Culture at McLean High vs Langley High?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why shun the rich kids? Their parents are paying full freight at the colleges your kids will get massive financial aid to attend. See how that works?

+1.

I graduated from Mclean HS in the 90's. I now have a son @Langley HS and a daughter @Potomac. My observations as a Mclean residence:

- the percentage of Asians at both Langley and Mclean HS would have been higher had they decided not to attend TJ from the cooper and Longfellow MS,
- Some students at private schools can't handle the aspect of public schools but the vast majority of parents @Madeira and Potomac want smaller class size for their children, 27+ kids per class at public school versus less than 10 at these private schools. Better individual attentions for sure
- I would say about 70% of the parents of the kids at the above private schools are very successful and Ivy League graduated. You're talking about CEO, CIO, CFO, entrepreneurs, startup founders, etc... That's one of the reasons I send my daughter there, to be inspired. Is it doable at Langley HS? The answer is yes but it is harder. Private schools like Madeira and Potomac function as catalyst to get you from point A to point B in less time due to the massive connections to powerful people at those schools

At the end of the day, both Langley and Mclean HS are great schools. Kids at both schools are very nice and friendly, you will always have exception of course. Based on what I have seen on my 17 years of living in Langley, everyone is friendly and welcome you with open arms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I notice that when I encounter Langley kids in public, they are polite and call me "sir". This impresses me positively. But also makes me feel old, heh heh.

In contrast to the thugs at dcps attacking and robbing metro riders

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Langley is 65% white, less than 2% low-income, and the kids mostly live in McLean and Great Falls. McLean is 55% white, about 10% low-income, and the kids live in McLean, Falls Church, and Vienna. Both schools are over 20% Asian.

The dominant culture at both schools consists of hard-working, ambitious kids taking lots of AP classes and preparing for college, but Langley is a bit more “Type A.” The precincts that are zoned for Langley mostly vote Republican, like Clifton and Fairfax Station, whereas the precincts zoned for McLean tend to vote Democratic, like nearby Arlington and Falls Church City.

Langley used to have more students, but the enrollment at McLean has been larger for the last few years. Langley still beats McLean at most sports, except for gymnastics, tennis, and the occasional basketball game.

Another thing to keep in mind is that some students reported as “white” have parents from the Middle East, and this adds to the diversity at both schools. Really, any public high school in FCPS is going to have kids from a lot of different ethnic backgrounds.

The bigger difference is among the degree of economic diversity. Langley and McLean have the lowest percentages of low-income kids of any high schools in the county, but McLean is fairly close to Madison, Oakton, Woodson, Robinson and West Springfield at around 10%. One of the elementary school feeders is a Title I school, and some McLean HS kids volunteer to tutor there. The student newspaper also recently had a feature article about students who came to the country as refugees.

Langley is under 2% low-income, and students there simply are not going to interact on a regular basis with as many kids who come from families of lesser means. Even if their families are not the uber-rich sending their kids to area privates, the environment is a bit more of a bubble - although many of the kids there are very interested in global affairs and knowledgeable about things happening around the world (Langley has a very strong Model UN program, for example).

Both schools are strong in STEM courses and foreign languages. Both offer the usual high school languages (French, Spanish, German and Latin), but Langley also has Japanese and Russian, while McLean has Chinese.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Langley is 65% white, less than 2% low-income, and the kids mostly live in McLean and Great Falls. McLean is 55% white, about 10% low-income, and the kids live in McLean, Falls Church, and Vienna. Both schools are over 20% Asian.

The dominant culture at both schools consists of hard-working, ambitious kids taking lots of AP classes and preparing for college, but Langley is a bit more “Type A.” The precincts that are zoned for Langley mostly vote Republican, like Clifton and Fairfax Station, whereas the precincts zoned for McLean tend to vote Democratic, like nearby Arlington and Falls Church City.

Langley used to have more students, but the enrollment at McLean has been larger for the last few years. Langley still beats McLean at most sports, except for gymnastics, tennis, and the occasional basketball game.

Another thing to keep in mind is that some students reported as “white” have parents from the Middle East, and this adds to the diversity at both schools. Really, any public high school in FCPS is going to have kids from a lot of different ethnic backgrounds.

The bigger difference is among the degree of economic diversity. Langley and McLean have the lowest percentages of low-income kids of any high schools in the county, but McLean is fairly close to Madison, Oakton, Woodson, Robinson and West Springfield at around 10%. One of the elementary school feeders is a Title I school, and some McLean HS kids volunteer to tutor there. The student newspaper also recently had a feature article about students who came to the country as refugees.

Langley is under 2% low-income, and students there simply are not going to interact on a regular basis with as many kids who come from families of lesser means. Even if their families are not the uber-rich sending their kids to area privates, the environment is a bit more of a bubble - although many of the kids there are very interested in global affairs and knowledgeable about things happening around the world (Langley has a very strong Model UN program, for example).

Both schools are strong in STEM courses and foreign languages. Both offer the usual high school languages (French, Spanish, German and Latin), but Langley also has Japanese and Russian, while McLean has Chinese.

German at McLean is on thin ice. It all depends on how many students take it each year. There is more competition with the recent addition of Chinese.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only insecure people have something negative to say about Langley. Why even do that? Why be so bitter about any school? And especially coming from those that have never stepped foot into Langley on a day to day basis! Langley haters really need to look deep into themselves to answer that question.

Why can't we just wish the best for all of our kids. McLean is a great school and so is Langley. Both of them are doing quite well academically. We are all truly lucky to have our kids go to either one.

+1,000
The people who make negative remarks are *always* those who have nothing to do with the school - they have no kids there and know nothing about the student body, the administration, the teachers, or the parents - only rumors that they love to believe. It only reflects badly on the haters, because why else would they stew over a school they have nothing to do with? The only logical conclusion is that they're extremely insecure.

I agree, both schools are great and full of nice, kind, smart kids. And that's more than enough for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A quick scan of the parking lot will tell you otherwise. Plenty of rich people's kids go to Langley.

Those cars don't mean anything. it just tells you they are UCM, not wealthy. I live in 0.5 mile from Langley and I have two full-pay tuition kids at private schools, around 40k/year for each. they have been going there since kindergarten. It costs me about 420k/year for each kid from K-12. That will be 820k for both kids. I can have multiple Benz, Range Rover and Bentley with that kind of money.

Benz, BMW, Range Rover are dime and dozen at Madeira and Potomac schools.

This post tells you plenty about the attitudes you'll encounter in the Langley HS neighborhoods, even if not at the high school itself. There is more conspicuous consumption than you'll find in most of the McLean HS neighborhoods.

I'm not the PP, but perhaps you didn't comprehend his/her post. The point was that PP sends her kids to private, at a great cost - not that PP actually has those vehicles.

You're clearly one of the Langley haters who will jump on any excuse to malign the school. Newsflash: wealthy =/= bad people. Plenty of incredibly generous, philanthropic families out there. I'm sorry you're so bitter about... something.

Yep, bitter.

About what? PP was just pointing out how much some (not all) people in the Langley areas like to gab about how much money they spend - whether it’s on those “dime a dozen” luxury cars or their expensive private school tuitions.

It provokes amusement, not envy.

You do realize the PP's response - about spending money on private school rather than on cars - was in direct response to the ever-tiresome accusation of Langley kids driving expensive cars to school, being wealthy, etc. etc.? The people who love to "gab about money" are those who hate anyone living in the Langley district. They're fixated on how much money these people have, what they spend it on, what kind of cars they drive, etc. So maybe if you and others would stop worrying about the incomes of people you know nothing about, there wouldn't be a need to respond to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I notice that when I encounter Langley kids in public, they are polite and call me "sir". This impresses me positively. But also makes me feel old, heh heh.

Absolutely. (Makes me feel old too, though)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A quick scan of the parking lot will tell you otherwise. Plenty of rich people's kids go to Langley.

Those cars don't mean anything. it just tells you they are UCM, not wealthy. I live in 0.5 mile from Langley and I have two full-pay tuition kids at private schools, around 40k/year for each. they have been going there since kindergarten. It costs me about 420k/year for each kid from K-12. That will be 820k for both kids. I can have multiple Benz, Range Rover and Bentley with that kind of money.

Benz, BMW, Range Rover are dime and dozen at Madeira and Potomac schools.

This post tells you plenty about the attitudes you'll encounter in the Langley HS neighborhoods, even if not at the high school itself. There is more conspicuous consumption than you'll find in most of the McLean HS neighborhoods.

I'm not the PP, but perhaps you didn't comprehend his/her post. The point was that PP sends her kids to private, at a great cost - not that PP actually has those vehicles.

You're clearly one of the Langley haters who will jump on any excuse to malign the school. Newsflash: wealthy =/= bad people. Plenty of incredibly generous, philanthropic families out there. I'm sorry you're so bitter about... something.

Yep, bitter.

About what? PP was just pointing out how much some (not all) people in the Langley areas like to gab about how much money they spend - whether it’s on those “dime a dozen” luxury cars or their expensive private school tuitions.

It provokes amusement, not envy.

You do realize the PP's response - about spending money on private school rather than on cars - was in direct response to the ever-tiresome accusation of Langley kids driving expensive cars to school, being wealthy, etc. etc.? The people who love to "gab about money" are those who hate anyone living in the Langley district. They're fixated on how much money these people have, what they spend it on, what kind of cars they drive, etc. So maybe if you and others would stop worrying about the incomes of people you know nothing about, there wouldn't be a need to respond to you.

Of all the things to be hyper-sensitive about, having a lot of money shouldn’t be too high on the list. The easier way to deflect it is by mentioning the mini-vans and older cars in the Langley parking lot, as did a PP, not by pointing out that a BMW is chump change for those spending close to a million on privates.

In any case, the biggest critic of Langley I ever recall on this forum was the woman who pulled her daughter out after 9th grade, claiming that the counselors were trying to make her take all AP courses as a sophomore. I found that hard to believe at the time and, from everything I’ve heard, the current counselors at both Langley and McLean really urge kids to consider their course load carefully and not over-extend themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A quick scan of the parking lot will tell you otherwise. Plenty of rich people's kids go to Langley.

Those cars don't mean anything. it just tells you they are UCM, not wealthy. I live in 0.5 mile from Langley and I have two full-pay tuition kids at private schools, around 40k/year for each. they have been going there since kindergarten. It costs me about 420k/year for each kid from K-12. That will be 820k for both kids. I can have multiple Benz, Range Rover and Bentley with that kind of money.

Benz, BMW, Range Rover are dime and dozen at Madeira and Potomac schools.

This post tells you plenty about the attitudes you'll encounter in the Langley HS neighborhoods, even if not at the high school itself. There is more conspicuous consumption than you'll find in most of the McLean HS neighborhoods.

I'm not the PP, but perhaps you didn't comprehend his/her post. The point was that PP sends her kids to private, at a great cost - not that PP actually has those vehicles.

You're clearly one of the Langley haters who will jump on any excuse to malign the school. Newsflash: wealthy =/= bad people. Plenty of incredibly generous, philanthropic families out there. I'm sorry you're so bitter about... something.

Yep, bitter.

About what? PP was just pointing out how much some (not all) people in the Langley areas like to gab about how much money they spend - whether it’s on those “dime a dozen” luxury cars or their expensive private school tuitions.

It provokes amusement, not envy.

You do realize the PP's response - about spending money on private school rather than on cars - was in direct response to the ever-tiresome accusation of Langley kids driving expensive cars to school, being wealthy, etc. etc.? The people who love to "gab about money" are those who hate anyone living in the Langley district. They're fixated on how much money these people have, what they spend it on, what kind of cars they drive, etc. So maybe if you and others would stop worrying about the incomes of people you know nothing about, there wouldn't be a need to respond to you.

Of all the things to be hyper-sensitive about, having a lot of money shouldn’t be too high on the list. The easier way to deflect it is by mentioning the mini-vans and older cars in the Langley parking lot, as did a PP, not by pointing out that a BMW is chump change for those spending close to a million on privates.

In any case, the biggest critic of Langley I ever recall on this forum was the woman who pulled her daughter out after 9th grade, claiming that the counselors were trying to make her take all AP courses as a sophomore. I found that hard to believe at the time and, from everything I’ve heard, the current counselors at both Langley and McLean really urge kids to consider their course load carefully and not over-extend themselves.

Our experience as well- the counselor never puts any pressure on DC and seems to genuinely care about her class load

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do the Langley HS kids also try to raise money at the Great Falls Village center? The Chain Bridge/Old Dominion intersection is in the McLean HS district, and I always wonder if the Langley kids have to brace themselves before trying to raise money in "rival territory."

I don't think any private schools, including Potomac, really ask their students to try and raise funds outside the school.

Yes, both Mclean and Langley HS regularly raise money on weekends at the Chain Bridge/Old Dominion intersection. They are friendly rivals. Langley doesn't hate Mclean and vice versa. I do see cross dating between the two schools. My Langley HS son is dating a young lady from Mclean HS.

Potomac students don't do this because their families are wealthier and the school programs are supported by lot of wealthy donors

I just want to say that I ABSOLUTELY HATE this!!!!! I avoid that interesection on the weekend. Is there not a more effective way to fundraise than the car wash/standing in the middle of the intersection to get donations? Surely I must not be the only resident who hates this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A quick scan of the parking lot will tell you otherwise. Plenty of rich people's kids go to Langley.

Those cars don't mean anything. it just tells you they are UCM, not wealthy. I live in 0.5 mile from Langley and I have two full-pay tuition kids at private schools, around 40k/year for each. they have been going there since kindergarten. It costs me about 420k/year for each kid from K-12. That will be 820k for both kids. I can have multiple Benz, Range Rover and Bentley with that kind of money.

Benz, BMW, Range Rover are dime and dozen at Madeira and Potomac schools.

This post tells you plenty about the attitudes you'll encounter in the Langley HS neighborhoods, even if not at the high school itself. There is more conspicuous consumption than you'll find in most of the McLean HS neighborhoods.

I'm not the PP, but perhaps you didn't comprehend his/her post. The point was that PP sends her kids to private, at a great cost - not that PP actually has those vehicles.

You're clearly one of the Langley haters who will jump on any excuse to malign the school. Newsflash: wealthy =/= bad people. Plenty of incredibly generous, philanthropic families out there. I'm sorry you're so bitter about... something.

Yep, bitter.

About what? PP was just pointing out how much some (not all) people in the Langley areas like to gab about how much money they spend - whether it’s on those “dime a dozen” luxury cars or their expensive private school tuitions.

It provokes amusement, not envy.

You do realize the PP's response - about spending money on private school rather than on cars - was in direct response to the ever-tiresome accusation of Langley kids driving expensive cars to school, being wealthy, etc. etc.? The people who love to "gab about money" are those who hate anyone living in the Langley district. They're fixated on how much money these people have, what they spend it on, what kind of cars they drive, etc. So maybe if you and others would stop worrying about the incomes of people you know nothing about, there wouldn't be a need to respond to you.

Of all the things to be hyper-sensitive about, having a lot of money shouldn’t be too high on the list. The easier way to deflect it is by mentioning the mini-vans and older cars in the Langley parking lot, as did a PP, not by pointing out that a BMW is chump change for those spending close to a million on privates.

In any case, the biggest critic of Langley I ever recall on this forum was the woman who pulled her daughter out after 9th grade, claiming that the counselors were trying to make her take all AP courses as a sophomore. I found that hard to believe at the time and, from everything I’ve heard, the current counselors at both Langley and McLean really urge kids to consider their course load carefully and not over-extend themselves.

OP, are your DCs hoping to go to UVA or William and Mary? I ask others on this forum -- what kind of GPA/class rank do you need to get accepted to UVA from Langley or McLean HS? If UVA is a "safety school" for the top 5-10 students in each graduating class, your DC will need to pretty much take all APs to compete and be in the running for UVA admission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do the Langley HS kids also try to raise money at the Great Falls Village center? The Chain Bridge/Old Dominion intersection is in the McLean HS district, and I always wonder if the Langley kids have to brace themselves before trying to raise money in "rival territory."

I don't think any private schools, including Potomac, really ask their students to try and raise funds outside the school.

Yes, both Mclean and Langley HS regularly raise money on weekends at the Chain Bridge/Old Dominion intersection. They are friendly rivals. Langley doesn't hate Mclean and vice versa. I do see cross dating between the two schools. My Langley HS son is dating a young lady from Mclean HS.

Potomac students don't do this because their families are wealthier and the school programs are supported by lot of wealthy donors

I just want to say that I ABSOLUTELY HATE this!!!!! I avoid that interesection on the weekend. Is there not a more effective way to fundraise than the car wash/standing in the middle of the intersection to get donations? Surely I must not be the only resident who hates this.

You might not be the only one, but I don't mind it one bit. They can't depend on charity auctions like the Potomac kids, and I like to see the high school kids willing to get out into the community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just want to say that I ABSOLUTELY HATE this!!!!! I avoid that interesection on the weekend. Is there not a more effective way to fundraise than the car wash/standing in the middle of the intersection to get donations? Surely I must not be the only resident who hates this.

You might not be the only one, but I don't mind it one bit. They can't depend on charity auctions like the Potomac kids, and I like to see the high school kids willing to get out into the community.

As a Mclean resident, I also hate this but for a different reason. It is for the safety of those students. That intersection is very busy on weekends.

Why not do the fund raising at Giant Food, Starbucks and Chesapeake bagel? It is much safer there. I don't think the folks in Mclean need these students to wash my car. Bring some of your best violinists, cellists, flutes students to those places and simply play and you will get lot of donations in no time. Just simply ask for donations and people in Mclean are very generous to dole out $$$.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to say that I ABSOLUTELY HATE this!!!!! I avoid that interesection on the weekend. Is there not a more effective way to fundraise than the car wash/standing in the middle of the intersection to get donations? Surely I must not be the only resident who hates this.

You might not be the only one, but I don't mind it one bit. They can't depend on charity auctions like the Potomac kids, and I like to see the high school kids willing to get out into the community.

As a Mclean resident, I also hate this but for a different reason. It is for the safety of those students. That intersection is very busy on weekends.

Why not do the fund raising at Giant Food, Starbucks and Chesapeake bagel? It is much safer there. I don't think the folks in Mclean need these students to wash my car. Bring some of your best violinists, cellists, flutes students to those places and simply play and you will get lot of donations in no time. Just simply ask for donations and people in Mclean are very generous to dole out $$$.

The band holds fundraisers at the places you mention. Sports teams tend to have car washes near gas stations that have agreed they can wash cars there.

They don't usually, and have no need to, stand in the intersections. They are usually on the sidewalks near the intersections, where they pose no danger to themselves or to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A quick scan of the parking lot will tell you otherwise. Plenty of rich people's kids go to Langley.

Those cars don't mean anything. it just tells you they are UCM, not wealthy. I live in 0.5 mile from Langley and I have two full-pay tuition kids at private schools, around 40k/year for each. they have been going there since kindergarten. It costs me about 420k/year for each kid from K-12. That will be 820k for both kids. I can have multiple Benz, Range Rover and Bentley with that kind of money.

Benz, BMW, Range Rover are dime and dozen at Madeira and Potomac schools.

This post tells you plenty about the attitudes you'll encounter in the Langley HS neighborhoods, even if not at the high school itself. There is more conspicuous consumption than you'll find in most of the McLean HS neighborhoods.

I'm not the PP, but perhaps you didn't comprehend his/her post. The point was that PP sends her kids to private, at a great cost - not that PP actually has those vehicles.

You're clearly one of the Langley haters who will jump on any excuse to malign the school. Newsflash: wealthy =/= bad people. Plenty of incredibly generous, philanthropic families out there. I'm sorry you're so bitter about... something.

Yep, bitter.

About what? PP was just pointing out how much some (not all) people in the Langley areas like to gab about how much money they spend - whether it’s on those “dime a dozen” luxury cars or their expensive private school tuitions.

It provokes amusement, not envy.

You do realize the PP's response - about spending money on private school rather than on cars - was in direct response to the ever-tiresome accusation of Langley kids driving expensive cars to school, being wealthy, etc. etc.? The people who love to "gab about money" are those who hate anyone living in the Langley district. They're fixated on how much money these people have, what they spend it on, what kind of cars they drive, etc. So maybe if you and others would stop worrying about the incomes of people you know nothing about, there wouldn't be a need to respond to you.

Of all the things to be hyper-sensitive about, having a lot of money shouldn’t be too high on the list. The easier way to deflect it is by mentioning the mini-vans and older cars in the Langley parking lot, as did a PP, not by pointing out that a BMW is chump change for those spending close to a million on privates.

In any case, the biggest critic of Langley I ever recall on this forum was the woman who pulled her daughter out after 9th grade, claiming that the counselors were trying to make her take all AP courses as a sophomore. I found that hard to believe at the time and, from everything I’ve heard, the current counselors at both Langley and McLean really urge kids to consider their course load carefully and not over-extend themselves.

OP, are your DCs hoping to go to UVA or William and Mary? I ask others on this forum -- what kind of GPA/class rank do you need to get accepted to UVA from Langley or McLean HS? If UVA is a "safety school" for the top 5-10 students in each graduating class, your DC will need to pretty much take all APs to compete and be in the running for UVA admission.

Rough rough numbers for McLean are that about 50 students get in to UVA every year and about 30 attend. W&M is similar but slightly fewer for both (although that may be a year where that is flipped). I would say most of them have taken 6-10APs, so noneed to take “ALL” APs. Take the APs that make sense for the student. Concentrate on their strengths. In this group, most take all three of the AP Histories and then concentrate on English/Languages if they are language driven or math and science if they are science driven. Very few do all. I highly recommend the AP World History because it was the place where my DC learned how to write. It helped every other class he took.