Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting, PP. We're choosing Marshall because it's IB, which we prefer over AP. Also, we prefer less of the problems that go with a wealthier school.

In the current school year, there are about twice as many kids in the Marshall district attending McLean for AP as there are kids in the McLean district attending Marshall for IB. But Marshall is the closest IB school to a bunch of areas assigned to AP schools, including Langley and Madison, and McLean borders Arlington, so Marshall gets more total pupil placements than McLean. AP is still more popular generally among parents in FCPS than IB, but having IB at Marshall probably gives it more of a "humanities magnet" feel than McLean. On the other hand, I think McLean has more of a "community school" feel than Marshall, and that it gets more local community support (as does Madison in Vienna) than Marshall does.

I'm the one your quoting. That makes a lot of sense because McLean and Madison are associated with towns (McLean and Vienna). Marshall is not really associated with a town. I hadn't really thought about it, but it makes sense. I like the idea of a humanities feel because my kids are creative humanities types. Everyone I know with kids at Marshall really likes it, but then again everyone I know with kids at McLean is happy, too. I really think they are both great schools, just different.

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that McLean has about 400 more students than Marshall.

It sounded like the OP's kids are in elementary school or younger. By 2017, FCPS projects Marshall will have about 150 students less than McLean and, as noted earlier, FCPS may decide to move some McLean kids to Langley.

Anonymous wrote:Interesting, PP. We're choosing Marshall because it's IB, which we prefer over AP. Also, we prefer less of the problems that go with a wealthier school.

In the current school year, there are about twice as many kids in the Marshall district attending McLean for AP as there are kids in the McLean district attending Marshall for IB. But Marshall is the closest IB school to a bunch of areas assigned to AP schools, including Langley and Madison, and McLean borders Arlington, so Marshall gets more total pupil placements than McLean. AP is still more popular generally among parents in FCPS than IB, but having IB at Marshall probably gives it more of a "humanities magnet" feel than McLean. On the other hand, I think McLean has more of a "community school" feel than Marshall, and that it gets more local community support (as does Madison in Vienna) than Marshall does.

Keep in mind that McLean has about 400 more students than Marshall.

Here's a compilation of recent rankings/stats; can't really say how they translate into a comparison of the "cultures" - they are both suburban high schools with a whole bunch of good kids and some kids who do get into trouble.

2012 SATs - McLean (1755), Marshall (1702)

Fall 2012 National Merit Semifinalists - McLean (11), Marshall (8)

Jay Matthews/Washington Post Regional Challenge Index - McLean (14), Marshall (54)

US News/State of Virginia Rankings - Marshall (3), McLean (4)

GreatSchools - Each receives a "9" on a 1-10 scale.

Percentage of Students Receiving Free/Reduced Lunch - McLean (10.18%), Marshall (16.75%).

Percentage of Students With Limited English Proficiency - McLean (6.35%), Marshall (10.71%).

Interesting, PP. We're choosing Marshall because it's IB, which we prefer over AP. Also, we prefer less of the problems that go with a wealthier school.

I'm in the Madison pyramid, so I don't have a dog in this fight--but:

I think if you ask most "neutral" parents who don't have a kid at either school-- I think that you will find that 90 percent of them think McLean is hands down the "better" school by reputation. I do.

That's not to say that Marshall is a bad school, it's not. And I wouldn't for a second think that McLean has MORE of a drinking/drug problem than Marshall. If anything, it may be the other way around. I think McLean draws from a slightly wealthier community, and so you get all that goes with that: highly educated parents, highly motivated kids, some level of "pressure cooking" and I'm sure some number of strugglling (rich) kids who probably have the money to invest in more expensive drug habits.

But if I had the choice, I'd send my kids to McLean over Marshall.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haha, this will be good.

Here I will start it off http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

http://apps.washingtonpost.com/highschoolchallenge/schools/2011/list/local/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/22/AR2007062201321.html

http://nasspblogs.org/principaldifference1/2012/05/challenging-the-challenge-index/

Seriously. Aren't you guys sick of the stupid debate over the rankings? They are different schools and there are all kinds of stats available upon which the OP can make her decision. Yes, McLean's stats are better, but that's not everything. They have different demographics, which may explain the difference in test scores. Statistically speaking, OP really can't go wrong with either and no doubt she has already found the statistics if she has been doing research. What might be more helpful is a discussion of the culture and environment at each.

Anonymous wrote:Haha, this will be good.

Here I will start it off http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

http://apps.washingtonpost.com/highschoolchallenge/schools/2011/list/local/

Anonymous wrote:I have a sophomore at McLean there are plenty of students that do not drink or do drugs. I don't know any among DC's circle of friends, but I know there is some. The majority of the students take their studying , sports, and music seriously.

^This (from another McLean parent). All these schools are among the best in the county, and each has its advantages.

You should know that most of Spring Hill goes to Cooper/Langley, and I think FCPS has tossed out the possibility in the latest Capital Improvement Plan that it might move the Longfellow/McLean neighborhoods now at Colvin Run or Spring Hill to Cooper/Langley in the future. Nothing specific has been proposed, but FCPS currently is projecting a decline in the enrollments at Cooper/Langley as communities in Great Falls start trending older and increases in the enrollments at Longellow/McLean due to the Tysons/Silver Line development. The latter, of course, is expected to result in even greater growth at Kilmer/Marshall, since they are closer to Tysons.

I have a sophomore at McLean there are plenty of students that do not drink or do drugs. I don't know any among DC's circle of friends, but I know there is some. The majority of the students take their studying , sports, and music seriously.

Haha, this will be good.

Here I will start it off http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

Either would be a good option. Marshall is IB and McLean is AP, so that might figure into your decision.

We are looking to move and have found a place where my kids would go to Spring Hill, Longfellow MS and McLean high. The other option we have is to be closer to Dunn Loring metro and stick with Kilmer and Marshall. I see a lot online about alcohol/drugs being prevalent at McLean. Please share your experience.. appreciate any feedback.