Level IV at Thoreau vs Luther Jackson

[Anonymous]

Hi there,
We are new to FCPS. My son got into level IV and we are a little torn on choosing Thoreau vs LJ. Our priorities is making sure he can get the most out of the AAP program - and extracurricular activities. are the AAP offerings better at one location vs others based on other people’s experience? If your child attends AAP at either school, I would greatly appreciate your input!

[Anonymous]

I wrote about this very own topic extensively on this forum. You can search it up.

Short answer: We chose LJ and were really happy with that decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wrote about this very own topic extensively on this forum. You can search it up.

Short answer: We chose LJ and were really happy with that decision.

Agree! Not sure about GE, but LJ AAP is very much stronger than Thoreau!

[Anonymous]

I have a child at LJ and had a niece at Thoreau. I am also a former teacher. LJ will provide a better curriculum. Thoreau is a nice school and your kids will have more social connections in HS if they pick Thoreau. It depends what your priorities are.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know how these schools compare to Kilmer? We were considering moving out of the Kilmer boundary into Thoreau in Vienna.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wrote about this very own topic extensively on this forum. You can search it up.

Short answer: We chose LJ and were really happy with that decision.

I’m sorry can you link it for me? I couldn’t find it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wrote about this very own topic extensively on this forum. You can search it up.

Short answer: We chose LJ and were really happy with that decision.

I’m sorry can you link it for me? I couldn’t find it

Don't know what post PP talks about, but this is also a good one.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/703508.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a child at LJ and had a niece at Thoreau. I am also a former teacher. LJ will provide a better curriculum. Thoreau is a nice school and your kids will have more social connections in HS if they pick Thoreau. It depends what your priorities are.

Thank you! we are zoned to oakton highschool though, so not sure if he would even stay with most of the Thoreau kids if we does the level IV there. Do most of Thoreau go to Madison?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child at LJ and had a niece at Thoreau. I am also a former teacher. LJ will provide a better curriculum. Thoreau is a nice school and your kids will have more social connections in HS if they pick Thoreau. It depends what your priorities are.

Thank you! we are zoned to oakton highschool though, so not sure if he would even stay with most of the Thoreau kids if we does the level IV there. Do most of Thoreau go to Madison?

Yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child at LJ and had a niece at Thoreau. I am also a former teacher. LJ will provide a better curriculum. Thoreau is a nice school and your kids will have more social connections in HS if they pick Thoreau. It depends what your priorities are.

Thank you! we are zoned to oakton highschool though, so not sure if he would even stay with most of the Thoreau kids if we does the level IV there. Do most of Thoreau go to Madison?

Yes

And some to Marshall as well. FCPS created a three-way split feeder at Thoreau a few years ago (but say eliminating split feeders is important when that's what makes the people with the $$$$ happy).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child at LJ and had a niece at Thoreau. I am also a former teacher. LJ will provide a better curriculum. Thoreau is a nice school and your kids will have more social connections in HS if they pick Thoreau. It depends what your priorities are.

Thank you! we are zoned to oakton highschool though, so not sure if he would even stay with most of the Thoreau kids if we does the level IV there. Do most of Thoreau go to Madison?

Yes

And some to Marshall as well. FCPS created a three-way split feeder at Thoreau a few years ago (but say eliminating split feeders is important when that's what makes the people with the $$$$ happy).

The majority go to Madison, I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child at LJ and had a niece at Thoreau. I am also a former teacher. LJ will provide a better curriculum. Thoreau is a nice school and your kids will have more social connections in HS if they pick Thoreau. It depends what your priorities are.

Thank you! we are zoned to oakton highschool though, so not sure if he would even stay with most of the Thoreau kids if we does the level IV there. Do most of Thoreau go to Madison?

Yes

And some to Marshall as well. FCPS created a three-way split feeder at Thoreau a few years ago (but say eliminating split feeders is important when that's what makes the people with the $$$$ happy).

The majority go to Madison, I think.

The majority definitely go to Madison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a child at LJ and had a niece at Thoreau. I am also a former teacher. LJ will provide a better curriculum. Thoreau is a nice school and your kids will have more social connections in HS if they pick Thoreau. It depends what your priorities are.

Has anyone had issues with safety? I heard the facilities are old and outdated? How does that impact the middle school experience for your child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child at LJ and had a niece at Thoreau. I am also a former teacher. LJ will provide a better curriculum. Thoreau is a nice school and your kids will have more social connections in HS if they pick Thoreau. It depends what your priorities are.

Has anyone had issues with safety? I heard the facilities are old and outdated? How does that impact the middle school experience for your child?

Just like you we were so worried about safety, location, etc. etc. It is absolutely fine. We had no issues at all. Dont get stressed over this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child at LJ and had a niece at Thoreau. I am also a former teacher. LJ will provide a better curriculum. Thoreau is a nice school and your kids will have more social connections in HS if they pick Thoreau. It depends what your priorities are.

Has anyone had issues with safety? I heard the facilities are old and outdated? How does that impact the middle school experience for your child?

Pretty much all Virginia schools were constructed in the 50s/60s and have simply been refurbished or added onto. If you're looking for new schools, you'll have to go further out or private or look at the FCPS modernization project history. My kids' elementary school is older than Jackson and is on the FCPS desperate-need-of-renovation list. I always find it interesting when people talk about LJ's facilities because they are no worse than the UMC ES my kids are zoned for, and, somehow, no one ever expresses concerns about the aged building until there's a significant FARMs population.

Our kid chose LJMS over Thoreau almost entirely because that's where all of their friends were going. Several had older siblings whose parents had nothing but praise for LJ. Out of their friend group, only one chose Thoreau - which is also a good school. We have a gen ed kid at Thoreau, and it's been a good experience but all virtual for us.