Reply to How's the college admission in Non-TJ FCPS high schools?

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Reply to "How's the college admission in Non-TJ FCPS high schools?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Usually kids from wealthier households, with engaged parents, do well in college admissions, no matter the high school. [/quote]

Higher income/wealth correlates with the catchment areas for McLean, Langley, and Oakton (and N. Arlington). [/quote]

Agree, but there are also pockets of UMC households scattered around in other pyramids. Students from these families also tend to do well, despite attending a lower rated high school. On top of that, they usually have an easier time leading clubs, getting leads in plays and making athletic teams. These schools may not offer all the AP courses, but that usually doesn’t limit them in the admissions game. [/quote]

If this were truly an advantage, more UMC would look at buying in low performing school districts so their kids could stand out.  Instead, they conclude that their kids benefit, both academically and in terms of college admissions, by being surrounded by more high achieving peers.

Why?  Because the hypothetical “same kid” generally ends up aiming lower and achieving less at a lower performing school.  The kids who do well at low performing schools, in turn, will do even better at a high performing school.

You can claim otherwise, but you’re tilting at windmills. [/quote]

Unfortunately their conclusion is wrong. I'm assuming you have no teaching or classroom experience. I taught AP at a high-SES school and always felt sympathy for the kids who were clearly forced by their parents to enroll in AP courses. The majority of kids who are not ready for AP will remain in the shadows of high achievers. The common notion that intelligence and motivation rubs off on weaker students is not real. It's quite the opposite as it is demoralizing for the academically weaker kids to see how glaring the discrepancy is between them and their stronger peers.

I'm not advocating that deliberately placing those kids in weaker cohorts is better either. Rather, let kids land where they may. But the hyperfocus to surround average kids (and UMC parents can definitely have perfectly average kids) with advanced peers generally will not make any difference in outcomes. Paid tutoring services will make far more of a difference.[/quote]

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