Comparing and contrasting the culture at different FCPS high schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And no one has brought this up, but TJ is pure hell. Almost all of the students suffer from anxiety.

.

Do you have a child there?

My guess is no.

Op didn't ask about TJ so no need to bring your TJ bashing here.

I don't have a kid there but am so sick of all the gratuitous digs to those students.

Guessed wrong. Not bashing the students -- the workload. And since you DONT have a student there, you know nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Well it is objectively true that her child (at TJ) has anxiety and she knows lots of other kids who are in TJ and in AAP in general. You can dismiss it if you want -- but I know that it IS true at my kid's AAP center that there are a lot of kids who are "special" -- they are extreme in there intelligence and extreme in their sensitivities or emotions as well. Not every kid. Not the majority. But, even my kid's 3rd grade AAP teacher said that extremes tend to go with AAP kids. My AAP kid's best friend is dealing with anxiety. I think my own child has at times. I know other kids in the class who fall apart at the sound of the fire alarm or have other sensitivities. It is not hard to imagine that kids who are taking the MOST demanding of all the classes -- college level and beyond (not just AP level) in HS would be more likely to have anxiety. They have always been smart enough to make it and as it gets harder, the pressure rises and the anxiety can come out -- even for kids who are way, way smart (like 99th percentile SAT smart). Doesn't mean YOUR child is going to catch anxiety if s/he goes to TJ -- but it is definitely there.

Great summary, PP

+1 And a lot of people have opinions about TJ that are 20-30 years old. Not reflecting TJ today.

[Anonymous]

OP, I guess Woodson, then. the schools are really NOT all the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Well it is objectively true that her child (at TJ) has anxiety and she knows lots of other kids who are in TJ and in AAP in general. You can dismiss it if you want -- but I know that it IS true at my kid's AAP center that there are a lot of kids who are "special" -- they are extreme in there intelligence and extreme in their sensitivities or emotions as well. Not every kid. Not the majority. But, even my kid's 3rd grade AAP teacher said that extremes tend to go with AAP kids. My AAP kid's best friend is dealing with anxiety. I think my own child has at times. I know other kids in the class who fall apart at the sound of the fire alarm or have other sensitivities. It is not hard to imagine that kids who are taking the MOST demanding of all the classes -- college level and beyond (not just AP level) in HS would be more likely to have anxiety. They have always been smart enough to make it and as it gets harder, the pressure rises and the anxiety can come out -- even for kids who are way, way smart (like 99th percentile SAT smart). Doesn't mean YOUR child is going to catch anxiety if s/he goes to TJ -- but it is definitely there.

Great summary, PP

+1 And a lot of people have opinions about TJ that are 20-30 years old. Not reflecting TJ today.

While I am sure there are some kids with anxiety, it does a disservice to TJ to give the impression that smart kids are prone to anxiety because they are smart and then end up at TJ. A lot of kids who are very smart are very comfortable and happy at TJ because they enjoy challenging, interesting coursework. They can handle the level of the coursework because they are so smart, so the challenge just makes the work more engaging for them.

Most of my kid's friends at TJ were very involved with athletics, so they exercise on a daily basis. I do think that daily exercise does help work out anxieties and helps kids to clear their minds and focus on their schoolwork.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of kids who are very smart are very comfortable and happy at TJ because they enjoy challenging, interesting coursework.

And there are a lot of kids that are happy at TJ but also have/display signs of anxiety. Some of those kids are also very involved with athletics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lake Braddock is definitely warm and welcoming. Not cliquish at all and big enough that there is something for everyone. The kids are good students and all of the extracurriculars, whether your kid is into sports, band, theater, etc. are really top notch. It has a very active PTSA and the parents at the school are really supportive.

Second this. Especially that it is big enough to have something for everyone. You can get a critical mass of kids interested in classes and activities that don't exist at smaller schools. It is particularly well known for its music and theatre programs.

Lake Braddock has a lot to recommend it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of kids who are very smart are very comfortable and happy at TJ because they enjoy challenging, interesting coursework.

And there are a lot of kids that are happy at TJ but also have/display signs of anxiety. Some of those kids are also very involved with athletics.

I'm sure there are some, but I would not say "a lot." My child was there for four years and did not come into contact with "a lot" of kids who were exhibiting signs of anxiety to any degree that caused them to have problems. Normal concerns and worries that every teen has? Of course! But anxiety to the point that it affects their lives? No, not a lot of that.

I suppose it could come down to how you want to define "anxiety." We all have worries and concerns and most of us deal with them in healthy ways. I would say most of the kids at TJ fall into that category. Anxiety can be dealt with in less than healthy ways. You'll have kids in both these categories at TJ and at the regular high schools, but TJ doesn't seem to have a higher percentage of kids in the second category than the regular high schools in my experience with kids at both TJ and the regular high school.

[Anonymous]

Would the TJ posters please take it elsewhere? OP wasn't asking about TJ, and there is no shortage of other threads where you can discuss the stress levels there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would the TJ posters please take it elsewhere? OP wasn't asking about TJ, and there is no shortage of other threads where you can discuss the stress levels there.

+1

[Anonymous]

+4

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Langley: good school but drug problem.

Seriously? You, again?

My kids have all gone to Langley. There is no "drug problem" there - any more than there is at any high school on this list, or in this country, for that matter.

We found Langley to be large enough for all our kids to find their various niches and people. None of them were particularly athletic, and yet all found groups of like-minded kids in theatre, academics, band, and other extracurriculars. Lots of interesting and nice kids, mostly fantastic teachers, and a fabulous academic experience. Highly recommend.

This is the first time I have ever posted about Langley. But EVERY PARENT, every single one that I have talked with says this. I have yet to talk with a single parent that does not say this. they all act relieved that their kids are out and have not been in the drug culture.

Interesting. I've had kids at Langley for twelve years and haven't heard of this so-called "drug culture." Are there kids there who do drugs? Sure. Same as any high school. But to claim there is some kind of drug "culture" is just sheer fabrication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Langley: good school but drug problem.

Seriously? You, again?

My kids have all gone to Langley. There is no "drug problem" there - any more than there is at any high school on this list, or in this country, for that matter.

We found Langley to be large enough for all our kids to find their various niches and people. None of them were particularly athletic, and yet all found groups of like-minded kids in theatre, academics, band, and other extracurriculars. Lots of interesting and nice kids, mostly fantastic teachers, and a fabulous academic experience. Highly recommend.

This is the first time I have ever posted about Langley. But EVERY PARENT, every single one that I have talked with says this. I have yet to talk with a single parent that does not say this. they all act relieved that their kids are out and have not been in the drug culture.

Yup, it's not just one poster who mentions the drug problems at Langley. There's been a serious drug problem there (hard drugs, not just weed) since I went to another FFX County high school in the 90s. Too much money + busy parents = kids using coke and pills.

Really. Do you actually have kids at Langley? Or is this just another fabricated rumor from the usual parents with chips on their shoulders? Please, share some factual links.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Langley: good school but drug problem.

Seriously? You, again?

My kids have all gone to Langley. There is no "drug problem" there - any more than there is at any high school on this list, or in this country, for that matter.

We found Langley to be large enough for all our kids to find their various niches and people. None of them were particularly athletic, and yet all found groups of like-minded kids in theatre, academics, band, and other extracurriculars. Lots of interesting and nice kids, mostly fantastic teachers, and a fabulous academic experience. Highly recommend.

This is the first time I have ever posted about Langley. But EVERY PARENT, every single one that I have talked with says this. I have yet to talk with a single parent that does not say this. they all act relieved that their kids are out and have not been in the drug culture.

Yup, it's not just one poster who mentions the drug problems at Langley. There's been a serious drug problem there (hard drugs, not just weed) since I went to another FFX County high school in the 90s. Too much money + busy parents = kids using coke and pills.

Meh. DS starts HS at a GS 8 FCPS school next year (not Langley, BTW). He came home this week and told me that Larlo's brother said that he knew less than a week after starting high school who was selling drugs at the school and how to buy them. I told him, and I honestly believe, that that would be the case at any high school, public or private, in the metro DC area. And that the time was rapidly coming where we would have to trust that we had raised a good kid who would make smart decisions. Or that we would have to homeschool him. We both agreed that trusting him was by far a better call in our case.

If you think every highly regarded HS but your DC's, or that only HSs X and Y have a drug problem (or a drinking problem, or a teens having sex problem) you are fooling yourself. Teach your kids right and wrong. Make sure they know the consequences of bad decisions. Get to know their friends. You know, parent. Or consider home schooling.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would the TJ posters please take it elsewhere? OP wasn't asking about TJ, and there is no shortage of other threads where you can discuss the stress levels there.

+1

+2

Or +5?

[Anonymous]

Any other thoughts about Woodson aside from the stress issue?

Also, very little has been said about Marshall aside from comments on its demographics. What's the culture like there and how does it compare to the other schools mentioned?