Reply to Fairfax vs. Loudoun high schools academic environment

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We are considering a move to northern Virginia.  Kids in middle school now, accomplished athletes that are somewhat heavily recruited by privates throughout the East Coast.  We are unsure of cultural fit at the privates so exploring publics that have large resources and combination of a balanced but great academic and athletics programs.

The high schools we are looking at includes:  Robinson, Lake Braddock, Centreville, Chantilly, Westfield and Freedom in Loudoun County.

Is there a difference in the academic environment in Fairfax vs. Loudoun?  Any of the listed schools particularly good in balancing the academic / athletic balance with great track record for both?  Specifically, I am reading about how competitive the academic programs are in the Fairfax County high schools where it dominates a student's life and trying to determine if a high level athlete that spends a significant amount of time on sports will get left in the dust by substantial groups of peer students that spend hours every day on academics.

Also, I'm reading in the news about kids in Fairfax County committing suicide due to the high pressure academic environment.  What's driving the high pressure environment?  The students, parents, teachers, school administration, all of the above?

There is a nearby Catholic high school near one of our homes where we now live (not Virginia) where most of the athletes probably spend 0 to 2 hours a night on homework and studying, still get great grades and attend top 20 D1 colleges to play sports on a regular basis.  I understand that is probably not realistic in Fairfax or Loudoun, but can a student get away with 2 hours a night on homework, get mostly As a few Bs, and participate in high school sports at a level high enough to get recruited D1?

Is there a difference in the culture of Fairfax vs. Loudoun?  My impression is that Fairfax is particularly academics focused whereas Loudoun is still strong in academics but with a more balanced approach.

The northern Virginia area has a lot to offer, but want to make sure that we understand the full picture on the academic / athletics balance.

Location / job is not an issue for us as we are financially independent.
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Sorry, I have read your entry many times and I am just having trouble putting all the pieces together to figure out what you want.

1)  You are independently wealthy but want your child to go to public school, particularly, one of the following (which are kind of. . .ehhh?):   Robinson, Lake Braddock, Centreville, Chantilly, Westfield, and Freedom in Loudoun.

2)  Your have two (or more?) kids currently in middle school who are very good athletes so I assume you want them to go to a school where they can continue to athletically shine.  (What sport(s)? Even that would help.) (Girls?  Boys?)

3)  The school should have a middle-of-the-road academic focus so your kids can spend the majority of their time on the sports.  1-2 hours/night would be what you are looking for.

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If my (limited) understanding of what you are looking for is correct, you are not going to find a big difference between Fairfax vs. Loudoun.  You may find individual differences in one school vs. another, but there really is not big demonstrable difference in outlook b/w Fairfax and Loudoun.  If you want them to focus a lot on the athletics, they will probably have to take regular classes (no GT or APs) and that should work out ok, I would think.  Sure, there are plenty of kids who do this type of thing in any of the Fairfax or Loudoun schools.  Will they excel in sports AND in academics?  No, but I think you have said that is kind of what you are looking for anyway?   And, actually, I think the same would be true of any public h.s. in America, so I guess I don't really see why you are trying to move here, so your kids can get a fair-to-middlin' education?  A bit strange. . . !  [/quote]

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