Yorktown HS vs Private?

[Anonymous]

We submitted applications to multiple privates in the fall as an option to Yorktown due to APS overcrowding stories, but I'm realizing we are going to have to make this decision here in the next month or two. For current Yorktown parents, how do you find the school? Anyone else go through this recently?

[Anonymous]

OP--did your child attend MS in Arlington? Swanson and Williamsburg are both severely over-crowded. Did you feel that was a negative experience for your child? Just curious as to why the over-crowding would just be an issue now--or if it was because of MS that you found it to be a problem.

[Anonymous]

Those schools are facing overcrowding, plus Yorktown loses many of its top students to W-L for IB, whereas W-L gets to offer both AP and IB.

[Anonymous]

There are four middle schools in Arlington, not just two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP--did your child attend MS in Arlington? Swanson and Williamsburg are both severely over-crowded. Did you feel that was a negative experience for your child? Just curious as to why the over-crowding would just be an issue now--or if it was because of MS that you found it to be a problem.

OP - yes (Williamsburg). I'd say we weren't thrilled with the class size, but it was ok. Worried it gets worse at Yorktown.

[Anonymous]

Interested in this too as YHS seems to be heading toward overcrowding. WMS has been mostly good for our student, but seems to give very little individual attention. Lunchroom is a zoo!

Also curious to know what privates OP applied to?

[Anonymous]

Father of a current senior here. I believe Yorktown's central mission is to get as many kids into JMU as possible. If you are aiming higher and want a school that will help...consider IB at W&L or private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are four middle schools in Arlington, not just two.

If they are zoned for YHS---those 2 were obvious choices and of the 4 the only ones 'severely' overcrowded. Hence, the ?.

God--not everything is aimed at ignoring S. Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Father of a current senior here. I believe Yorktown's central mission is to get as many kids into JMU as possible. If you are aiming higher and want a school that will help...consider IB at W&L or private.

Yorktown's 2016 SAT scores for white kids are about 70 points lower than at W-L, but then the scores for non-whites at W-L are poor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Father of a current senior here. I believe Yorktown's central mission is to get as many kids into JMU as possible. If you are aiming higher and want a school that will help...consider IB at W&L or private.

Yorktown's 2016 SAT scores for white kids are about 70 points lower than at W-L, but then the scores for non-whites at W-L are poor.

I wonder what the breakdown is between IB vs. everybody else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are four middle schools in Arlington, not just two.

There's actually five.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Father of a current senior here. I believe Yorktown's central mission is to get as many kids into JMU as possible. If you are aiming higher and want a school that will help...consider IB at W&L or private.

Well, that's hardly a bad thing. If that is the median I'll take it. Wakefield is thrilled to be shipping kids to NOVA and ODU. Check your privilege.

[Anonymous]

Yorktown is a top rated high school and I don't think you should hesitate to send your child there for academic reasons. I don't find the overcrowding to be much of a problem for our children but if it would bother your kid and you want to spend the extra money on a private school then obviously you can make that choice. I personally would not spend the money in a county with such good public schools. A student who takes intensified and AP classes will get a great education and be competitive for college applications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yorktown is a top rated high school and I don't think you should hesitate to send your child there for academic reasons. I don't find the overcrowding to be much of a problem for our children but if it would bother your kid and you want to spend the extra money on a private school then obviously you can make that choice. I personally would not spend the money in a county with such good public schools. A student who takes intensified and AP classes will get a great education and be competitive for college applications.

For the areas it serves, it seems to punch below its weight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yorktown is a top rated high school and I don't think you should hesitate to send your child there for academic reasons. I don't find the overcrowding to be much of a problem for our children but if it would bother your kid and you want to spend the extra money on a private school then obviously you can make that choice. I personally would not spend the money in a county with such good public schools. A student who takes intensified and AP classes will get a great education and be competitive for college applications.

For the areas it serves, it seems to punch below its weight.

As parent of current YHS senior, I totally agree. I have a kid at WMS and I'm leaning toward IB at W&L.