Which would you choose? KP/KG, Keene Mille, Bonnie Brae or Oakview?

[Anonymous]

We are house hunting in the Springfield area and was wondering if anyone had insights into KP/KG, Keene Mille, Bonnie Brae or Oakview?

[Anonymous]

If springfield I would do language immersion.
the list of school are all good.
Any reason why you don't have Hunt Valley or Orange Hunt on the list?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If springfield I would do language immersion.
the list of school are all good.
Any reason why you don't have Hunt Valley or Orange Hunt on the list?

I actually hadn't considered those two schools. I will look into both. Thank you! I will say that I was concerned with diversity at the HS level so at first avoided any West Springfield HS pyramid schools. But it seems that Lake Braddock are about equally as diverese with Lake Braddock only slightly edging out West Springfield.

For language immersion, would that be my child learning subject matter material in Spanish? Do all schools have lanaguage immersion and does that affect whether or not AAP is an option. Also, is it harder to get into AAP from any particualr school or does that not factor into the decision? (I know very little about the program - sorry :oops

[Anonymous]

excuse all the typos above ^^^^

[Anonymous]

Where are you moving from/too?
How old are your kids?
LB was over crowded and didn't have walls when I was there in the late 80s/early 90s. Now it is brand new-ish and undercrowded as FCPS go! My SIL is a West Springfield grad and when I was complaining about the repairs WSHS needs, she commented it was just updated - yeah 20 years ago! On of my current best friends was nothing but trouble at Robinson and is now SES. My cousins all went to different FCPS high schools even though they lived in the same house of Braddock (and had a normal age spread). You can only plan so far in advance....

Also, the high school programs we were looking at when we bought 16 years ago (BC) have shifted from what we are looking at now with my current middle schooler!

Language immersion - german and spanish in springfield - is only at certain schools, it's lottery based. Math and Science are taught in the target language. Immersion kids end up ahead of AAP kids starting at middle school since they can take both high school math and language. AAP kids can only take high school math. My DC will have 4 high school classes as a freshmen - Alegebra, Geromentry, Language I &II. Math placement is by testing for 7th grade, so it's not limited by AAP or not AAP. Immersion parents usually turn down AAP magent schools to keep immersion and do the in-school AAP program. (hwoever, it depends on the kid)

Both LB and WS are good schools (I'd add in Robinson - which I think a few of the schools you listed go to)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where are you moving from/too?
How old are your kids?
LB was over crowded and didn't have walls when I was there in the late 80s/early 90s. Now it is brand new-ish and undercrowded as FCPS go! My SIL is a West Springfield grad and when I was complaining about the repairs WSHS needs, she commented it was just updated - yeah 20 years ago! On of my current best friends was nothing but trouble at Robinson and is now SES. My cousins all went to different FCPS high schools even though they lived in the same house of Braddock (and had a normal age spread). You can only plan so far in advance....

Also, the high school programs we were looking at when we bought 16 years ago (BC) have shifted from what we are looking at now with my current middle schooler!

Language immersion - german and spanish in springfield - is only at certain schools, it's lottery based. Math and Science are taught in the target language. Immersion kids end up ahead of AAP kids starting at middle school since they can take both high school math and language. AAP kids can only take high school math. My DC will have 4 high school classes as a freshmen - Alegebra, Geromentry, Language I &II. Math placement is by testing for 7th grade, so it's not limited by AAP or not AAP. Immersion parents usually turn down AAP magent schools to keep immersion and do the in-school AAP program. (hwoever, it depends on the kid)

Both LB and WS are good schools (I'd add in Robinson - which I think a few of the schools you listed go to)

Moving from NJ area (fed job transfer). Oldest will be in K. Thank you for all the great info!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Immersion parents usually turn down AAP magent schools to keep immersion and do the in-school AAP program. (hwoever, it depends on the kid)

Kids in immersion might be able to take a Local Level IV class (in non-center schools that have Local Level IV) if they qualify for AAP, but they obviously can't "do" the full Local Level IV program.

[Anonymous]

NP. How does immersion work? When do you apply, is the lottery very competitive? Specifically, the lottery in Springfield.

[Anonymous]

If you are considering Oakview or Bonnie Brae then Laurel Ridge should be an option too. Spanish immersion there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are considering Oakview or Bonnie Brae then Laurel Ridge should be an option too. Spanish immersion there.

and those schools are Robimson pyramid not LB.

[Anonymous]

Expand your search to include Hunt Valley, Orange Hunt, Cherry Run and Sangster. There might be some Burke schools to add to the list.

Irving/WSHS vs LB is a toss up. Irving has the benefit of being only 7th & 8th grade and also being under enrolled. Young, vibrant, excited to teach staff. Excellent social culture that is very nurturing yet builds independence and accountability. The kids are very excited to learn there and enjoy going to school. LB middle school is considered more rigorous, especially with homework expectations, yet if you compare test scores the two schools are almost equal in spite of LB having nearly all of the level IV AAP population.

The high schools are a toss up. Both excellent.

[Anonymous]

BTW, Orange Hunt is the school with German Immersion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Expand your search to include Hunt Valley, Orange Hunt, Cherry Run and Sangster. There might be some Burke schools to add to the list.

Irving/WSHS vs LB is a toss up. Irving has the benefit of being only 7th & 8th grade and also being under enrolled. Young, vibrant, excited to teach staff. Excellent social culture that is very nurturing yet builds independence and accountability. The kids are very excited to learn there and enjoy going to school. LB middle school is considered more rigorous, especially with homework expectations, yet if you compare test scores the two schools are almost equal in spite of LB having nearly all of the level IV AAP population.

The high schools are a toss up. Both excellent.

thank you.All information I didn't have so I appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

Bonnie Brae is a lovely neighborhood, but we hate the school. Had an awful experience there this year and I really regret moving into this school district. Too many things are wrong even to name, but I would say look elsewhere unless you have a very outgoing, resilient child and you yourself are pretty impervious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bonnie Brae is a lovely neighborhood, but we hate the school. Had an awful experience there this year and I really regret moving into this school district. Too many things are wrong even to name, but I would say look elsewhere unless you have a very outgoing, resilient child and you yourself are pretty impervious.

oh! Can you provide even a little detail? Is it that the administrators are not receptive? Bonnie Brae has more affordable housing than other areas for some reason that I don't understand and that as reason I was considering the area.