Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious about why I often see convos about Woodson/Oakton and people generally leave out Fairfax HS (which neighbors these schools) as an option that they are considering. Is there something about Fairfax HS that makes it undesirable? It seems like nice facilities and like it would be similar demographics?

It’s got a larger low-income population and more discipline issues, but it’s actually fairly representative of NoVa generally. Also FHS benefits from an Academy program with a lot of performing arts options, plus the City of Fairfax owns the building and makes sure it stays in good condition. No reason to avoid it - just recognize its test scores/ratings will always probably be lower than the three schools mentioned in the OP.

This is correct. The demographics that make up the bulk of Oakton/Woodson will end up doing just as well at Fairfax. It's just that Fairfax has more lower income students who generally don't score as well on tests, etc. I think having a mix of students is actually a positive learning experience for kids. But at the same time, the reality is that the kids at Fairfax tend to segregate themselves. I guess the bottom line is that if your kid is a part of the Oakton/Woodson demographic, they will end up having virtually the same experience at Fairfax.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious about why I often see convos about Woodson/Oakton and people generally leave out Fairfax HS (which neighbors these schools) as an option that they are considering. Is there something about Fairfax HS that makes it undesirable? It seems like nice facilities and like it would be similar demographics?

It’s got a larger low-income population and more discipline issues, but it’s actually fairly representative of NoVa generally. Also FHS benefits from an Academy program with a lot of performing arts options, plus the City of Fairfax owns the building and makes sure it stays in good condition. No reason to avoid it - just recognize its test scores/ratings will always probably be lower than the three schools mentioned in the OP.

Anonymous wrote:Just curious about why I often see convos about Woodson/Oakton and people generally leave out Fairfax HS (which neighbors these schools) as an option that they are considering. Is there something about Fairfax HS that makes it undesirable? It seems like nice facilities and like it would be similar demographics?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are all solid enough places that will provide solid enough platforms to try to get into UVA. Not much more to say. Generally generic but decent big box schools in generic parts of nova.

Woodson and Oakton have a lot of nice neighborhoods that aren’t really generic. Chantilly is more cookie-cutter - the Fairfax equivalent of what you find further out in Loudoun.

Anonymous wrote:They are all solid enough places that will provide solid enough platforms to try to get into UVA. Not much more to say. Generally generic but decent big box schools in generic parts of nova.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved here to be in the Woodson pyramid. I now regret it. If your child is a minority or special ed, you can forget being cared about. Only the creme de la creme are important at Woodson. It is also a very intense, high pressure school. If I could do it over, I would pick Chantilly.

Can you please tell us about Woodson. Our son starts HS next year and we bought into this area this Spring. [/quote

Different PP, but I completely utterly agree. DD spent a year at Woodson before we were able to pupil place her to Robinson. It's like night and day. These schools are VERY different. I can't express how much more accessible admin has been in helping DD and I am so, so thankful. Woodson's admin has a very aggressive self-advocacy approach and they use (IMO) shame to discourage students from getting supports. We moved her right before 7th and were clueless, but I tell people all the time that Woodson has issues. Oddly, Frost is fantastic for SPED and we thought high school would be the same. It's not.

The big con for Robinson is that it's huge. But I feel like that worked for us because there's no dominant culture and there is a sense from admin and teachers that they want to do what's right for the kid and be compliant versus fostering a culture of "Excellence" --something I heard during an IEP meeting at Woodson.

My younger DD doesn't have special needs, but we will pupil place her as well.

Interesting. Our Woodson and Frost experiences have been essentially dramatically opposite to yours. I have a kid in SPED and another in all Hnrs/AP. Woodson has been nothing short of fantastic for both of them. OTOH, with the exception of a few teachers here and there who were great, Frost was pretty bad.