I graduated from Robinson in 2000. Obviously lots of changes since then.

I think both schools are strong to be honest.

You basically are at

1. Do we want ap or ib?
2. Do we want to spend 2 years at KJMS then 4 at fhs or 6 at jwrss?

Probably some other things too but overall either is a good choice

With 25 years hindsight and 18 years as a teacher, I would say going to Fairfax back in the 90s would’ve been fine. But I really valued my experience at Robinson and probably could’ve been a better student had I not tried to pretend I could not do everything all the time (study homework etc), but those are youthful moments

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are at Robinson. It's too big. If your kid is outgoing and great at sports, then it's a good place. Otherwise, I'd take a look at Fairfax. The whole IB thing is pretty annoying, but makes no difference really.

Fairfax is also a good place for sports. This makes no sense.
Also - Fairfax is in a neighborhood with houses and sidewalks. Robinson is on a highly traveled road which doesn’t have sidewalks in many areas. Walking to school becomes dangerous.

Given that it is kind of near the edge of its boundaries most kids don’t walk.

? Robinson isn’t technically on a heavily traveled street. You can enter or exit on a heavily-ish traveled street but the portion with no sidewalks has no houses. Sidewalks surround all other sides.

Robinson is a good school, OP. Make sure you’re okay with IB.

Anonymous wrote:

Sorry, but under no definition does Robinson have a "community" feel. It's too big and a lot of kids get lost in the crowd, especially the less outgoing and self-confident ones.

People keep talking about how big Robinson is, but Robinson is about the same size as Fairfax if you just compare high schools (of course if you add in 7th and 8th grade robo is much bigger but does that matter within a grade level?)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP that I’ve found the size of Robinson to be a plus, not a minus.

Lots of enthusiasm for theater and band in addition to sports, and a ton of after school clubs.

Size + enthusiasm for theater means that getting cast can be tough if your kid is auditioning.

That describes all of Robinson. Kids who make the cut might love it, but those who don't will find themselves in the margins.

Anonymous wrote:Both are fine. Both have weird attendance zones in the western parts.

Robinson has a strong community feel (more so than FHS IMO despite it having the city element).

My kids did Willow Springs->Lanier->Fairfax roughly 10 years at this point and we were very pleased. I thought Lanier was lackluster but there’s nothing horrible about the school. Fairfax does have a ridiculous boundary and I definitely see the boundary changing soon.

Fairfax is “newer” than Robo and looks nice. I like how Lanier didn’t split feed as well

Both are awesome schools

Sorry, but under no definition does Robinson have a "community" feel. It's too big and a lot of kids get lost in the crowd, especially the less outgoing and self-confident ones.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are at Robinson. It's too big. If your kid is outgoing and great at sports, then it's a good place. Otherwise, I'd take a look at Fairfax. The whole IB thing is pretty annoying, but makes no difference really.

Fairfax is also a good place for sports. This makes no sense.
Also - Fairfax is in a neighborhood with houses and sidewalks. Robinson is on a highly traveled road which doesn’t have sidewalks in many areas. Walking to school becomes dangerous.

Given that it is kind of near the edge of its boundaries most kids don’t walk.

Anonymous wrote:We are at Robinson. It's too big. If your kid is outgoing and great at sports, then it's a good place. Otherwise, I'd take a look at Fairfax. The whole IB thing is pretty annoying, but makes no difference really.

Fairfax is also a good place for sports. This makes no sense.
Also - Fairfax is in a neighborhood with houses and sidewalks. Robinson is on a highly traveled road which doesn’t have sidewalks in many areas. Walking to school becomes dangerous.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP that I’ve found the size of Robinson to be a plus, not a minus.

Lots of enthusiasm for theater and band in addition to sports, and a ton of after school clubs.

Size + enthusiasm for theater means that getting cast can be tough if your kid is auditioning.

For leads, yes. But the new drama teacher is phenomenal and helps find a home for everyone in some way.

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP that I’ve found the size of Robinson to be a plus, not a minus.

Lots of enthusiasm for theater and band in addition to sports, and a ton of after school clubs.

Size + enthusiasm for theater means that getting cast can be tough if your kid is auditioning.

Robinson. Fairfax has such a weird boundary

Both are fine. Both have weird attendance zones in the western parts.

Robinson has a strong community feel (more so than FHS IMO despite it having the city element).

My kids did Willow Springs->Lanier->Fairfax roughly 10 years at this point and we were very pleased. I thought Lanier was lackluster but there’s nothing horrible about the school. Fairfax does have a ridiculous boundary and I definitely see the boundary changing soon.

Fairfax is “newer” than Robo and looks nice. I like how Lanier didn’t split feed as well

Both are awesome schools

Robinson is fantastic. Great kids but not pressure cooker. I agree with others that its size is a strength and that there are many strong extracurriculars other than sports.

Anonymous wrote:I’ve had 3 children go through Robinson and the 4th currently there. The quality of teacher and coach has declined over the years, but rapidly in the last 3/4 years. I was very happy with my early kids experiences there, but lately I’ve not been as impressed. Maybe it’s happening everywhere in FCPS. The best teachers and coaches we worked with at Robinson are now at other schools or retired.

It's happening everywhere.
Since COVID, we have lost good teachers and the remaining teachers are overwhelmed.
Since BLM our institutional priorities have shifted to DEI stuff.
Since the open border policy of the last administration, our system has had more ELL than it could comfortably absorb.

I don't know about coaching but I saw a lot of parents pushing off parenting to teachers and coaches during the pandemic. It was a little disgusting.

I’ve had 3 children go through Robinson and the 4th currently there. The quality of teacher and coach has declined over the years, but rapidly in the last 3/4 years. I was very happy with my early kids experiences there, but lately I’ve not been as impressed. Maybe it’s happening everywhere in FCPS. The best teachers and coaches we worked with at Robinson are now at other schools or retired.