison has dropped. Not as good as other nearby HSs

[Anonymous]

[Up]

Anonymous

Not a troll. Check your facts. Madison has dropped. Not as good as other nearby HSs

Evidence, please?

[Anonymous]

Evidence as requested

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

Not even a top 10 school. Buy wisely, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Evidence as requested

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

Not even a top 10 school. Buy wisely, OP.

Discussed at length in earlier threads.

Madison was shut out of the latest US News rankings because one subset of students, its low-income students, under-performed on the SOLs a few years ago (US News ratings are based on standardized state test results from a few years prior) relative to other low-income students in the state of Virginia. Under the US News methodology, that kicks you out of the ranking system, even if most students at a school are doing great and the average is very high.

Next year, Madison very well may be highly rated by US News again, and it is currently rated highly by the Washington Post, has excellent SAT scores, etc. You can try to stick it to Madison this year based on the US News ratings, but the same thing could happen to your school next year. If it does, someone here will probably point that out, and it will be equally silly.

- McLean parent