Marshall high, college results/uva vs other FCPS— theories?

[Anonymous]

Why can’t someone from McLean and Marshall log into Naviance and post the #s? Isnt that data available?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here, I’m finally back! I was just genuinely curious about the factors that might explain the different trends. It seems like most of the more reasonable people who actually responded to my question think that is it is more SES than anything. My memory is fuzzy in comparing Marshall to even more economically diverse high schools like justice, Fairfax, and South Lakes, but I vaguely recall also thinking that the number of UVA from Marshall seemed relatively low, even compared to lower SES high schools in fcps. Some of you may think I’m creepy, but just a parent who is curious about college trends from high schools within the district, and finding the Marshall pattern to be kind of interesting considering that Marshall has some economic diversity, but also has a good number of affluent families, and is supposed to be one of the stronger IB high schools in the county. I agree that there are some strong schools represented, but the vibe is definitely different than say the pages for McLean high, Oakton, and Madison. some of that might be too non-reporting or under reporting, so I was just curious to hear from anyone who might have a more insider perspective.

School is definitely diverse than say, Madison, and not as competitive. I feel like they cut more slack to the IEP/504 students, more support. As far as their IB programs, having had my eldest at Robinson, I feel like Marshall is less intense. I am also surprised as some of the college choices for their students. Having looked at IG for 2026 decisions, I don't know why anyone would go to Iowa State for architecture or study Cinema or something similar at VT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here, I’m finally back! I was just genuinely curious about the factors that might explain the different trends. It seems like most of the more reasonable people who actually responded to my question think that is it is more SES than anything. My memory is fuzzy in comparing Marshall to even more economically diverse high schools like justice, Fairfax, and South Lakes, but I vaguely recall also thinking that the number of UVA from Marshall seemed relatively low, even compared to lower SES high schools in fcps. Some of you may think I’m creepy, but just a parent who is curious about college trends from high schools within the district, and finding the Marshall pattern to be kind of interesting considering that Marshall has some economic diversity, but also has a good number of affluent families, and is supposed to be one of the stronger IB high schools in the county. I agree that there are some strong schools represented, but the vibe is definitely different than say the pages for McLean high, Oakton, and Madison. some of that might be too non-reporting or under reporting, so I was just curious to hear from anyone who might have a more insider perspective.

School is definitely diverse than say, Madison, and not as competitive. I feel like they cut more slack to the IEP/504 students, more support. As far as their IB programs, having had my eldest at Robinson, I feel like Marshall is less intense. I am also surprised as some of the college choices for their students. Having looked at IG for 2026 decisions, I don't know why anyone would go to Iowa State for architecture or study Cinema or something similar at VT.

There's no way Marshall is "less intense" than Robinson. In 2025 the average SAT at Marshall was 1210 and at Robinson it was 1156. A difference of 54 points. To put in perspective how large of a difference that is, the average at West Potomac (1103) was 53 points lower than Robinson. Most would not say West Potomac is higher academically than Robinson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here, I’m finally back! I was just genuinely curious about the factors that might explain the different trends. It seems like most of the more reasonable people who actually responded to my question think that is it is more SES than anything. My memory is fuzzy in comparing Marshall to even more economically diverse high schools like justice, Fairfax, and South Lakes, but I vaguely recall also thinking that the number of UVA from Marshall seemed relatively low, even compared to lower SES high schools in fcps. Some of you may think I’m creepy, but just a parent who is curious about college trends from high schools within the district, and finding the Marshall pattern to be kind of interesting considering that Marshall has some economic diversity, but also has a good number of affluent families, and is supposed to be one of the stronger IB high schools in the county. I agree that there are some strong schools represented, but the vibe is definitely different than say the pages for McLean high, Oakton, and Madison. some of that might be too non-reporting or under reporting, so I was just curious to hear from anyone who might have a more insider perspective.

School is definitely diverse than say, Madison, and not as competitive. I feel like they cut more slack to the IEP/504 students, more support. As far as their IB programs, having had my eldest at Robinson, I feel like Marshall is less intense. I am also surprised as some of the college choices for their students. Having looked at IG for 2026 decisions, I don't know why anyone would go to Iowa State for architecture or study Cinema or something similar at VT.

There's no way Marshall is "less intense" than Robinson. In 2025 the average SAT at Marshall was 1210 and at Robinson it was 1156. A difference of 54 points. To put in perspective how large of a difference that is, the average at West Potomac (1103) was 53 points lower than Robinson. Most would not say West Potomac is higher academically than Robinson.

Judging from this report, a significantly higher percentage of Robinson students get advanced diplomas than students at Marshall.

https://www.fcps.edu/system/files/forms/2023-11/fairfax-graduation-detailed-outcomes-class-of-2023.pdf

[Anonymous]

I don’t know if this helps anybody, but I’m a college consultant in the area with kids every year from Madison, Marshall, McLean and Langley.

Marshall families are almost always more price conscious. This doesn’t answer your UVA question but I do think there is more of a financial component to decisions there than the other school. I would put Madison second, then McLean, then Langley (this probably doesn’t surprise anyone) in terms of where finances play in. But even at McLean and Langley, within my subset of kids who pay 5 figures for help, finances factor in more to the final decision than the average poster here would guess.

If I had to guess, I would say that any discrepancy could be explained by some of the higher SES kids being savvy enough to understand that they need to apply ED to UVA to have a chance. Marshall families always tend to over-inflate the weight of the IB program and in general many of them think they are better candidates than they really are.

[Anonymous]

I was just at the Madison HS graduation and I was stunned to hear so many of their Honors students are going to NOVA and then transferring. I guess lots of parents have become more money conscious and are trying to save a buck in this crazy economy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was just at the Madison HS graduation and I was stunned to hear so many of their Honors students are going to NOVA and then transferring. I guess lots of parents have become more money conscious and are trying to save a buck in this crazy economy.

Northern Virginia Community College is the top attended college from Oakton and Madison since forever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t someone from McLean and Marshall log into Naviance and post the #s? Isnt that data available?

I just looked and all I see is a scattergram. Definitely uva acceptances at Marshall the last few years. I can't tell how many.

[Anonymous]

If you have kids at Marshall you already know the answer: most kids don’t post on IG, and plenty of kids got admitted to UVA but going elsewhere including my kid. He is going to a much higher rated program for what he wants to study. You can’t see how many get accepted to each school. For example, there were 3 Northwestern acceptances for Marshall kids that I know of, but only one is going there.

Also, VT has a much more generous IB credit policy than UVA, so it does play a role in what kids choose. There is more and more interest in engineering and STEM and VT is just better at those than UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have kids at Marshall you already know the answer: most kids don’t post on IG, and plenty of kids got admitted to UVA but going elsewhere including my kid. He is going to a much higher rated program for what he wants to study. You can’t see how many get accepted to each school. For example, there were 3 Northwestern acceptances for Marshall kids that I know of, but only one is going there.

Also, VT has a much more generous IB credit policy than UVA, so it does play a role in what kids choose. There is more and more interest in engineering and STEM and VT is just better at those than UVA.

Your kid didn't get into UVA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have kids at Marshall you already know the answer: most kids don’t post on IG, and plenty of kids got admitted to UVA but going elsewhere including my kid. He is going to a much higher rated program for what he wants to study. You can’t see how many get accepted to each school. For example, there were 3 Northwestern acceptances for Marshall kids that I know of, but only one is going there.

Also, VT has a much more generous IB credit policy than UVA, so it does play a role in what kids choose. There is more and more interest in engineering and STEM and VT is just better at those than UVA.

Your kid didn't get into UVA

You are an idiot who thinks UVA is the best thing one could hope for. Aim higher.

He applied EA (all his apps were EA) and only added UVA because they dropped the supplementals. He is one of the 13 Marshall NMF and got in many other places, going out of state, and thank goodness for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have kids at Marshall you already know the answer: most kids don’t post on IG, and plenty of kids got admitted to UVA but going elsewhere including my kid. He is going to a much higher rated program for what he wants to study. You can’t see how many get accepted to each school. For example, there were 3 Northwestern acceptances for Marshall kids that I know of, but only one is going there.

Also, VT has a much more generous IB credit policy than UVA, so it does play a role in what kids choose. There is more and more interest in engineering and STEM and VT is just better at those than UVA.

Your kid didn't get into UVA

You are an idiot who thinks UVA is the best thing one could hope for. Aim higher.

He applied EA (all his apps were EA) and only added UVA because they dropped the supplementals. He is one of the 13 Marshall NMF and got in many other places, going out of state, and thank goodness for that.

Parent of Marshall freshman. Congrats to your son!

[Anonymous]

Honestly, my kids both passed on UVA. Marshall parent. They ended up at SLACs (smith and pomona) that were better aligned with their interests. UVA is in a lot of ways great but there are other options if you have the cash or get the need based aid. Smith was cheaper all in than UVA for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, my kids both passed on UVA. Marshall parent. They ended up at SLACs (smith and pomona) that were better aligned with their interests. UVA is in a lot of ways great but there are other options if you have the cash or get the need based aid. Smith was cheaper all in than UVA for example.

Marshall parent here. There is so little diversity at uva, I hope my child also has other options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know if this helps anybody, but I’m a college consultant in the area with kids every year from Madison, Marshall, McLean and Langley.

Marshall families are almost always more price conscious. This doesn’t answer your UVA question but I do think there is more of a financial component to decisions there than the other school. I would put Madison second, then McLean, then Langley (this probably doesn’t surprise anyone) in terms of where finances play in. But even at McLean and Langley, within my subset of kids who pay 5 figures for help, finances factor in more to the final decision than the average poster here would guess.

If I had to guess, I would say that any discrepancy could be explained by some of the higher SES kids being savvy enough to understand that they need to apply ED to UVA to have a chance. Marshall families always tend to over-inflate the weight of the IB program and in general many of them think they are better candidates than they really are.

Can you say more about this? Do they give too much weight to extracurriculars? I would think the scattergrams give them a good sense of where they are gpa/test wise. Would you do an AMA?