General college placement: Langley vs McLean High

[Anonymous]

We are moving to NoVa and wonder which high school to choose. Kid is STEAM oriented. Langley vs McLean High, which is better for him? Any idea to find out the school's college placement?

[Anonymous]

Find the house and commute that works best for your family. Either high school is great.

[Anonymous]

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https://www.fcps.edu/node/35728

Several FCPS high schools are great for STEAM, Langley and McLean included.

If you have no preferences in terms of location (commuting, sidewalks, price) I would go for Langley High School because the facilities are nicer. It has been renovated in the past three years and I always hear people complain about McLean's building.

Both are good schools with high school spirit and involved communities.

You can't go wrong academically with either.

[Anonymous]

I agree I would pick Langley for better facilities.

People on these boards complain constantly about how overcrowded mclean high is and how it is a trailer park.

[Anonymous]

The McLean HS neighborhoods are more centrally located and convenient to DC and Metro, so if that matters to you I’d go with McLean. Both schools have very strong academic reputations.

[Anonymous]

You can access both of their available course by going to their homepage. Click on academics then go down to the course catalog.

Virtually identical.

It does not matter which school from an academic perspective.

[Anonymous]

Chantilly is excellent as well. Many won't consider other publics than McLean or Langley.

[Anonymous]

You need to find a house first. It’s not that easy.

[Anonymous]

The vast majority of the High Schools in FCPS will do a great job educating a motivated student with involved parent. Some people would point out that a high achieving student at a South Lakes, Chantilly, Marshall, Robertson type school is actually more likely to get into a better school because they are more likely to stand out in the school, which will be reflected in letters of recommendation and their class ranking. The schools have similar AP/IB offerings.

Just a thought.

Chose a house that you can afford, in an area that the commute works for you, your kids will get a great education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The vast majority of the High Schools in FCPS will do a great job educating a motivated student with involved parent. Some people would point out that a high achieving student at a South Lakes, Chantilly, Marshall, Robertson type school is actually more likely to get into a better school because they are more likely to stand out in the school, which will be reflected in letters of recommendation and their class ranking. The schools have similar AP/IB offerings.

Just a thought.

Chose a house that you can afford, in an area that the commute works for you, your kids will get a great education.

FCPS doesn't have class rankings.

[Anonymous]

McLean HS is better, mostly for social reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McLean HS is better, mostly for social reasons.

You're just inviting a flame war without explaining your reasoning, which likely boils down to the notion that McLean has more racial and economic diversity and it's perhaps easier for a student to find their niche.

Some Langley parents will be quick to add, however, that the wealthiest families in their pyramid tend to send their kids to private schools and that their kids had no problem finding a home at Langley.

Both schools have very large numbers of academically motivated kids - many think it's a positive to be surrounded by kids who challenge each other in class and others think it may place kids at a disadvantage in the college admissions process.

I wouldn't pick one school over the other based on college placements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean HS is better, mostly for social reasons.

You're just inviting a flame war without explaining your reasoning, which likely boils down to the notion that McLean has more racial and economic diversity and it's perhaps easier for a student to find their niche.

Some Langley parents will be quick to add, however, that the wealthiest families in their pyramid tend to send their kids to private schools and that their kids had no problem finding a home at Langley.

Both schools have very large numbers of academically motivated kids - many think it's a positive to be surrounded by kids who challenge each other in class and others think it may place kids at a disadvantage in the college admissions process.

I wouldn't pick one school over the other based on college placements.

There are only a handful of High Schools in FCPS that will have a smaller cohort that challenges kids. Anyone whose kid is planning to take AP or IB classes will end up in a motivated cohort and the vast majority of schools will have a sizeable number of kids in those classes/programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean HS is better, mostly for social reasons.

You're just inviting a flame war without explaining your reasoning, which likely boils down to the notion that McLean has more racial and economic diversity and it's perhaps easier for a student to find their niche.

Some Langley parents will be quick to add, however, that the wealthiest families in their pyramid tend to send their kids to private schools and that their kids had no problem finding a home at Langley.

Both schools have very large numbers of academically motivated kids - many think it's a positive to be surrounded by kids who challenge each other in class and others think it may place kids at a disadvantage in the college admissions process.

I wouldn't pick one school over the other based on college placements.

There are only a handful of High Schools in FCPS that will have a smaller cohort that challenges kids. Anyone whose kid is planning to take AP or IB classes will end up in a motivated cohort and the vast majority of schools will have a sizeable number of kids in those classes/programs.

Every school will have what you'd call a "motivated cohort," but the vibe at schools differs. At Langley and McLean, aiming for academic excellence is the norm. It rubs off on most of the kids - usually with a good effect, although it can be stifling for some.

In any event, OP is asking about Langley and McLean.

[Anonymous]

We moved to mclean 2 years ago. I had preferred to buy in the mclean high zone afraid everyone at Langley was rich. We liked the homes and lots better on the Langley side even though our home search started on the mclean high side.

All the people we have met are so nice and normal. I am also glad that my kids will be able to go to a brand new high school. I’m not so happy that my oldest child Wil probably attend cooper middle during construction but it is only 2 years. My 2 younger kids will also attend a brand new middle school.