Which public school system is best? (Arlington, fairfax, DC, MD)

[Anonymous]

OP - I think what you have learned is that there are a lot of snotty people on this forum.

Good luck with your search. We chose Arlington (metro corridor) when moving here with limited information and it is very, very convenient. W-L for high school. Most people in Arlington send their kids to public school, and the majority of those who do not choose parochial. We're all mostly happy. People are generally happy with high school, too. Williamsburg and Yorktown have the reputations for being least responsive to parents, but they also are considered "best" by many. When you accept anonymous advice, you should remember that some of those who respond (perhaps even me?) are nutters. Some are racists. Some are snob. Some are astute. You can't tell us apart, so be careful with our advice!

If you only look at test scores, you will wind up in a neighborhood with little diversity beyond what field of law people practice. So, although scores are important, you don't need "the best."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - I think what you have learned is that there are a lot of snotty people on this forum.

Good luck with your search. We chose Arlington (metro corridor) when moving here with limited information and it is very, very convenient. W-L for high school. Most people in Arlington send their kids to public school, and the majority of those who do not choose parochial. We're all mostly happy. People are generally happy with high school, too. Williamsburg and Yorktown have the reputations for being least responsive to parents, but they also are considered "best" by many. When you accept anonymous advice, you should remember that some of those who respond (perhaps even me?) are nutters. Some are racists. Some are snob. Some are astute. You can't tell us apart, so be careful with our advice!

If you only look at test scores, you will wind up in a neighborhood with little diversity beyond what field of law people practice. So, although scores are important, you don't need "the best."

Please take your own advice next time. Williamsburg and Yorktown have stellar reputations, and certainly better than W-L. If my choice were between Bethesda and the part of Arlington that feeds into W-L, I'd also go with Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

If you only look at test scores, you will wind up in a neighborhood with little diversity beyond what field of law people practice. So, although scores are important, you don't need "the best."

One thing is that ALL of the public schools in these areas are very diverse.

"College Readiness" seems like a very good indicator. For Arlington, the following are listed for Arlington(http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/districts/arlington-county-public-schools/sort+college_readiness_index/sortdir+desc):

Yorktown High (Google's Eric Schmidt went there, I believe)

60.3
—
Washington-Lee High

55.8
_

Wakefield High

33.5

----------------
For FX Cnty by way of comparison:

10 are above Yorktown in "College Readiness"

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/districts/fairfax-county-public-schools/sort+college_readiness_index/sortdir+desc

[Anonymous]

Is no one going to suggest that the OP move to Finland?

You disappoint me, DCUM posters. AGAIN.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If you only look at test scores, you will wind up in a neighborhood with little diversity beyond what field of law people practice. So, although scores are important, you don't need "the best."

One thing is that ALL of the public schools in these areas are very diverse.

"College Readiness" seems like a very good indicator. For Arlington, the following are listed for Arlington(http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/districts/arlington-county-public-schools/sort+college_readiness_index/sortdir+desc):

Yorktown High (Google's Eric Schmidt went there, I believe)

60.3
—
Washington-Lee High

55.8
_

Wakefield High

33.5

----------------
For FX Cnty by way of comparison:

10 are above Yorktown in "College Readiness"

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/districts/fairfax-county-public-schools/sort+college_readiness_index/sortdir+desc

The stats are lower for Arlington schools because of the increased socio-economic diversity in the county. Nonetheless, solid, diverse schools appeal to a lot of people, which is one reason why the public schools in the county are growing to levels approaching the population boom of the 50s and 60s. Compared with the Fairfax schools, Yorktown and W-L both look fine according to these US News stats. And looking at the posts in this forum a lot of people are choosing to live in both the Yorktown and W-L pyramids. Yorktown has the leg up on scores, and that's great. I personally have no bone to pick with either high school. And the Swanson vs. Williamsburg debate was also ridiculous. For some families, Gunston might be the best middle school in the county. Most people in Arlington are very happy with the schools, which is a good thing. Others are happier in McLean, Oakton, or Bethesda where the schools are less diverse but have higher overall stats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you only look at test scores, you will wind up in a neighborhood with little diversity beyond what field of law people practice. So, although scores are important, you don't need "the best."

One thing is that ALL of the public schools in these areas are very diverse.

"College Readiness" seems like a very good indicator. For Arlington, the following are listed for Arlington(http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/districts/arlington-county-public-schools/sort+college_readiness_index/sortdir+desc):

Yorktown High (Google's Eric Schmidt went there, I believe)

60.3
—
Washington-Lee High

55.8
_

Wakefield High

33.5

----------------
For FX Cnty by way of comparison:

10 are above Yorktown in "College Readiness"

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/districts/fairfax-county-public-schools/sort+college_readiness_index/sortdir+desc

The stats are lower for Arlington schools because of the increased socio-economic diversity in the county. Nonetheless, solid, diverse schools appeal to a lot of people, which is one reason why the public schools in the county are growing to levels approaching the population boom of the 50s and 60s. Compared with the Fairfax schools, Yorktown and W-L both look fine according to these US News stats. And looking at the posts in this forum a lot of people are choosing to live in both the Yorktown and W-L pyramids. Yorktown has the leg up on scores, and that's great. I personally have no bone to pick with either high school. And the Swanson vs. Williamsburg debate was also ridiculous. For some families, Gunston might be the best middle school in the county. Most people in Arlington are very happy with the schools, which is a good thing. Others are happier in McLean, Oakton, or Bethesda where the schools are less diverse but have higher overall stats.

Well for chrissakes we also only have 4 HS TOTAL.

Many less to make all of the lists..,

[Anonymous]

Not to mention I've read the US News assumptions were wrong in many cases.

[Anonymous]

Yorktown is the only good pyramid in arlington where as fairfax has the most excellent followed by moco.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not to mention I've read the US News assumptions were wrong in many cases.

Again you are a moron why didn't us news take your invoice and change the ratings? You should tell them!

[Anonymous]

Others are happier in McLean, Oakton, or Bethesda where the schools are less diverse but have higher overall stats.

You must be joking, right? Over half in Fairfax are Asian? Or is that why you are saying they aren't diverse. Can you back up what you say with statistics????????????

(P.S. if you mean less Black people, why don't you just come right out and say that?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Others are happier in McLean, Oakton, or Bethesda where the schools are less diverse but have higher overall stats.

You must be joking, right? Over half in Fairfax are Asian? Or is that why you are saying they aren't diverse. Can you back up what you say with statistics????????????

(P.S. if you mean less Black people, why don't you just come right out and say that?)

I was referring to socio-economic diversity. Many of Arlington's schools are 10-50% low income. No one's inferring anything about black people. Arlington schools don't even have a large black population.

[Anonymous]

Arlington also has alot of illegals who no habla english very well

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington also has alot of illegals who no habla english very well

That is true. If you can't stomach that, then Arlington's not for you.

[Anonymous]

I was referring to socio-economic diversity. Many of Arlington's schools are 10-50% low income. No one's inferring anything about black people. Arlington schools don't even have a large black population.

I'm having a hard time making sense out what you're saying.

Here's a comparison of Yorktown High (arlington) with Centreville High (where my kids would go in Fairfax):

(from http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/districts/arlington-county-public-schools/yorktown-high-20365)

Yorktown High (Arlington)
College Readiness Index 60.3
Total Minority Enrollment (% of total) 33%
Total Economically Disadvantaged (% of total) 14%

Centreville High (Fairfax County)
College Readiness Index 56.3
Total Minority Enrollment (% of total) 51%
Total Economically Disadvantaged (% of total) 18% !!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I was referring to socio-economic diversity. Many of Arlington's schools are 10-50% low income. No one's inferring anything about black people. Arlington schools don't even have a large black population.

I'm having a hard time making sense out what you're saying.

Here's a comparison of Yorktown High (arlington) with Centreville High (where my kids would go in Fairfax):

(from http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/districts/arlington-county-public-schools/yorktown-high-20365)

Yorktown High (Arlington)
College Readiness Index 60.3
Total Minority Enrollment (% of total) 33%
Total Economically Disadvantaged (% of total) 14%

Centreville High (Fairfax County)
College Readiness Index 56.3
Total Minority Enrollment (% of total) 51%
Total Economically Disadvantaged (% of total) 18% !!!!!!

The previous examples compared Arlington schools to less diverse Oakton, McLean and Bethesda, not Centreville. And in your example, you are only comparing Centreville to Yorktown. Arlington's W-L is demographically more similar to Centreville than Yorktown. And W-L's economically disadvantaged population is 31% which is twice that of Centreville. Arlington's Wakefield has a 42% disadvantaged population. At 14% disadvantaged, Yorktown is much more socio-economically diverse than most of the high schools in McLean or Bethesda.

The links to Arlington's three high schools are here. http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/districts/arlington-county-public-schools/sort+college_readiness_index/sortdir+desc