High Schools To Avoid In Fairfax County & Other Questions

[Anonymous]

Madison and Marshall are famous for their sluts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Madison and Marshall are famous for their sluts.

I hope you're 16 and feel sorry for you in any event.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Madison and Marshall are famous for their sluts.

I hope you're 16 and feel sorry for you in any event.

+1. It's sad to think a teenager would spend his or her last weekend before school starts trash-talking another school, but the prospect that an adult would say such things under any circumstances is pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would stay away from Langley, McLean, Madison and Marshall because of the drug problems.

Are there any gang activities in Fairfax County Schools or do they sweep things under the rug?

You see the problem with this question, right?

No, please enlighten me. Tell me what's really going on behind closed doors at these schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We also bought in the Edison pyramid and have similar concerns. Most of our neighbors seem to send their kids to Catholic or private schools. We are going to try out public school first and take it one year at a time. Hoping our kids get into AAP and have academically strong peers.

15:33 again. Just what neighborhood are you in? (not really expecting you to answer). I know a few families that send their kids to parochial school until middle school because they want religion incorporated into their education but I only know of one family that sends their kids to parochial/private school because they don't like Edison. The mother actually told me in a half whisper that not all the kids that go to Edison graduate! The horror! My DH grew up in the area and would have gone to Rose Hill but his parents sent him to Catholic school because they wanted him to have a Catholic education, not because the public schools were poor. Back then, it was far more affordable than it is now. We can afford to send our kids to Catholic school, especially since he's a legacy but we don't think they'd have a better educational experience than at FCPS.

I just don't understand what people are so afraid of. If you value education at home, your children will value it and they WILL take AP/IB courses because that's what you expect them to do. Yeah, some kids go the VoTech route or join the military instead of college but what's wrong with that? Maybe it doesn't bother me because I grew up in rural Midwest town where the vast majority of kids did NOT go to college. I always knew what my parents' academic expectations were and going to school with people who dropped out, went to VoTech or were looking forward to a factory job after high school never had a negative impact on my education or my high school experience. Let go of the fear. Your kids will have fabulous educational opportunities at any school they go to in Fairfax County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We also bought in the Edison pyramid and have similar concerns. Most of our neighbors seem to send their kids to Catholic or private schools. We are going to try out public school first and take it one year at a time. Hoping our kids get into AAP and have academically strong peers.

15:33 again. Just what neighborhood are you in? (not really expecting you to answer). I know a few families that send their kids to parochial school until middle school because they want religion incorporated into their education but I only know of one family that sends their kids to parochial/private school because they don't like Edison. The mother actually told me in a half whisper that not all the kids that go to Edison graduate! The horror! My DH grew up in the area and would have gone to Rose Hill but his parents sent him to Catholic school because they wanted him to have a Catholic education, not because the public schools were poor. Back then, it was far more affordable than it is now. We can afford to send our kids to Catholic school, especially since he's a legacy but we don't think they'd have a better educational experience than at FCPS.

I just don't understand what people are so afraid of. If you value education at home, your children will value it and they WILL take AP/IB courses because that's what you expect them to do. Yeah, some kids go the VoTech route or join the military instead of college but what's wrong with that? Maybe it doesn't bother me because I grew up in rural Midwest town where the vast majority of kids did NOT go to college. I always knew what my parents' academic expectations were and going to school with people who dropped out, went to VoTech or were looking forward to a factory job after high school never had a negative impact on my education or my high school experience. Let go of the fear. Your kids will have fabulous educational opportunities at any school they go to in Fairfax County.

Very well said! Figures it would take a Midwesterner to bring some sanity to this forum. I grew up in a community similar to yours and couldn't agree more. I attended some of the worst public schools around and still went on to get a Masters, learn three languages, write books and live all over the world. A kid who loves learning will be fine, particularly if, as you note, he comes from a family that values education. This idea that a kid will do better at a school with higher ave. SATs, or incomes, or whatever is just fear talking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We also bought in the Edison pyramid and have similar concerns. Most of our neighbors seem to send their kids to Catholic or private schools. We are going to try out public school first and take it one year at a time. Hoping our kids get into AAP and have academically strong peers.

15:33 again. Just what neighborhood are you in? (not really expecting you to answer). I know a few families that send their kids to parochial school until middle school because they want religion incorporated into their education but I only know of one family that sends their kids to parochial/private school because they don't like Edison. The mother actually told me in a half whisper that not all the kids that go to Edison graduate! The horror! My DH grew up in the area and would have gone to Rose Hill but his parents sent him to Catholic school because they wanted him to have a Catholic education, not because the public schools were poor. Back then, it was far more affordable than it is now. We can afford to send our kids to Catholic school, especially since he's a legacy but we don't think they'd have a better educational experience than at FCPS.

I just don't understand what people are so afraid of. If you value education at home, your children will value it and they WILL take AP/IB courses because that's what you expect them to do. Yeah, some kids go the VoTech route or join the military instead of college but what's wrong with that? Maybe it doesn't bother me because I grew up in rural Midwest town where the vast majority of kids did NOT go to college. I always knew what my parents' academic expectations were and going to school with people who dropped out, went to VoTech or were looking forward to a factory job after high school never had a negative impact on my education or my high school experience. Let go of the fear. Your kids will have fabulous educational opportunities at any school they go to in Fairfax County.

We are zoned for Franconia. I am concerned about peer groups but it isn't like rich kids don't have their share of problems. I went to a very highly regarded high school where I believe 99% of the school went to college. Drugs were a major problem at my school. DH went to a high school with a mostly working class population. He was in all honors/AP classes and said he only interacted with those kids and he turned out fine. We are going to try out our public school option first before going the private school route or trying to move.

We bought our house not long ago and our house is one of the more expensive houses in the area. Concerned that we may not get what we paid for the house. I know lower priced houses are going fast in the market but don't know how our house would do. I think most people would prefer to buy a house in Arlington or Falls Church for the price of our house. In hindsight, I wish we did the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Madison and Marshall are famous for their sluts.

I hope you're 16 and feel sorry for you in any event.

+1. It's sad to think a teenager would spend his or her last weekend before school starts trash-talking another school, but the prospect that an adult would say such things under any circumstances is pathetic.

Sure do wish those girls felt the same way...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We also bought in the Edison pyramid and have similar concerns. Most of our neighbors seem to send their kids to Catholic or private schools. We are going to try out public school first and take it one year at a time. Hoping our kids get into AAP and have academically strong peers.

15:33 again. Just what neighborhood are you in? (not really expecting you to answer). I know a few families that send their kids to parochial school until middle school because they want religion incorporated into their education but I only know of one family that sends their kids to parochial/private school because they don't like Edison. The mother actually told me in a half whisper that not all the kids that go to Edison graduate! The horror! My DH grew up in the area and would have gone to Rose Hill but his parents sent him to Catholic school because they wanted him to have a Catholic education, not because the public schools were poor. Back then, it was far more affordable than it is now. We can afford to send our kids to Catholic school, especially since he's a legacy but we don't think they'd have a better educational experience than at FCPS.

I just don't understand what people are so afraid of. If you value education at home, your children will value it and they WILL take AP/IB courses because that's what you expect them to do. Yeah, some kids go the VoTech route or join the military instead of college but what's wrong with that? Maybe it doesn't bother me because I grew up in rural Midwest town where the vast majority of kids did NOT go to college. I always knew what my parents' academic expectations were and going to school with people who dropped out, went to VoTech or were looking forward to a factory job after high school never had a negative impact on my education or my high school experience. Let go of the fear. Your kids will have fabulous educational opportunities at any school they go to in Fairfax County.

Very well said! Figures it would take a Midwesterner to bring some sanity to this forum. I grew up in a community similar to yours and couldn't agree more. I attended some of the worst public schools around and still went on to get a Masters, learn three languages, write books and live all over the world. A kid who loves learning will be fine, particularly if, as you note, he comes from a family that values education. This idea that a kid will do better at a school with higher ave. SATs, or incomes, or whatever is just fear talking.

Some of us are natives to this area and have different views on education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We also bought in the Edison pyramid and have similar concerns. Most of our neighbors seem to send their kids to Catholic or private schools. We are going to try out public school first and take it one year at a time. Hoping our kids get into AAP and have academically strong peers.

15:33 again. Just what neighborhood are you in? (not really expecting you to answer). I know a few families that send their kids to parochial school until middle school because they want religion incorporated into their education but I only know of one family that sends their kids to parochial/private school because they don't like Edison. The mother actually told me in a half whisper that not all the kids that go to Edison graduate! The horror! My DH grew up in the area and would have gone to Rose Hill but his parents sent him to Catholic school because they wanted him to have a Catholic education, not because the public schools were poor. Back then, it was far more affordable than it is now. We can afford to send our kids to Catholic school, especially since he's a legacy but we don't think they'd have a better educational experience than at FCPS.

I just don't understand what people are so afraid of. If you value education at home, your children will value it and they WILL take AP/IB courses because that's what you expect them to do. Yeah, some kids go the VoTech route or join the military instead of college but what's wrong with that? Maybe it doesn't bother me because I grew up in rural Midwest town where the vast majority of kids did NOT go to college. I always knew what my parents' academic expectations were and going to school with people who dropped out, went to VoTech or were looking forward to a factory job after high school never had a negative impact on my education or my high school experience. Let go of the fear. Your kids will have fabulous educational opportunities at any school they go to in Fairfax County.

We are zoned for Franconia. I am concerned about peer groups but it isn't like rich kids don't have their share of problems. I went to a very highly regarded high school where I believe 99% of the school went to college. Drugs were a major problem at my school. DH went to a high school with a mostly working class population. He was in all honors/AP classes and said he only interacted with those kids and he turned out fine. We are going to try out our public school option first before going the private school route or trying to move.

We bought our house not long ago and our house is one of the more expensive houses in the area. Concerned that we may not get what we paid for the house. I know lower priced houses are going fast in the market but don't know how our house would do. I think most people would prefer to buy a house in Arlington or Falls Church for the price of our house. In hindsight, I wish we did the same.

Also wanted to add that another concern that I have is that I am afraid my children will not be well prepared for college by attending a subpar high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A while back were some gang issues at Longfellow (which feeds into McLean). That is why Longfellow has many of its after school programs. There hasn't been a problem in at least 5 years.

We have friends who daughter just graduated at South Lakes, having completed the IB program, she is headed to W&M. They also did the Spanish immersion in ES and has success there too. South Lakes is usually one of the HS people say to avoid, but if your child is a high achiever, the IB program serves them well.

I haven't heard good things about Edison, which is another HS people say to avoid. However, the only first hand experience I have heard is from a friend whose son has some complicated special needs. I would expect it is similar to South Lakes though. Mount Vernon and Falls Church (HS in FCPS) are also schools people talk about to "avoid", but again they are large enough to have a "good student" cohort.

What gang was at Longfellow? The BMW gang?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15:33 - we just bought in the Edison pyramid and I've sort of been kicking myself because I'm worried about the schools. Did your kids go to elementary and Twain also? We are zoned for Lane too.

Part of my concern is that I feel like we are at the upper end of the income/housing bracket of our zone, if that makes sense. I'm concerned about DC being an outlier. (In the same way, DH wanted to buy in McLean where we would have been at the very bottom, and I didn't want that either - so it's not like I have something against those with lower incomes, I just wanted my kids to sort of be in the middle if that makes sense). I guess I am worried more about the other kids and a potential peer group than the academics, per se. I am also interested in any experience you have with the IB program at Edison.

You would not have been at the bottom at Mclean if you can afford to buy a house. 10% of the students received free or reduced priced meals.

Where do these kids live?? We bought in the low $700s - and in McLean that would NOT have gotten us much at all. We almost placed on offer on a home that was actually torn down by a developer- so we were literally looking at tear downs.

Family possibly renting one of the garden style town homes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15:33 - we just bought in the Edison pyramid and I've sort of been kicking myself because I'm worried about the schools. Did your kids go to elementary and Twain also? We are zoned for Lane too.

Part of my concern is that I feel like we are at the upper end of the income/housing bracket of our zone, if that makes sense. I'm concerned about DC being an outlier. (In the same way, DH wanted to buy in McLean where we would have been at the very bottom, and I didn't want that either - so it's not like I have something against those with lower incomes, I just wanted my kids to sort of be in the middle if that makes sense). I guess I am worried more about the other kids and a potential peer group than the academics, per se. I am also interested in any experience you have with the IB program at Edison.

You would not have been at the bottom at Mclean if you can afford to buy a house. 10% of the students received free or reduced priced meals.

Where do these kids live?? We bought in the low $700s - and in McLean that would NOT have gotten us much at all. We almost placed on offer on a home that was actually torn down by a developer- so we were literally looking at tear downs.

8.6% of the students at McLean receive free or reduced meals. Most live in apartment complexes off Lee Highway in parts of Falls Church in Fairfax County, but a few live in McLean as well. There are some decent single-family houses in the $700K price range in the Kent Gardens area of McLean, but they tend to sell fast if they are in good condition.

I don't know where you are getting the 8.6%, the FCPS.edu website shows 10.18%. It is a year old and sholdbe updated shortly, but I doubt it has dropped that much as it has been steadliy rising the past few years. There are also apartments near the new "McLean" metro station. The Rotunda in Tyson's is also in McLean's district, they don't tend to quaify for free meals, but the cost of an apartment is much lower.. There is also talk of a new apartment complex at the corner of Westmoreland and Kirby/Idlewood where a closed church now sits, which I think it great as the area need lower and middle cost housing.

why does that area need low/middle cost housing? there's hardly much low income retail nearby to justify an apartment complex.

[Anonymous]

Such ugliness behind that question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would stay away from Langley, McLean, Madison and Marshall because of the drug problems.

If you're staying away from a high school because of drug problems, perhaps you should plan to homeschool.

If your kids are home all day, you will end up with a drug problem.