Vienna VA - Feedback Please on MS and HS Options

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evidence as requested

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

Not even a top 10 school. Buy wisely, OP.

Discussed at length in earlier threads.

Madison was shut out of the latest US News rankings because one subset of students, its low-income students, under-performed on the SOLs a few years ago (US News ratings are based on standardized state test results from a few years prior) relative to other low-income students in the state of Virginia. Under the US News methodology, that kicks you out of the ranking system, even if most students at a school are doing great and the average is very high.

Next year, Madison very well may be highly rated by US News again, and it is currently rated highly by the Washington Post, has excellent SAT scores, etc. You can try to stick it to Madison this year based on the US News ratings, but the same thing could happen to your school next year. If it does, someone here will probably point that out, and it will be equally silly.

- McLean parent

More to the point, if you look at the overall numbers, madison's numbers places them in the top three in FCPS (excluding TJ). But, because one subgroup did not exceed state average, they were excluded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evidence as requested

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

Not even a top 10 school. Buy wisely, OP.

Discussed at length in earlier threads.

Madison was shut out of the latest US News rankings because one subset of students, its low-income students, under-performed on the SOLs a few years ago (US News ratings are based on standardized state test results from a few years prior) relative to other low-income students in the state of Virginia. Under the US News methodology, that kicks you out of the ranking system, even if most students at a school are doing great and the average is very high.

Next year, Madison very well may be highly rated by US News again, and it is currently rated highly by the Washington Post, has excellent SAT scores, etc. You can try to stick it to Madison this year based on the US News ratings, but the same thing could happen to your school next year. If it does, someone here will probably point that out, and it will be equally silly.

- McLean parent

More to the point, if you look at the overall numbers, madison's numbers places them in the top three in FCPS (excluding TJ). But, because one subgroup did not exceed state average, they were excluded.

If you dig into the methodology, 1) they excluded schools where students did not exceed state norms, 2) any subgroup did not exceed state norms. Disadvantaged underperformed. I do not know why, but that is what it is. So, they were excluded from consideration.

Had they been included, they would have passed the third test, graduation rate. Then of those that remain, they rank based on college readiness (from AP test scores). Madison is 75.1, which is #2 in VA (behind TJ). So, Madison would have been rated #2 in va.

[Anonymous]

But alas the school remains unranked in the state of Virginia

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evidence as requested

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

Not even a top 10 school. Buy wisely, OP.

Discussed at length in earlier threads.

Madison was shut out of the latest US News rankings because one subset of students, its low-income students, under-performed on the SOLs a few years ago (US News ratings are based on standardized state test results from a few years prior) relative to other low-income students in the state of Virginia. Under the US News methodology, that kicks you out of the ranking system, even if most students at a school are doing great and the average is very high.

Next year, Madison very well may be highly rated by US News again, and it is currently rated highly by the Washington Post, has excellent SAT scores, etc. You can try to stick it to Madison this year based on the US News ratings, but the same thing could happen to your school next year. If it does, someone here will probably point that out, and it will be equally silly.

- McLean parent

Evidence that it ranked high in WP, please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evidence as requested

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

Not even a top 10 school. Buy wisely, OP.

Discussed at length in earlier threads.

Madison was shut out of the latest US News rankings because one subset of students, its low-income students, under-performed on the SOLs a few years ago (US News ratings are based on standardized state test results from a few years prior) relative to other low-income students in the state of Virginia. Under the US News methodology, that kicks you out of the ranking system, even if most students at a school are doing great and the average is very high.

Next year, Madison very well may be highly rated by US News again, and it is currently rated highly by the Washington Post, has excellent SAT scores, etc. You can try to stick it to Madison this year based on the US News ratings, but the same thing could happen to your school next year. If it does, someone here will probably point that out, and it will be equally silly.

- McLean parent

More to the point, if you look at the overall numbers, madison's numbers places them in the top three in FCPS (excluding TJ). But, because one subgroup did not exceed state average, they were excluded.

If you dig into the methodology, 1) they excluded schools where students did not exceed state norms, 2) any subgroup did not exceed state norms. Disadvantaged underperformed. I do not know why, but that is what it is. So, they were excluded from consideration.

Had they been included, they would have passed the third test, graduation rate. Then of those that remain, they rank based on college readiness (from AP test scores). Madison is 75.1, which is #2 in VA (behind TJ). So, Madison would have been rated #2 in va.

Seems like they may need to try harder to position those kids to pass the SOLs. Sometimes schools with low ESOL/FARMS rates like Madison don't worry enough about those kids because they know their averages will still be high. That's why US News won't reward them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evidence as requested

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

Not even a top 10 school. Buy wisely, OP.

Discussed at length in earlier threads.

Madison was shut out of the latest US News rankings because one subset of students, its low-income students, under-performed on the SOLs a few years ago (US News ratings are based on standardized state test results from a few years prior) relative to other low-income students in the state of Virginia. Under the US News methodology, that kicks you out of the ranking system, even if most students at a school are doing great and the average is very high.

Next year, Madison very well may be highly rated by US News again, and it is currently rated highly by the Washington Post, has excellent SAT scores, etc. You can try to stick it to Madison this year based on the US News ratings, but the same thing could happen to your school next year. If it does, someone here will probably point that out, and it will be equally silly.

- McLean parent

Evidence that it ranked high in WP, please.

Look in particular at the E&E rating, which is similar to the College Readiness index under the US News methodology. Madison was third in the county behind Langley and McLean (WaPo excludes TJ from its rankings):

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/local/high-school-challenge-2017/

[Anonymous]

I prefer to look at the metrics.

Average SAT scores (2016 is the most recent data):

TJHSST 2198

H-B Woodlawn 1860

Langley 1851

McLean 1821

Madison 1789

George Mason 1760

Woodson 1755

Yorktown 1752

Oakton 1750

[Anonymous]

I prefer to look at USNews rankings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evidence as requested

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

Not even a top 10 school. Buy wisely, OP.

Discussed at length in earlier threads.

Madison was shut out of the latest US News rankings because one subset of students, its low-income students, under-performed on the SOLs a few years ago (US News ratings are based on standardized state test results from a few years prior) relative to other low-income students in the state of Virginia. Under the US News methodology, that kicks you out of the ranking system, even if most students at a school are doing great and the average is very high.

Next year, Madison very well may be highly rated by US News again, and it is currently rated highly by the Washington Post, has excellent SAT scores, etc. You can try to stick it to Madison this year based on the US News ratings, but the same thing could happen to your school next year. If it does, someone here will probably point that out, and it will be equally silly.

- McLean parent

Evidence that it ranked high in WP, please.

Look in particular at the E&E rating, which is similar to the College Readiness index under the US News methodology. Madison was third in the county behind Langley and McLean (WaPo excludes TJ from its rankings):

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/local/high-school-challenge-2017/

Thanks.

Rankings for some schools from this link.

I'm still lost as to why people tote Madison as a top school. Only 3 (excluding TJ) made the top 200. Of course, some folks will direct one to certain numbers, but the overall ranking is not all that impressive.
Oakton 169
McLean 197
Langley 199
Madison 209
Woodson 255
South lakes. 714

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evidence as requested

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

Not even a top 10 school. Buy wisely, OP.

Discussed at length in earlier threads.

Madison was shut out of the latest US News rankings because one subset of students, its low-income students, under-performed on the SOLs a few years ago (US News ratings are based on standardized state test results from a few years prior) relative to other low-income students in the state of Virginia. Under the US News methodology, that kicks you out of the ranking system, even if most students at a school are doing great and the average is very high.

Next year, Madison very well may be highly rated by US News again, and it is currently rated highly by the Washington Post, has excellent SAT scores, etc. You can try to stick it to Madison this year based on the US News ratings, but the same thing could happen to your school next year. If it does, someone here will probably point that out, and it will be equally silly.

- McLean parent

More to the point, if you look at the overall numbers, madison's numbers places them in the top three in FCPS (excluding TJ). But, because one subgroup did not exceed state average, they were excluded.

Because everyone should live in McLean? You are kidding, right? Maybe OP just doesn't want to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evidence as requested

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

Not even a top 10 school. Buy wisely, OP.

Discussed at length in earlier threads.

Madison was shut out of the latest US News rankings because one subset of students, its low-income students, under-performed on the SOLs a few years ago (US News ratings are based on standardized state test results from a few years prior) relative to other low-income students in the state of Virginia. Under the US News methodology, that kicks you out of the ranking system, even if most students at a school are doing great and the average is very high.

Next year, Madison very well may be highly rated by US News again, and it is currently rated highly by the Washington Post, has excellent SAT scores, etc. You can try to stick it to Madison this year based on the US News ratings, but the same thing could happen to your school next year. If it does, someone here will probably point that out, and it will be equally silly.

- McLean parent

More to the point, if you look at the overall numbers, madison's numbers places them in the top three in FCPS (excluding TJ). But, because one subgroup did not exceed state average, they were excluded.

Because everyone should live in McLean? You are kidding, right? Maybe OP just doesn't want to.

I think you are replying to a Madison poster reiterating that Madison would have been highly rated by US News but for one subgroup's scores.

[Anonymous]

OK...So this is falling into, blah, blah, blah your school isn't good...test scores...blah, blah, blah...not top 10...blah, blah, blah. Most this line of discussion is a difference in search of a distinction.

From someone who actually has a DD at Madison, we have found a strong parent community, respected teachers, engaged students, worthwhile administration, challenging courses, extra curricular activities and athletics. DD is in some AP classes (not all), two sports (can't say which as that will give it away) and chorus. Some how she makes time for all of it and does carry good grades. It is absolutely perfect, no; is it an exceptional experience, yes. And yes, Vienna does regard it at as "their" school, but you know that is part of what creates an enduring community. If you aren't from here you won't really understand that about Madison specifically...recently and under very sad circumstances, that term "community" had really meaning and impact with outpouring support for the kids and teachers following the death of a staff member. Someone first recognized as a teacher and mentor, being a coach was role that gave him the privilege of working with kids and impacting their lives. People from "here" remember.

Nitpicking over school scores and lists in Fairfax and Arlington counties, just strikes me as silly compared so many other schools elsewhere in Virginia or the Washington metro area where there aren't that many "good" choices. Think about the choices / costs families face in DC, Montgomery, or Prince George's county...we are extremely blessed with so many schools that are high performing in Northern Virginia. If each of us knows a particular school, teachers and kids better, we could all say something positive with the school that we most familiar...like I shared above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK...So this is falling into, blah, blah, blah your school isn't good...test scores...blah, blah, blah...not top 10...blah, blah, blah. Most this line of discussion is a difference in search of a distinction.

From someone who actually has a DD at Madison, we have found a strong parent community, respected teachers, engaged students, worthwhile administration, challenging courses, extra curricular activities and athletics. DD is in some AP classes (not all), two sports (can't say which as that will give it away) and chorus. Some how she makes time for all of it and does carry good grades. It is absolutely perfect, no; is it an exceptional experience, yes. And yes, Vienna does regard it at as "their" school, but you know that is part of what creates an enduring community. If you aren't from here you won't really understand that about Madison specifically...recently and under very sad circumstances, that term "community" had really meaning and impact with outpouring support for the kids and teachers following the death of a staff member. Someone first recognized as a teacher and mentor, being a coach was role that gave him the privilege of working with kids and impacting their lives. People from "here" remember.

Nitpicking over school scores and lists in Fairfax and Arlington counties, just strikes me as silly compared so many other schools elsewhere in Virginia or the Washington metro area where there aren't that many "good" choices. Think about the choices / costs families face in DC, Montgomery, or Prince George's county...we are extremely blessed with so many schools that are high performing in Northern Virginia. If each of us knows a particular school, teachers and kids better, we could all say something positive with the school that we most familiar...like I shared above.

Sounds like most high schools in upper middle class areas.

[Anonymous]

Is there one poster who is the constant fan club for Madison? All of his/her posts sound exactly the same.

[Anonymous]

23:33...Sorry, no genuine sentiment here...could be worse (not much) and be FFXU...