Langley Academic Rigor

[Anonymous]

Anyone have any insights into the academic rigor and curricular coverage of Langley, especially relative to Potomac. We are considering it. Seems like a lovely school with its child first focus and holitistic pedagogical approach, but we were wondering how this might ultimately translate into more substantive and content areas in the curriculum and teaching of core skills/subjects. Any insights from current or former parents would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Parent of a current first grader here. I think that Langley takes a similar approach to Potomac in that they ease into academics (we have friends with kids at Potomac so when we compare what are kids are doing it's more or less the same). The children are challenged at a young age but not stressed. School is a happy place where they feel safe and secure. The curriculum is so rich- a typical week includes two Spanish classes, 3 PE, 2 science labs, 2 sessions of music, 2 art, a weekly LS assembly. The kids feel a strong sense of community and responsibility to their fellow students, teachers and admin.

I can't comment directly on the academic rigor as they get older but I know that it's strong. Langley kids attend high schools all over the DC area and boarding.

Our new head of school Dr. Scully is from NCS and is dynamite. I think that if there is any weakness whatsoever in academics, she will change it pronto.

The new middle school is going to be incredible. It's a very exciting time for Langley and we are really thrilled to be part of it!

Happy to answer any questions specifically about K or 1st grade.

[Anonymous]

NCS is well-known for cut throat academics. Expect Langley to follow suit?

[Anonymous]

I'm the pp. Since my DC is younger, I don't know what kinds of changes she will make in regard to academics. We are thrilled with our experiences in the primary and lower school so far. My son jumps out of bed excited for school each day and so enthusiastic about what he's learning. His reading has improved drastically due to differentiated reading groups and they are supplementing him with more challenging math concepts since this is his strength.

Dr. Scully is taking the year to get to know Langley and its traditions, the students, faculty, admin and parents before she makes any significant changes. Like I said- if there are weaknesses in an area, I expect she'll take care of them.

[Anonymous]

If you want to know what's in store for Langley, get to know NCS a little. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, here we come. You just need to know that your kid is cut out for that path. If so, it's all good.

[Anonymous]

My DC is in the primary school at Langley and I have been pretty impressed with the differentiation that occurs throughout the day. Small groups of 3-5 children working on very specific academic areas grouped by ability.

I've found the curriculum to be pretty strong and the integration of technology in the classroom approach keeps my DC engaged/excited.

The Spanish--while great as an added bonus in the primary school- is no WIS. But, I suspect that as my DC progresses, there will be more rigor in language as well (and there is a Mandarin option which is pretty exciting). I don't believe Potomac has this option until a few years later.

[Anonymous]

We are in the lower school. I find that Langley does differentiate pretty well, but isn't great with kids at extreme levels of the learning spectrum. Starting in 5th grade, the curriculum gets pretty advanced, but parents looking for something like AAP in earlier grades will probably be frustrated. Yes they differentiate but they can't do individual instruction for the one child who is reading at an 8th grade level in 1st grade or doing multiplication in K. The teaches are dedicated and the kids enjoy school and learn a lot. As years progress writing becomes important and they stress strong writing and presentation skills. By the time they hit middle school the program seems quite rigorous and they apparently do very well in exmissions.

They do well with offering a variety of specials, and have a great arts and music program and great facilities. They are somewhat weak at sports because they lack a pool and tennis courts, but they do well enough with the sports they offer. JV sports starts at 5th grade, which I think is earlier than Potomac. Most kids play on area sports leagues or swim programs anyway if they are interested in those sports, so I'm not sure many people are looking for more sports to be offered through the school.

[Anonymous]

I have children in both the Lower School (1-5) and Middle School (6-8) and have been there for 8 years. Langley offers strong academics. Like most schools, as you enter the higher grades, there is more responsibility and less hand holding of students. One of the strengths that sets Langley apart is that it is a Pre K-8 school. Eighth graders, and middle schoolers, are known as leaders of the school, they have wonderful opportunities to mentor younger students, take risks, be student leaders. By 8th grade, kids are gaining wonderful skills in the high school application process, including interviewing. And, while the kids all have their groups of friends, most are ready to move on and mature to a new school, with new faces and new opportunities. Would you want to be with the same core group for 12 years, or do you remember wanting to start fresh at a certain point?

[Anonymous]

I don't know anything about the academic rigor at Potomac, but as a former Langley teacher, I was surprised at the low expectations for most of the middle school students. Of course, there were a number that were working at a higher level, but that had more to do with the families from which they were coming, than the education they had received at the school. I was expecting the student who had access to so many opportunities to be operating at a higher level and had adjusted my curriculum accordingly. I had to drop the added rigor for most students, and strongly support writing skills, which were abysmal. I suspect that the new administration will help correct much of this and feel strongly that Langley has a lot of positive things going for it (their art program, exposure to a variety of subjects and ideas, and technology integration for example, as well as the fact that most of the students actually enjoy going to school, which says a lot), but I would not describe their academic program as rigorous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are in the lower school. I find that Langley does differentiate pretty well, but isn't great with kids at extreme levels of the learning spectrum. Starting in 5th grade, the curriculum gets pretty advanced, but parents looking for something like AAP in earlier grades will probably be frustrated. Yes they differentiate but they can't do individual instruction for the one child who is reading at an 8th grade level in 1st grade or doing multiplication in K. The teaches are dedicated and the kids enjoy school and learn a lot. As years progress writing becomes important and they stress strong writing and presentation skills. By the time they hit middle school the program seems quite rigorous and they apparently do very well in exmissions.

They do well with offering a variety of specials, and have a great arts and music program and great facilities. They are somewhat weak at sports because they lack a pool and tennis courts, but they do well enough with the sports they offer. JV sports starts at 5th grade, which I think is earlier than Potomac. Most kids play on area sports leagues or swim programs anyway if they are interested in those sports, so I'm not sure many people are looking for more sports to be offered through the school.

If you have one of these, there is no independent school in the DC area that you will be happy with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:... individual instruction for the one child who is reading at an 8th grade level in 1st grade or doing multiplication in K. ....

If you have one of these, there is no independent school in the DC area that you will be happy with.

I'm curious. What exactly would AAP or any public school do with such a student? She certainly would not fit in the standard AAP classes. And I'm pretty confident FCPS would not provide her an individual teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know anything about the academic rigor at Potomac, but as a former Langley teacher, I was surprised at the low expectations for most of the middle school students. Of course, there were a number that were working at a higher level, but that had more to do with the families from which they were coming, than the education they had received at the school. I was expecting the student who had access to so many opportunities to be operating at a higher level and had adjusted my curriculum accordingly. I had to drop the added rigor for most students, and strongly support writing skills, which were abysmal. I suspect that the new administration will help correct much of this and feel strongly that Langley has a lot of positive things going for it (their art program, exposure to a variety of subjects and ideas, and technology integration for example, as well as the fact that most of the students actually enjoy going to school, which says a lot), but I would not describe their academic program as rigorous.

I hope you are not an English teacher. Your writing style is abysmal.

[Anonymous]

My kid is doing multiplication in K. Correct, the langley teachers aren't teaching it, but what do you expect? It's a great school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NCS is well-known for cut throat academics. Expect Langley to follow suit?

What an ignorant post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know anything about the academic rigor at Potomac, but as a former Langley teacher, I was surprised at the low expectations for most of the middle school students. Of course, there were a number that were working at a higher level, but that had more to do with the families from which they were coming, than the education they had received at the school. I was expecting the student who had access to so many opportunities to be operating at a higher level and had adjusted my curriculum accordingly. I had to drop the added rigor for most students, and strongly support writing skills, which were abysmal. I suspect that the new administration will help correct much of this and feel strongly that Langley has a lot of positive things going for it (their art program, exposure to a variety of subjects and ideas, and technology integration for example, as well as the fact that most of the students actually enjoy going to school, which says a lot), but I would not describe their academic program as rigorous.

I hope you are not an English teacher. Your writing style is abysmal.

I disagree. This is a very helpful post.