Anonymous wrote:

sunshine237 wrote:My rising 7th grader is currently in the AAP program in the Langley triangle. We are hearing a lot of instances of bullying and other social infractions at Cooper which made us look at Flint Hill. What are the key differences between these schools to consider? Of course, fees and class size is a given. However, are the schools comparable in other areas, including academics, rigor, global curriculum? Langley's course offerings including AP and IB options look comparable to FH upper school offering, however, is the admit to IVY and top schools comparable? Since both Cooper and Langley recently renovated their buildings, do they have newer technology?

College placements out of Langley will be better than out of Flint Hill, although Langley only has AP (not IB).

I'd go with Flint Hill if my kid were struggling academically at Cooper, but middle school kind of sucks everywhere, and Langley has a lot to offer for a public high school.

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Anonymous wrote:How would you compare little Langley to Potomac school? And would people generally agree that the education in private school is more “rigorous” than in public or is it just a bunch of rich most White kids in private schools?

I can’t speak to Langley, but most people with experience in both would describe public as more rigorous in the lower years. More homework, faster pace with math topics. More differentiation earlier. A lot of people get frustrated by Potomac during those hears. In high school there’s no question that the rigor at Potomac is a higher level than Langley (have had kids at both, and honors level to honors level isn’t even close).

If you can afford Potomac school and your kid is accepted, it is a no brainer not to go to Potomac school.  The reason I chose to live next to CIA HQ in Langley is because my kids could attend Langley HS as the last resort in case they didn't get accepted by Potomac school.

I had kids at both Langley HS and Potomac school (graduated a few years ago) and Potomac school, without questions, prepared kids a whole lot better for college.  My older child was at Potomac school and she was struggling with academics there but once she got into college, an Ivy, she did really well there.  My other child, a straight A with 10 AP courses from Langley HS, really struggled at the same Ivy.  My nephew also experienced the same thing in college and he also graduated from Langley HS.  Langley HS is one of the best public schools in Virginia but it is definitely not Potomac.  YMMV.  

How did your kid make it to an Ivy when she was struggling academically in HS?
Troll

I have heard this experience from several people, too. I don’t think pp means the kid was struggling as in getting Cs. More likely really had to work hard for that A-, lots of difficult assignments, not understanding math problem sets without a lengthy struggle. That environment was strong preparation for college, especially when college means taking four classes and not having to participate in sports and all the rest. There’s probably some debate to be had about whether it is necessary, but for many students college feels easier.

I am the PP and thank you. That's exactly what I should have said. It is much harder to get A- at Potomac than at Langley HS. Potomac teaches exactly how college is being taught while Langley HS is just another regular HS in FCPS. That's why it costs almost 50K/yr at Potomac upper school. The first child did excel in college and the second child struggled.

Most Asian families move to Langley because: 1- send the kid to TJ, Sidwell, St. Albans, Potomac and 2- if the kid is not accepted to TJ, Sidwell, St. Albans or Potomac, the safety school is Langley HS. Langley HS is still a very good public school. That might have changed now that TJ has changed its admission requirements, asian parents might not see TJ as a desirable destination.

Anonymous wrote:Each FCPS is run different. Depends on the principal, the teachers, and other things