Thinking of moving to Longfellow/Cooper

[Anonymous]

Sorry hit send to soon on above - remember that 2019 and 2020 disciplinary data mean nothing - COVID.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't really get all of the mud-slinging and negativity aimed at OP. OP asked a straightfoward question about comparing certain middle schools. Whether one agrees or disagrees with OP's views/priorities is irrelevant (and unnecessary) to answering the question.

OP here, thanks for helping to stay on topic. If someone could help me find the safety stats mentioned before that would be great!

Anonymous wrote:OP, I wouldn’t hesitate to move to the McLean pyramids. We did and have been very satisfied.

Thanks for your input - however do you have personal experience from other pyramids and therefore a strong preference to McLean pyramid? And why?

Anonymous wrote:I didn't get the impression the former Cooper teacher had a chip on their shoulder, but instead was just sounding a cautionary note.

OP has a 6th grader that they're thinking of uprooting from their friends, which would be quite disruptive. I can't see any reason to think Cooper/Langley would provide any meaningful advantage for a student over Frost/Woodson.

Yeah uprooting is one negative, the extra rent and the moving hassle are negatives as well. Of course the question is if accepting those negatives is worth it to get a (potentially) safer school, a (potentially) more moderate school w.r.t politics/culture wars and (potentially) more rigor in academics.
The answer to this question is obviously subjective and I'm not asking for that. Each one here has different criteria.
I am asking if those schools have indeed those (potential) characteristics I'm looking for and to what extent.

a pp -- I meant "McLean pyramids" to encompass both McLean & Langley high schools. My kid went to Langley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry hit send to soon on above - remember that 2019 and 2020 disciplinary data mean nothing - COVID.

Very helpful thanks.
Too bad there's no data for 21-22

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Taught at Cooper a while back. OP, the issues you mention happen everywhere. One other thing you might consider is how your child will respond to being among peers with the wealth that is in the Cooper/Langley pyramid. For some kids this wouldn't be a challenge, but for others, "keeping up" can be a thing, so something you might want to be mindful of as you make this decision. It's true that not every kid/family there lives in a mega-mansion, but when the norm seems to be that most families take multiple trips each year/students receive elaborate gifts for holidays/students have access to whatever they want, that can influence the social atmosphere in ways that might not serve your child.

This is why we did not consider this. We aren’t poor and we did not want our children to have a misunderstanding of that based on what their friends would be doing.

Too bad for your kid that you’re close-minded. My own kids benefited greatly from other kids whose families prioritized strong academics and active, meaningful extracurricular activities. So the cohort took a rigorous course load, earned good grades (yes, tutors when necessary) and also excelled in track, dance, theater, orchestra, etc. They all took the search for the “right fit” college seriously and ended up spread across the U.S. and a couple in Canada and Europe. They’ve been well prepared for college. I wouldn’t throw all this away because someone went to the Vatican for Easter or skied in the Alps last winter. Priorities, yes.

Preach!!!! agree x1000

+100
Finally, someone without a chip on their shoulder speaks the truth.

I didn't get the impression the former Cooper teacher had a chip on their shoulder, but instead was just sounding a cautionary note.

OP has a 6th grader that they're thinking of uprooting from their friends, which would be quite disruptive. I can't see any reason to think Cooper/Langley would provide any meaningful advantage for a student over Frost/Woodson.

I transferred in the middle of 5th grade (parents were military) and hardly remember anything difficult in making new friends. My current best friend went to the same grad school with me. I chat with my high school and occasional MS friends. Primary? Even if we hadn’t moved, I’m not sure.

Quit a better school and same/more aspiring peers for people who would be gone from my life?

Military moves are usually involuntary transfers and military families have their own ethos. It's a bit different to tell a 6th grader they are moving out of the Woodson pyramid to chase...something (not sure exactly what) at Cooper or Longfellow.

But if you're going to move better to do it when a kid is starting middle school than later, since middle school kids come from a bunch of different elementary schools and 7th grade is a good year to make new friends.

[Anonymous]

OP, my kid has been in private the last few years because of Covid, we were worried about learning loss. He is now going back into our pyramid to attend Cooper next year because we know the school is so strong. He will get back in with his elementary school Friends who will be going there as well, which gives me a lot of comfort. I do not think you would regret making the decision to move to the Cooper/Langley pyramid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:send her to Cooper - none of the crap you mentioned is happening there

Yes it is.

[Anonymous]

Cooper was served with a cease-and-desist order from the state Attorney General this afternoon.

[Anonymous]

What’s your issue with Frost/WTW? That’s considered a strong pyramid and a relatively affluent area, without some of the excessive affluence in the Langley area that may have its own issues.

My kids are at Mclean and we are mostly happy but I also dont totally know what you are talking about with the culture wars stuff and wonder if you will be happy anywhere. How is the culture war issue playing out at Frost?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cooper was served with a cease-and-desist order from the state Attorney General this afternoon.

WHAT?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cooper was served with a cease-and-desist order from the state Attorney General this afternoon.

Because they didn’t burn their liberty as ordered by Fucyin?

[Anonymous]

Or a rainbow hurt someone’s feelings?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cooper was served with a cease-and-desist order from the state Attorney General this afternoon.

WHAT?!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Cooper was served with a cease-and-desist order from the state Attorney General this afternoon.

WHAT?!

Great, so they are going after programs aimed at helping URMs, economically disadvantaged kids and kids with disabilities prepare for college??? What kind of crazy world is this?

[Anonymous]

Another link to the Jason Miyares action against Cooper: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/2548-march-9th-2022-attorney-general-miyares-demands-fairfax-county-middle-school-stop-racially-discriminating-against-children

[Anonymous]

OP-I’m not naive to think that peer groups don’t matter. I think they absolutely do but again lots of schools in the area have lots of kids who are very academically focused. The people who are pointing this out don’t have a chip on their shoulder. Not sure why some are getting so defensive. Also-I don’t understand your concern about politics. What does that mean? Are you concerned about specific things in the curriculum? And if so, how would it be different in Langley?