Landon and Bullis -- schools that are evolving?

[Anonymous]

I understand that both Landon and Bullis are going through periods of redefinition. I think Bullis has been trying to appeal to a broader academic pool, and Landon is still working hard to distance itself from the George Hugely/Yeardley Love tragedy. Can some people who have experience at these two schools speak to what the atmosphere and direction of these schools are at this time? Who is the current Landon boy and who is the current Bullis student?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand that both Landon and Bullis are going through periods of redefinition. I think Bullis has been trying to appeal to a broader academic pool, and Landon is still working hard to distance itself from the George Hugely/Yeardley Love tragedy. Can some people who have experience at these two schools speak to what the atmosphere and direction of these schools are at this time? Who is the current Landon boy and who is the current Bullis student?

I think UVA was impacted by the Huguley issue - he left Landon after 4 years and was a highly recruited student athlete. After 4 years at UVa he was a monster. Not saying UVa takes all the blame, but something happened to him at that school. If he was a monster during his time at Mater Dei or Landon, then those schools should be commended for helping him control his inner beast. Note the Yeardly Love family sued UVa, not Landon or Mater Dei.

Bullis has been on the uptick and Landon remains the best secular all boys school in the area. Neither school has had to confront a pedophile teacher issue in recent years which is something that most other schools can't say. As a parent, the thought of a pedophile on campus is something that I find truly frightening.

[Anonymous]

What other secular boys schools are there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that both Landon and Bullis are going through periods of redefinition. I think Bullis has been trying to appeal to a broader academic pool, and Landon is still working hard to distance itself from the George Hugely/Yeardley Love tragedy. Can some people who have experience at these two schools speak to what the atmosphere and direction of these schools are at this time? Who is the current Landon boy and who is the current Bullis student?

I think UVA was impacted by the Huguley issue - he left Landon after 4 years and was a highly recruited student athlete. After 4 years at UVa he was a monster. Not saying UVa takes all the blame, but something happened to him at that school. If he was a monster during his time at Mater Dei or Landon, then those schools should be commended for helping him control his inner beast. Note the Yeardly Love family sued UVa, not Landon or Mater Dei.

Bullis has been on the uptick and Landon remains the best secular all boys school in the area. Neither school has had to confront a pedophile teacher issue in recent years which is something that most other schools can't say. As a parent, the thought of a pedophile on campus is something that I find truly frightening.

I've never been a Landon basher but this is ridiculous. The Love family didn't sue Landon or Mater Dei because he wasn't murdered there. And most reports were that his problems were fully formed well before he showed up at UVA. You don't commend a school because he waited until he left to murder somebody.

You are deluded if you think any school is safe from pedophiles. They are adept at making themselves appealing and all schools really do is a criminal background test. If they've never been arrested they will pass. I'm sure you can think of something better to say about Bullis than "we haven't had a pedophile scandal."

[Anonymous]

The new head of Bullis reminds me of Professor Harold Hill in the Music Man, except he's selling football/basketball/lacrosse instead of the 76 trombones. What the heck, it might work for them though (Professor HH did pretty well and got the girl too). But there's a little flim-flammery too -- bringing in senior sports transfers, not making athletes take the SSAT, etc.

I've also heard they are thinking of building a dorm with an eye towards bringing in boarding students from China -- the current head was at a magnet boarding school before, wasn't he?

[Anonymous]

21:45 your statements are pretty idiotic. Hugely was a mess b/f he got to UVA. His parents or the h.s. could have intervened with his drinking early on. However, I don't think he represents all of Landon.

OP, I imagine your son is interested in sports? Both of these schools have a very imbedded sports culture. You may also want to take a look at St. Albans. I would definitely tour the schools.

[Anonymous]

Our son looked at Landon for next year and the entire admissions process could not have been warmer or more personal. We were very impressed. Son also had great day there on his shadow visit. He thought the other bis were very welcoming and fun.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes, 22:35, sports is a focus for us, but academics are also. We have heard that St. Albans is a primo location for both, but we were a little squeamish about getting involved in a school that was also religion-based. I have heard that the religious aspect of St. Albans is not incidental. Some have warned us that Bullis has some watered-down academics, which is of course not what Bullis represents, so we were trying to get a realistic sense of that aspect by tuning in here.

[Anonymous]

Recently I have heard from parents of some Bullis students I have tutored express concern about a lack of academic vitality in the high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yes, 22:35, sports is a focus for us, but academics are also. We have heard that St. Albans is a primo location for both, but we were a little squeamish about getting involved in a school that was also religion-based. I have heard that the religious aspect of St. Albans is not incidental. Some have warned us that Bullis has some watered-down academics, which is of course not what Bullis represents, so we were trying to get a realistic sense of that aspect by tuning in here.

If that is what you want, Landon is a better choice. St Albans is the best academically but Landon is better for sports. I say this as a paent whose son looked at both and loved both. Bullis is not in the same league academically as Landon and not even in the same universe as St Albans.

[Anonymous]

We did not want a religious school for our son and chose Landon. He is very happy there, but he has a really nice peer group in his class, and is not part of the lacrosse group, which i find pretty obnoxious, including the parents. Like most schools, it's great for some kids and not for others. In our case, we had a quiet boy who loved sports and music and has thrived with their small class size. The school still has a way to go to move into the 21st century of working mothers, but they're trying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that both Landon and Bullis are going through periods of redefinition. I think Bullis has been trying to appeal to a broader academic pool, and Landon is still working hard to distance itself from the George Hugely/Yeardley Love tragedy. Can some people who have experience at these two schools speak to what the atmosphere and direction of these schools are at this time? Who is the current Landon boy and who is the current Bullis student?

I think UVA was impacted by the Huguley issue - he left Landon after 4 years and was a highly recruited student athlete. After 4 years at UVa he was a monster. Not saying UVa takes all the blame, but something happened to him at that school. If he was a monster during his time at Mater Dei or Landon, then those schools should be commended for helping him control his inner beast. Note the Yeardly Love family sued UVa, not Landon or Mater Dei.

Bullis has been on the uptick and Landon remains the best secular all boys school in the area. Neither school has had to confront a pedophile teacher issue in recent years which is something that most other schools can't say. As a parent, the thought of a pedophile on campus is something that I find truly frightening.

I've never been a Landon basher but this is ridiculous. The Love family didn't sue Landon or Mater Dei because he wasn't murdered there. And most reports were that his problems were fully formed well before he showed up at UVA. You don't commend a school because he waited until he left to murder somebody.

You are deluded if you think any school is safe from pedophiles. They are adept at making themselves appealing and all schools really do is a criminal background test. If they've never been arrested they will pass. I'm sure you can think of something better to say about Bullis than "we haven't had a pedophile scandal."

And most reports were that his problems were fully formed well before he showed up at UVA.

Are you serious? Huguley was destined to be a murderer when he showed up at UVa??? Can you point to one report to support that absurd suggestion. Huguley graduate in 2006 FOUR years before the murders - the widely reported incidents "red flags" occurred AFTER 2006 when he was at UVa. I guess OJ Simpson's problems were "fully formed" at USC?

[Anonymous]

I am no fan of Landon, or UVA, for that matter, BUT:
Unless you know Huguely personally and are willing to bring yourself out of anonymity to establish some credibility, don't use this forum as an opportunity to state when/how/what he was/is and how he became that way.

[Anonymous]

Bullis is in no mans land. Always has been... may always be...

Its root were as a Naval Prep school
Then an all boys semi reform school
Then co-ed for average students
Then hired current Head of Sidwell - tried to compete academically with the big boys - failed
Now trying to compete with big boys athletically - we shall see

On academics, they will throw a lot of terms out to you. STEM, nice campus, balance blah blah blah. Facts are facts.
1. almost no HYPMS. Maybe 1 per year at most.
2. almost no National Merit Scholars
3. almost no distinguished alums - very little relative to a similar size of Landon, Holton, STA, GP, Sidwell etc

Serious students do not choose to go here. Serious students are here because mommy and daddy dont want to drive them far away from their 20814 McMansion.

This is a public school you pay for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am no fan of Landon, or UVA, for that matter, BUT:
Unless you know Huguely personally and are willing to bring yourself out of anonymity to establish some credibility, don't use this forum as an opportunity to state when/how/what he was/is and how he became that way.

I agree. The only thing we know for certain is that Huguely spent most of the four years prior to his crime in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia away from family. The extent to which things that happened to him during his childhood influenced him as a young adult would be speculation even for a psychologist examining him - and completely baseless speculation for those who don't even know him. I don't think anyone wold suggest that Mater Dei, Landon or even UVA has a track record of turning students into murderers.