Anonymous
Post 03/19/2023 10:58     Subject: Re:Is Meridian HS (FCC) a pressure cooker?
Anonymous wrote:It's not a pressure cooker, but there is a lot of competition. My child has gotten 99th percentile on all state exams for math and isn't in their top math class. He had a friend "failing" out - I think his Mom was being a bit dramatic but he was underperformed regardless. Unrelated, they moved during that time and he was suddenly a gifted student in FCPS.


A lot of factors contribute to student success. The "failing" student may have been a better fit in FCPS and hence thrived there. Prob nothing to do with the actual educational quality which, between districts like Ffx and FCC, are negligible when compared to the broader US. Let's not insinuate that FCPS is so subpar to FCC that the kid was suddenly a genius there.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2023 23:01     Subject: Re:Is Meridian HS (FCC) a pressure cooker?
Anonymous wrote:It's not a pressure cooker, but there is a lot of competition. My child has gotten 99th percentile on all state exams for math and isn't in their top math class. He had a friend "failing" out - I think his Mom was being a bit dramatic but he was underperformed regardless. Unrelated, they moved during that time and he was suddenly a gifted student in FCPS.


Anonymous
Post 03/18/2023 22:58     Subject: Re:Is Meridian HS (FCC) a pressure cooker?
It's not a pressure cooker, but there is a lot of competition. My child has gotten 99th percentile on all state exams for math and isn't in their top math class. He had a friend "failing" out - I think his Mom was being a bit dramatic but he was underperformed regardless. Unrelated, they moved during that time and he was suddenly a gifted student in FCPS.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2023 22:42     Subject: Re:Is Meridian HS (FCC) a pressure cooker?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have one child there, so my perspective is limited. They are involved in a few clubs and sports and take advanced classes. So far they're enjoying the hs experience, finding classes challenging and maintaining balance between school family and friend time. They've got access to teachers when extra help is needed. Does that mean it's not a pressure-cooker? No. But I don't think any one family's experience can really give you the detail you're seeking. Talk to your neighbors (in person) to see what their kids have experienced. And a request for subsequent posters, if you definitively believe that your child's NoVa public high school is not a pressure cooker environment, please share details on why. That's great and I'm sure many on this thread would try to replicate whatever is working in your kid's school.


I would flip this and ask why people use the term "pressure cooker" and why they think that's an appropriate term to bandy about when it's often a buzzword used to denigrate kids for the perceived sin of working hard, especially if they are Asian.


I'm the OP. Thanks for this - I was not aware that "pressure cooker" had a negative connotation. I'll learn more about that and find an alternative. I suppose my understanding of the environment I was asking about is if it's competitive to a toxic level. My HS was one of those - so many depressed and anxious people that could never be "good enough." So much pressure to perform and get into top schools without much care for student wellbeing. Punishing amounts of homework. That's what I meant. It wasn't a place where my kids - one with special needs and the other very anxious (both kids very bright) would thrive.

Meridian is no pressure cooker, but with smaller class sizes that Arlington and FCPS, your kids will get more attention similar to the way the would at many private schools.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2023 13:16     Subject: Re:Is Meridian HS (FCC) a pressure cooker?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have one child there, so my perspective is limited. They are involved in a few clubs and sports and take advanced classes. So far they're enjoying the hs experience, finding classes challenging and maintaining balance between school family and friend time. They've got access to teachers when extra help is needed. Does that mean it's not a pressure-cooker? No. But I don't think any one family's experience can really give you the detail you're seeking. Talk to your neighbors (in person) to see what their kids have experienced. And a request for subsequent posters, if you definitively believe that your child's NoVa public high school is not a pressure cooker environment, please share details on why. That's great and I'm sure many on this thread would try to replicate whatever is working in your kid's school.


I would flip this and ask why people use the term "pressure cooker" and why they think that's an appropriate term to bandy about when it's often a buzzword used to denigrate kids for the perceived sin of working hard, especially if they are Asian.


I'm the OP. Thanks for this - I was not aware that "pressure cooker" had a negative connotation. I'll learn more about that and find an alternative. I suppose my understanding of the environment I was asking about is if it's competitive to a toxic level. My HS was one of those - so many depressed and anxious people that could never be "good enough." So much pressure to perform and get into top schools without much care for student wellbeing. Punishing amounts of homework. That's what I meant. It wasn't a place where my kids - one with special needs and the other very anxious (both kids very bright) would thrive.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2023 11:08     Subject: Is Meridian HS (FCC) a pressure cooker?
Anonymous wrote:We know it's IB, and that the full diploma path can be very intense. But is the high school a pressure cooker in general? Asking for my almost middle schoolers (one that is fairly anxious, the other with ASD but doing OK in mainstream school).


Not sure what you mean by pressure cooker..but honors math classes are really excellent and great teachers, now elementary math and middle school math up to Math 8 leave much to be desired, however Honors Algebra and up are taught amazing and they actually do have textbooks for most of these classes. Honors English is I believe a pressure cooker because the writing level much higher than in most schools, science is really great =prepares you for college...honors kids are competitive but not to a toxic level....
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2023 10:57     Subject: Re:Is Meridian HS (FCC) a pressure cooker?
Anonymous wrote:I have one child there, so my perspective is limited. They are involved in a few clubs and sports and take advanced classes. So far they're enjoying the hs experience, finding classes challenging and maintaining balance between school family and friend time. They've got access to teachers when extra help is needed. Does that mean it's not a pressure-cooker? No. But I don't think any one family's experience can really give you the detail you're seeking. Talk to your neighbors (in person) to see what their kids have experienced. And a request for subsequent posters, if you definitively believe that your child's NoVa public high school is not a pressure cooker environment, please share details on why. That's great and I'm sure many on this thread would try to replicate whatever is working in your kid's school.


I would flip this and ask why people use the term "pressure cooker" and why they think that's an appropriate term to bandy about when it's often a buzzword used to denigrate kids for the perceived sin of working hard, especially if they are Asian.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2023 10:53     Subject: Re:Is Meridian HS (FCC) a pressure cooker?
Anonymous wrote:I have one child there, so my perspective is limited. They are involved in a few clubs and sports and take advanced classes. So far they're enjoying the hs experience, finding classes challenging and maintaining balance between school family and friend time. They've got access to teachers when extra help is needed. Does that mean it's not a pressure-cooker? No. But I don't think any one family's experience can really give you the detail you're seeking. Talk to your neighbors (in person) to see what their kids have experienced. And a request for subsequent posters, if you definitively believe that your child's NoVa public high school is not a pressure cooker environment, please share details on why. That's great and I'm sure many on this thread would try to replicate whatever is working in your kid's school.


I appreciate this. Thank you! Sounds like it CAN be a pressure cooker but that's not the necessary experience of being there. I will talk more with my neighbors. Most of us are in the same boat with lower school kids.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2023 10:52     Subject: Is Meridian HS (FCC) a pressure cooker?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We know it's IB, and that the full diploma path can be very intense. But is the high school a pressure cooker in general? Asking for my almost middle schoolers (one that is fairly anxious, the other with ASD but doing OK in mainstream school).


Can't speak to the high school, but MEH is an AMAZING middle school! If you're thinking of leaving FCC, I'd encourage you to give MEH a try first. Great leadership and teachers. Wish I had half the ms experience my kiddo is having there!


Thank you! I appreciate this. We are not planning to leave... we only arrived a few years ago Just trying to figure out if the upper schools will be a good fit. Middle school was terrible for me in FCPS so it's nice to hear this experience has been good for your kid!
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2023 10:36     Subject: Is Meridian HS (FCC) a pressure cooker?
Anonymous wrote:We know it's IB, and that the full diploma path can be very intense. But is the high school a pressure cooker in general? Asking for my almost middle schoolers (one that is fairly anxious, the other with ASD but doing OK in mainstream school).


Can't speak to the high school, but MEH is an AMAZING middle school! If you're thinking of leaving FCC, I'd encourage you to give MEH a try first. Great leadership and teachers. Wish I had half the ms experience my kiddo is having there!
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2023 10:33     Subject: Re:Is Meridian HS (FCC) a pressure cooker?
I have one child there, so my perspective is limited. They are involved in a few clubs and sports and take advanced classes. So far they're enjoying the hs experience, finding classes challenging and maintaining balance between school family and friend time. They've got access to teachers when extra help is needed. Does that mean it's not a pressure-cooker? No. But I don't think any one family's experience can really give you the detail you're seeking. Talk to your neighbors (in person) to see what their kids have experienced. And a request for subsequent posters, if you definitively believe that your child's NoVa public high school is not a pressure cooker environment, please share details on why. That's great and I'm sure many on this thread would try to replicate whatever is working in your kid's school.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2023 10:33     Subject: Is Meridian HS (FCC) a pressure cooker?
Polar opposite. I’m not sure kids even have to go to class if they don’t want to.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2023 10:26     Subject: Re:Is Meridian HS (FCC) a pressure cooker?
Anonymous wrote:Ah FCC, an enclave built to avoid integration.


Wow that's so helpful. We just got here and since you obviously need to know, we aren't White.

Now that we've gotten past the FCC hate comment can anyone offer some legitimate insight on the stated question?
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2023 10:24     Subject: Re:Is Meridian HS (FCC) a pressure cooker?
Ah FCC, an enclave built to avoid integration.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2023 10:21     Subject: Is Meridian HS (FCC) a pressure cooker?
We know it's IB, and that the full diploma path can be very intense. But is the high school a pressure cooker in general? Asking for my almost middle schoolers (one that is fairly anxious, the other with ASD but doing OK in mainstream school).