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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]How do you know pp? Not being snarky but want to understand as we are in McLean zoning and trying to decide [/quote]

We have been in FCPS schools from K-8 grade in the advanced academic program and are looking to make the switch to private for high school. My main reasons for wanting to do so are:

-Type of Child: My DC is question is very bright but does homework quickly and I don't think is being held accountable enough in class to stand up and give a reason behind their answer. Though this child could continue in public and do fine, I want them to do better than fine and be pushed to the next academic level, which I think would happen more easily in private school with smaller classes and more individual attention.

-Writing: I hear Langley/McLean HS does a better job teaching writing than the middle schools, but so far I don't think my DC's have learned the skills necessary to produce college level writing (could be just them but I don't think so). Also, the critical thought piece can be better honed in a smaller group, where you can sit in a semicircle in a group of 10-14 kids and discuss topics in depth. Those types of Socratic seminars just don't happen in our large public schools. Take a tour of a private and go inside the classrooms to see what I mean.

-Peer group: The kids in public are smart, no question, but in private I do think you get more parents and kids that share a similar value system and social "graces" if you will. What those values are obviously varies by school community, but there are so many in the DC area that you can easily find a match that is right for your kid and family. Having been on 7-8 school tours, I can say that they are all quite different and there are two that we really feel comfortable with (so the whole notion of "when you know, you know" has some merit).

-College placement: Kids from McLean and Langley have a tough time with acceptance to VA state schools (only the top 5% make it into UVA, etc) largely because of Thomas Jefferson sucking up a lot of in-state spots. Private seems to have better counseling and perhaps stronger ties with the better universities, and certain universities really get to know a private school when they have lots of kids attending from that school (Cathedral schools to Univ of Chicago for example).

Hope that helps.[/quote]

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