Anonymous wrote:In reality, OP could easily buy a house in the Marshall district and pupil place to Madison if she decides she doesn't want IB. The reverse is also true. I wouldn't make this debate a deciding factor.

Not sure about that. Madison caps pupil placements into the school for AP at the number of students transferring out for IB, and I've heard second-hand McLean either follows a similar policy or is closed to new transfers. The best bet is to buy in an AP district if you want AP.

In reality, OP could easily buy a house in the Marshall district and pupil place to Madison if she decides she doesn't want IB. The reverse is also true. I wouldn't make this debate a deciding factor.

Sorry, but I agree with the posters who said to make sure you really want IB if you turn your attention to Marshall rather than Madison.

Anonymous wrote:We are moving to VA and are in the process of deciding between these two schools. This thread has made us rethink either neighborhood because all of you sound crazy.

Don't let one nut spoil the whole area. I swear the rest of us are normal.

Anonymous wrote:We are moving to VA and are in the process of deciding between these two schools. This thread has made us rethink either neighborhood because all of you sound crazy.

don't let this thread sway you. Really. I live in one of these districts and you will find normal people. the vast, vast majority of people are happy with their kids' school whether it is Madison or Marshall. Really. It will be fine.

We are moving to VA and are in the process of deciding between these two schools. This thread has made us rethink either neighborhood because all of you sound crazy.

This thread went so off the rails it's hysterical. The OP wanted a house in Madison, wasn't finding anything great in budget, and then asked about Marshall. She noted that she was white and Jewish and wanted to make sure that her kids would not be the only Jewish kids in school. And wanted to know a bit about the neighborhoods and diversity.

So Madison booster, you already "won" this battle. OP wants Madison! Marshall is the "runner-up" that may win due to budget.

Anonymous wrote:Madison has higher SATs, a higher US News rating, a higher Washington Post Challenge Index rating, more National Merit Semifinalists, better sports, better music programs, stronger college admissions, and a more popular curriculum (AP rather than IB). I'd take that against a GS rating based on SOL scores any time.

Yeah, none of these measures have anything to do with wealth.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This entire thread is nothing but the same tired debate rehashed a thousand times over. When will people get real and admit that their ridiculous "rankings" are all about SES. Is Langley really a "better" school than McLean, or is it just wealthier? Is Madison "better" than Marshall or does it simply have fewer FARMS students?

What a joke.

Exactly.

What's amusing is the Marshall folks who people to turn this into a discussion about FARMS when it's really the academics, community spirit, and better extra-curriculars that attract families like OP to Madison.

Anonymous wrote:This entire thread is nothing but the same tired debate rehashed a thousand times over. When will people get real and admit that their ridiculous "rankings" are all about SES. Is Langley really a "better" school than McLean, or is it just wealthier? Is Madison "better" than Marshall or does it simply have fewer FARMS students?

What a joke.

Exactly.

you learn....

"AP is more appropriate for students here." FIFY and you could make it even better by noting that this is your opinion. But that nicety is often avoided by those who wish to leave an impression of fact by sticking with the simple, dogmatic, assertion...

You don't find out if you're getting an IB diploma until after you've graduated from high school and most likely already decided where to go to college. AP is so much more attuned to students here.

Ha! I get the best of both worlds - live in the Town of Vienna and pupil place my kid to Marshall to pursue the IB diploma...

And before the trolls spew dreck - note that I don't care what anyone else chooses to do - I'm happy! (that is until I open the tax bill and see what I have to pay for the cost overruns on the Community Center and hear the proposals to build two parking garages in "downtown" Vienna and see the monstrous McMansions blighting my neighborhood) - nope - still grinning - life is good!

Here is why I prefer madison to Marshall. It is really quite simple, and has nothing to do with the school.

I would rather live in a community like the Town of Vienna than a nondescript blob that is Tysons.

Anonymous wrote:This thread might as well be closed. The same poster has been praising Madison and bashing Marshall for literally years. It's easily identifiable because he/she uses the same arguments every time. AP/IB, Woodson parent protest, desirable schools are AP, why aren't they asking for IB, IB costs to the county, support of the town of Vienna.

It's the same song on every thread whenever anyone asks about Marshall.

Enough with the chip on your shoulder. There is a core set of reasons why most people tend to prefer Madison over Marshall, and different people express them at different times. It's a tired DCUM cliche to suggest that there is only one person who disagrees with you.