General college placement: Langley vs McLean High

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Say if you have a pretty smart kid, e.g., 4th grade but learning middle school stuff and is motivated for math (AMC/AIME/USIMO) and science olympiad, which one is better? The Longfellow - McLean route or the Cooper - Langley route?

Both are equal. The differences will be in the individual interactions your child has and that is a crap shoot and changes every year. Find the house you like with the shortest commute- that time is worth way more than any perceived differences between the two schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, you’re basically asking which highly-ranked UMC HS is best? These are DCUM’s public darlings, if you’re rich and your kid’s smart, either will be fine. McLean has a better band, Langley has higher HHIs.

Where do you see this data? I would assume the opposite is true. Langley pulls from a large area that includes homes that border sterling and most of the truly wealthy in that area send their kids to private rather than public.

DP. Average single-family house zoned to Langley costs about $200K more than one zoned to McLean, plus McLean has a bunch of less expensive townhouses and apartments. Langley has no apartments and very few townhouses.

Langley appeals more to people who want to be surrounded by other rich people. All the other high schools in FCPS, including McLean, have at least some economic diversity.

OMG. The chip on your shoulder is a mile wide. Are you the same poster who is absolutely *obsessed* with HHI at Langley? You need a hobby.

Dp here. I have no chip. I actually wanted to buy on the mclean high side so my kids would not be going to school with all rich kids. Turns out kids are pretty normal but the houses are definitely more expensive on the Langley side.

People are always saying how Langley has no economic diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, you’re basically asking which highly-ranked UMC HS is best? These are DCUM’s public darlings, if you’re rich and your kid’s smart, either will be fine. McLean has a better band, Langley has higher HHIs.

Where do you see this data? I would assume the opposite is true. Langley pulls from a large area that includes homes that border sterling and most of the truly wealthy in that area send their kids to private rather than public.

DP. Average single-family house zoned to Langley costs about $200K more than one zoned to McLean, plus McLean has a bunch of less expensive townhouses and apartments. Langley has no apartments and very few townhouses.

Langley appeals more to people who want to be surrounded by other rich people. All the other high schools in FCPS, including McLean, have at least some economic diversity.

OMG. The chip on your shoulder is a mile wide. Are you the same poster who is absolutely *obsessed* with HHI at Langley? You need a hobby.

Dp here. I have no chip. I actually wanted to buy on the mclean high side so my kids would not be going to school with all rich kids. Turns out kids are pretty normal but the houses are definitely more expensive on the Langley side.

People are always saying how Langley has no economic diversity.

Where are you pulling this data?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, you’re basically asking which highly-ranked UMC HS is best? These are DCUM’s public darlings, if you’re rich and your kid’s smart, either will be fine. McLean has a better band, Langley has higher HHIs.

Where do you see this data? I would assume the opposite is true. Langley pulls from a large area that includes homes that border sterling and most of the truly wealthy in that area send their kids to private rather than public.

DP. Average single-family house zoned to Langley costs about $200K more than one zoned to McLean, plus McLean has a bunch of less expensive townhouses and apartments. Langley has no apartments and very few townhouses.

Langley appeals more to people who want to be surrounded by other rich people. All the other high schools in FCPS, including McLean, have at least some economic diversity.

OMG. The chip on your shoulder is a mile wide. Are you the same poster who is absolutely *obsessed* with HHI at Langley? You need a hobby.

Dp here. I have no chip. I actually wanted to buy on the mclean high side so my kids would not be going to school with all rich kids. Turns out kids are pretty normal but the houses are definitely more expensive on the Langley side.

People are always saying how Langley has no economic diversity.

Where are you pulling this data?

For starters:

Langley free lunch 3.63%
Mclean high free lunch 10.64%

[Anonymous]

Langley also has no multi family and very few townhouses while mclean has a title 1 elementary feeder and several apartments, condos and townhouses. I actually think this is positive for mclean high as I think diversity both economic and racial is better for a school environment.

That doesn’t change that Langley has more expensive houses. This is just a fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mclean parent here. One thing that I never hear mentioned is the location of the two schools. I feel like McLean is pretty accessible where there is only one way to get to Langley really. I also like the fact that during non-Covid times it is feasible for my kids to walk from school to downtown McLean and hang out with their friends a little bit. Is there anywhere that Langley kids can walk to? My kids play basketball at Langley sometimes and I am envious of the newness for sure. I believe both schools offer excellent academics.

There are multiple ways to get to Langley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, you’re basically asking which highly-ranked UMC HS is best? These are DCUM’s public darlings, if you’re rich and your kid’s smart, either will be fine. McLean has a better band, Langley has higher HHIs.

Where do you see this data? I would assume the opposite is true. Langley pulls from a large area that includes homes that border sterling and most of the truly wealthy in that area send their kids to private rather than public.

DP. Average single-family house zoned to Langley costs about $200K more than one zoned to McLean, plus McLean has a bunch of less expensive townhouses and apartments. Langley has no apartments and very few townhouses.

Langley appeals more to people who want to be surrounded by other rich people. All the other high schools in FCPS, including McLean, have at least some economic diversity.

OMG. The chip on your shoulder is a mile wide. Are you the same poster who is absolutely *obsessed* with HHI at Langley? You need a hobby.

Dp here. I have no chip. I actually wanted to buy on the mclean high side so my kids would not be going to school with all rich kids. Turns out kids are pretty normal but the houses are definitely more expensive on the Langley side.

People are always saying how Langley has no economic diversity.

Sounds like a chip to me. No one at Langley thinks about or discusses the relative wealth of their classmates. However, it does seem to be a point of obsession for those who don’t go there/have kids there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mclean parent here. One thing that I never hear mentioned is the location of the two schools. I feel like McLean is pretty accessible where there is only one way to get to Langley really. I also like the fact that during non-Covid times it is feasible for my kids to walk from school to downtown McLean and hang out with their friends a little bit. Is there anywhere that Langley kids can walk to? My kids play basketball at Langley sometimes and I am envious of the newness for sure. I believe both schools offer excellent academics.

There are multiple ways to get to Langley.

I think PP meant the only entrances are off a single road - Georgetown Pike. Not that there aren’t multiple ways to get on Georgetown Pike.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, you’re basically asking which highly-ranked UMC HS is best? These are DCUM’s public darlings, if you’re rich and your kid’s smart, either will be fine. McLean has a better band, Langley has higher HHIs.

Where do you see this data? I would assume the opposite is true. Langley pulls from a large area that includes homes that border sterling and most of the truly wealthy in that area send their kids to private rather than public.

DP. Average single-family house zoned to Langley costs about $200K more than one zoned to McLean, plus McLean has a bunch of less expensive townhouses and apartments. Langley has no apartments and very few townhouses.

Langley appeals more to people who want to be surrounded by other rich people. All the other high schools in FCPS, including McLean, have at least some economic diversity.

OMG. The chip on your shoulder is a mile wide. Are you the same poster who is absolutely *obsessed* with HHI at Langley? You need a hobby.

Dp here. I have no chip. I actually wanted to buy on the mclean high side so my kids would not be going to school with all rich kids. Turns out kids are pretty normal but the houses are definitely more expensive on the Langley side.

People are always saying how Langley has no economic diversity.

Sounds like a chip to me. No one at Langley thinks about or discusses the relative wealth of their classmates. However, it does seem to be a point of obsession for those who don’t go there/have kids there.

I mean, I don't have a dog in this fight. But it kind of is a story old as time that those at the top don't really think about or often recognize their own status, because it feels downright normal or average. We adapt to our surroundings. Its human nature. Of course its not as talked about, openly, when everyone is on the same level and that level is generally pretty privileged. I do think that its definitely discussed for sure, money and status always is, its just done behind closed doors more than on message boards.

[Anonymous]

Some Langley kids definitely flaunt their parents’ economic status, in ways that might not happen if the school were more diverse. PP just doesn’t like to hear about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mclean parent here. One thing that I never hear mentioned is the location of the two schools. I feel like McLean is pretty accessible where there is only one way to get to Langley really. I also like the fact that during non-Covid times it is feasible for my kids to walk from school to downtown McLean and hang out with their friends a little bit. Is there anywhere that Langley kids can walk to? My kids play basketball at Langley sometimes and I am envious of the newness for sure. I believe both schools offer excellent academics.

Langley parent here. There are actually three ways to get to Langley - from east or west on Georgetown Pike and up Waverly, but I know what you are talking about. DC missed the renovation but still got a great education. And WOW - I have been inside since the renovation and it's so impressive. As to where to walk to after school, there is the Clemynjontri (sp) park, the walk along Waverly to the Safeway and those stores. There's also an asphalt walking path along the Pike which our DC used to walk to school even though we qualified for bus. DC was so busy with after-school activities that hanging out downtown wasn't an activity she wanted to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, you’re basically asking which highly-ranked UMC HS is best? These are DCUM’s public darlings, if you’re rich and your kid’s smart, either will be fine. McLean has a better band, Langley has higher HHIs.

Where do you see this data? I would assume the opposite is true. Langley pulls from a large area that includes homes that border sterling and most of the truly wealthy in that area send their kids to private rather than public.

DP. Average single-family house zoned to Langley costs about $200K more than one zoned to McLean, plus McLean has a bunch of less expensive townhouses and apartments. Langley has no apartments and very few townhouses.

Langley appeals more to people who want to be surrounded by other rich people. All the other high schools in FCPS, including McLean, have at least some economic diversity.

OMG. The chip on your shoulder is a mile wide. Are you the same poster who is absolutely *obsessed* with HHI at Langley? You need a hobby.

Dp here. I have no chip. I actually wanted to buy on the mclean high side so my kids would not be going to school with all rich kids. Turns out kids are pretty normal but the houses are definitely more expensive on the Langley side.

People are always saying how Langley has no economic diversity.

Sounds like a chip to me. No one at Langley thinks about or discusses the relative wealth of their classmates. However, it does seem to be a point of obsession for those who don’t go there/have kids there.

Are we veering into the middle school "jus' jealous" territory already? Of course no one in a homogenous wealth group discusses their privilege - they're nearly all coming from the same point of references and only 3% of their peers fall into FARMs range. It's different if you're part of that 3% or you're one of the very few kids who didn't take an amazing spring break trip or is driving the 25-year-old Buick Grandma gave you after her keys got taken away - I can guarantee you that those kids are not having the same experience as the majority.

We deliberately avoided Langley and McLean because we are not wealthy and didn't want our kids to be the have-nots at their school and prefer they be in a more diverse population of students. I'm not jealous of people who make more money - we are comfortable, have a nice home, savings for retirement and college, and are able to provide extracurriculars; we are simply not wealthy enough to have a $1.5M+ home or to take expensive vacations or buy our child a Tesla for their 16th birthday. Langley kids get a great education, and several of my college friends are really fantastic Langley grads. McLean kids also get a great education, and my kids will as well. No one's "obsessed" with it, but it's a differentiating factor, and that's what OP asked about.

Your post is so chock full of misinformation and hyperbole, I really don’t know where to start. My kids go to Langley. We do not live in a $1.5 million home - not even close. We live in a neighborhood of houses built in the mid-70s/80s. I drive a ten yr. old minivan. Neither of our kids received cars for their 16th birthday - much less Teslas . We take a vacation once a year and never go anywhere during spring break. Most of my kids’ friends live in a similar manner, but the ones who are wealthy and travel a lot, etc. are still our great friends. Having money does not make one bad or unrelatable, as you seem to think. Are we fortunate to be able to send our kids to Langley? You bet we are. But just because some Langley kids are wealthy doesn’t mean all of them are. Most are comfortable, as we are. And again - no one cares.

Frankly, I’m glad you “deliberately avoided” both Langley and McLean because you’re clearly a bean-counting, score-keeping sort who would make yourself and your kids miserable if you had to live among people who might have more than you. But it certainly does beg the question: why are you even commenting on a thread about two schools you have “no interest” in or knowledge of?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some Langley kids definitely flaunt their parents’ economic status, in ways that might not happen if the school were more diverse. PP just doesn’t like to hear about it.

And so, you’re a Langley parent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mclean parent here. One thing that I never hear mentioned is the location of the two schools. I feel like McLean is pretty accessible where there is only one way to get to Langley really. I also like the fact that during non-Covid times it is feasible for my kids to walk from school to downtown McLean and hang out with their friends a little bit. Is there anywhere that Langley kids can walk to? My kids play basketball at Langley sometimes and I am envious of the newness for sure. I believe both schools offer excellent academics.

Langley parent here. There are actually three ways to get to Langley - from east or west on Georgetown Pike and up Waverly, but I know what you are talking about. DC missed the renovation but still got a great education. And WOW - I have been inside since the renovation and it's so impressive. As to where to walk to after school, there is the Clemynjontri (sp) park, the walk along Waverly to the Safeway and those stores. There's also an asphalt walking path along the Pike which our DC used to walk to school even though we qualified for bus. DC was so busy with after-school activities that hanging out downtown wasn't an activity she wanted to do.

+1
One of my kids had to go to school during all three years of the renovation, so he never got to enjoy the finished product. But we have another child there now and I agree - it looks fantastic. Worth the very long wait. I love the Clemyjontri Park (but HATE the name!!), and spent many hours walking there while waiting to pick up the kids from activities. It’s got a great path that goes all the way around it.

[Anonymous]

Oh lord. I went to McLean, but honestly both schools are filled with rich white kids.

The result? You will find classmates who are bartenders, professional DJs and tattoo artists. Sure some are hedge fund managers too. But the main thing they all had in common was family money. How do you think the guy who does molly and DJs full time supports himself?