Which public school system is best? (Arlington, fairfax, DC, MD)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The stats are lower for Arlington schools because of the increased socio-economic diversity in the county.

This.

The best of the Arlington high schools (Yorktown) is slightly better than one of the worst high schools in all of Fairfax County (Annandale).

Yorktown:
http://www.greatschools.org/virginia/arlington/135-Yorktown-High-School/


Annandale:
http://www.greatschools.org/virginia/annandale/451-Annandale-High-School/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The stats are lower for Arlington schools because of the increased socio-economic diversity in the county.

This.

The best of the Arlington high schools (Yorktown) is slightly better than one of the worst high schools in all of Fairfax County (Annandale).

Yorktown:
http://www.greatschools.org/virginia/arlington/135-Yorktown-High-School/


Annandale:
http://www.greatschools.org/virginia/annandale/451-Annandale-High-School/

Last year Annandale, "one of the worst high schools in all of Fairfax County" had an 8 and Yorktown had a 7. No one in Arlington cares. If you are a Greatschools fanatic then go ahead and buy a house in the Annandale district. Arlington schools have a great reputation, and that's more important than a Greatschools number, especially when all the high school scores are similar.

[Anonymous]

OK, after reading all the ramblings about greatschools scores on these post and the people who swore by them, i decided to have a look for myself since statistics to me tend to be misleading. W-L, Wakefield, has what we all here consider low scores. Yorktown was the shinning example amongst the 3 high schools. But upon reading the comments for the last 3 years for each on greatschools' sight, it was quickly made clear to me that Yorktown is the wolf in sheep clothing. There were mostly glowing comments for W-L and Wakefield, Yorktown on the other hand, not so much. So, since i am bound to Yorktown in a few years, i am going to do everything i can to get my kids into W-L instead. I hope no one here is listening because i don't want any competition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The stats are lower for Arlington schools because of the increased socio-economic diversity in the county.

This.

The best of the Arlington high schools (Yorktown) is slightly better than one of the worst high schools in all of Fairfax County (Annandale).

Yorktown:
http://www.greatschools.org/virginia/arlington/135-Yorktown-High-School/


Annandale:
http://www.greatschools.org/virginia/annandale/451-Annandale-High-School/

Last year Annandale, "one of the worst high schools in all of Fairfax County" had an 8 and Yorktown had a 7. No one in Arlington cares. If you are a Greatschools fanatic then go ahead and buy a house in the Annandale district. Arlington schools have a great reputation, and that's more important than a Greatschools number, especially when all the high school scores are similar.

Annandale obviously teaches more to the test. In terms of demographics, Annandale is like Wakefield. Both have a disadvantaged population over 40%. Comparing Annandale to Yorktown to make the point that Arlington's socio-economic diversity drives it's scores down makes no sense. Yorktown is 14% disadvantaged vs. Annandale, which is 45% disadvantaged. Arlington's test scores are great by most measures. The Greatschools number means nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - I think what you have learned is that there are a lot of snotty people on this forum.

Good luck with your search. We chose Arlington (metro corridor) when moving here with limited information and it is very, very convenient. W-L for high school. Most people in Arlington send their kids to public school, and the majority of those who do not choose parochial. We're all mostly happy. People are generally happy with high school, too. Williamsburg and Yorktown have the reputations for being least responsive to parents, but they also are considered "best" by many. When you accept anonymous advice, you should remember that some of those who respond (perhaps even me?) are nutters. Some are racists. Some are snob. Some are astute. You can't tell us apart, so be careful with our advice!

If you only look at test scores, you will wind up in a neighborhood with little diversity beyond what field of law people practice. So, although scores are important, you don't need "the best."

Please take your own advice next time. Williamsburg and Yorktown have stellar reputations, and certainly better than W-L. If my choice were between Bethesda and the part of Arlington that feeds into W-L, I'd also go with Bethesda.

If Williamsburg is so fantastic, why were there enough transfers to Jefferson for a bus? Williamsburg and Yorktown have better TEST SCORES. They don't necessarily have better reputations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, after reading all the ramblings about greatschools scores on these post and the people who swore by them, i decided to have a look for myself since statistics to me tend to be misleading. W-L, Wakefield, has what we all here consider low scores. Yorktown was the shinning example amongst the 3 high schools. But upon reading the comments for the last 3 years for each on greatschools' sight, it was quickly made clear to me that Yorktown is the wolf in sheep clothing. There were mostly glowing comments for W-L and Wakefield, Yorktown on the other hand, not so much. So, since i am bound to Yorktown in a few years, i am going to do everything i can to get my kids into W-L instead. I hope no one here is listening because i don't want any competition.

W-L dozen not have low scores. Actually W-L's scores are on par with Yorktown--look at the breakdown by test on Greatschools and on US News. And Wakefield's scores are not low and not far behind either. Wakefield is very close behind W-L. The three high schools all have similar standardized test scores. In terms of AP/IB exams, Wakefield lags far behind W-L and Yorktown, because of the high disadvantaged population. Trust me, most people in Arlington do not swear by the Greatschools scores.

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/districts/arlington-county-public-schools/sort+college_readiness_index/sortdir+desc

[Anonymous]

Arlington schools don't have the great Greatschools numbers, but for the standardized tests that matter, the AP and IB exam scores, and SAT tests, Yorktown and W-L are above average. Wakefield lags in AP scores but is still above the state average. Seriously all three high schools are good.

[Anonymous]

Give it up arlington you're schools' only good scores are walkability

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington schools don't have the great Greatschools numbers, but for the standardized tests that matter, the AP and IB exam scores, and SAT tests, Yorktown and W-L are above average. Wakefield lags in AP scores but is still above the state average. Seriously all three high schools are good.

Exactly. W-L has a 59% minority population; 40% white, btw.

Do a pull-out on kids of same socioeconomic factors with those at Yorktown, McLean, BCCC, etc and you will find test scores are identical if not higher at W-L.

I would not want my kid competing for VA UNiversity spots with a population of 95% clones. The colleges have quotas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington schools don't have the great Greatschools numbers, but for the standardized tests that matter, the AP and IB exam scores, and SAT tests, Yorktown and W-L are above average. Wakefield lags in AP scores but is still above the state average. Seriously all three high schools are good.

Exactly. W-L has a 59% minority population; 40% white, btw.

Do a pull-out on kids of same socioeconomic factors with those at Yorktown, McLean, BCCC, etc and you will find test scores are identical if not higher at W-L.

I would not want my kid competing for VA UNiversity spots with a population of 95% clones. The colleges have quotas.

I think you have to get out of NOVA to get any edge in VA University Admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, after reading all the ramblings about greatschools scores on these post and the people who swore by them, i decided to have a look for myself since statistics to me tend to be misleading. W-L, Wakefield, has what we all here consider low scores. Yorktown was the shinning example amongst the 3 high schools. But upon reading the comments for the last 3 years for each on greatschools' sight, it was quickly made clear to me that Yorktown is the wolf in sheep clothing. There were mostly glowing comments for W-L and Wakefield, Yorktown on the other hand, not so much. So, since i am bound to Yorktown in a few years, i am going to do everything i can to get my kids into W-L instead. I hope no one here is listening because i don't want any competition.

Let's see - you're a die-hard skeptic, so you'll bypass ratings based on objective test scores and rely instead on....subjective evaluationns by anonymous reviewers on GreatSchools. Your post isn't remotely credible. It sounds like something a current W-L student would write.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, after reading all the ramblings about greatschools scores on these post and the people who swore by them, i decided to have a look for myself since statistics to me tend to be misleading. W-L, Wakefield, has what we all here consider low scores. Yorktown was the shinning example amongst the 3 high schools. But upon reading the comments for the last 3 years for each on greatschools' sight, it was quickly made clear to me that Yorktown is the wolf in sheep clothing. There were mostly glowing comments for W-L and Wakefield, Yorktown on the other hand, not so much. So, since i am bound to Yorktown in a few years, i am going to do everything i can to get my kids into W-L instead. I hope no one here is listening because i don't want any competition.

Let's see - you're a die-hard skeptic, so you'll bypass ratings based on objective test scores and rely instead on....subjective evaluationns by anonymous reviewers on GreatSchools. Your post isn't remotely credible. It sounds like something a current W-L student would write.

The scores are lower because it is 59% minority; 29% FARMS. Test scores without those factors are through the roof. Compare TC to W-L and its remarkable thy are so high overall given the pool. The kids are getting the SAME education as those at Yorktown. The teachers aren't paid more between the two schools. It is the exact same quality education, unlike DC schools where different wards had different resources, teachers of questionable abilities, etc. which is why Michelle Rhee was trying to clean house.

It doesn't take a genius to figure this out or that some parents are uncomfortable with the minority majority at W-L. Just call it like it is instead of masking your true reasons. We won't call you racist--maybe you have safety concerns-whatever---just don't try to play one school provides a better education.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I'm happy with the considerable diversity at Yorktown, the fact that minority students do better at our school than at other schools in Arlington, and the fact that we don't argue, like the W-L parents, that test scores should be "controlled" to exclude the non-white students. White parents at W-L are the last people on earth who should be accusing others of racism. Your entire pitch seems to be aimed at recruiting more wealthy whites to the W-L neighborhoods by suggesting only their kids will matter there and the kids who struggle are just background noise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, after reading all the ramblings about greatschools scores on these post and the people who swore by them, i decided to have a look for myself since statistics to me tend to be misleading. W-L, Wakefield, has what we all here consider low scores. Yorktown was the shinning example amongst the 3 high schools. But upon reading the comments for the last 3 years for each on greatschools' sight, it was quickly made clear to me that Yorktown is the wolf in sheep clothing. There were mostly glowing comments for W-L and Wakefield, Yorktown on the other hand, not so much. So, since i am bound to Yorktown in a few years, i am going to do everything i can to get my kids into W-L instead. I hope no one here is listening because i don't want any competition.

Let's see - you're a die-hard skeptic, so you'll bypass ratings based on objective test scores and rely instead on....subjective evaluationns by anonymous reviewers on GreatSchools. Your post isn't remotely credible. It sounds like something a current W-L student would write.

The scores are lower because it is 59% minority; 29% FARMS. Test scores without those factors are through the roof. Compare TC to W-L and its remarkable thy are so high overall given the pool. The kids are getting the SAME education as those at Yorktown. The teachers aren't paid more between the two schools. It is the exact same quality education, unlike DC schools where different wards had different resources, teachers of questionable abilities, etc. which is why Michelle Rhee was trying to clean house.

It doesn't take a genius to figure this out or that some parents are uncomfortable with the minority majority at W-L. Just call it like it is instead of masking your true reasons. We won't call you racist--maybe you have safety concerns-whatever---just don't try to play one school provides a better education.

I am the PP who will try to get my kids into W-L instead of going to Yorktown. According to a lot posters here Yorktown is better because of slightly better test scores than W-L and then Wakefield. But when you read the comments on Greatschools for each school for the past three years, the feedbacks for Yorktown is far more negative than W-L and Wakefield, even though the Greatschools score for Yorktown is greater than the other two. So to all those who are touting the Greatschools numbers as a measure of success, I say, look under the hood a bit. There's a lot more to a school than test scores. It scares to send my kids to an unempathetic school environment, the comments on Greatschools gives you a window to the school environment even if it's an incomplete look. If i've made decisions in the pass based on how pretty a box I hope I don't do so in the future.

[Anonymous]

I'm a big fan of W-L. It's a great campus and has wonderful teachers.

While I don't celebrate Robert E Lee, I do respect him. Ulysses S. Grant was another great man, but he was a raging alcoholic and some consider him to be a butcher for his war of attrition he waged against the Confederates in his campaign of 1864. Have an informed opinion deeper than all Confederates = bad, all Union = good. Of course I'm just a hick who graduated from JEB Stuart in Fairfax County. You should feel sorry for me as I had to overcome all the challenges of attending a diverse school and that had so many low SES students. I am white, and Stuart at the time had about ~70% "minority" enrollment. I'm personally glad I went there, it has served me well in life. I'm pretty happy how I turned out, and I managed to get into the #10 ranked undergraduate school in the nation according to Forbes.

My point is most any school in NoVA is really good, and as long as your child is willing to work hard they'll get a great education. I'm sure MD has decent schools too, but after having lived in MD for two years I personally decided to pass and move back to VA.