Tell me about South Lakes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They placed IB at the poorer schools to try to attract higher SES students so they could being up test scores overall at the schools. It didn’t work. IB is very LA based so a lot of the math/STEM kids don’t want it.

We were at an IB school for a while and the phrase we heard frequently was "too much busy work."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They placed IB at the poorer schools to try to attract higher SES students so they could being up test scores overall at the schools. It didn’t work. IB is very LA based so a lot of the math/STEM kids don’t want it.

That's the most favorable way to look at it. Cynically, I think they created an out for the parents who would be most vocal about their kid's school failing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They placed IB at the poorer schools to try to attract higher SES students so they could being up test scores overall at the schools. It didn’t work. IB is very LA based so a lot of the math/STEM kids don’t want it.

Isn't the issue of IB vs AP whether it is the best fit for a particular kid? My nieces were both IB (full program) at one of the few passable schools in Pinellas County, Florida and they received an excellent education, both going to top colleges. Pinellas does not have a single school anywhere near the quality of SLHS. I think the IB program was not as much of a fit for my younger niece, as she was more inclined than her sister to STEM subjects. But I think she benefited from it. Mother went to Duke and father is a former UVA Econ professor, so there was a culture of education in the home and AP vs IB was not much of an issue. Parents believe in public education so did not consider the private schools, rare for their socio-economic status.

Bright students can succeed in many environments. A friend's daughter from SLHS and IB matriculated to Harvey Mudd in electrical engineering - about as rigorous as you can get short of Cal Tech or MIT. Needless to say she is really successful.


In any event, i would think it helpful if a non-emotional summary of the aspects of each program were easily available. It seems to me to be about fit. i have reviewed the IB curriculum and could have seen myself actually enjoying and doing well at it. But my skills are not like others, so again, fit matters.

[Anonymous]

Considering that European Unis will typically accept the IB diploma, but not necessarily a regular high school diploma for admissions, I would say the IB is superior.

[Anonymous]

UK unis don’t care about IB, IME

My kid got into UK unis without issue

[Anonymous]

Is there a primer somewhere on the objective differences between IB/AP/Honors?? Newbie, here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They placed IB at the poorer schools to try to attract higher SES students so they could being up test scores overall at the schools. It didn’t work. IB is very LA based so a lot of the math/STEM kids don’t want it.

Isn't the issue of IB vs AP whether it is the best fit for a particular kid? My nieces were both IB (full program) at one of the few passable schools in Pinellas County, Florida and they received an excellent education, both going to top colleges. Pinellas does not have a single school anywhere near the quality of SLHS. I think the IB program was not as much of a fit for my younger niece, as she was more inclined than her sister to STEM subjects. But I think she benefited from it. Mother went to Duke and father is a former UVA Econ professor, so there was a culture of education in the home and AP vs IB was not much of an issue. Parents believe in public education so did not consider the private schools, rare for their socio-economic status.

Bright students can succeed in many environments. A friend's daughter from SLHS and IB matriculated to Harvey Mudd in electrical engineering - about as rigorous as you can get short of Cal Tech or MIT. Needless to say she is really successful.


In any event, i would think it helpful if a non-emotional summary of the aspects of each program were easily available. It seems to me to be about fit. i have reviewed the IB curriculum and could have seen myself actually enjoying and doing well at it. But my skills are not like others, so again, fit matters.

FCPS has a side-by-side comparison of the programs: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high/advanced-academics/description-ib-diploma-program-and-ap

It's fairly anodyne. Of course, they aren't going to say one program is better than the other, or even telegraph which program may be a better "fit" for which types of students.

[Anonymous]

So many opinions by people that didn’t go or don’t have kids at South Lakes.

It’s a perfectly nice high school with a variety of academic, social, and sports groups. Most of the kids there are happy there and they gain a solid education.

Depending on where you are looking for a house, there are some really great communities that feed into SLHS as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Considering that European Unis will typically accept the IB diploma, but not necessarily a regular high school diploma for admissions, I would say the IB is superior.

Only a small percentage of kids at IB schools in FCPS get IB diplomas, much less matriculate to "European Unis." But I guess it appeals to a certain set and makes them feel better about sending their kids to average or below-average high schools in their local jurisdictions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They placed IB at the poorer schools to try to attract higher SES students so they could being up test scores overall at the schools. It didn’t work. IB is very LA based so a lot of the math/STEM kids don’t want it.

We were at an IB school for a while and the phrase we heard frequently was "too much busy work."

Right... So first the critics blame FCPS for not focusing enough on writing and literacy. IB comes along and provides the opportunity for kids to write extensively in multiple subjects and now it's deemed "busy work" especially in the case of math and science. Just goes to show the ignorance of most people who have no idea what STEM careers really are like and that it's just an echo chamber for AP boosters.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Why does every thread that mentions IB or even school with IB end ups being a IB vs. AP discussion? Like if someone asked about a random AP school, are people going to start fighting over IB vs. AP? Here is the truth---it doesn't matter. If you have a motivated kid--they will do well in either program. Parental wealth and SES will have more impact on your kid's educational and life trajectory vs. AP/IB. OP-I've heard South Lakes is a solid school, has a group of academically focused kids. DCUM (a couple of posters in particular) are very anti-IB. It's weird.

It was a SL poster who claimed IB was superior to AP. No one else had said anything about "IB vs AP" before that.

She said she thought IB prepared her better than AP did for some of her friends back in the day (which is more of an opinion than a claim) and yes people took offense to it. I think that's less controversial than the "IB doesn't attract the brightest" poster upthread. Like I said-I don't think one is superior to the other. I think it's a silly argument. There are pros/cons for each. I have one kid who would probably flourish in IB and loves the humanities. And another who would be better served in an AP school.

The SL graduate's claim that she was better prepared for college coursework by IB was conjecture. The statement that IB schools attract a disproportionately small number of the county's top students is backed up by facts.

There are very few schools with IB. It is not a magnet program that people can apply for. The fact that the schools with lower FARMs rates and ESL rates have a higher test scores and the like is a fact. Had FCPS placed IB at Chantilly or Langley or McLean you would be singing a different tune.

Kids at IB schools have many great opportunities, they are different then the kids at AP schools but there are still a large number of great outcomes. Comparing high SES schools to Lower SES schools is comparing apples to oranges. And I would not want to be gloating about test scores the way you are, essentially you are mocking kids who have fewer opportunities to succeed due to a lack of finances and/or parental background that influences educational outcomes. You sound like an elitist snob.

Reston isn't poor, for the most part. While there is some poverty, houses there are quite expensive. It just has a high school that's saddled with an academic program that on balance is a net negative when it comes to attracting families with higher-achieving kids.

Your hypothesis is silly because Chantilly, Oakton, Langley, and McLean families wouldn't roll over and allow FCPS to replace AP with IB. They tried that at Woodson years ago, and the parents successfully pushed back.

33% of SLHS receive Free and Reduced Meals. SLHS pulls from more then just Reston and there are a good number of families on the edge of poverty and a good percentage that are in need of help. There is a food pantry at the high school for the kids.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thank you to the people who actually answered the question about South Lakes! It sounds like if my kids are motivated, hard workers, who apply themselves, this will be a good school for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thank you to the people who actually answered the question about South Lakes! It sounds like if my kids are motivated, hard workers, who apply themselves, this will be a good school for them.

Exactly. It is a good school. There is a large cohort of kids who are motivated and take IB, 48% of the school. There is a group of kids who challenge each other but it isn’t a pressure cooker environment. Your kids will get a good education and should have a great over all experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They placed IB at the poorer schools to try to attract higher SES students so they could being up test scores overall at the schools. It didn’t work. IB is very LA based so a lot of the math/STEM kids don’t want it.

We were at an IB school for a while and the phrase we heard frequently was "too much busy work."

Right... So first the critics blame FCPS for not focusing enough on writing and literacy. IB comes along and provides the opportunity for kids to write extensively in multiple subjects and now it's deemed "busy work" especially in the case of math and science. Just goes to show the ignorance of most people who have no idea what STEM careers really are like and that it's just an echo chamber for AP boosters.

It's just what we heard from kids at the IB school. It wasn't South Lakes.

Parents would push their kids into doing the full IB diploma because they thought it would be their golden ticket for college admissions. It wasn't. Some diploma kids got into great schools and others ended up at mid-tier schools. Same thing happens with kids who take a lot of AP courses, but there isn't as much hype about a "programme."

[Anonymous]

I graduated from SLHS back in the 90s when it was an AP school. Even back then it was a rough environment. Staying in mostly AP classes helped me avoid the riff raff. I would not send my child to a school like that now unless they really wanted IB and even then I would have hesitations.