Anonymous
02/09/2026 13:13
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We are likely moving to Arlington for my kid’s HS years. I see that all the three comprehensive HS are massive. Is there any difference in how they handle the size between them? I’m not that concerned about the differences in demographics etc. Just want my kid to be able to integrate into the school with the other kids. He is not a STEM kid so Arlington Tech isn’t really an option. I don’t think he will be full IB either.
Why would you do this? Move to FCC. We moved here pre kids for the short commute and metro access, but as nearly empty nesters FCC would be ideal.
Because I don’t like the suburbs and because I don’t think sticking him into a smaller school where all the kids have been together since K is a great idea either.
Arlington is a suburb. What are you talking about? If you send your kid to Yorktown its no different. 22207 and 22213 are as suburban as you can get.
Lots of DD's friends at Washington-Liberty live in high rises in Rosslyn and Ballston. Kids walk from school to Ballston to eat and hang out, and it definitely feels urban more than suburban. Depends where you are.
That's more 22203 and 22205. PP is talking about the Yorktown neighborhoods. OP is talking about FC where you can also walk to shops, restaurants and has a bunch of condos along Broad. OP was acting as if FCC and Alrington are apples and oranges- false.
Anonymous
02/09/2026 07:34
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We are likely moving to Arlington for my kid’s HS years. I see that all the three comprehensive HS are massive. Is there any difference in how they handle the size between them? I’m not that concerned about the differences in demographics etc. Just want my kid to be able to integrate into the school with the other kids. He is not a STEM kid so Arlington Tech isn’t really an option. I don’t think he will be full IB either.
Why would you do this? Move to FCC. We moved here pre kids for the short commute and metro access, but as nearly empty nesters FCC would be ideal.
Because I don’t like the suburbs and because I don’t think sticking him into a smaller school where all the kids have been together since K is a great idea either.
Arlington is a suburb. What are you talking about? If you send your kid to Yorktown its no different. 22207 and 22213 are as suburban as you can get.
Lots of DD's friends at Washington-Liberty live in high rises in Rosslyn and Ballston. Kids walk from school to Ballston to eat and hang out, and it definitely feels urban more than suburban. Depends where you are.
Anonymous
02/08/2026 22:27
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The schools in Arlington are not really that large. Where are you moving from?
600 to 700 kids in a class is huge. I grew up with 100 students in my class and we were a big school at the time.
This is...very strange. I went to a public high school in Massachusetts that had about 120 kids per class, so just under 500 students total. It was considered a very small high school.
My kids--one an athlete, one not--had good experiences at APS high schools.
Anonymous
02/08/2026 21:02
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We are likely moving to Arlington for my kid’s HS years. I see that all the three comprehensive HS are massive. Is there any difference in how they handle the size between them? I’m not that concerned about the differences in demographics etc. Just want my kid to be able to integrate into the school with the other kids. He is not a STEM kid so Arlington Tech isn’t really an option. I don’t think he will be full IB either.
Why would you do this? Move to FCC. We moved here pre kids for the short commute and metro access, but as nearly empty nesters FCC would be ideal.
Because I don’t like the suburbs and because I don’t think sticking him into a smaller school where all the kids have been together since K is a great idea either.
Arlington is a suburb. What are you talking about? If you send your kid to Yorktown it’s no different. 22207 and 22213 are as suburban as you can get.
DP. 22207 is huge and extends just south of 66 / north of Ballston and the Orange Line. There are sidewalks and a continuous street grid throughout the Arlington, and 22207 is much like any other older suburb. Schools are located within neighborhoods and walkable. Suburban for many people means subdivisions of cookie cutter homes located off of main roads lined with strip malls. That is not Arlington.
It’s my home for 25 years, I know. This part of Arlington is not urban. It is pretty much just like Falls Church city.
Anonymous
02/08/2026 20:54
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We are likely moving to Arlington for my kid’s HS years. I see that all the three comprehensive HS are massive. Is there any difference in how they handle the size between them? I’m not that concerned about the differences in demographics etc. Just want my kid to be able to integrate into the school with the other kids. He is not a STEM kid so Arlington Tech isn’t really an option. I don’t think he will be full IB either.
Why would you do this? Move to FCC. We moved here pre kids for the short commute and metro access, but as nearly empty nesters FCC would be ideal.
Because I don’t like the suburbs and because I don’t think sticking him into a smaller school where all the kids have been together since K is a great idea either.
Arlington is a suburb. What are you talking about? If you send your kid to Yorktown it’s no different. 22207 and 22213 are as suburban as you can get.
DP. 22207 is huge and extends just south of 66 / north of Ballston and the Orange Line. There are sidewalks and a continuous street grid throughout the Arlington, and 22207 is much like any other older suburb. Schools are located within neighborhoods and walkable. Suburban for many people means subdivisions of cookie cutter homes located off of main roads lined with strip malls. That is not Arlington.
Anonymous
02/08/2026 18:42
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We are likely moving to Arlington for my kid’s HS years. I see that all the three comprehensive HS are massive. Is there any difference in how they handle the size between them? I’m not that concerned about the differences in demographics etc. Just want my kid to be able to integrate into the school with the other kids. He is not a STEM kid so Arlington Tech isn’t really an option. I don’t think he will be full IB either.
Why would you do this? Move to FCC. We moved here pre kids for the short commute and metro access, but as nearly empty nesters FCC would be ideal.
Because I don’t like the suburbs and because I don’t think sticking him into a smaller school where all the kids have been together since K is a great idea either.
Arlington is a suburb. What are you talking about? If you send your kid to Yorktown its no different. 22207 and 22213 are as suburban as you can get.
Anonymous
02/08/2026 18:34
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Arlington needs a 4th comprehensive high school but it will never get one. That said our kids are having a great experience at Wakefield.
Anonymous
02/08/2026 15:08
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I agree about the sports. the teams are extremely difficult to make. Do your kids play sports? IMO, it's easier to make friends at the APS HS than the MS. In MS, all of the kids basically stick with their Elem school friends.
No, not a sporty kid! I hope he will have an interest in an art or creative/writinf activity like drama or yearbook or school paper.
Also a good way to meet kids.
Anonymous
02/08/2026 14:46
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We are likely moving to Arlington for my kid’s HS years. I see that all the three comprehensive HS are massive. Is there any difference in how they handle the size between them? I’m not that concerned about the differences in demographics etc. Just want my kid to be able to integrate into the school with the other kids. He is not a STEM kid so Arlington Tech isn’t really an option. I don’t think he will be full IB either.
Why would you do this? Move to FCC. We moved here pre kids for the short commute and metro access, but as nearly empty nesters FCC would be ideal.
Because I don’t like the suburbs and because I don’t think sticking him into a smaller school where all the kids have been together since K is a great idea either.
Arlington is also the burbs. FCC is arguably more walkable at least in parts. Not all have been together in FCC. Many foreign services move in and out.
Anonymous
02/08/2026 14:04
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We are likely moving to Arlington for my kid’s HS years. I see that all the three comprehensive HS are massive. Is there any difference in how they handle the size between them? I’m not that concerned about the differences in demographics etc. Just want my kid to be able to integrate into the school with the other kids. He is not a STEM kid so Arlington Tech isn’t really an option. I don’t think he will be full IB either.
Why would you do this? Move to FCC. We moved here pre kids for the short commute and metro access, but as nearly empty nesters FCC would be ideal.
Because I don’t like the suburbs and because I don’t think sticking him into a smaller school where all the kids have been together since K is a great idea either.
Arlington is the suburbs.
That’s fair, everyone is together forever in FCC
But as a new freshman, you will standout as the new person versus completely anonymous at APS.
Anonymous
02/08/2026 13:50
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The schools in Arlington are not really that large. Where are you moving from?
Basically only places like Chicago, LA, and DMV let neighborhood high schools get this yard.
Some area have very large magnet high schools (like Brooklyn Science) because of its specialized facilities and faculty with high demand.
National Enrollment Figures (2025–2026 Estimates)
While specific median data is updated periodically by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), current trends and historical data points provide a clear picture of school sizes:
• Median High School Population: Approximately 500–600 students.
• Average (Mean) High School Population: Approximately 750–850 students.
The "Over 2,200" Club
Out of the approximately 26,700 total high schools (public and private) in the U.S.:
• Estimated Number: Roughly 1,300 to 1,500 schools (approx. 5-6% of all high schools) have an enrollment exceeding 2,200 students.
• Public vs. Private: This group is almost exclusively composed of public schools. Very few private schools in the U.S. reach this size; those that do are typically prominent Catholic or prep schools in major metros.
Where These Schools Are Located
Schools of this size are not evenly distributed. You will primarily find them in:
• The "Sun Belt" States: Texas, Florida, and Georgia have a high concentration of "mega-schools" (enrollments of 3,000–5,000+).
• Suburban Hubs: Large suburban districts (like those outside Chicago, Los Angeles, or DC) often consolidate students into massive central campuses rather than several smaller ones.
Yes. This is not a new trend for the DMV. Talk to any of the older folks from the 1950s or 60s, and Arlington had the largest high schools in the state then. Then Fairfax followed suit and built large consolidated schools. This is not a new thing for this area.
Anonymous
02/08/2026 13:47
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We are likely moving to Arlington for my kid’s HS years. I see that all the three comprehensive HS are massive. Is there any difference in how they handle the size between them? I’m not that concerned about the differences in demographics etc. Just want my kid to be able to integrate into the school with the other kids. He is not a STEM kid so Arlington Tech isn’t really an option. I don’t think he will be full IB either.
Why would you do this? Move to FCC. We moved here pre kids for the short commute and metro access, but as nearly empty nesters FCC would be ideal.
Because I don’t like the suburbs and because I don’t think sticking him into a smaller school where all the kids have been together since K is a great idea either.
Anonymous
02/08/2026 13:47
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The schools in Arlington are not really that large. Where are you moving from?
Basically only places like Chicago, LA, and DMV let neighborhood high schools get this yard.
Some area have very large magnet high schools (like Brooklyn Science) because of its specialized facilities and faculty with high demand.
National Enrollment Figures (2025–2026 Estimates)
While specific median data is updated periodically by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), current trends and historical data points provide a clear picture of school sizes:
• Median High School Population: Approximately 500–600 students.
• Average (Mean) High School Population: Approximately 750–850 students.
The "Over 2,200" Club
Out of the approximately 26,700 total high schools (public and private) in the U.S.:
• Estimated Number: Roughly 1,300 to 1,500 schools (approx. 5-6% of all high schools) have an enrollment exceeding 2,200 students.
• Public vs. Private: This group is almost exclusively composed of public schools. Very few private schools in the U.S. reach this size; those that do are typically prominent Catholic or prep schools in major metros.
Where These Schools Are Located
Schools of this size are not evenly distributed. You will primarily find them in:
• The "Sun Belt" States: Texas, Florida, and Georgia have a high concentration of "mega-schools" (enrollments of 3,000–5,000+).
• Suburban Hubs: Large suburban districts (like those outside Chicago, Los Angeles, or DC) often consolidate students into massive central campuses rather than several smaller ones.
*large
Anonymous
02/08/2026 13:46
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:The schools in Arlington are not really that large. Where are you moving from?
Basically only places like Chicago, LA, and DMV let neighborhood high schools get this yard.
Some area have very large magnet high schools (like Brooklyn Science) because of its specialized facilities and faculty with high demand.
National Enrollment Figures (2025–2026 Estimates)
While specific median data is updated periodically by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), current trends and historical data points provide a clear picture of school sizes:
• Median High School Population: Approximately 500–600 students.
• Average (Mean) High School Population: Approximately 750–850 students.
The "Over 2,200" Club
Out of the approximately 26,700 total high schools (public and private) in the U.S.:
• Estimated Number: Roughly 1,300 to 1,500 schools (approx. 5-6% of all high schools) have an enrollment exceeding 2,200 students.
• Public vs. Private: This group is almost exclusively composed of public schools. Very few private schools in the U.S. reach this size; those that do are typically prominent Catholic or prep schools in major metros.
Where These Schools Are Located
Schools of this size are not evenly distributed. You will primarily find them in:
• The "Sun Belt" States: Texas, Florida, and Georgia have a high concentration of "mega-schools" (enrollments of 3,000–5,000+).
• Suburban Hubs: Large suburban districts (like those outside Chicago, Los Angeles, or DC) often consolidate students into massive central campuses rather than several smaller ones.
Anonymous
02/08/2026 13:45
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:The schools in Arlington are not really that large. Where are you moving from?
600 to 700 kids in a class is huge. I grew up with 100 students in my class and we were a big school at the time.