Tell me about South Lakes

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We would want AP but would not want to end up at Herndon HS at all.

Why? —HHS parent

You can’t seriously be asking this question.

I am absolutely serious.

OP here and even I know about Herndon High School's reputation.

Herndon's AP scores were better than Oakton, West Springfield, and Lake Braddock. If anything, West Springfield and Lake Braddock have inflated reputations given that they have high White/Asian demographics yet perform below HHS's weight class. I'm honestly very surprised about Oakton though.

Herndon is behind McLean, Langley, Woodson, Chantilly, and Madison, but that's obviously expected given the demographics at those leading schools.

It doesn’t matter about AP scores. What matters is the general population of the school who isn’t taking AP. They are very rough. More rough at Herndon and SL than other schools. That’s the point.

The point is that your perception of the schools is wrong. The kids who are attending Herndon High and South Lakes have not discussed fights and issues at the school. We live in Herndon. We know kids at the both schools. But you keep telling me that what I am hearing from the kids attending these schools is wrong regardless of what I am hearing and seeing.

South Lakes had the highest pass rate on IB tests, Herndon High falls into the middle of FCPS for AP test scores. But you blow that off. You don't want to see that the kids in the Honors and IB/AP programs are having a good experience, doing well academically, and going to good colleges. It is almost like you have to find a way to justify paying hundreds of thousands of dollars more for the house you bought to attend Chantilly or Oakton High School.

But you don't know these schools. You are fixated on a articular narrative and don't want to hear what other people are telling you.

Truthfully, I would not want my kid taking Gen Ed classes at South Lakes. I have friends whose kids were worried about Honors classes in HS and started with the Gen Ed classes. They all moved into Honors classes by the end of the first quarter. The kids were telling their parents that the classes were too easy, there were issues with kids being disrespectful or tardiness or a series of issues that prevented learning. The kids all seem to be happy in the Honors classes. They feel challenged and the behavior in the classroom is better.

None of the kids have mentioned fighting or other issues at the school. And the issues in the Gen Ed classes might very well be the same issues that exist at any high school in a Gen Ed classroom. But the Honors and AP/IB classes are challenging for kids and the kids are not discussing problems in their classroom.

That’s exactly my point. You’ve essentially said what I said. There are more rough kids overall at SL and HHS. I want a school with a better gen Ed population.

Gotta love the coded language.

[Anonymous]

We go to Herndon High, but my kids have friends in South Lakes. Everyone really likes the school. I even know a few families who pupil placed there to get out of Oakton. They found SL to offer more balance and they really liked the IB program. They also liked that there is some diversity and the kids aren’t growing up in a rich kid bubble like in Oakton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We would want AP but would not want to end up at Herndon HS at all.

Why? —HHS parent

You can’t seriously be asking this question.

I am absolutely serious.

OP here and even I know about Herndon High School's reputation.

Herndon's AP scores were better than Oakton, West Springfield, and Lake Braddock. If anything, West Springfield and Lake Braddock have inflated reputations given that they have high White/Asian demographics yet perform below HHS's weight class. I'm honestly very surprised about Oakton though.

Herndon is behind McLean, Langley, Woodson, Chantilly, and Madison, but that's obviously expected given the demographics at those leading schools.

It doesn’t matter about AP scores. What matters is the general population of the school who isn’t taking AP. They are very rough. More rough at Herndon and SL than other schools. That’s the point.

The point is that your perception of the schools is wrong. The kids who are attending Herndon High and South Lakes have not discussed fights and issues at the school. We live in Herndon. We know kids at the both schools. But you keep telling me that what I am hearing from the kids attending these schools is wrong regardless of what I am hearing and seeing.

South Lakes had the highest pass rate on IB tests, Herndon High falls into the middle of FCPS for AP test scores. But you blow that off. You don't want to see that the kids in the Honors and IB/AP programs are having a good experience, doing well academically, and going to good colleges. It is almost like you have to find a way to justify paying hundreds of thousands of dollars more for the house you bought to attend Chantilly or Oakton High School.

But you don't know these schools. You are fixated on a articular narrative and don't want to hear what other people are telling you.

Truthfully, I would not want my kid taking Gen Ed classes at South Lakes. I have friends whose kids were worried about Honors classes in HS and started with the Gen Ed classes. They all moved into Honors classes by the end of the first quarter. The kids were telling their parents that the classes were too easy, there were issues with kids being disrespectful or tardiness or a series of issues that prevented learning. The kids all seem to be happy in the Honors classes. They feel challenged and the behavior in the classroom is better.

None of the kids have mentioned fighting or other issues at the school. And the issues in the Gen Ed classes might very well be the same issues that exist at any high school in a Gen Ed classroom. But the Honors and AP/IB classes are challenging for kids and the kids are not discussing problems in their classroom.

That’s exactly my point. You’ve essentially said what I said. There are more rough kids overall at SL and HHS. I want a school with a better gen Ed population.

Gotta love the coded language.

I know, white…errr…I mean, right!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We go to Herndon High, but my kids have friends in South Lakes. Everyone really likes the school. I even know a few families who pupil placed there to get out of Oakton. They found SL to offer more balance and they really liked the IB program. They also liked that there is some diversity and the kids aren’t growing up in a rich kid bubble like in Oakton.

Oakton isn't a rich kid bubble. It's about 14-15% FARMS this year. There's really only one high school in FCPS that is a "rich kid bubble."

South Lakes's demographics aren't too different from the FCPS high school demographics overall. A bit more Hispanic and White and less Asian.

Over the course of a decade or so, Herndon's demographics changed more than any other HS in FCPS. It's now majority Hispanic and majority low-income, and it's trending towards more poverty (the current 9th grade class has a substantially higher FARMS rate than the current 12th grade class, according to the latest VDOE fall membership reports).

A common perception now is that South Lakes is stable and Herndon is not - that it's on its way to becoming a super-majority low-income Hispanic school. The top achievers at Herndon have done well for years, even better than at some wealthier high schools. But it's not clear if that will continue. On the one hand, you have a lot of higher income folks looking at Chantilly and Oakton instead, and on the other you have all the folks who now bypass Herndon and move to Ashburn. Plus, there are a large number of students who now pupil place out of Herndon every year to South Lakes. People wonder whether there will be enough of a critical mass at Herndon to offer as many sessions of advanced classes as are offered at other schools (which matters when students have scheduling conflicts).

It leaves the Herndon schools in a somewhat precarious place. It's understandable why people defend HHS; they don't want to see it decline. FCPS could change the trajectory there if they built a new high school in western Fairfax, moved part of the low-income areas in Herndon to the new school, and moved western Great Falls to Herndon. But there are people who will fight very, very hard to make sure that never happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We go to Herndon High, but my kids have friends in South Lakes. Everyone really likes the school. I even know a few families who pupil placed there to get out of Oakton. They found SL to offer more balance and they really liked the IB program. They also liked that there is some diversity and the kids aren’t growing up in a rich kid bubble like in Oakton.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We go to Herndon High, but my kids have friends in South Lakes. Everyone really likes the school. I even know a few families who pupil placed there to get out of Oakton. They found SL to offer more balance and they really liked the IB program. They also liked that there is some diversity and the kids aren’t growing up in a rich kid bubble like in Oakton.

Oakton isn't a rich kid bubble. It's about 14-15% FARMS this year. There's really only one high school in FCPS that is a "rich kid bubble."

South Lakes's demographics aren't too different from the FCPS high school demographics overall. A bit more Hispanic and White and less Asian.

Over the course of a decade or so, Herndon's demographics changed more than any other HS in FCPS. It's now majority Hispanic and majority low-income, and it's trending towards more poverty (the current 9th grade class has a substantially higher FARMS rate than the current 12th grade class, according to the latest VDOE fall membership reports).

A common perception now is that South Lakes is stable and Herndon is not - that it's on its way to becoming a super-majority low-income Hispanic school. The top achievers at Herndon have done well for years, even better than at some wealthier high schools. But it's not clear if that will continue. On the one hand, you have a lot of higher income folks looking at Chantilly and Oakton instead, and on the other you have all the folks who now bypass Herndon and move to Ashburn. Plus, there are a large number of students who now pupil place out of Herndon every year to South Lakes. People wonder whether there will be enough of a critical mass at Herndon to offer as many sessions of advanced classes as are offered at other schools (which matters when students have scheduling conflicts).

It leaves the Herndon schools in a somewhat precarious place. It's understandable why people defend HHS; they don't want to see it decline. FCPS could change the trajectory there if they built a new high school in western Fairfax, moved part of the low-income areas in Herndon to the new school, and moved western Great Falls to Herndon. But there are people who will fight very, very hard to make sure that never happens.

It is also reflective of the policies Fairfax (not just TOH) voters have embraced. They like things in theory but not when it comes to their kids. Hypocrites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We would want AP but would not want to end up at Herndon HS at all.

Why? —HHS parent

You can’t seriously be asking this question.

I am absolutely serious.

OP here and even I know about Herndon High School's reputation.

Please elaborate. You know some HHS kids go to very good schoolS, right? I suspect I know your true reason and it doesn’t have to do with academics.
— HHS parent again

You do know that not every child is on AP/Honors track, right? And for a good kid who gets stuck in general ed classes with the general ed population at Herndon, there's not a lot of learning going on.
--HHS parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We would want AP but would not want to end up at Herndon HS at all.

Why? —HHS parent

You can’t seriously be asking this question.

I am absolutely serious.

OP here and even I know about Herndon High School's reputation.

Please elaborate. You know some HHS kids go to very good schoolS, right? I suspect I know your true reason and it doesn’t have to do with academics.
— HHS parent again

You do know that not every child is on AP/Honors track, right? And for a good kid who gets stuck in general ed classes with the general ed population at Herndon, there's not a lot of learning going on.
--HHS parent

You do know that kids in the gen ed classes also go to college -- even at Herndon, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated from SLHS back in the 90s when it was an AP school. Even back then it was a rough environment. Staying in mostly AP classes helped me avoid the riff raff. I would not send my child to a school like that now unless they really wanted IB and even then I would have hesitations.

Spoken like someone who grew up in the burbs and has zero idea what a rough school is actually like. SLHS and Herndon are not rough schools except in the minds of DCUM.

I heard the same about rough riff raff from a mid 90's SLHS grad - a George Mason soccer kid who liked to drink and fight. I liked the kid but it shows the peril of relying on anecdotal information. I am a Duke grad, and find it laughable that Grant Hill's school could be described as a rough school. His teammates would tease him over his privileged background. There is a low income population, but most are good kids. Track coach is a friend and used to coach at Oakton - he verifies mostly good kids at SL - and track is the most diverse of sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated from SLHS back in the 90s when it was an AP school. Even back then it was a rough environment. Staying in mostly AP classes helped me avoid the riff raff. I would not send my child to a school like that now unless they really wanted IB and even then I would have hesitations.

Spoken like someone who grew up in the burbs and has zero idea what a rough school is actually like. SLHS and Herndon are not rough schools except in the minds of DCUM.

I heard the same about rough riff raff from a mid 90's SLHS grad - a George Mason soccer kid who liked to drink and fight. I liked the kid but it shows the peril of relying on anecdotal information. I am a Duke grad, and find it laughable that Grant Hill's school could be described as a rough school. His teammates would tease him over his privileged background. There is a low income population, but most are good kids. Track coach is a friend and used to coach at Oakton - he verifies mostly good kids at SL - and track is the most diverse of sports.

So in other words you don’t know because you didn’t go there. You’re relying on anecdotes from Grant Hill’s teammates, who also didn’t go there. And from a coach who teaches dedicated sports kids. Those aren’t the riff raff. The riff raff aren’t in sports. They are in gangs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated from SLHS back in the 90s when it was an AP school. Even back then it was a rough environment. Staying in mostly AP classes helped me avoid the riff raff. I would not send my child to a school like that now unless they really wanted IB and even then I would have hesitations.

Spoken like someone who grew up in the burbs and has zero idea what a rough school is actually like. SLHS and Herndon are not rough schools except in the minds of DCUM.

I heard the same about rough riff raff from a mid 90's SLHS grad - a George Mason soccer kid who liked to drink and fight. I liked the kid but it shows the peril of relying on anecdotal information. I am a Duke grad, and find it laughable that Grant Hill's school could be described as a rough school. His teammates would tease him over his privileged background. There is a low income population, but most are good kids. Track coach is a friend and used to coach at Oakton - he verifies mostly good kids at SL - and track is the most diverse of sports.

So in other words you don’t know because you didn’t go there. You’re relying on anecdotes from Grant Hill’s teammates, who also didn’t go there. And from a coach who teaches dedicated sports kids. Those aren’t the riff raff. The riff raff aren’t in sports. They are in gangs.

PP how do you know there are gangs there?

[Anonymous]

In sum, South Lakes is currently one of the better FCPS high schools. That’s the result of demographics and boundary changes that favored South Lakes. It’s not top tier like Langley but it’s a solid school academically and athletically.

[Anonymous]

Oh my goodness. Riff raff, gangs, insert other coded language…

This is Reston’s high school. Reston was built around a community that has affordable housing for everyone. There are bazillion dollar houses and subsidized housing. I went the SLHS and grew up right in the middle socioeconomically speaking. There were kids who made bad decisions all throughout the socioeconomic spectrum. And kids who made good decisions too! And when I went to college (UMich), guess what… same thing! And when I went to business school (Wharton)… SAME THING!

Bottom line, it’s a good well funded school, a little on the smaller side which is good if you want to make a sports team and you’re a middle of the road player. Reston is a wonderful well established suburb with lots of amenities. If you love a house there, go for it. Don’t let the idea that South Lakes might not be the best ruin it, because it has its ups and downs the same as any other high school in the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated from SLHS back in the 90s when it was an AP school. Even back then it was a rough environment. Staying in mostly AP classes helped me avoid the riff raff. I would not send my child to a school like that now unless they really wanted IB and even then I would have hesitations.

Spoken like someone who grew up in the burbs and has zero idea what a rough school is actually like. SLHS and Herndon are not rough schools except in the minds of DCUM.

I heard the same about rough riff raff from a mid 90's SLHS grad - a George Mason soccer kid who liked to drink and fight. I liked the kid but it shows the peril of relying on anecdotal information. I am a Duke grad, and find it laughable that Grant Hill's school could be described as a rough school. His teammates would tease him over his privileged background. There is a low income population, but most are good kids. Track coach is a friend and used to coach at Oakton - he verifies mostly good kids at SL - and track is the most diverse of sports.

So in other words you don’t know because you didn’t go there. You’re relying on anecdotes from Grant Hill’s teammates, who also didn’t go there. And from a coach who teaches dedicated sports kids. Those aren’t the riff raff. The riff raff aren’t in sports. They are in gangs.

PP how do you know there are gangs there?

Omg. Because I went there and there were gangs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In sum, South Lakes is currently one of the better FCPS high schools. That’s the result of demographics and boundary changes that favored South Lakes. It’s not top tier like Langley but it’s a solid school academically and athletically.

No it is not.