Fairfax or Montgomery?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My partner and I are narrowing down to the McLean pyramid and Marshall pyramid. This would include middle schools like Longfellow, Kilmer, Thoreau, and elementary schools like Freedom Hill, Shrevewood, Stenwood, etc. Anyone has kids going to these schools? What are your thoughts on them, and the neighborhoods where people live to attend those schools? Pro's and con's?

I have children in Freedom Hill and quite like it. The teachers and administrators have been supper supportive and solved problems in a constructive way. I have a kid in local level IV there and another that will almost certainly be joining him there soon. I opted not to send to Westbriar center level IV because I liked the school so much. Only problem is that there are some "poor kids" who cause some problems. I assume at a "better" school there would still be "rich entitled kids" causing problems. At least whenever a problem has popped up (a kid hitting my kid, for example), the administrators have jumped right on it and fixed it immediately. I love living in the Tysons area - walk to the mall, all doctors, stores, car service, etc. is within an approximately 5 minute drive and some is straight up walkable.

OP here - thanks for this. We were almost sure about the Marshall pyramid until I learned about IB and AP - Marshall only does IB and no AP - did you find this to be an issue? I need to read up more on the differences of those programs, pro's and con's of having IB or AP?

I have to admit that I haven't given any thought to that, although I am aware that Marshall is IB. I am a college professor and one thing I can tell you is that skepticism is growing regarding AP and AP credits. There is a major pushback internally at colleges to stop counting AP credit or to drastically reduce the number of credits that can be awarded, both from a tuition revenue perspective (students are taking AP basketweaving at this point just for 3 more credits) and the idea that an AP high school course is simply not the same quality or experience as taking the class in college. I think there is no way to know what the college landscape will look like in 8-12 years. We may witness the collapse of the student loan market, overturning of affirmative action, mass closing of universities and consolidation, or any other number of shifts that make charting a perfect path for your child a fruitless endeavor.

[Anonymous]

It isn’t an issue at those elementary and middle schools. Kilmer and Thoreau MS feed into both AP and IB schools so they don’t have the IB program geared towards middle schools (MYP).

Overall AP is more flexible and generally preferred by FCPS parents. A number of schools in FCPS got IB in the late 90s and early 00s because it was considered novel at the time and FCPS thought it might help stem white flight in some areas. It did not have that effect and FCPS stopped converting any more AP high schools to IB (and opened two new AP high schools).

Marshall’s reputation has improved because of all the growth in and around Tysons, not IB.

[Anonymous]

Op here again - I am reading up on AP vs IB - our kids are current 5th and 7th graders. My partner is also a professor, in math and engineering, and he thought the students with AP background seem more "brave" and confident about proceeding onto more complex math (at that point, I guess it's calculus or another complex thing). I'm in the humanities field, so I can definitely see the benefit of the IB approach though, to nurture a more global perspective, and I like the "service" element of the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here again - I am reading up on AP vs IB - our kids are current 5th and 7th graders. My partner is also a professor, in math and engineering, and he thought the students with AP background seem more "brave" and confident about proceeding onto more complex math (at that point, I guess it's calculus or another complex thing). I'm in the humanities field, so I can definitely see the benefit of the IB approach though, to nurture a more global perspective, and I like the "service" element of the program.

I'm now extremely curious how he would ever know what classes a student took in high school unless he serves in some form of student guidance admin role as well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here again - I am reading up on AP vs IB - our kids are current 5th and 7th graders. My partner is also a professor, in math and engineering, and he thought the students with AP background seem more "brave" and confident about proceeding onto more complex math (at that point, I guess it's calculus or another complex thing). I'm in the humanities field, so I can definitely see the benefit of the IB approach though, to nurture a more global perspective, and I like the "service" element of the program.

I’ve had kids at both IB and AP schools and my impression is that IB is a more time-consuming “package deal.” It is a lot of work, with multiple requirements, and the kids actually seem to stand out less than kids at AP schools who structure their own course load and then often have more time to excel at various extra-curricular endeavors. Others may have a different opinion but, as I said, mine is at least based on direct experience with both types of schools.

[Anonymous]

OP, in full admission, I did NOT read every post on here. I also live in FFX, and, have a kid in UVa. 2 hours each way, no ifs ands or buts. If you pick MD, you need to add a lot more time. 20 minutes? Not even if you own your own helicopter. Lots of different opinions on here, spanning education, commuting, diversity, etc. Each becomes a white-hot button.
The four schools in FFX: McLean, Langley, Madison and Marshall are all very good, and will do a great job preparing your kids for higher education. I kinda think the IB program is overstated, but, there ya go!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here again - I am reading up on AP vs IB - our kids are current 5th and 7th graders. My partner is also a professor, in math and engineering, and he thought the students with AP background seem more "brave" and confident about proceeding onto more complex math (at that point, I guess it's calculus or another complex thing). I'm in the humanities field, so I can definitely see the benefit of the IB approach though, to nurture a more global perspective, and I like the "service" element of the program.

One option is W-L in Arlington -- they have both AP and IB classes so students zoned to the school can choose to pursue the IB diploma or just take the classes they want. My kids are taking mostly AP but opted for IB for the sciences at the recommendation of their teacher who teaches both AP and IB. DS is also taking IB Economics since it isn't offered as an AP. There's also a lottery to transfer in for IB but students who do that are committed to do the full IB program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here again - I am reading up on AP vs IB - our kids are current 5th and 7th graders. My partner is also a professor, in math and engineering, and he thought the students with AP background seem more "brave" and confident about proceeding onto more complex math (at that point, I guess it's calculus or another complex thing). I'm in the humanities field, so I can definitely see the benefit of the IB approach though, to nurture a more global perspective, and I like the "service" element of the program.

One option is W-L in Arlington -- they have both AP and IB classes so students zoned to the school can choose to pursue the IB diploma or just take the classes they want. My kids are taking mostly AP but opted for IB for the sciences at the recommendation of their teacher who teaches both AP and IB. DS is also taking IB Economics since it isn't offered as an AP. There's also a lottery to transfer in for IB but students who do that are committed to do the full IB program.

To be clear, there are AP Macro and Micro Economics courses. They may not be offered at W-L, but are offered at AP schools like Yorktown and McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here again - I am reading up on AP vs IB - our kids are current 5th and 7th graders. My partner is also a professor, in math and engineering, and he thought the students with AP background seem more "brave" and confident about proceeding onto more complex math (at that point, I guess it's calculus or another complex thing). I'm in the humanities field, so I can definitely see the benefit of the IB approach though, to nurture a more global perspective, and I like the "service" element of the program.

I’ve had kids at both IB and AP schools and my impression is that IB is a more time-consuming “package deal.” It is a lot of work, with multiple requirements, and the kids actually seem to stand out less than kids at AP schools who structure their own course load and then often have more time to excel at various extra-curricular endeavors. Others may have a different opinion but, as I said, mine is at least based on direct experience with both types of schools.

This is exactly spot on. For those considering IB, do your research and realize that getting a diploma is a crazy amount of work, mostly in the humanities and writing. This should be something your child actually wants to do, NOT what you think is best for them. Particularly for kids interested in math/CS/engineering, be extra committing to IB...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here again - I am reading up on AP vs IB - our kids are current 5th and 7th graders. My partner is also a professor, in math and engineering, and he thought the students with AP background seem more "brave" and confident about proceeding onto more complex math (at that point, I guess it's calculus or another complex thing). I'm in the humanities field, so I can definitely see the benefit of the IB approach though, to nurture a more global perspective, and I like the "service" element of the program.

I’ve had kids at both IB and AP schools and my impression is that IB is a more time-consuming “package deal.” It is a lot of work, with multiple requirements, and the kids actually seem to stand out less than kids at AP schools who structure their own course load and then often have more time to excel at various extra-curricular endeavors. Others may have a different opinion but, as I said, mine is at least based on direct experience with both types of schools.

This is exactly spot on. For those considering IB, do your research and realize that getting a diploma is a crazy amount of work, mostly in the humanities and writing. This should be something your child actually wants to do, NOT what you think is best for them. Particularly for kids interested in math/CS/engineering, be extra committing to IB...

Err, be extra cautious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here again - I am reading up on AP vs IB - our kids are current 5th and 7th graders. My partner is also a professor, in math and engineering, and he thought the students with AP background seem more "brave" and confident about proceeding onto more complex math (at that point, I guess it's calculus or another complex thing). I'm in the humanities field, so I can definitely see the benefit of the IB approach though, to nurture a more global perspective, and I like the "service" element of the program.

I'm now extremely curious how he would ever know what classes a student took in high school unless he serves in some form of student guidance admin role as well?

I think he sees the classes students took, when they apply to work in his lab as a grad student/PhD? Not sure though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, in full admission, I did NOT read every post on here. I also live in FFX, and, have a kid in UVa. 2 hours each way, no ifs ands or buts. If you pick MD, you need to add a lot more time. 20 minutes? Not even if you own your own helicopter. Lots of different opinions on here, spanning education, commuting, diversity, etc. Each becomes a white-hot button.
The four schools in FFX: McLean, Langley, Madison and Marshall are all very good, and will do a great job preparing your kids for higher education. I kinda think the IB program is overstated, but, there ya go!

Thanks for this - in my defense, Google said, Cville to FFX was like 2hrs, Cville to Rockville was 2hrs 20 mins. But after some things I read about Montgomery county (incidents of sexual assault, etc.) and housing costs, I think our family is going to look at FFX, Falls Church city, and maybe Arlington. When you look for diversity (race, nationality, religion, etc.) together with the socio-economic diversity, it would be ideal if we could avoid extreme wealth or poverty, but this is difficult...and what is a white-hot button?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here again - I am reading up on AP vs IB - our kids are current 5th and 7th graders. My partner is also a professor, in math and engineering, and he thought the students with AP background seem more "brave" and confident about proceeding onto more complex math (at that point, I guess it's calculus or another complex thing). I'm in the humanities field, so I can definitely see the benefit of the IB approach though, to nurture a more global perspective, and I like the "service" element of the program.

I’ve had kids at both IB and AP schools and my impression is that IB is a more time-consuming “package deal.” It is a lot of work, with multiple requirements, and the kids actually seem to stand out less than kids at AP schools who structure their own course load and then often have more time to excel at various extra-curricular endeavors. Others may have a different opinion but, as I said, mine is at least based on direct experience with both types of schools.

You're the second person who told us something like this about the IB, that it might not be "worth" all the work/hours that need to go into it. Very helpful, thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here again - I am reading up on AP vs IB - our kids are current 5th and 7th graders. My partner is also a professor, in math and engineering, and he thought the students with AP background seem more "brave" and confident about proceeding onto more complex math (at that point, I guess it's calculus or another complex thing). I'm in the humanities field, so I can definitely see the benefit of the IB approach though, to nurture a more global perspective, and I like the "service" element of the program.

I’ve had kids at both IB and AP schools and my impression is that IB is a more time-consuming “package deal.” It is a lot of work, with multiple requirements, and the kids actually seem to stand out less than kids at AP schools who structure their own course load and then often have more time to excel at various extra-curricular endeavors. Others may have a different opinion but, as I said, mine is at least based on direct experience with both types of schools.

You're the second person who told us something like this about the IB, that it might not be "worth" all the work/hours that need to go into it. Very helpful, thank you.

Here's a Quora response on IB that I thought was pretty informative regarding the general quality and usefulness of an IB program. One of the things I found alarming and which I did not know, is that calculus is apparently not used at all in any of the IB physics courses. To me that says a lot, as it's pretty hard to understand physics well without the aid of calculus:

https://qr.ae/pI6NvZ

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here again - I am reading up on AP vs IB - our kids are current 5th and 7th graders. My partner is also a professor, in math and engineering, and he thought the students with AP background seem more "brave" and confident about proceeding onto more complex math (at that point, I guess it's calculus or another complex thing). I'm in the humanities field, so I can definitely see the benefit of the IB approach though, to nurture a more global perspective, and I like the "service" element of the program.

I’ve had kids at both IB and AP schools and my impression is that IB is a more time-consuming “package deal.” It is a lot of work, with multiple requirements, and the kids actually seem to stand out less than kids at AP schools who structure their own course load and then often have more time to excel at various extra-curricular endeavors. Others may have a different opinion but, as I said, mine is at least based on direct experience with both types of schools.

You're the second person who told us something like this about the IB, that it might not be "worth" all the work/hours that need to go into it. Very helpful, thank you.

Here's a Quora response on IB that I thought was pretty informative regarding the general quality and usefulness of an IB program. One of the things I found alarming and which I did not know, is that calculus is apparently not used at all in any of the IB physics courses. To me that says a lot, as it's pretty hard to understand physics well without the aid of calculus:

https://qr.ae/pI6NvZ

Wow, thanks for this (it's me, OP). This sort of confirms what I had gathered on my own, from the internet. Which takes our school search back to the drawing board, because Marshall HS only has IB. Maybe McLean (pressure cooker?), Madison (too big/sport-centered?), Oakton, Fairfax, Woodson, West Springfield?? Anyone has thoughts on these schools?