Tell me about South Lakes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I went to high school in Southern California in the 1980s and there were gangs at my HS. We were in the burbs so the gangs were not the ones people think of but they were there and you knew to avoid certain people. Limited fights, no one was stabbed or shot or died.

There are gangs in lots of places, probably places you have been and you never knew it.

[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.

Not really. It’s an average FCPS high school with good track and boys basketball teams. Without the boundary changes it would be in the bottom 1/3.

Stronger schools: TJ, Langley, McLean, Oakton, Woodson, Madison, Chantilly, Marshall, West Springfield, Robinson, Lake Braddock, and Fairfax.

Peer schools: Centreville, Westfield, South County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not really. It’s an average FCPS high school with good track and boys basketball teams. Without the boundary changes it would be in the bottom 1/3.

Stronger schools: TJ, Langley, McLean, Oakton, Woodson, Madison, Chantilly, Marshall, West Springfield, Robinson, Lake Braddock, and Fairfax.

Peer schools: Centreville, Westfield, South County.

+1 we would avoid SLHS and HHS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not really. It’s an average FCPS high school with good track and boys basketball teams. Without the boundary changes it would be in the bottom 1/3.

Stronger schools: TJ, Langley, McLean, Oakton, Woodson, Madison, Chantilly, Marshall, West Springfield, Robinson, Lake Braddock, and Fairfax.

Peer schools: Centreville, Westfield, South County.

Robinson, Marshall, Fairfax, and West Springfield are peer schools to South Lakes. IB scores are better at SLHS than Robinson and Marshall IB programs. And West Springfield SAT scores were 4 points higher than South Lakes last year and South Lakes was 10 points higher a few years ago, so SATs are a wash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not really. It’s an average FCPS high school with good track and boys basketball teams. Without the boundary changes it would be in the bottom 1/3.

Stronger schools: TJ, Langley, McLean, Oakton, Woodson, Madison, Chantilly, Marshall, West Springfield, Robinson, Lake Braddock, and Fairfax.

Peer schools: Centreville, Westfield, South County.

Robinson, Marshall, Fairfax, and West Springfield are peer schools to South Lakes. IB scores are better at SLHS than Robinson and Marshall IB programs. And West Springfield SAT scores were 4 points higher than South Lakes last year and South Lakes was 10 points higher a few years ago, so SATs are a wash.

Cherry pick if you want, but if you look at AP/IB participation rates and performance, SAT scores, and SOL scores over a multi-year period the prior observation stands.

Among the eight IB schools in FCPS, South Lakes is above average. Among all the high schools in FCPS, it's average. Fortunately, the average high school in FCPS is pretty good so there's no need to exaggerate.

[Anonymous]

My high school senior got accepted Early Action to Virginia Tech for engineering. I believe it is a great school based on my two children attending an aggregate five years now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not really. It’s an average FCPS high school with good track and boys basketball teams. Without the boundary changes it would be in the bottom 1/3.

Stronger schools: TJ, Langley, McLean, Oakton, Woodson, Madison, Chantilly, Marshall, West Springfield, Robinson, Lake Braddock, and Fairfax.

Peer schools: Centreville, Westfield, South County.

Robinson, Marshall, Fairfax, and West Springfield are peer schools to South Lakes. IB scores are better at SLHS than Robinson and Marshall IB programs. And West Springfield SAT scores were 4 points higher than South Lakes last year and South Lakes was 10 points higher a few years ago, so SATs are a wash.

Cherry pick if you want, but if you look at AP/IB participation rates and performance, SAT scores, and SOL scores over a multi-year period the prior observation stands.

Among the eight IB schools in FCPS, South Lakes is above average. Among all the high schools in FCPS, it's average. Fortunately, the average high school in FCPS is pretty good so there's no need to exaggerate.

West Springfield and Fairfax HS SAT scores are literally below the FCPS average over the past 5 years (Fairfax HS was an exception in 2019). AP scores at West Springfield and Fairfax are ranked 9th and 12th, respectively, out of 17 AP schools in 2022, which is at or below the median. As stated, the average FCPS school is quite good. But the top 5 (Langley, McLean, Woodson, Chantilly, Oakton) are leaps and bounds ahead while the middle tier schools objectively are not as distinguishable in their level of achievement as many like to think they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not really. It’s an average FCPS high school with good track and boys basketball teams. Without the boundary changes it would be in the bottom 1/3.

Stronger schools: TJ, Langley, McLean, Oakton, Woodson, Madison, Chantilly, Marshall, West Springfield, Robinson, Lake Braddock, and Fairfax.

Peer schools: Centreville, Westfield, South County.

Robinson, Marshall, Fairfax, and West Springfield are peer schools to South Lakes. IB scores are better at SLHS than Robinson and Marshall IB programs. And West Springfield SAT scores were 4 points higher than South Lakes last year and South Lakes was 10 points higher a few years ago, so SATs are a wash.

Cherry pick if you want, but if you look at AP/IB participation rates and performance, SAT scores, and SOL scores over a multi-year period the prior observation stands.

Among the eight IB schools in FCPS, South Lakes is above average. Among all the high schools in FCPS, it's average. Fortunately, the average high school in FCPS is pretty good so there's no need to exaggerate.

West Springfield and Fairfax HS SAT scores are literally below the FCPS average over the past 5 years (Fairfax HS was an exception in 2019). AP scores at West Springfield and Fairfax are ranked 9th and 12th, respectively, out of 17 AP schools in 2022, which is at or below the median. As stated, the average FCPS school is quite good. But the top 5 (Langley, McLean, Woodson, Chantilly, Oakton) are leaps and bounds ahead while the middle tier schools objectively are not as distinguishable in their level of achievement as many like to think they are.

There are two ways to look at this.

One is to look at the average SAT scores in the county. The other is to look at the SAT scores of the FCPS high schools in the middle (i.e., in a county with 25 high/secondary schools, the 13th highest school would be in the middle).

The "county average" is higher than several schools in the middle because the top school - TJ - is a regional magnet where the kids score very high.

[Anonymous]

Ok people. Terraset/Hughes/SLHS parent here. I have a very low drama opinion here. My HS DC is doing fine. Even better than fine I'd say. Hitting a groove after exiting the pandemic and back to having a normal HS experience. Takes some Gen Ed, some Honors classes. Will do the same with the IB courses.

I think it's all gonna turn out ok. All of these statistics and rankings etc. mean nothing when it comes down to the individual level. Your kid will either make good choices, so-so choices, or bad choices. And their biggest influence is you and the parenting you've done for the past 14 years.

Some other things I like about SLHS:

-The adjoining campuses of all three schools. It gives a small town atmosphere in a high population suburban area. Also, it means that MS kids can take HS courses by walking next door.
-The diversity. It's important for me that my kids get exposed to people from all walks of life and and see the pros/cons of of different situations.
-The building itself is relatively newer and is in good condition, I didn't feel depressed after entering.

[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.

Yes, and all the kids here now are growing up in the “burbs.” It is scary to enter a high school like SLHS or HHS. Tons of fights, gang activity, etc. I don’t want my child at a school like that if possible. Thank God once you get to college or in the real work force you never have to deal with people like that again.

You can’t be serious. College and the (presumably white collar) workforce is not immune from this.

[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.

Yes, and all the kids here now are growing up in the “burbs.” It is scary to enter a high school like SLHS or HHS. Tons of fights, gang activity, etc. I don’t want my child at a school like that if possible. Thank God once you get to college or in the real work force you never have to deal with people like that again.

You can’t be serious. College and the (presumably white collar) workforce is not immune from this.

From gangs?! Really? How many gangs are at UVA and W&M?

[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.

Yes, and all the kids here now are growing up in the “burbs.” It is scary to enter a high school like SLHS or HHS. Tons of fights, gang activity, etc. I don’t want my child at a school like that if possible. Thank God once you get to college or in the real work force you never have to deal with people like that again.

You can’t be serious. College and the (presumably white collar) workforce is not immune from this.

Seriously, just last week Jerry from accounting jumped Bill from HR in the cafeteria. Everyone knows the 4th floor bathroom on the north side is a no go zone- that's where all of the cool people smoke weed

[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.

Yes, and all the kids here now are growing up in the “burbs.” It is scary to enter a high school like SLHS or HHS. Tons of fights, gang activity, etc. I don’t want my child at a school like that if possible. Thank God once you get to college or in the real work force you never have to deal with people like that again.

You can’t be serious. College and the (presumably white collar) workforce is not immune from this.

Seriously, just last week Jerry from accounting jumped Bill from HR in the cafeteria. Everyone knows the 4th floor bathroom on the north side is a no go zone- that's where all of the cool people smoke weed

LOL!

[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.

Yes, and all the kids here now are growing up in the “burbs.” It is scary to enter a high school like SLHS or HHS. Tons of fights, gang activity, etc. I don’t want my child at a school like that if possible. Thank God once you get to college or in the real work force you never have to deal with people like that again.

You can’t be serious. College and the (presumably white collar) workforce is not immune from this.

Seriously, just last week Jerry from accounting jumped Bill from HR in the cafeteria. Everyone knows the 4th floor bathroom on the north side is a no go zone- that's where all of the cool people smoke weed

No but Jerry could be on drugs (white collar and well off people do drugs). And he is white collar so he wouldn’t jump people…he might just steal/commit fraud/insert whatever white collar crime here. But it’s ok bc he will probably get away with it. I don’t know PP btw having my kids go to school with gangsters or future hedge fund managers/wall st types without scruples, I might pick the gangsters who probably won’t even bother them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok people. Terraset/Hughes/SLHS parent here. I have a very low drama opinion here. My HS DC is doing fine. Even better than fine I'd say. Hitting a groove after exiting the pandemic and back to having a normal HS experience. Takes some Gen Ed, some Honors classes. Will do the same with the IB courses.

I think it's all gonna turn out ok. All of these statistics and rankings etc. mean nothing when it comes down to the individual level. Your kid will either make good choices, so-so choices, or bad choices. And their biggest influence is you and the parenting you've done for the past 14 years.

Some other things I like about SLHS:

-The adjoining campuses of all three schools. It gives a small town atmosphere in a high population suburban area. Also, it means that MS kids can take HS courses by walking next door.
-The diversity. It's important for me that my kids get exposed to people from all walks of life and and see the pros/cons of of different situations.
-The building itself is relatively newer and is in good condition, I didn't feel depressed after entering.

Thank you for providing this feedback. I was impressed walking into the school the few times I’ve had to go there. It’s nice.