DD moving to Langley HS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the one who asked about buying into Langley zone and whether we'll fit in. Thanks for those who gave answers. Sounds like the wealth/demographics is similar to where we currently live, but Langley has consistently ranked much higher than the high school we are currently zoned in (Yorktown in Arlington), even Mclean and Marshall are ranked higher, which I don't understand. Any thoughts on that?

Lots of wealthy people living in all four of those areas (Langley, McLean, Marshall, and Yorktown). But when it comes to rankings, despite the efforts of some publications to adjust for socio-economic factors, schools with fewer poor kids and more white/Asian kids end up ranked higher.

% of Lower-Income Students 2019-20:

Langley: 3.63%
McLean: 10.64%
Yorktown: 11.69%
Marshall: 19.80%

[Note that the Yorktown % is from October 2019, while the Langley/McLean/Marshall % are June 2020 - the % of low-income kids likely increased over the school year due to Covid-related job losses.]

% of White/Asian Students 2019-20:

Langley: 86.70%
McLean: 79.15%
Yorktown: 72.60%
Marshall: 67.56%

So the only surprise is that Marshall punches above its weight compared to Yorktown, which is likely a function of Marshall still having some IB students who pupil-placed to GCM from other schools (Langley, McLean, Madison, Falls Church), while Yorktown sends kids to W-L for IB and doesn't get kids pupil-placing there for AP in return (since both W-L and Wakefield offer AP classes).

Thank you for the data! So basically Yorktown is ranked low because some of its high performing students go to WL and also it has more low performing students. You seem very knowledgeable, what do you say, shall I move to Langley district from Yorktown? My kids are still in elementary and so far we are ok with the elementary education, not great, just ok. I am thinking FCPS should be better than APS.

Hard to say - would having your kids at a school with a larger cohort of academically intense kids be worth the transaction costs? It's not like Yorktown doesn't offer the same AP courses as Langley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am considering buying into Langley area too so my kids can go there, but all those talks about Langley being a "rich" school makes me wonder if we are too poor to go there (I know it's public school, what I meant is whether my kids would fit in with other "rich" students in their class). My husband and I both work, are there lots of SAHM at Langaley? What would you say the average HHI is?

If you can afford to live there, you won’t be too poor for your kid to attend.

But if you’re worried about your kid attending a school with no poor kids or your kid not being able to afford the same things as the kids from the wealthier part of McLean or Great Falls, look in the McLean and Marshall districts instead. The academics are just as good and there is more diversity.

Thank you! But I thought lots of the "wealthier parts" who are zoned to Langley send their kids to private schools? I just don't want my kids to feel poor (I felt poor when I was growing up). I just want my kids to "fit in", on par with his peers (besides academics), on things like sports, summer camps, etc.

I was a poor kid growing up. We live in one of the wealthier areas of Langley and have a seven figure income. Our immediate neighborhood is definitely filled with rich kids. Many go to private school. Our elementary school definitely has children from more modest financial backgrounds. DCUM seems to always come back to the lack of diversity and FARMs. In actuality, just because you don’t qualify for free lunch does not make you rich. You will find military and fed families. I was surprised to hear some parents look for cheaper camps or one mom said her daughter could choose one camp for the entire summer. My kids are still fairly young and dress for comfort. Parking lot is definitely full of luxury cars but we are in elementary. Kids aren’t driving.

DP. So you don’t actually have kids at Langley yet? People who merely observe as they drive by often claim the parking lot is “full of luxury cars,” but that’s just not true. There are some luxury cars, usually driven by parents who are picking up/dropping off. The parking lot itself is very normal - lots of SUVs and average cars. As you will see once your kids go there.

Lots of Audis there, actually, which are not cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, we are Asian and you said Langley has more Asian population, I am torn, because I think it's nice to have peers with same race/ethnicity, but I also know that the Asians are ultra competitive, I grew up in that environment but do I want my kids to go through the same stress? I don't know! LOL

Are kids at Langley more stressed out than kids at Mclean/Marshall/Yorktown?

They are all about the same but Marshall and McLean have more brown people, and that is the elephant in the room. It is definitely NOT a bad thing, because these are hardworking, family people, too.

Since you asked, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, we are Asian and you said Langley has more Asian population, I am torn, because I think it's nice to have peers with same race/ethnicity, but I also know that the Asians are ultra competitive, I grew up in that environment but do I want my kids to go through the same stress? I don't know! LOL

Are kids at Langley more stressed out than kids at Mclean/Marshall/Yorktown?

They are all about the same but Marshall and McLean have more brown people, and that is the elephant in the room. It is definitely NOT a bad thing, because these are hardworking, family people, too.

Since you asked, PP.

Langley kids are definitely more competitive academically than a lot of other schools. However, you will find that McLean is about the same.

So stress wise, Langley and McLean are going to be higher than pretty much any other school in the area. This really depends on the kid though.

[Anonymous]

The classes at Langley truly are no more challenging than those at any other well-regarded school.

If you pay a high price for a home in order to attend Langley, you are paying for the peer group. Not the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Hard to say - would having your kids at a school with a larger cohort of academically intense kids be worth the transaction costs? It's not like Yorktown doesn't offer the same AP courses as Langley.

We are already looking to upgrade so it doesn't matter if we buy in Yorktown zone or move to Langley. I think I want to move to Langley because I have not been happy with APS, there are so many red flags, such as the lack of academic rigor, the non existence of gifted service, poor math instruction, unqualified teachers......Ugh. My kids are little right now so they are doing fine, but I am worried about middle school and high school. I see people complain about FCPS too, so I really don't know!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hard to say - would having your kids at a school with a larger cohort of academically intense kids be worth the transaction costs? It's not like Yorktown doesn't offer the same AP courses as Langley.

We are already looking to upgrade so it doesn't matter if we buy in Yorktown zone or move to Langley. I think I want to move to Langley because I have not been happy with APS, there are so many red flags, such as the lack of academic rigor, the non existence of gifted service, poor math instruction, unqualified teachers......Ugh. My kids are little right now so they are doing fine, but I am worried about middle school and high school. I see people complain about FCPS too, so I really don't know!!

FCPS has the same problems you listed, OP. The problem is school zones by county are too big to manage properly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hard to say - would having your kids at a school with a larger cohort of academically intense kids be worth the transaction costs? It's not like Yorktown doesn't offer the same AP courses as Langley.

We are already looking to upgrade so it doesn't matter if we buy in Yorktown zone or move to Langley. I think I want to move to Langley because I have not been happy with APS, there are so many red flags, such as the lack of academic rigor, the non existence of gifted service, poor math instruction, unqualified teachers......Ugh. My kids are little right now so they are doing fine, but I am worried about middle school and high school. I see people complain about FCPS too, so I really don't know!!

FCPS has the same problems you listed, OP. The problem is school zones by county are too big to manage properly.

Well, APS is much smaller than FCPS. APS is just a hot mess, so many incompetent people in leadership roles at the central office level as well as the school level.

This is crazy, FCPS and APS are supposedly "great" public schools, at least that's what they say, but what's great about it? I see why the rich send their kids to private instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The classes at Langley truly are no more challenging than those at any other well-regarded school.

If you pay a high price for a home in order to attend Langley, you are paying for the peer group. Not the teachers.

Disagree. Many teachers have mentioned at BTSN and elsewhere that they waited years for an opening at Langley and jumped when they found one. The vast majority of teachers very much want to be there and are excellent at what they teach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More money = more drugs. Though not necessarily more than at a private school.

Langley families stick their heads in the sand when it comes to this topic. A lot of them are heavily invested in the school's image and only acknowledge the positives.

+1

OP, there were three suicides a few years back. Terribly sad, but people should know.

As there were at several other high schools in the area - not to mention across the country. Come on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am considering buying into Langley area too so my kids can go there, but all those talks about Langley being a "rich" school makes me wonder if we are too poor to go there (I know it's public school, what I meant is whether my kids would fit in with other "rich" students in their class). My husband and I both work, are there lots of SAHM at Langaley? What would you say the average HHI is?

There are a ton of families in which both parents work. My husband and I are feds, so not necessarily “rich,” and there are a lot of other fed families at Langley, too. We live in a 1300 sq ft home. Some of my kids’ friends have large homes; some don’t. It’s really not a big deal.

Some of the parents who live in expensive homes are over worked and over stressed, and it shows, with the kid who act out. Be mindful of this, OP.

Same old trolls, I see. You really should come up with new material. Should we talk about all the kids who act out every other high school in the nation? You are so transparent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The classes at Langley truly are no more challenging than those at any other well-regarded school.

If you pay a high price for a home in order to attend Langley, you are paying for the peer group. Not the teachers.

Disagree. Many teachers have mentioned at BTSN and elsewhere that they waited years for an opening at Langley and jumped when they found one. The vast majority of teachers very much want to be there and are excellent at what they teach.

That's because it's easier to teach at Langley, those students do well no matter who is teaching them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of drugs and recreational sex. Many kids have too much money and too little parental attention. Keep a close watch on which group of friends she selects. Otherwise a great school.

Do you actually have kids that go there, or you just interested in perpetrating a stereotype? Which is basically what this is.

DP here. Most stereotypes are based in some truth. Are you actually denying the bold? Most parents from Langley I know would acknowledge this truth.

Langley parent here. It’s beyond obvious you’re the usual troll who becomes triggered at the mere mention of Langley. There are kids of all types there - just as there are at ALL high schools. I’ve had three kids attend/graduate and we’ve been very happy with the range of classes offered and the quality of instruction. My three very different kids were all able to find their “people” with common interests.

DP here. I agree. There are also posters who want nothing bad to be said, for fear of their home values somehow taking a hit - won't happen. No place is all sunshine and rainbows.

Except no one has ever alluded to “sunshine and rainbows.” Just bitter trolls who are triggered at the mere mention of Langley. Hmm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, we are Asian and you said Langley has more Asian population, I am torn, because I think it's nice to have peers with same race/ethnicity, but I also know that the Asians are ultra competitive, I grew up in that environment but do I want my kids to go through the same stress? I don't know! LOL

Are kids at Langley more stressed out than kids at Mclean/Marshall/Yorktown?

No, of course not. But the resident Langley-haters will tell you otherwise. Ask yourself, what is their agenda? And then use your common sense. These areas are all relatively similar - and the kids are too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am considering buying into Langley area too so my kids can go there, but all those talks about Langley being a "rich" school makes me wonder if we are too poor to go there (I know it's public school, what I meant is whether my kids would fit in with other "rich" students in their class). My husband and I both work, are there lots of SAHM at Langaley? What would you say the average HHI is?

If you can afford to live there, you won’t be too poor for your kid to attend.

But if you’re worried about your kid attending a school with no poor kids or your kid not being able to afford the same things as the kids from the wealthier part of McLean or Great Falls, look in the McLean and Marshall districts instead. The academics are just as good and there is more diversity.

Thank you! But I thought lots of the "wealthier parts" who are zoned to Langley send their kids to private schools? I just don't want my kids to feel poor (I felt poor when I was growing up). I just want my kids to "fit in", on par with his peers (besides academics), on things like sports, summer camps, etc.

I was a poor kid growing up. We live in one of the wealthier areas of Langley and have a seven figure income. Our immediate neighborhood is definitely filled with rich kids. Many go to private school. Our elementary school definitely has children from more modest financial backgrounds. DCUM seems to always come back to the lack of diversity and FARMs. In actuality, just because you don’t qualify for free lunch does not make you rich. You will find military and fed families. I was surprised to hear some parents look for cheaper camps or one mom said her daughter could choose one camp for the entire summer. My kids are still fairly young and dress for comfort. Parking lot is definitely full of luxury cars but we are in elementary. Kids aren’t driving.

DP. So you don’t actually have kids at Langley yet? People who merely observe as they drive by often claim the parking lot is “full of luxury cars,” but that’s just not true. There are some luxury cars, usually driven by parents who are picking up/dropping off. The parking lot itself is very normal - lots of SUVs and average cars. As you will see once your kids go there.

Lots of Audis there, actually, which are not cheap.

“Lots”? So you drove by, saw a couple, and extrapolate that to mean “lots”?