Woodson vs. Fairfax High School: Pros and Cons?

[Anonymous]

We're looking at moving to Fairfax County this summer and are debating the Woodson pyramid or City of Fairfax. What are some of the pros and cons of each?

[Anonymous]

We have experience with both. The biggest difference is that the Woodson population is much more affluent on average than that of Fairfax, which impacts the rigor that can be achieved in the curriculum.

Woodson has a great principal. Fairfax's principal was also great but she's leaving. The atmosphere at both schools is caring and positive (at least on the part of the administration and staff--there's no telling what individual behaviors and student experiences may be present at any given point in time).

Fairfax's last renovation was a bit more recent and their football field is much nicer. I don't know about the rest of the athletic facilities.

The housing stock in Woodson is more expensive because of the schools pyramids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have experience with both. The biggest difference is that the Woodson population is much more affluent on average than that of Fairfax, which impacts the rigor that can be achieved in the curriculum.

Woodson has a great principal. Fairfax's principal was also great but she's leaving. The atmosphere at both schools is caring and positive (at least on the part of the administration and staff--there's no telling what individual behaviors and student experiences may be present at any given point in time).

Fairfax's last renovation was a bit more recent and their football field is much nicer. I don't know about the rest of the athletic facilities.

The housing stock in Woodson is more expensive because of the schools pyramids.

Um, what? You're clearly not familiar with the boundary of FHS. There are quite a few very affluent neighborhoods that feed into it. PTA is very involved. And because it is not as bit as Woodson, kids get more opportunities to play sports, being involved in this. The school is nice facility. The "rigor" is just as good as Woodson, with kids this year going to Harvard, UVA, and other top schools.

I don't know if it's true the principal is leaving. I had not heard that and it would be a shame if she were leaving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have experience with both. The biggest difference is that the Woodson population is much more affluent on average than that of Fairfax, which impacts the rigor that can be achieved in the curriculum.

Woodson has a great principal. Fairfax's principal was also great but she's leaving. The atmosphere at both schools is caring and positive (at least on the part of the administration and staff--there's no telling what individual behaviors and student experiences may be present at any given point in time).

Fairfax's last renovation was a bit more recent and their football field is much nicer. I don't know about the rest of the athletic facilities.

The housing stock in Woodson is more expensive because of the schools pyramids.

Um, what? You're clearly not familiar with the boundary of FHS. There are quite a few very affluent neighborhoods that feed into it. PTA is very involved. And because it is not as bit as Woodson, kids get more opportunities to play sports, being involved in this. The school is nice facility. The "rigor" is just as good as Woodson, with kids this year going to Harvard, UVA, and other top schools.

I don't know if it's true the principal is leaving. I had not heard that and it would be a shame if she were leaving.

I don't think the PP's point was that there are no affluent neighborhoods that feed into Fairfax-- clearly there are! But for better or worse, there aren't really apartments or lower priced housing that feeds into Woodson. Now, borders get shifted around somewhat regularly, so that could change, of course. Both schools are fine; choose your house based on your commute and your budget.

[Anonymous]

They moved some lower-priced housing zoned for Fairfax Villa ES from Fairfax to Woodson a few years ago, so Woodson is somewhat more diverse, but still more affluent than Fairfax. That’s just a fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They moved some lower-priced housing zoned for Fairfax Villa ES from Fairfax to Woodson a few years ago, so Woodson is somewhat more diverse, but still more affluent than Fairfax. That’s just a fact.

Yep—this is just the facts. There is like one pocket of apartments that feed into Woodson and the rest are relatively nice sfh neighborhoods. A lot of the FHS boundary comes from Fairfax City, where there are some really nice areas and then some apartments and smaller SFHs. The city kids will always go to FHS, so that won’t change. It definitely has more economic diversity than Woodson.

[Anonymous]

OP, not enough difference to matter. Don't base your decision on it.

[Anonymous]

Most would say there is no meaningful difference between Fairfax, Centreville and Westfield, but that Woodson is a cut above those three schools academically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have experience with both. The biggest difference is that the Woodson population is much more affluent on average than that of Fairfax, which impacts the rigor that can be achieved in the curriculum.

Woodson has a great principal. Fairfax's principal was also great but she's leaving. The atmosphere at both schools is caring and positive (at least on the part of the administration and staff--there's no telling what individual behaviors and student experiences may be present at any given point in time).

Fairfax's last renovation was a bit more recent and their football field is much nicer. I don't know about the rest of the athletic facilities.

The housing stock in Woodson is more expensive because of the schools pyramids.

Um, what? You're clearly not familiar with the boundary of FHS. There are quite a few very affluent neighborhoods that feed into it. PTA is very involved. And because it is not as bit as Woodson, kids get more opportunities to play sports, being involved in this. The school is nice facility. The "rigor" is just as good as Woodson, with kids this year going to Harvard, UVA, and other top schools.

I don't know if it's true the principal is leaving. I had not heard that and it would be a shame if she were leaving.

I don't think the PP's point was that there are no affluent neighborhoods that feed into Fairfax-- clearly there are! But for better or worse, there aren't really apartments or lower priced housing that feeds into Woodson. Now, borders get shifted around somewhat regularly, so that could change, of course. Both schools are fine; choose your house based on your commute and your budget.

Yes, the trailer park in Fairfax feeds to Woodson High.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax is friendly. There is something for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have experience with both. The biggest difference is that the Woodson population is much more affluent on average than that of Fairfax, which impacts the rigor that can be achieved in the curriculum.

Woodson has a great principal. Fairfax's principal was also great but she's leaving. The atmosphere at both schools is caring and positive (at least on the part of the administration and staff--there's no telling what individual behaviors and student experiences may be present at any given point in time).

Fairfax's last renovation was a bit more recent and their football field is much nicer. I don't know about the rest of the athletic facilities.

The housing stock in Woodson is more expensive because of the schools pyramids.

Um, what? You're clearly not familiar with the boundary of FHS. There are quite a few very affluent neighborhoods that feed into it. PTA is very involved. And because it is not as bit as Woodson, kids get more opportunities to play sports, being involved in this. The school is nice facility. The "rigor" is just as good as Woodson, with kids this year going to Harvard, UVA, and other top schools.

I don't know if it's true the principal is leaving. I had not heard that and it would be a shame if she were leaving.

You can't be that familiar with FHS if you didn't know the principal is leaving.

[Anonymous]

The most affluent part of FHS is an attendance island to the west (Willow Springs area) that could be rezoned to Centreville if/when a new high school gets built. In the Woodson pyramid there is also a possibility that at some point the Wakefield Forest area could get moved back to Annandale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have experience with both. The biggest difference is that the Woodson population is much more affluent on average than that of Fairfax, which impacts the rigor that can be achieved in the curriculum.

Woodson has a great principal. Fairfax's principal was also great but she's leaving. The atmosphere at both schools is caring and positive (at least on the part of the administration and staff--there's no telling what individual behaviors and student experiences may be present at any given point in time).

Fairfax's last renovation was a bit more recent and their football field is much nicer. I don't know about the rest of the athletic facilities.

The housing stock in Woodson is more expensive because of the schools pyramids.

Um, what? You're clearly not familiar with the boundary of FHS. There are quite a few very affluent neighborhoods that feed into it. PTA is very involved. And because it is not as bit as Woodson, kids get more opportunities to play sports, being involved in this. The school is nice facility. The "rigor" is just as good as Woodson, with kids this year going to Harvard, UVA, and other top schools.

I don't know if it's true the principal is leaving. I had not heard that and it would be a shame if she were leaving.

You can't be that familiar with FHS if you didn't know the principal is leaving.

Yep. She is leaving. And if I had to guess, it's at least in part because of the awful direction FCPS is going in. She was very pro-opening this year. She will be very, very missed.

[Anonymous]

You can't be that familiar with FHS if you didn't know the principal is leaving

What a typical snotty northern virginia thing to say

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The most affluent part of FHS is an attendance island to the west (Willow Springs area) that could be rezoned to Centreville if/when a new high school gets built. In the Woodson pyramid there is also a possibility that at some point the Wakefield Forest area could get moved back to Annandale.

Yeah, probably not since my BF made the trek, 30 years ago from that area to FHS.