How is Langston Hughes middle school in Reston?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the OP, I"d try to move into the area in/near Reston that may go to the new western HS. You can then avoid SLHS and IB, plus if you're savvy go to Carson or Robinson for MS? I'm not clear on the MSs and how best to be in Reston (if that's where you need to move for work) but avoid Hughes. My neighbor taught there until last year and said she definitely would not want her own kids to go there, FWIW.

Why would anyone want to avoid IB at South Lakes? Clearly you're not an IB parent there.

1. AP is much more flexible in choices of courses to take.
2. Taking IB a la carte was never the intention of IB.
3. Some math students much prefer the opportunities in AP over IB.

And: for the leadership--Reid has openly admitted at a School Board meeting that IB is more expensive.
Fewer people prefer it--why are we doing this. This is not equitable programming.

I find it puzzling that in points 1) and 2) you accuse IB both of not being flexible enough and of being used in a manner that you judge as being too flexible. And 3), many students are not "math" students.
DC earned their IBDP, was admitted EA at UVA, and had a really good college experience, for which -yes- they were thoroughly prepared.

I will never understand why non-IB parents can't just be happy that their children get to do AP. The vitriol against IB by people on this board is just puzzling. And I never hear IB parents give a second thought to AP. Like, nobody cares. Be happy with your lot and carry on!

SLHS is our base school and I would strongly prefer AP to IB. I shouldn’t have to pupil place and provide transportation for a program that is barely utilized. The IBDP rate is depressingly low. The IB was not meant to be a pick and choose, that is what the AP program does. IB is supposed to be about earning the diploma and all that goes into earning the diploma. SLHS doesn’t have even 10% of the kids completing the diploma. Most kids take 1 or 2 classes and then have to wait until senior year to take the exam. If they are taking the exams the year they take the IB class, then they are not following the program.

IB should be a opt in program at one or two schools so that the kids wanting to complete the IB Diploma can be at school together, encouraging each other. That is how LCPS and APS use IB. Instead it is foisted on schools where most of the students don’t have any interest in the actual program, treat it like AP, and kids who want to take AP are screwed because that is what is offered at their base school.

The fact that the County dropped IB at the schools where the parents are not involved enough to fight it says a lot. Robinson has IB and AP options so there is less concern at Robinson because kids can ignore IB and do AP, but SLHS doesn’t have that option.

Then you should petition to have AP added at SLHS along with IB. You want to have your choice (which you do have, it only entails a longer bus ride), but are unwilling to let IB families have theirs. I assume you were aware that the only high school in Reston is IB when you chose to live here? I was, that’s why my family moved here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the OP, I"d try to move into the area in/near Reston that may go to the new western HS. You can then avoid SLHS and IB, plus if you're savvy go to Carson or Robinson for MS? I'm not clear on the MSs and how best to be in Reston (if that's where you need to move for work) but avoid Hughes. My neighbor taught there until last year and said she definitely would not want her own kids to go there, FWIW.

Why would anyone want to avoid IB at South Lakes? Clearly you're not an IB parent there.

1. AP is much more flexible in choices of courses to take.
2. Taking IB a la carte was never the intention of IB.
3. Some math students much prefer the opportunities in AP over IB.

And: for the leadership--Reid has openly admitted at a School Board meeting that IB is more expensive.
Fewer people prefer it--why are we doing this. This is not equitable programming.

I find it puzzling that in points 1) and 2) you accuse IB both of not being flexible enough and of being used in a manner that you judge as being too flexible. And 3), many students are not "math" students.
DC earned their IBDP, was admitted EA at UVA, and had a really good college experience, for which -yes- they were thoroughly prepared.

I will never understand why non-IB parents can't just be happy that their children get to do AP. The vitriol against IB by people on this board is just puzzling. And I never hear IB parents give a second thought to AP. Like, nobody cares. Be happy with your lot and carry on!

SLHS is our base school and I would strongly prefer AP to IB. I shouldn’t have to pupil place and provide transportation for a program that is barely utilized. The IBDP rate is depressingly low. The IB was not meant to be a pick and choose, that is what the AP program does. IB is supposed to be about earning the diploma and all that goes into earning the diploma. SLHS doesn’t have even 10% of the kids completing the diploma. Most kids take 1 or 2 classes and then have to wait until senior year to take the exam. If they are taking the exams the year they take the IB class, then they are not following the program.

IB should be a opt in program at one or two schools so that the kids wanting to complete the IB Diploma can be at school together, encouraging each other. That is how LCPS and APS use IB. Instead it is foisted on schools where most of the students don’t have any interest in the actual program, treat it like AP, and kids who want to take AP are screwed because that is what is offered at their base school.

The fact that the County dropped IB at the schools where the parents are not involved enough to fight it says a lot. Robinson has IB and AP options so there is less concern at Robinson because kids can ignore IB and do AP, but SLHS doesn’t have that option.

Then you should petition to have AP added at SLHS along with IB. You want to have your choice (which you do have, it only entails a longer bus ride), but are unwilling to let IB families have theirs. I assume you were aware that the only high school in Reston is IB when you chose to live here? I was, that’s why my family moved here.

People have been petitioning this for years and it hasn't changed. And it wasn't IB when we moved here, we were at Oakton. We are opting in to the new school for the AP. Otherwise, we were looking at pupil placing, like over a hundred of families have annually. IB should be an opt in program and not forced on people. The school board seems to be fine with people pupil placing out and lousy completion numbers for the program. I have no clue why. I suspect SLHS scores would be higher if the 100-200 kids, depending on the year, didn't pupil place out for AP.

[Anonymous]

It's going to be interesting to see the transfer statistics in a few years with so many pupil placing out of Herndon to South Lakes and many soon to pupil place out of South Lakes to Western. It's like flight patterns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP, thanks for feedback. How much does administration affect kids' experiences? In other words, if there are good teachers, programs, etc. will it really matter to my kids if the principal isn't the best? Honestly asking. I'm more concerned at this point about the high school, hadn't realized South Lakes didn't offer AP classes, but we might end up there anyway. Fairfax school district and schools are way bigger than what we're used to, but can't afford private.

I have an issue with the SLHS admin. It does not impact the quality of teachers my DC deals with. DC is in all honors classes and a track that takes some IB classes but not full diploma. DC has complaints here and there about a teacher, mainly their teaching style versus a more tenured teacher's style on the same subject. DC will have to get used to that in college so not a big concern for me. The guidance counselor is really good and certain teachers that are very engaged with DC has made a difference. I have another child who graduated from there, not as intense of classes and also had good experiences with the teachers. For me, admin is important when there are issues. There was one that needed to be addressed and not handled well (in my opinion). Otherwise the school has great school spirit, a mix of cultures and gave my first child a solid education.

[Anonymous]

Recent reviews for Langston Hughes Middle School?

[Anonymous]

Hughes principal and Admin are a strange crew, hard to talk to and seem solely focused on discipline. I'm in PTA and volunteer for after school since my 7th grader wasn't connecting with new friends - classes are so big and loud it's hard - and wanted to form a club. Hard to know what's going on in her classes and principal updates never highlight academics, interesting projects, etc. At ES we would hear about project based learning, Socratic seminars, etc. but nothing like that here. Not sure how to find out more other than hounding individual teachers?

[Anonymous]

What's the update on AP accused of hitting a student?

[Anonymous]

What?? I missed that. Who hit a student and why isn't it in the news?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the update on AP accused of hitting a student?

It’s obviously not true and just gossip. Go away.

[Anonymous]

Where there's smoke...

[Anonymous]

My 7th grader was invited to the A/B honor roll ceremony for quarter 1 at Hughes. Is this really special? How many students get this? And do most parents go to it? It's during the work day but I will try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 7th grader was invited to the A/B honor roll ceremony for quarter 1 at Hughes. Is this really special? How many students get this? And do most parents go to it? It's during the work day but I will try.

I don't have specific answers to your questions, but how does your student feel about it? Ours is happy we are going. We had some tough days adjusting to homework and the expectations and they rose to the occasion. Seems like way to keep up their motivation. We figure go to this first one and see what the buzz is about and adjust from there.
YMMV. I can see if you already have a high flier nbd then?

[Anonymous]

Going to the Honor Roll ceremony is good to reinforce to your child that you value their work and good grades, if you can make it. The ceremony itself is whatever and my son and daughter find it boring, but you'll get to see the principal and admin in public speaking mode. Usually they have the chorus sing but since the director left IDK.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone asked the principal about the AP rumor?

[Anonymous]

They have a ceremony for All A/B Honor roll?? At some middle schools that would be almost the entire school.