Do you know which elementary school that was in McLean?

My friends moved out of McLean because the K class had 30 kids and no-co teacher and I was in Arlington and had 24 kids with two. Grass is never perfectly green anywhere.

Anonymous wrote:I have teens and live near both of these but not at either. The parents with kids at McLean have been generally happy.

I don’t know anyone at APS but some parents I know with friends there keep talking about how they yonder pouch every HS kid. They say they wish our school did. I do not. That is actually the only thing I know about APS and I don’t know which HS.

APS jumped on the bandwagon for pouches which is a ridiculous waste of money

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is so much more woke in a wasteful way.

APS is much less rigorous and academic — we wish we had moved to McLean but we both work near Capital Hill, so those 15 more minutes plus of commute would really add up.

We ended up going private for high school.

I have teens and live near both of these but not at either. The parents with kids at McLean have been generally happy.

I don’t know anyone at APS but some parents I know with friends there keep talking about how they yonder pouch every HS kid. They say they wish our school did. I do not. That is actually the only thing I know about APS and I don’t know which HS.

Anonymous wrote:If you have a very advanced kid, you may want AAP. Otherwise, APS is fine for normal advanced to normal kids.

Don't parents with genius-level kids supplement outside of school? TJ is also an option for APS students.

If you have a very advanced kid, you may want AAP. Otherwise, APS is fine for normal advanced to normal kids.

You'll be perfectly happy with the Innovation, Dorothy Hamm, Yorktown pyramid long term. Just look for your dream house.

They are all very similar. All great.

October 2025 Enrollment:

McLean 2360
Yorktown 2204
Langley 2181

2024-25 FARMS (Free and Reduced Meals) Rates:

Yorktown 15.73%
McLean 12.18%
Langley 4.68%

Minority Enrollment (2025-26)

McLean 53.42%
Langley 50.98%
Yorktown 43.78%

Class of 2026 National Merit Semifinalists

Langley 23
McLean 20
Yorktown 5

Yorktown, Mclean, Langley have almost the same vibe. Only difference is there’s a tiny bit more diversity at Mclean.

We can't afford N Arlington. If we could afford it, we would move there and get away from FCPS. No school system is perfect, but APS right now is less badly managed than FCPS.

Your kid won’t be a big fish in a small pond at Yorktown, Langley, or McLean.

Arlington is so much more woke in a wasteful way.

We are currently zoned for innovation, Dorothy hamm middle, Yorktown.

My kids are young (6 and 3) and we live in a condo. Kindergartener is happy at innovation. Living in a condo currently but at some point we’ll want to move to a bigger house. Should we stay in Arlington or move to Mclean? Are the schools really any better in McLean/Langley? What’s the big fuss? Is it better to be a big fish in a small pond?