Reply to Seeking first-person experience in Wakefield

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[quote=Anonymous]NP here with two students at Wakefield currently (both in immersion program but it is also our neighborhood HS). I could have written the following from PP:

"If you want a more pressure-cooker atmosphere for your child, WL is your best bet. If you're not so uptight about your kid taking 5 AP classes at once and being on the most competitive teams and accept that a less-pressure, less-competitive, still-among-the-top-2% of high schools in the country is perfectly fine and won't ruin your child's entire future, Wakefield is absolutely fine.

Parents not talking and boasting about their kids' extraordinary brilliance and academic achievement doesn't mean they do not emphasize academics or believe them to be important. Personally, I'm grateful not to be surrounded by competitive parents living vicariously through their children, stressing their kids out, and insisting anything less than the best and an ivy league degree is failure. I can't speak to the level of anxiety or pressure at Yorktown; but even though WL is an excellent school, I find the Wakefield environment pleasantly less stressful for us as parents and for our kid v. our kid and others we know at WL.
We have not heard of any problems with "disruptive" kids in any of our kid's classes of any level. I'm not aware of policies at any of the schools precluding students from taking an AP class - all students register for classes through their counselor and teachers make recommendations; but you can always discuss those recommendations with the teachers if you disagree. Generally, though, if a student is a good student and performing well, they will be recommended for the appropriate level courses."

DC 1 is a Junior and too AP World History as a Freshman (5 on AP exam), two APs as a Sophomore, 5 as a Junior and planning 5 as a Senior. For non-AP core classes has had intensified throughout. Has found the writing instruction rigorous. DC 2 is a Freshman and given the weakness of MS instruction during Covid chose not to take AP World (and grateful as one core class has provided plenty of challenge) but all intensified. Will have 3 APs next year.

It is a very "you do you" welcoming community. Kids tend to be involved in whatever sports/activities work for them. Most (if not all) of the "cut" sports are easier to make than at W-L and Yorktown.

Counselors have only been minimally helpful but they are all overwhelmed and, frankly, we can provide the additional support our kids need for college search, etc. so we really don't stress over it.

Our kids have been very happy there and have both commented how glad they are to be there.[/quote]

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