lake braddock vs robinson vs woodson

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"many parents" doesn't mean anything. "many" people voted for Trump, but not the majority of voters.

All you know based on what is documented by FCPS is that parents interacted with FCPS officials at the meetings to voice their opinions about the proposed changes. For every vocal parent, there were probably at least a dozen who didn't bother attending the meetings because they didn't have strong opinions.

All your anecdote does is reinforce the stereotypes of these different schools - that parents at Woodson tend to view Robinson as inferior. It doesn't mean it IS inferior.

Actually, your response speaks more towards parents at Robinson potentially having an inferiority complex than parents at Woodson having a superiority complex, since the most logical inference to be drawn from the recent redistricting was that many Woodson parents in the affected area were happy at WTW and wished to stay, not that they viewed Robinson as inferior.

However, if those parents were unhappy at Woodson, the redistricting gave them a perfect opportunity to express their support for the redistricting, and this did not happen.

I think it is fair to say that parents with kids in decent school districts are generally against the disruption of rezoning, especially in high school, even if the school is equivalent (Woodson to Robinson for example).

It is also fair to say tha parents are usually pro rezoning if they are in a poorer performing district and their kids are getting moved into a higher performing district (such ae Annandale to Woodson or Lee to West Springfield).

Few people are upset with going somewhere that is perceived as much better than what they have. Most people do not want to disrupt their high schoolers by moving them from one decent school to a more or less equal quality school.

You are comparing apples to oranges.

Woodson and Robinson aren't equivalent. Woodson has a higher academic profile, and is viewed as punching above its weight, with scores similar to schools like Langley and Madison, whereas Robinson is often viewed as punching below its weight, with test scores below what one might expect for a school with so few low-income kids.

To quote David Foster Wallace: "This is Water."

The PP hit on the head why Woodson wasn't a good fit for my children. Test scores at the expense of what? We have all pointed out serious cultural issues that make the school problematic. And I think the thing is, no one cares to really fix them because "test scores" are excellent (which no one disputes by the way). It's all band-aids and glossing over because looking at things critically and making some serious changes in how the school is run from top down might cut away at that achievement.

I will take the balanced education my DD got at Robinson to the one my son got at Woodson. They're both in the same college and I don't think the unhealthy environment is worth it. Other parents might feel differently, but they should at least know what they are sending their children to when they choose high schools.

We have not "all" pointed out "serious cultural issues"; to the contrary, two or three posters with an axe to grind keep trying to make their personal views sound like a consensus, when there is none. Just as there is no consensus about Robinson, a school that many families pupil place their children out of to Lake Braddock and other schools.

Interesting. Is there no issue there?

[Anonymous]

The crazy Woodson booster on this thread is making a great case against that school. Cool it, crazy town.

[Anonymous]

Am I the only person who thinks OP should stay put? If you are happy where you are, send your kids to WePo. I went there and turned out fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only person who thinks OP should stay put? If you are happy where you are, send your kids to WePo. I went there and turned out fine.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, how do the reputations of Lake Braddock, Robinson and WSHS differ from each other?

I feel like I'm getting a sense that for one reason or another Woodson has diff vibe (for better or worse) than the rest, but would also love to hear about how the other three stand out.

And while I'm at it, also curious about Oakton High -- thanks so much!

OP, we have a kid at WSHS.

Based off our experience, the culture at WS is very similar to the type of high school experience we had growing up in the 80s. There is rigor and challenges, but the school culture as a whole is very fun and supportive. There are groups for all kinds of kids there. My geek is having a wonderful time and the neighbor's jock is as well. The kids are academicqlly focused, but not consumed by achievement or competitiveness. One of my kid's friend had a sibling go through LB while his friend went through Irving and is now at WS. Tye kids are close in age and similar interests. Their parent told me that while LB and WS are very similar in terms of academic quality with more rigor at LB, Irving and WS have "more heart" and is better for kids emotionally. I woukd agree that Irving is more warm and fuzzy, and have been pleased by the low pressure culture of WSHS, especially when you compare it to their test scores,

Some people prefer the secondary model of LBSS and Robinson because of the continuity of kids between MS and HS. For us, we prefer the two separate schools. You still have mostly the same kids since Irving is the only middle school feeder for WS, but if you have a kid that needs or wants a social reset, the two separate campuses can't be beat. My kid, and most of the other kids in our neighborhood ended up expanding or changing their friend circles between middle and high school. My kid ended up with an entirely different circle of friends, all very nice kids. Most of our friends who have kids at LB kept the same general friend groups between middle and high school. That can be good or if your kid needs a new start, it could be negative.

Mostly, WSHS does not even remotely feel like a stereotypical fcps pressure cooker high school. It feeos like a fun and positive place to go to school, not unlike our high school experiences were back in the 80s.

Sorry that your thread got pulled off track around pages 4 & 5 OP.

A couple more differences between LB and WS.

LB is situated in more of a neighborhood. It seems like more of a walkable school for kids who live close by. That can be a positive thing if you work and your kid has a lot of activities.

WS is located on a main road off an intersection of a very busy road, so it is more of a commuter campus than LB. Depending on where you live it takes a little more effort to walk there, even if you are the same distance as a kid from LB and their school.

Also WS is under construction at least until the start of the 2019-2020 school year. The school is going to be fantastic, and they are really doing good with the schedule due to weather cooperating, but the campus looks a bit like a horror movie right now. LB has a gorgeous compus, with spacious fields and ample parking. Depending on the age of your kids that might make a difference to you. We personally do not mind the construction and like how the kids get to spend a lot of time walking outdoors instead of being locked inside, but other parents do not like the mess, dirt, noise or trailors it really depends on your personality I guess. The kids mostly do not seem to mind and are actually having fun with the construction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, how do the reputations of Lake Braddock, Robinson and WSHS differ from each other?

I feel like I'm getting a sense that for one reason or another Woodson has diff vibe (for better or worse) than the rest, but would also love to hear about how the other three stand out.

And while I'm at it, also curious about Oakton High -- thanks so much!

OP, we have a kid at WSHS.

Based off our experience, the culture at WS is very similar to the type of high school experience we had growing up in the 80s. There is rigor and challenges, but the school culture as a whole is very fun and supportive. There are groups for all kinds of kids there. My geek is having a wonderful time and the neighbor's jock is as well. The kids are academicqlly focused, but not consumed by achievement or competitiveness. One of my kid's friend had a sibling go through LB while his friend went through Irving and is now at WS. Tye kids are close in age and similar interests. Their parent told me that while LB and WS are very similar in terms of academic quality with more rigor at LB, Irving and WS have "more heart" and is better for kids emotionally. I woukd agree that Irving is more warm and fuzzy, and have been pleased by the low pressure culture of WSHS, especially when you compare it to their test scores,

Some people prefer the secondary model of LBSS and Robinson because of the continuity of kids between MS and HS. For us, we prefer the two separate schools. You still have mostly the same kids since Irving is the only middle school feeder for WS, but if you have a kid that needs or wants a social reset, the two separate campuses can't be beat. My kid, and most of the other kids in our neighborhood ended up expanding or changing their friend circles between middle and high school. My kid ended up with an entirely different circle of friends, all very nice kids. Most of our friends who have kids at LB kept the same general friend groups between middle and high school. That can be good or if your kid needs a new start, it could be negative.

Mostly, WSHS does not even remotely feel like a stereotypical fcps pressure cooker high school. It feeos like a fun and positive place to go to school, not unlike our high school experiences were back in the 80s.

Sorry that your thread got pulled off track around pages 4 & 5 OP.

A couple more differences between LB and WS.

LB is situated in more of a neighborhood. It seems like more of a walkable school for kids who live close by. That can be a positive thing if you work and your kid has a lot of activities.

WS is located on a main road off an intersection of a very busy road, so it is more of a commuter campus than LB. Depending on where you live it takes a little more effort to walk there, even if you are the same distance as a kid from LB and their school.

Also WS is under construction at least until the start of the 2019-2020 school year. The school is going to be fantastic, and they are really doing good with the schedule due to weather cooperating, but the campus looks a bit like a horror movie right now. LB has a gorgeous compus, with spacious fields and ample parking. Depending on the age of your kids that might make a difference to you. We personally do not mind the construction and like how the kids get to spend a lot of time walking outdoors instead of being locked inside, but other parents do not like the mess, dirt, noise or trailors it really depends on your personality I guess. The kids mostly do not seem to mind and are actually having fun with the construction.

The thread was pulled off track around page 1.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone speak to Robinson's current:

1) racial diversity
2) low-income free lunch population

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone speak to Robinson's current:

1) racial diversity
2) low-income free lunch population

Latest stats for 2016-17 school year

15% Asian
6% Black
14% Hispanic
59% White
6% Other

10% FARMS

[Anonymous]

OP, I went to woodson almost 20 years ago. Is it far more competitive now than then?

Only thing I would say is to make sure your kid has a life outside of school. Growing up in Fairfax was tough once I hit HS because of cliques, but not academics (though I was in a few GT/AP classes). I only realized when I went to college that Woodson was actually good bc college was easier. I had a tough time with the isolation of the suburbs, however, even though I played sports. There were definitely drugs so I'd keep my kid in sports to keep them off drugs.

I think all those schools are very similar, or at least were pretty interchangeable when I was growing up in the late 90s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I went to woodson almost 20 years ago. Is it far more competitive now than then?

Only thing I would say is to make sure your kid has a life outside of school. Growing up in Fairfax was tough once I hit HS because of cliques, but not academics (though I was in a few GT/AP classes). I only realized when I went to college that Woodson was actually good bc college was easier. I had a tough time with the isolation of the suburbs, however, even though I played sports. There were definitely drugs so I'd keep my kid in sports to keep them off drugs.

I think all those schools are very similar, or at least were pretty interchangeable when I was growing up in the late 90s.

YOu went to schools pre internet posting of test scores and demographics and pre great schools.

The schools in the middle through top are interchangeable.

The schools in the botto third are not interchangeable with the top third.