Which would you pick? Woodson, West Springfield or Lake Braddock?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here and would like to thank everyone.

Would consider Robinson however it would be a more difficult commute going OT Alexandria.

Good to know that LBSS and WSHS both are strong in art programs. Would a STEM-focus student thrive in WSHS?

We are not in any hurry to move. Not plan to move until school is over and do need to consider if TJ comes in play.

Thanks again!

We live in a Robinson zoned area and I work in Old Town. I just take the VRE. It's actually nice, fast, and a lot more relaxing than driving, fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here and would like to thank everyone.

Would consider Robinson however it would be a more difficult commute going OT Alexandria.

Good to know that LBSS and WSHS both are strong in art programs. Would a STEM-focus student thrive in WSHS?

We are not in any hurry to move. Not plan to move until school is over and do need to consider if TJ comes in play.

Thanks again!

Irving has a huge STEM lab. They won a state award for their program a few years back. When my kid went through a few years back, they had one of the best ratios for equipment to students in fcps, including the 3D printers. Their program is more about exploration than competition, and is really inclusive vs competitive. LB is more competitive, with kids getting cut from things like Science Olympiad, likely due to it being a center and having a higher concentration of STEM/TJ focused kids.

Lake Braddock and West Springfield have a joint competitive robotics team. I could be wrong, but I believe it is not a cut activity.

LB traditionally has a very strong Science Olympiad team, but I heard last year was a weird off year where they were not so successful.

WS had some students put together a Science Olympiad team a couple of years ago. It was completely student run, and only a couple of kids had SO experience, and that was from elementary school. They might have won a regional medal or two, but overall they were not competitive against the established and powerhouse schools. The student who organized it graduated last year. I believe the team folded after she left, but do not quote me on this.

Thos are the 2 STEM activities that I am aware of. There might be others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:West Springfield would be the worst commute of the three to your workplaces. Also, the school is incredibly focused on the SOLs - maybe beneficial for weaker students, but stifling for stronger ones. The school has also completely embraced the constant retakes, no grades lower than 50 movement - not great preparation for college. The other two choices are better options.

West Springfield is the best commute to Alexandria.

I don't think you know what you are talking about with regards to SOLs.

Very few if any kids need to take the SOLs there, any more than at any of those other schools. It is silly for you to make up things when you do not know what you are talking about.

West Springfield is further south than the other options, making it a worse commute to both Fairfax County government and to Alexandria. High schoolers take 2 English SOLs, 3 history SOLs, 2-3 science SOLs, and math SOLs through Algebra 2, so plenty of kids at all high schools are in classes with SOL tests. It is absolutely true that West Springfield places a great emphasis on making sure each student's raw SOL score is as high as it can possibly be, pushing students to spend time memorizing for the SOLs as opposed to completing assignments that require higher order thinking and research skills. Plus, the SAT scores there are by far the lowest.

You are absolutely incorrect regarding focus on SOLs. I cannot even imagine where you are getting this information from.

West Springfield is the best commute to Alexandria of the options she presented. Are you familiar with traffic patterns in that area?

OP, you will be fine with any of the schools you are looking at.

I am an FCPS teacher and I know which schools are test driven and which schools focus extensively on mastery learning. West Springfield falls into both of those camps.

+1000. I'd avoid West Springfield.

FCPS teacher here who is very familiar w/ schools mentioned. Irving and WS are definitely more SOL/Standards Based to the hilt than LB and definitely Robinson. Can’t speak to Woodson in this regard. Both West Springfield and LB are good choices for Fine/Performing Arts.

[Anonymous]

This is admittedly anecdotal but, based on the behavior of West Springfield parents at sporting events, I’d never send a kid there. There are a lot of very loud, aggressive parents there. The parents at Woodson and Lake Braddock are more polite and less boorish.

[Anonymous]

OP - all are fine

[Anonymous]

LBSS hasn’t had a principal since last February. The last guy they had was a dream and FCPS was so stupid to let him go. The monkeys are running that zoo now and it will take years to fix the ongoing damage. RUN AWAY!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LBSS hasn’t had a principal since last February. The last guy they had was a dream and FCPS was so stupid to let him go. The monkeys are running that zoo now and it will take years to fix the ongoing damage. RUN AWAY!

You’ve tried to make this a thing on several threads and no one cares. Go away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - all are fine

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:West Springfield would be the worst commute of the three to your workplaces. Also, the school is incredibly focused on the SOLs - maybe beneficial for weaker students, but stifling for stronger ones. The school has also completely embraced the constant retakes, no grades lower than 50 movement - not great preparation for college. The other two choices are better options.

West Springfield is the best commute to Alexandria.

I don't think you know what you are talking about with regards to SOLs.

Very few if any kids need to take the SOLs there, any more than at any of those other schools. It is silly for you to make up things when you do not know what you are talking about.

West Springfield is further south than the other options, making it a worse commute to both Fairfax County government and to Alexandria. High schoolers take 2 English SOLs, 3 history SOLs, 2-3 science SOLs, and math SOLs through Algebra 2, so plenty of kids at all high schools are in classes with SOL tests. It is absolutely true that West Springfield places a great emphasis on making sure each student's raw SOL score is as high as it can possibly be, pushing students to spend time memorizing for the SOLs as opposed to completing assignments that require higher order thinking and research skills. Plus, the SAT scores there are by far the lowest.

You are absolutely incorrect regarding focus on SOLs. I cannot even imagine where you are getting this information from.

West Springfield is the best commute to Alexandria of the options she presented. Are you familiar with traffic patterns in that area?

OP, you will be fine with any of the schools you are looking at.

I am an FCPS teacher and I know which schools are test driven and which schools focus extensively on mastery learning. West Springfield falls into both of those camps.

+1000. I'd avoid West Springfield.

FCPS teacher here who is very familiar w/ schools mentioned. Irving and WS are definitely more SOL/Standards Based to the hilt than LB and definitely Robinson. Can’t speak to Woodson in this regard. Both West Springfield and LB are good choices for Fine/Performing Arts.

So which schools do you teach at to have this insight?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LBSS hasn’t had a principal since last February. The last guy they had was a dream and FCPS was so stupid to let him go. The monkeys are running that zoo now and it will take years to fix the ongoing damage. RUN AWAY!

You’ve tried to make this a thing on several threads and no one cares. Go away.

Are you in charge? No?

[Anonymous]

You and your family have much more to do with your child's success than any differences between these schools. Pick a home that makes the most sense for you and your commutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LBSS hasn’t had a principal since last February. The last guy they had was a dream and FCPS was so stupid to let him go. The monkeys are running that zoo now and it will take years to fix the ongoing damage. RUN AWAY!

You’ve tried to make this a thing on several threads and no one cares. Go away.

+10,000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here and would like to thank everyone.

Would consider Robinson however it would be a more difficult commute going OT Alexandria.

Good to know that LBSS and WSHS both are strong in art programs. Would a STEM-focus student thrive in WSHS?

We are not in any hurry to move. Not plan to move until school is over and do need to consider if TJ comes in play.

Thanks again!

We live in a Robinson zoned area and I work in Old Town. I just take the VRE. It's actually nice, fast, and a lot more relaxing than driving, fwiw.

Same. I commute via the VRE to King Street and walk to my office (like 10 minutes? but I get coffee on the way sometimes). The VRE is an underappreciated option compared to the metro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LBSS hasn’t had a principal since last February. The last guy they had was a dream and FCPS was so stupid to let him go. The monkeys are running that zoo now and it will take years to fix the ongoing damage. RUN AWAY!

You’ve tried to make this a thing on several threads and no one cares. Go away.

+10,000.

I’ve been reporting it when it turns to sock puppeting & they get deleted

[Anonymous]

All are good, would also include Robinson--though you have to like the IB program (better for artsy kids imo). Woodson might be considered the most "pressure cooker" of them, but it's not too bad. Robinson and LBSS are about equivalent--high achieving, not too intense pressure. West Springfield is more variable, but also fine. All have solid visual arts programs. Robinson still has a fantastic theater program.