Hayfield -- insiders, please share what you know

[Anonymous]

I know that there are some very different groups at Hayfield and that affects the test scores that people use as a short hand for a "good school" and a "bad school."

I am o.k. with my kids going to a school where there are both academically-inclined and not-so-inclined kids -- a "less than top notch" test score rating doesn't phase me. I do want my kids to feel safe and to be in an environment where they are challenged to learn and move to the next level by teachers and peers. I would prefer some level of personal control/comportment (but perhaps this doesn't exist for teens anywhere). For instance, I would prefer an environment where kids are actually afraid of getting caught sassing the teacher or PDA-ing in class (not sure if this is the norm today).

Can you tell me about the academic dynamics (what are the peers like, how much do the teachers teach/inspire vs. discipline)?

Tell me about the social dynamics. Is there a dominant group/culture?

[Anonymous]

There is no dominant culture at Hayfield. It's very diverse. It does probably have the largest cohort of middle-income AA families of any FCPS high school due to the military families in the area, but they aren't necessarily the dominant culture.

[Anonymous]

How old are your kids and when will they be starting at Hayfield? Vibes of a school can change quickly. Most of this won't matter if you've got K or 1st graders.

But my favorite Hayfield story is that the only MIT post-doc I know went to Hayfield. She left TJ after 2 days (didn't like the asian girl comments she was getting). I forget where her undergraduate degree was from - but some Ivy league. Ditto for another post-doc at Georgetown, also hayfield grad.

Of the friends/neighbors I know who went to TJ, none are post-docs and they have the most college drop outs (from my un-scientific pool as a FCPS lifer of my friends and my siblings friends and other neigborhood kids). (not that they didn't finish college at some point - but failed out/burnt out/needed time/depression issues, ect along the way).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old are your kids and when will they be starting at Hayfield? Vibes of a school can change quickly. Most of this won't matter if you've got K or 1st graders.

But my favorite Hayfield story is that the only MIT post-doc I know went to Hayfield. She left TJ after 2 days (didn't like the asian girl comments she was getting). I forget where her undergraduate degree was from - but some Ivy league. Ditto for another post-doc at Georgetown, also hayfield grad.

Of the friends/neighbors I know who went to TJ, none are post-docs and they have the most college drop outs (from my un-scientific pool as a FCPS lifer of my friends and my siblings friends and other neigborhood kids). (not that they didn't finish college at some point - but failed out/burnt out/needed time/depression issues, ect along the way).

OP here : First kid will be entering MS in the next 2 yrs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old are your kids and when will they be starting at Hayfield? Vibes of a school can change quickly. Most of this won't matter if you've got K or 1st graders.

But my favorite Hayfield story is that the only MIT post-doc I know went to Hayfield. She left TJ after 2 days (didn't like the asian girl comments she was getting). I forget where her undergraduate degree was from - but some Ivy league. Ditto for another post-doc at Georgetown, also hayfield grad.

Of the friends/neighbors I know who went to TJ, none are post-docs and they have the most college drop outs (from my un-scientific pool as a FCPS lifer of my friends and my siblings friends and other neigborhood kids). (not that they didn't finish college at some point - but failed out/burnt out/needed time/depression issues, ect along the way).

OP here : First kid will be entering MS in the next 2 yrs.

Remember the 7 &8 graders are pretty much in their own wing at hayfield. Just take the parent tour if/when you get a chance.