Huge HS graduation time variation

[Anonymous]

We did DAR twice. The first time we sat on the same level as the graduates, in the back due to my dad. It was fine, but we did not have great viewing. My father passed away before our second graduated and we sat in the box seats and had a great view. Younger DC won an award and was assigned a specific box seat for family members. It was a total surprise.

Both times, we Lyfted to DAR and back. The first time we Lyfted back was because my Dad could not walk very far. The second time, we planned n walking to metro and taking it back, but my DH broke his fibula a few days before the graduation and ended up taking Lyft back that time too. Getting in was a piece of cake, getting back required waiting a fair bit for the Lyft but it wasn’t a huge deal.

I don’t have anything to compare it to, but it was a nice place to have graduation.

[Anonymous]

For 7:00 graduations- Are you allowed back in to take pictures in the concourse hallway? Can you stay in and meet your graduate inside?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know some Fairfax parents have a bug up their ass that DAR is somehow only the graduation venue for some wealthier schools, but of the seven MCPS schools that graduate from DAR, most are on the poorer side (Einstein, Magruder, Kennedy, Northwood, and Watkins Mill). At one point Annandale used to graduate at DAR. It's mostly about just taking advantage of the available venues.

Every graduation venue has its pros and cons and it really doesn't matter that much to the kids where they graduate. If you aren't prepared to look at the positives of your kid's graduation venue, whether it's historical appeal (DAR) or size/convenience (Eagle Bank), you need to reconsider your priorities.

+1
But I did want to mention, the FCPS schools that graduate there do it because they're much closer to DC than other FCPS schools.

No, that’s not it. They are not close.

[Anonymous]

DAR must be great with a box. It sucks for everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DAR must be great with a box. It sucks for everyone else.

No, it doesn’t. We never had a box and we enjoyed multiple ceremonies at DAR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know some Fairfax parents have a bug up their ass that DAR is somehow only the graduation venue for some wealthier schools, but of the seven MCPS schools that graduate from DAR, most are on the poorer side (Einstein, Magruder, Kennedy, Northwood, and Watkins Mill). At one point Annandale used to graduate at DAR. It's mostly about just taking advantage of the available venues.

Every graduation venue has its pros and cons and it really doesn't matter that much to the kids where they graduate. If you aren't prepared to look at the positives of your kid's graduation venue, whether it's historical appeal (DAR) or size/convenience (Eagle Bank), you need to reconsider your priorities.

+1
But I did want to mention, the FCPS schools that graduate there do it because they're much closer to DC than other FCPS schools.

No, that’s not it. They are not close.

McLean and Langley are closer to DAR than Eagle Bank. Plus, it takes less time to get to DAR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know some Fairfax parents have a bug up their ass that DAR is somehow only the graduation venue for some wealthier schools, but of the seven MCPS schools that graduate from DAR, most are on the poorer side (Einstein, Magruder, Kennedy, Northwood, and Watkins Mill). At one point Annandale used to graduate at DAR. It's mostly about just taking advantage of the available venues.

Every graduation venue has its pros and cons and it really doesn't matter that much to the kids where they graduate. If you aren't prepared to look at the positives of your kid's graduation venue, whether it's historical appeal (DAR) or size/convenience (Eagle Bank), you need to reconsider your priorities.

+1
But I did want to mention, the FCPS schools that graduate there do it because they're much closer to DC than other FCPS schools.

No, that’s not it. They are not close.

McLean and Langley are closer to DAR than Eagle Bank. Plus, it takes less time to get to DAR.

With no traffic (10pm Sun night) it is 22 min from McLean HS to DAR, and 24 min to Eagle Bank. So not a significant difference. I would expect morning traffic into the city would be worse than going west to Fairfax, but it might be equally longer during rush.

Langley HS is 17 min to DAR, and 24 min to Eagle Bank (Sun night). So, yes, DAR is closer for Langley.

However, Madison HS is 16 min to Eagle Bank Arena, and 30 min to DAR. So clearly DAR is much further even with no traffic. Add in rush hour and you get a 50 min ride. And before you suggest UBER, ...the Uber driver has to use the same roads...they don't fly!
Marshall is 26 min to DAR and 21 min to Eagle Bank.

Times are based on no-toll routes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know some Fairfax parents have a bug up their ass that DAR is somehow only the graduation venue for some wealthier schools, but of the seven MCPS schools that graduate from DAR, most are on the poorer side (Einstein, Magruder, Kennedy, Northwood, and Watkins Mill). At one point Annandale used to graduate at DAR. It's mostly about just taking advantage of the available venues.

Every graduation venue has its pros and cons and it really doesn't matter that much to the kids where they graduate. If you aren't prepared to look at the positives of your kid's graduation venue, whether it's historical appeal (DAR) or size/convenience (Eagle Bank), you need to reconsider your priorities.

+1
But I did want to mention, the FCPS schools that graduate there do it because they're much closer to DC than other FCPS schools.

No, that’s not it. They are not close.

McLean and Langley are closer to DAR than Eagle Bank. Plus, it takes less time to get to DAR.

With no traffic (10pm Sun night) it is 22 min from McLean HS to DAR, and 24 min to Eagle Bank. So not a significant difference. I would expect morning traffic into the city would be worse than going west to Fairfax, but it might be equally longer during rush.

Langley HS is 17 min to DAR, and 24 min to Eagle Bank (Sun night). So, yes, DAR is closer for Langley.

However, Madison HS is 16 min to Eagle Bank Arena, and 30 min to DAR. So clearly DAR is much further even with no traffic. Add in rush hour and you get a 50 min ride. And before you suggest UBER, ...the Uber driver has to use the same roads...they don't fly!
Marshall is 26 min to DAR and 21 min to Eagle Bank.

Times are based on no-toll routes.

DP. I can only imagine the heads that would explode in indignation if only Langley and McLean were graduating from DAR. We had a Marshall student graduate at DAR and it was just fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did DAR twice. The first time we sat on the same level as the graduates, in the back due to my dad. It was fine, but we did not have great viewing. My father passed away before our second graduated and we sat in the box seats and had a great view. Younger DC won an award and was assigned a specific box seat for family members. It was a total surprise.

Both times, we Lyfted to DAR and back. The first time we Lyfted back was because my Dad could not walk very far. The second time, we planned n walking to metro and taking it back, but my DH broke his fibula a few days before the graduation and ended up taking Lyft back that time too. Getting in was a piece of cake, getting back required waiting a fair bit for the Lyft but it wasn’t a huge deal.

I don’t have anything to compare it to, but it was a nice place to have graduation.

+1
The box seats - or any of the seats up above the floor - are fantastic. What a view.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know some Fairfax parents have a bug up their ass that DAR is somehow only the graduation venue for some wealthier schools, but of the seven MCPS schools that graduate from DAR, most are on the poorer side (Einstein, Magruder, Kennedy, Northwood, and Watkins Mill). At one point Annandale used to graduate at DAR. It's mostly about just taking advantage of the available venues.

Every graduation venue has its pros and cons and it really doesn't matter that much to the kids where they graduate. If you aren't prepared to look at the positives of your kid's graduation venue, whether it's historical appeal (DAR) or size/convenience (Eagle Bank), you need to reconsider your priorities.

+1
But I did want to mention, the FCPS schools that graduate there do it because they're much closer to DC than other FCPS schools.

No, that’s not it. They are not close.

Of course they are closer than other FCPS schools. Langley and McLean, you just jump right on the GW Pkwy. Madison and Marshall aren't much further.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DAR must be great with a box. It sucks for everyone else.

We've been in a box one year and just in the rows of seating other years. It's great either way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know some Fairfax parents have a bug up their ass that DAR is somehow only the graduation venue for some wealthier schools, but of the seven MCPS schools that graduate from DAR, most are on the poorer side (Einstein, Magruder, Kennedy, Northwood, and Watkins Mill). At one point Annandale used to graduate at DAR. It's mostly about just taking advantage of the available venues.

Every graduation venue has its pros and cons and it really doesn't matter that much to the kids where they graduate. If you aren't prepared to look at the positives of your kid's graduation venue, whether it's historical appeal (DAR) or size/convenience (Eagle Bank), you need to reconsider your priorities.

+1
But I did want to mention, the FCPS schools that graduate there do it because they're much closer to DC than other FCPS schools.

No, that’s not it. They are not close.

McLean and Langley are closer to DAR than Eagle Bank. Plus, it takes less time to get to DAR.

With no traffic (10pm Sun night) it is 22 min from McLean HS to DAR, and 24 min to Eagle Bank. So not a significant difference. I would expect morning traffic into the city would be worse than going west to Fairfax, but it might be equally longer during rush.

Langley HS is 17 min to DAR, and 24 min to Eagle Bank (Sun night). So, yes, DAR is closer for Langley.

However, Madison HS is 16 min to Eagle Bank Arena, and 30 min to DAR. So clearly DAR is much further even with no traffic. Add in rush hour and you get a 50 min ride. And before you suggest UBER, ...the Uber driver has to use the same roads...they don't fly!
Marshall is 26 min to DAR and 21 min to Eagle Bank.

Times are based on no-toll routes.

DP. I can only imagine the heads that would explode in indignation if only Langley and McLean were graduating from DAR. We had a Marshall student graduate at DAR and it was just fine.

+1
There's clearly a real malcontent on this thread who doesn't want *anyone* to graduate at DAR. Glad no one listens to people like that. It's a beautiful venue and makes for a very special day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DAR must be great with a box. It sucks for everyone else.

We've been in a box one year and just in the rows of seating other years. It's great either way.

We will have to agree to disagree. We found the experience very unpleasant. The line to get in was long and not well organized, the DAR staff were rude, many of the seats offer poor views of the graduates and there is no screen to actually see what’s going on, the staff was yelling at everyone to get out when we were walking out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DAR must be great with a box. It sucks for everyone else.

We've been in a box one year and just in the rows of seating other years. It's great either way.

We will have to agree to disagree. We found the experience very unpleasant. The line to get in was long and not well organized, the DAR staff were rude, many of the seats offer poor views of the graduates and there is no screen to actually see what’s going on, the staff was yelling at everyone to get out when we were walking out.

Not our experience at all.

And the experience is intimate enough that you don’t need a Jumbotron, for God’s sake.

You sound absolutely ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know some Fairfax parents have a bug up their ass that DAR is somehow only the graduation venue for some wealthier schools, but of the seven MCPS schools that graduate from DAR, most are on the poorer side (Einstein, Magruder, Kennedy, Northwood, and Watkins Mill). At one point Annandale used to graduate at DAR. It's mostly about just taking advantage of the available venues.

Every graduation venue has its pros and cons and it really doesn't matter that much to the kids where they graduate. If you aren't prepared to look at the positives of your kid's graduation venue, whether it's historical appeal (DAR) or size/convenience (Eagle Bank), you need to reconsider your priorities.

+1
But I did want to mention, the FCPS schools that graduate there do it because they're much closer to DC than other FCPS schools.

No, that’s not it. They are not close.

McLean and Langley are closer to DAR than Eagle Bank. Plus, it takes less time to get to DAR.

With no traffic (10pm Sun night) it is 22 min from McLean HS to DAR, and 24 min to Eagle Bank. So not a significant difference. I would expect morning traffic into the city would be worse than going west to Fairfax, but it might be equally longer during rush.

Langley HS is 17 min to DAR, and 24 min to Eagle Bank (Sun night). So, yes, DAR is closer for Langley.

However, Madison HS is 16 min to Eagle Bank Arena, and 30 min to DAR. So clearly DAR is much further even with no traffic. Add in rush hour and you get a 50 min ride. And before you suggest UBER, ...the Uber driver has to use the same roads...they don't fly!
Marshall is 26 min to DAR and 21 min to Eagle Bank.

Times are based on no-toll routes.

DP. I can only imagine the heads that would explode in indignation if only Langley and McLean were graduating from DAR. We had a Marshall student graduate at DAR and it was just fine.

+1
There's clearly a real malcontent on this thread who doesn't want *anyone* to graduate at DAR. Glad no one listens to people like that. It's a beautiful venue and makes for a very special day.

There's more than one person who doesn't like DAR.