I grew up hearing that the NoVA public schools were the best in the state

[Anonymous]

I’m from central Virginia, and the schools I went to have poor Great Schools ratings. They were also very segregated. We constantly heard that the schools in Northern Virginia were the best in the state. Our teachers told us that we would be competing with the kids up here when it came to getting into college, etc. Now I live up here and I’m looking at schools and reading about them on DC urban mom and it’s not quite as advertised! Where are the super high quality schools? Only in north Arlington, city of Falls Church, and select parts of Fairfax? I have to believe that the rest of the schools up here are fine, especially compared to the ones I grew up in, but when people rave about Northern Virginia schools, are they just talking about those three places?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m from central Virginia, and the schools I went to have poor Great Schools ratings. They were also very segregated. We constantly heard that the schools in Northern Virginia were the best in the state. Our teachers told us that we would be competing with the kids up here when it came to getting into college, etc. Now I live up here and I’m looking at schools and reading about them on DC urban mom and it’s not quite as advertised! Where are the super high quality schools? Only in north Arlington, city of Falls Church, and select parts of Fairfax? I have to believe that the rest of the schools up here are fine, especially compared to the ones I grew up in, but when people rave about Northern Virginia schools, are they just talking about those three places?!

It depends, define "super high quality" schools, what specific criteria are you referring to?

Many schools in FCPS are considered pretty good as compared to other areas of the country. Many on these threads might be a bit too passionate about education, (hence the complaining about schools "not doing enough", and they would be right to some degree), but overall, yes, the schools in the area are pretty good.

[Anonymous]

North Arlington. Not FCC. And a number of FCPs in the top 20: McLean, Langley, Woodson, Oakton, Madison, Chantilly, W Springfield certainly come to mind. Several strong Loudoun schools. And TJ of course. The only non- NOVA school that competes is Maggie Walker, the other a Fat Governors school.

Plus the “down ballot schools”— especially those with strong AAP Centers.

[Anonymous]

I would say that there are more good schools in this area than just Langley, McLean, and Yorktown. YMMV

[Anonymous]

I would say you should have worked harder and would be able to afford the good schools.

[Anonymous]

Schools in NoVA are among the best across the whole country in general. But also rich areas in N Arlington schools are better than others in NoVA, McLean schools are good and some ares in FCPS are better than others. I won't stress too much about the feedback from parents in this forum, some of the parents expectations are not realistic.

[Anonymous]

A lot of people complaining about the schools here wouldn’t dream of sending their kids to the schools you went to. You’re reading posts by a pretty demanding group of parents.

Btw, a GS5 score in NOVA isn’t the same thing as a GS5 in a more rural area. Not that GS means much anyway.

[Anonymous]

The schools are overall pretty mediocre compared to schools in the Northeast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Btw, a GS5 score in NOVA isn’t the same thing as a GS5 in a more rural area. Not that GS means much anyway.

This is OP. Will you please explain this? I thought the Great Schools ratings were statewide comparisons. So a school that’s a 3 in rural Virginia has roughly the same test scores etc as a school that is a 3 in northern Virginia. Is my understanding incorrect?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw, a GS5 score in NOVA isn’t the same thing as a GS5 in a more rural area. Not that GS means much anyway.

This is OP. Will you please explain this? I thought the Great Schools ratings were statewide comparisons. So a school that’s a 3 in rural Virginia has roughly the same test scores etc as a school that is a 3 in northern Virginia. Is my understanding incorrect?

DP. I don't think that poster is correct. However, GS recently changed their formula, In Virignia, the GS score used to be based solely on SOLs. In the past year, they've added a heavily weighted equity score that has greatly impacted schools with more than minimal diversity. Depending on how diverse or homogenous a rural school is, the GS comparison may not be as straightforward as it used to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw, a GS5 score in NOVA isn’t the same thing as a GS5 in a more rural area. Not that GS means much anyway.

This is OP. Will you please explain this? I thought the Great Schools ratings were statewide comparisons. So a school that’s a 3 in rural Virginia has roughly the same test scores etc as a school that is a 3 in northern Virginia. Is my understanding incorrect?

I think it’s a smaller area for comparison. Of course you could just look at the SOL scores and gets direct comparison. Of course you’d have to drill down by cohort.

[Anonymous]

OP, when you were a child there was no DCUM. People on here will complain that the sky is the wrong shade of blue and ask where they can move that it will be more perfect.

[Anonymous]

I would say that there are more good schools in this area than just Langley, McLean, and Yorktown. YMMV

There's about 8 other Fairfax schools that are better than Yorktown.

[Anonymous]

Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. Just some of the states w stellar public high schools.

Historically, the northern states preceded the southern in education. Sadly, this still persists within some southern states today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I would say that there are more good schools in this area than just Langley, McLean, and Yorktown. YMMV

There's about 8 other Fairfax schools that are better than Yorktown.

I guess you do not understand what better really means.