Thinking of moving to Longfellow/Cooper

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, my kid has been in private the last few years because of Covid, we were worried about learning loss. He is now going back into our pyramid to attend Cooper next year because we know the school is so strong. He will get back in with his elementary school Friends who will be going there as well, which gives me a lot of comfort. I do not think you would regret making the decision to move to the Cooper/Langley pyramid.

Thanks for providing your data point.

Anonymous wrote:What’s your issue with Frost/WTW? That’s considered a strong pyramid and a relatively affluent area, without some of the excessive affluence in the Langley area that may have its own issues.

My kids are at Mclean and we are mostly happy but I also dont totally know what you are talking about with the culture wars stuff and wonder if you will be happy anywhere. How is the culture war issue playing out at Frost?

Anonymous wrote:OP-I’m not naive to think that peer groups don’t matter. I think they absolutely do but again lots of schools in the area have lots of kids who are very academically focused. The people who are pointing this out don’t have a chip on their shoulder. Not sure why some are getting so defensive. Also-I don’t understand your concern about politics. What does that mean? Are you concerned about specific things in the curriculum? And if so, how would it be different in Langley?

Again, my question w.r.t culture wars thing is general, I am concerned about the divisiveness within FCPS and looking for a school experience that stays out of polarizing issues as much as possible. I'm not saying that Frost is a culture war epicenter (and I have really no clue other than the publicized sexual assault incident), again my question if moving to a richer area somehow reduces the chance of us experiencing such things (and again, I don't care about things like this principal's letter but rather the everyday experience with teachers and classmates).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, my kid has been in private the last few years because of Covid, we were worried about learning loss. He is now going back into our pyramid to attend Cooper next year because we know the school is so strong. He will get back in with his elementary school Friends who will be going there as well, which gives me a lot of comfort. I do not think you would regret making the decision to move to the Cooper/Langley pyramid.

Thanks for providing your data point.

Anonymous wrote:What’s your issue with Frost/WTW? That’s considered a strong pyramid and a relatively affluent area, without some of the excessive affluence in the Langley area that may have its own issues.

My kids are at Mclean and we are mostly happy but I also dont totally know what you are talking about with the culture wars stuff and wonder if you will be happy anywhere. How is the culture war issue playing out at Frost?

Anonymous wrote:OP-I’m not naive to think that peer groups don’t matter. I think they absolutely do but again lots of schools in the area have lots of kids who are very academically focused. The people who are pointing this out don’t have a chip on their shoulder. Not sure why some are getting so defensive. Also-I don’t understand your concern about politics. What does that mean? Are you concerned about specific things in the curriculum? And if so, how would it be different in Langley?

Again, my question w.r.t culture wars thing is general, I am concerned about the divisiveness within FCPS and looking for a school experience that stays out of polarizing issues as much as possible. I'm not saying that Frost is a culture war epicenter (and I have really no clue other than the publicized sexual assault incident), again my question if moving to a richer area somehow reduces the chance of us experiencing such things (and again, I don't care about things like this principal's letter but rather the everyday experience with teachers and classmates).

Everyone is telling you that you will not notice any difference wrt "culture war stuff" between the schools, but you refuse to accept this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, my kid has been in private the last few years because of Covid, we were worried about learning loss. He is now going back into our pyramid to attend Cooper next year because we know the school is so strong. He will get back in with his elementary school Friends who will be going there as well, which gives me a lot of comfort. I do not think you would regret making the decision to move to the Cooper/Langley pyramid.

Thanks for providing your data point.

Anonymous wrote:What’s your issue with Frost/WTW? That’s considered a strong pyramid and a relatively affluent area, without some of the excessive affluence in the Langley area that may have its own issues.

My kids are at Mclean and we are mostly happy but I also dont totally know what you are talking about with the culture wars stuff and wonder if you will be happy anywhere. How is the culture war issue playing out at Frost?

Anonymous wrote:OP-I’m not naive to think that peer groups don’t matter. I think they absolutely do but again lots of schools in the area have lots of kids who are very academically focused. The people who are pointing this out don’t have a chip on their shoulder. Not sure why some are getting so defensive. Also-I don’t understand your concern about politics. What does that mean? Are you concerned about specific things in the curriculum? And if so, how would it be different in Langley?

Again, my question w.r.t culture wars thing is general, I am concerned about the divisiveness within FCPS and looking for a school experience that stays out of polarizing issues as much as possible. I'm not saying that Frost is a culture war epicenter (and I have really no clue other than the publicized sexual assault incident), again my question if moving to a richer area somehow reduces the chance of us experiencing such things (and again, I don't care about things like this principal's letter but rather the everyday experience with teachers and classmates).

Everyone is telling you that you will not notice any difference wrt "culture war stuff" between the schools, but you refuse to accept this.

I didn't see any explicit answer like this before, yours is the first one. Thanks anyway

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, my kid has been in private the last few years because of Covid, we were worried about learning loss. He is now going back into our pyramid to attend Cooper next year because we know the school is so strong. He will get back in with his elementary school Friends who will be going there as well, which gives me a lot of comfort. I do not think you would regret making the decision to move to the Cooper/Langley pyramid.

Thanks for providing your data point.

Anonymous wrote:What’s your issue with Frost/WTW? That’s considered a strong pyramid and a relatively affluent area, without some of the excessive affluence in the Langley area that may have its own issues.

My kids are at Mclean and we are mostly happy but I also dont totally know what you are talking about with the culture wars stuff and wonder if you will be happy anywhere. How is the culture war issue playing out at Frost?

Anonymous wrote:OP-I’m not naive to think that peer groups don’t matter. I think they absolutely do but again lots of schools in the area have lots of kids who are very academically focused. The people who are pointing this out don’t have a chip on their shoulder. Not sure why some are getting so defensive. Also-I don’t understand your concern about politics. What does that mean? Are you concerned about specific things in the curriculum? And if so, how would it be different in Langley?

Again, my question w.r.t culture wars thing is general, I am concerned about the divisiveness within FCPS and looking for a school experience that stays out of polarizing issues as much as possible. I'm not saying that Frost is a culture war epicenter (and I have really no clue other than the publicized sexual assault incident), again my question if moving to a richer area somehow reduces the chance of us experiencing such things (and again, I don't care about things like this principal's letter but rather the everyday experience with teachers and classmates).

Everyone is telling you that you will not notice any difference wrt "culture war stuff" between the schools, but you refuse to accept this.

I didn't see any explicit answer like this before, yours is the first one. Thanks anyway

3/08 at 12:05: "Taught at Cooper a while back. OP, the issues you mention happen everywhere."

3/08 at 15:01: "For as long as there has been schools, tobacco, bathrooms, and hormones, there has been fighting and smoking (even THC) in middle school. Socioeconomic status might mean nicer cigarettes and vape pens and nicer clothes getting ripped, but maybe not as often. You will never find a utopia where this doesn't happen at all...that doesn't exist on planet Earth."

3/09 at 11:02: "We landed in a well-regarded pyramid with SES diversity (relatively, it’s still a little uppity IMO) and high quality academics and extra curriculars. Kids go to the full spectrum of colleges. To think that Longfellow/Cooper are the only schools kids can get all of what you mention is laughable and shows your own closed-mindedness."

3/09 at 11:19: "I can't see any reason to think Cooper/Langley would provide any meaningful advantage for a student over Frost/Woodson."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, my kid has been in private the last few years because of Covid, we were worried about learning loss. He is now going back into our pyramid to attend Cooper next year because we know the school is so strong. He will get back in with his elementary school Friends who will be going there as well, which gives me a lot of comfort. I do not think you would regret making the decision to move to the Cooper/Langley pyramid.

Thanks for providing your data point.

Anonymous wrote:What’s your issue with Frost/WTW? That’s considered a strong pyramid and a relatively affluent area, without some of the excessive affluence in the Langley area that may have its own issues.

My kids are at Mclean and we are mostly happy but I also dont totally know what you are talking about with the culture wars stuff and wonder if you will be happy anywhere. How is the culture war issue playing out at Frost?

Anonymous wrote:OP-I’m not naive to think that peer groups don’t matter. I think they absolutely do but again lots of schools in the area have lots of kids who are very academically focused. The people who are pointing this out don’t have a chip on their shoulder. Not sure why some are getting so defensive. Also-I don’t understand your concern about politics. What does that mean? Are you concerned about specific things in the curriculum? And if so, how would it be different in Langley?

Again, my question w.r.t culture wars thing is general, I am concerned about the divisiveness within FCPS and looking for a school experience that stays out of polarizing issues as much as possible. I'm not saying that Frost is a culture war epicenter (and I have really no clue other than the publicized sexual assault incident), again my question if moving to a richer area somehow reduces the chance of us experiencing such things (and again, I don't care about things like this principal's letter but rather the everyday experience with teachers and classmates).

Everyone is telling you that you will not notice any difference wrt "culture war stuff" between the schools, but you refuse to accept this.

I didn't see any explicit answer like this before, yours is the first one. Thanks anyway

3/08 at 12:05: "Taught at Cooper a while back. OP, the issues you mention happen everywhere."

3/08 at 15:01: "For as long as there has been schools, tobacco, bathrooms, and hormones, there has been fighting and smoking (even THC) in middle school. Socioeconomic status might mean nicer cigarettes and vape pens and nicer clothes getting ripped, but maybe not as often. You will never find a utopia where this doesn't happen at all...that doesn't exist on planet Earth."

3/09 at 11:02: "We landed in a well-regarded pyramid with SES diversity (relatively, it’s still a little uppity IMO) and high quality academics and extra curriculars. Kids go to the full spectrum of colleges. To think that Longfellow/Cooper are the only schools kids can get all of what you mention is laughable and shows your own closed-mindedness."

3/09 at 11:19: "I can't see any reason to think Cooper/Langley would provide any meaningful advantage for a student over Frost/Woodson."

My question had 3 elements: safety, "culture wars"/politics and academics.

3/08 at 12:05 is about safety
3/08 at 15:01 is about safety
3/09 at 11:02 does not provide any useful information
3/09 at 11:19 is (probably) about academics

Your post was the first to provide an explicit answer about the "culture wars" part.

[Anonymous]

Go for it OP, since you are renting. They didn’t spend a million on tiny homes for nothing, even though some of them are trying really hard to convince you to stay where you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taught at Cooper a while back. OP, the issues you mention happen everywhere. One other thing you might consider is how your child will respond to being among peers with the wealth that is in the Cooper/Langley pyramid. For some kids this wouldn't be a challenge, but for others, "keeping up" can be a thing, so something you might want to be mindful of as you make this decision. It's true that not every kid/family there lives in a mega-mansion, but when the norm seems to be that most families take multiple trips each year/students receive elaborate gifts for holidays/students have access to whatever they want, that can influence the social atmosphere in ways that might not serve your child.

This is why we did not consider this. We aren’t poor and we did not want our children to have a misunderstanding of that based on what their friends would be doing.

Too bad for your kid that you’re close-minded. My own kids benefited greatly from other kids whose families prioritized strong academics and active, meaningful extracurricular activities. So the cohort took a rigorous course load, earned good grades (yes, tutors when necessary) and also excelled in track, dance, theater, orchestra, etc. They all took the search for the “right fit” college seriously and ended up spread across the U.S. and a couple in Canada and Europe. They’ve been well prepared for college. I wouldn’t throw all this away because someone went to the Vatican for Easter or skied in the Alps last winter. Priorities, yes.

Preach!!!! agree x1000

+100
Finally, someone without a chip on their shoulder speaks the truth.

I didn't get the impression the former Cooper teacher had a chip on their shoulder, but instead was just sounding a cautionary note.

OP has a 6th grader that they're thinking of uprooting from their friends, which would be quite disruptive. I can't see any reason to think Cooper/Langley would provide any meaningful advantage for a student over Frost/Woodson.

"Close-minded" referred to the poster directly after the teacher's post - bolded above. Such absurdity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cooper was served with a cease-and-desist order from the state Attorney General this afternoon.

WHAT?!

Great, so they are going after programs aimed at helping URMs, economically disadvantaged kids and kids with disabilities prepare for college??? What kind of crazy world is this?

Uh, no - they are not trying to end these programs. They are simply saying it's racist to exclude certain races, as they very clearly are doing. EVERY child should be welcome in these programs. Good for them.
DP

[Anonymous]

Ok, OP. You've gotten your answers, and then some. Can we please move on? There's nothing to hash out here. By continuing your line of questioning, it's becoming pretty apparent that you'd *like* to stir things up and start the usual arguments. Perhaps we could avoid that, for once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another link to the Jason Miyares action against Cooper: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/2548-march-9th-2022-attorney-general-miyares-demands-fairfax-county-middle-school-stop-racially-discriminating-against-children

Doesn't every FCPS middle school have the College Partnership Program? Are they all about to be sued for discrimination?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, OP. You've gotten your answers, and then some. Can we please move on? There's nothing to hash out here. By continuing your line of questioning, it's becoming pretty apparent that you'd *like* to stir things up and start the usual arguments. Perhaps we could avoid that, for once.

+1. Better yet, please start away from Cooper!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, my kid has been in private the last few years because of Covid, we were worried about learning loss. He is now going back into our pyramid to attend Cooper next year because we know the school is so strong. He will get back in with his elementary school Friends who will be going there as well, which gives me a lot of comfort. I do not think you would regret making the decision to move to the Cooper/Langley pyramid.

Thanks for providing your data point.

Anonymous wrote:What’s your issue with Frost/WTW? That’s considered a strong pyramid and a relatively affluent area, without some of the excessive affluence in the Langley area that may have its own issues.

My kids are at Mclean and we are mostly happy but I also dont totally know what you are talking about with the culture wars stuff and wonder if you will be happy anywhere. How is the culture war issue playing out at Frost?

Anonymous wrote:OP-I’m not naive to think that peer groups don’t matter. I think they absolutely do but again lots of schools in the area have lots of kids who are very academically focused. The people who are pointing this out don’t have a chip on their shoulder. Not sure why some are getting so defensive. Also-I don’t understand your concern about politics. What does that mean? Are you concerned about specific things in the curriculum? And if so, how would it be different in Langley?

Again, my question w.r.t culture wars thing is general, I am concerned about the divisiveness within FCPS and looking for a school experience that stays out of polarizing issues as much as possible. I'm not saying that Frost is a culture war epicenter (and I have really no clue other than the publicized sexual assault incident), again my question if moving to a richer area somehow reduces the chance of us experiencing such things (and again, I don't care about things like this principal's letter but rather the everyday experience with teachers and classmates).

Everyone is telling you that you will not notice any difference wrt "culture war stuff" between the schools, but you refuse to accept this.

I didn't see any explicit answer like this before, yours is the first one. Thanks anyway

I’m still baffled about the term culture wars. That usually is a code term among conservatives re: LGBTQIA’s and CRT/race issues. What OP is talking about seems to be more concerns about behavioral issues, which is why the OP is confusing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another link to the Jason Miyares action against Cooper: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/2548-march-9th-2022-attorney-general-miyares-demands-fairfax-county-middle-school-stop-racially-discriminating-against-children

Doesn't every FCPS middle school have the College Partnership Program? Are they all about to be sued for discrimination?

It was some guy in the Cooper district who made a big deal out of the Cooper flyer for the program. They are the most privileged people in the county but act like they’re under attack whenever someone tries to help the less fortunate. Just pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, my kid has been in private the last few years because of Covid, we were worried about learning loss. He is now going back into our pyramid to attend Cooper next year because we know the school is so strong. He will get back in with his elementary school Friends who will be going there as well, which gives me a lot of comfort. I do not think you would regret making the decision to move to the Cooper/Langley pyramid.

Thanks for providing your data point.

Anonymous wrote:What’s your issue with Frost/WTW? That’s considered a strong pyramid and a relatively affluent area, without some of the excessive affluence in the Langley area that may have its own issues.

My kids are at Mclean and we are mostly happy but I also dont totally know what you are talking about with the culture wars stuff and wonder if you will be happy anywhere. How is the culture war issue playing out at Frost?

Anonymous wrote:OP-I’m not naive to think that peer groups don’t matter. I think they absolutely do but again lots of schools in the area have lots of kids who are very academically focused. The people who are pointing this out don’t have a chip on their shoulder. Not sure why some are getting so defensive. Also-I don’t understand your concern about politics. What does that mean? Are you concerned about specific things in the curriculum? And if so, how would it be different in Langley?

Again, my question w.r.t culture wars thing is general, I am concerned about the divisiveness within FCPS and looking for a school experience that stays out of polarizing issues as much as possible. I'm not saying that Frost is a culture war epicenter (and I have really no clue other than the publicized sexual assault incident), again my question if moving to a richer area somehow reduces the chance of us experiencing such things (and again, I don't care about things like this principal's letter but rather the everyday experience with teachers and classmates).

Well, you just saw the post about the cease and desist order. So, no it does not seem like Cooper is staying out of controversial conversations. Seems like you may have to move to a red state/county for what you seem to desire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another link to the Jason Miyares action against Cooper: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/2548-march-9th-2022-attorney-general-miyares-demands-fairfax-county-middle-school-stop-racially-discriminating-against-children

Doesn't every FCPS middle school have the College Partnership Program? Are they all about to be sued for discrimination?

It was some guy in the Cooper district who made a big deal out of the Cooper flyer for the program. They are the most privileged people in the county but act like they’re under attack whenever someone tries to help the less fortunate. Just pathetic.

+1 it's ridiculous