Yorktown VS Washington liberty non-IB

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[Post New]01/30/2022 15:36
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Here is another data point for you, which might or might not be relevant.

average %of seniors accepted into Harvard, Princeton, and MIT from 2015-2020



Right so this just confirms neither school is a feeder to these elite schools.
[Post New]01/30/2022 15:37
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We are looking at two neighborhoods for homes, and they are zoned for these two different schools. We have looked into both, and it seems that WL is Considered more academically rigorous, but DS is not interested in pursuing an IB, but would prefer to do AP courses. How does the academics compare between the two schools when you don’t follow the IB path. DS is not sporty, really just likes school and academics, kind of a nerd. Will he be bullied at Yorktown?

Also, they seem to be planning to increase WL to 3000 students, Yorktown is 2300. Well that increase the student population affect the schools performance? It’s a big jump. Did they add more cafeteria space and field space?


I have had students at both, although my W-L student was full IB. YHS has a very bro culture, lots of entitlement; it's not for the faint of heart, or for a family that values kindness over stuff or "winning." Your student will find a space at W-L that suits him; he may not at YHS.

My understanding is that the AP offerings are the same at both schools.


It’s clear to me that the WL 10 years ago was a better school for us; I’m not convinced supersized WL will be. Even the superintendent is realizing they made a mistake, but I guess there is no plan to roll back. With nearly 3000 kids, you could never see the same kids year to year in class and clubs will be huge. Finding your place got harder.

Bro culture sounds rough too, maybe we need to consider FCPS, though we commute to work and wanted to avoid the pressure cooker FCPS can be.


Or, you could consider Wakefield. There are good options other than Yorktown and WL in Arlington.


What is the most rigorous academic path at Wakefield. It seemed similar to Yorktown, no IB, but with a real overcrowding issue that doesn’t seem will be fixed soon and worsen as National Landing grows.
[Post New]01/30/2022 15:37
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Not sure if this has already been mentioned but something to consider - I heard certain colleges will expect you to have taken the highest level classes offered at your school. So if your child wants to do AP, but not IB, Yorktown might be the better option, if that is something that's going to be important down the line.


Is IB considered higher level than AP?


Not really. IB is usually introduced at failing schools.
[Post New]01/30/2022 15:43
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Anonymous
Are kids who do full IB able to take dual enrollment classes like multivariable calc or advanced comp sci? Having those classes available is nice for kids on the AP track. Seems like IB might be limiting in that respect if the answer is no.
[Post New]01/30/2022 18:27
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Anonymous
The full IB is not a great program for STEM students. Very limiting and only provides Physics SL not HL (higher level). And you kinda have to take the History of Americas HL because they don't offer an SL.
[Post New]01/30/2022 18:46
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Anonymous
I’m sorry. Do you all have Hugh schoolers looking at colleges? To think that going to Yorktown vs WL vs Mclean is going to make the difference for your kid going into HYP schools is just ridiculous. The kids going to these schools right now have perfect or near-perfect SAT/ACT, crazy great extracurriculars, top top grades in the most academically challenging course load. It’s more on your kid than the school. None of these schools can make it possible for your kid to go to an Ivy unless your kid is doing their part. And their part is 99.9999% of it happening. Not the school.
[Post New]01/30/2022 18:53
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Anonymous
Thank you. It’s so much more about the applicant than the school.
[Post New]01/30/2022 18:57
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Anonymous
Why do you all think we are aiming for HYP? we just want a solid education, and aren’t sold on IB. Hence comparing the two schools on that front. Hearing about limitations and positives of IB has been useful too.

Our DC is leaning to W&M or UVA as reach, then maybe end up at a LAC if we find the money. Ivy League, we parents did that and know it’s not the path for our kids.
[Post New]01/30/2022 19:07
quote
Anonymous
If your kid gets a WL spot for IB, and they decide not to do full IB, they can’t stay. Back to your home school they go. I have kids at 2 different APS high schools and they are both getting a good education. If your child is a motivated student who will be taking intensified and AP classes, they will be well served at either school. IB has much more writing.
[Post New]01/30/2022 20:00
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Here is another data point for you, which might or might not be relevant.

average %of seniors accepted into Harvard, Princeton, and MIT from 2015-2020



Right so this just confirms neither school is a feeder to these elite schools.


Not much to say. They are just two mediocre-plus high schools.
[Post New]01/30/2022 20:00
quote
Anonymous
A wise person once told me, don't waste time with Arlingotn high schools. Go to Fairfax.
[Post New]01/30/2022 20:08
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Here is another data point for you, which might or might not be relevant.

average %of seniors accepted into Harvard, Princeton, and MIT from 2015-2020



Right so this just confirms neither school is a feeder to these elite schools.


Not much to say. They are just two mediocre-plus high schools.

That also applied to McLean and Langley. Not feeders to elite schools and just mediocre-plus hs.
[Post New]01/30/2022 21:16
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Here is another data point for you, which might or might not be relevant.

average %of seniors accepted into Harvard, Princeton, and MIT from 2015-2020



Right so this just confirms neither school is a feeder to these elite schools.


Not much to say. They are just two mediocre-plus high schools.

That also applied to McLean and Langley. Not feeders to elite schools and just mediocre-plus hs.


Agree. Tiger moms will get the same results at all of those places.
[Post New]01/31/2022 00:26
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We are looking at two neighborhoods for homes, and they are zoned for these two different schools. We have looked into both, and it seems that WL is Considered more academically rigorous, but DS is not interested in pursuing an IB, but would prefer to do AP courses. How does the academics compare between the two schools when you don’t follow the IB path. DS is not sporty, really just likes school and academics, kind of a nerd. Will he be bullied at Yorktown?

Also, they seem to be planning to increase WL to 3000 students, Yorktown is 2300. Well that increase the student population affect the schools performance? It’s a big jump. Did they add more cafeteria space and field space?


I have had students at both, although my W-L student was full IB. YHS has a very bro culture, lots of entitlement; it's not for the faint of heart, or for a family that values kindness over stuff or "winning." Your student will find a space at W-L that suits him; he may not at YHS.

My understanding is that the AP offerings are the same at both schools.


It’s clear to me that the WL 10 years ago was a better school for us; I’m not convinced supersized WL will be. Even the superintendent is realizing they made a mistake, but I guess there is no plan to roll back. With nearly 3000 kids, you could never see the same kids year to year in class and clubs will be huge. Finding your place got harder.

Bro culture sounds rough too, maybe we need to consider FCPS, though we commute to work and wanted to avoid the pressure cooker FCPS can be.


Or, you could consider Wakefield. There are good options other than Yorktown and WL in Arlington.


What is the most rigorous academic path at Wakefield. It seemed similar to Yorktown, no IB, but with a real overcrowding issue that doesn’t seem will be fixed soon and worsen as National Landing grows.


WHS has an AP network and Capstone program. Not sure how many dual enrollment courses. You'll find the most DE in the Arlington Tech program at the Career Center (lottery). I don't know about YHS; but WHS freshmen can take AP World History. That's not an option at WL; but they, I believe, have a more coordinated intensified English-History curriculum instead. FWIW, from comments I've read/heard about students taking a world language that is conducted at the Career Center, it seems to be easier to do that from Wakefield than YHS - perhaps because it is a little closer?

Boundary adjustments are currently being made, sending kids who were newly districted to Wakefield during the last boundary change back to WL.
All the high schools are going to remain crowded. But Wakefield's physical campus is more open (and newer) than Yorktown and you don't have the excessive affluence and attitudes of entitlement other posters complain about at Yorktown.

What ages are your children now? There are fluctuations in enrollment over time. Right now and into the foreseeable future, you're going to be crowded in any of the 3 schools; but WL is going to be significantly larger as they open another 600 additional seats at the old Ed Center. Adding seats to Arlington Tech will also help divert handfuls of kids to the Career Center; but APS still doesn't seem interested in building a fourth comprehensive high school. So any additional capacity will likely be used to expand Arlington Tech and probably add yet another special program with lottery admissions.

Maybe you should visit each school during a school day and get a feel for the atmosphere and environment. My personal experience is a noticeable sense of pressure and anxiety in the WL atmosphere v. Wakefield's. I haven't been inside Yorktown during the school day to compare. There are high achieving students in every school and obnoxious parents at every school. I do believe the Wakefield environment and community is more relaxed and noticeably less stressful. Perhaps some of that lower stress is from lower overt excessive academic pressure from admin and parents; but students can still sufficiently challenge themselves and be prepared for top colleges and universities.

WL and WHS certainly offer more socioeconomic diversity, which imo is a positive. It seems to me that parent attitude used to be that YHS was the "end all be all" in Arlington; but that has transferred over to WL over the last several years. Hence, nobody will allow APS to make boundary changes that take them out of the WL zone and its fast-approaching mega-size and the side effects that come with that. That isn't going to change any time soon.
[Post New]01/31/2022 10:56
quote
Anonymous
Same ranking as previous post, but including DC and MD


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