Anonymous wrote:This is a ridiculous argument. Madison and Marshall are both excellent schools. Marshall has slightly more racial and social-economic diversity, the latter of which results in slightly lower SAT scores, etc. Madison offers AP and Marshall offers IB, both of which are academically rigorous. You can't go wrong either way.

Bottom line--buy where you find the best combination of nice house and desirable commute.

+1

I would only buy in an IB school district like GCM if I already knew my kids wanted to do the full IB program. Otherwise AP is always the safer choice.

Anonymous wrote:This is a ridiculous argument. Madison and Marshall are both excellent schools. Marshall has slightly more racial and social-economic diversity, the latter of which results in lower SAT scores, etc. Madison offers AP and Marshall offers IB, both of which are academically rigorous. Of course, you can go wrong either way.

Bottom line--buy where you find the best combination of nice house, desirable commute, and preferred academic and extra-curricular programs.

Fixed that for you.

This is a ridiculous argument. Madison and Marshall are both excellent schools. Marshall has slightly more racial and social-economic diversity, the latter of which results in slightly lower SAT scores, etc. Madison offers AP and Marshall offers IB, both of which are academically rigorous. You can't go wrong either way.

Bottom line--buy where you find the best combination of nice house and desirable commute.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My children are getting an exceptional education at Marshall. Older child got an IB diploma and got into a top 10 school, and the younger is in the IB program now. It may not be what everyone wants, but there is no doubt it's an excellent school and an excellent program.

Marshall mostly sends kids to NOVA, GMU and VCU. Madison sends far more kids to top schools.

That's because if Marshall has more FARMS kids, it reasons that they would have more kids who couldn't afford to pay tuition at an Ivy. It does not mean that those kids couldn't get in there.

The Ivies have very large endowments, so if you are a FARMS kid getting into an Ivy you are probably getting a lot of money. It might be more accurate to suggest that a MC/UMC family at Marshall whose kid is not getting a full ride to an Ivy will be more likely to turn it down for a state school than a wealthier kid from another school that can pay the bill.

It looks like on average about two kids from each Marshall graduating class go to Ivies. In a typical year Madison probably sends 5-7kids to Ivies. But, again, if you are really set on getting your kid into an Ivy you prepard them for TJ or send them to a private like Sidwell that sends dozens of kids to Ivies every year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My children are getting an exceptional education at Marshall. Older child got an IB diploma and got into a top 10 school, and the younger is in the IB program now. It may not be what everyone wants, but there is no doubt it's an excellent school and an excellent program.

Marshall mostly sends kids to NOVA, GMU and VCU. Madison sends far more kids to top schools.

That's because if Marshall has more FARMS kids, it reasons that they would have more kids who couldn't afford to pay tuition at an Ivy. It does not mean that those kids couldn't get in there.

Anonymous wrote:I put the GC Marshall college acceptance (and attendance) data from 2010-2016 (from blackboard - family connection) as an excel spreadsheet on a GoogleDrive here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B8lf90n41MdFeDVvSGh6eHQ3Tm8?usp=sharing If anyone from Madison (or other schools) wants to do the same, we can build a database for research.

p.s. I just highlighted the data and then copied it to an excel spreadsheet - you can post the spreadsheet to the GoogleDrive or just add it to the existing file on a separate sheet.

"Unable to convert document."

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.

For what it's worth, my kids go to private school so I have no dog in this fight, but I will say that I have been impressed with the students I have met from both Madison and Marshall (I live in Vienna). Most of the neighborhoods that feed to both of these schools are very nice (I have only ever lived in Vienna but have friends all over), so please don't let a few crazy people on an anonymous forum dissuade you from living in a great area. (Not that there aren't also great neighborhoods in McLean and Arlington and elsewhere). Honestly, I'd consider your commute more than anything. You'll find wonderful kids and great classes at Madison, Marshall, McLean, Langley, Yorktown, etc. (I am not leaving any schools out on purpose, those are just the ones that first came to mind and I'm not going to bother to list them all), but depending on where you work, you can have an awful commute from Vienna, McLean, Arlington, etc.

I see the GCM parent put up the stats. Nothing from Madiso folks.

If you want to live in Vienna, and Madison is your first choice, stick with that. Leave Marshall to those who really want IB.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My children are getting an exceptional education at Marshall. Older child got an IB diploma and got into a top 10 school, and the younger is in the IB program now. It may not be what everyone wants, but there is no doubt it's an excellent school and an excellent program.

Marshall mostly sends kids to NOVA, GMU and VCU. Madison sends far more kids to top schools.

Their senior destinations are similar. I believe more Marshall students were admitted to HYPS schools this past year, but that is just due to year-to-year variation.

Show us actual data to indicate otherwise.

A child's high school and college do not pave the way to a successful life. Success is dependent on personal work ethic and drive. There are homeless people who's parents spent their entire lives grooming them for an ivy and there are homeless people who clawed their way to the top via NOVA and GMU. You want your kid to go to a top school and be a multi millionaire? Stop believing that a marginally "better" high school will do all the work for them and raise a kind and determined kid.

Let's see any of you ding dongs here arguing about a difference in search of distinct between two very similar schools try to navigate which high school to go to in Washington, DC...oh, that right...you be the one if you kid isn't zoned for Wilson or get into SWW (and either of those have too, too much FARMS) will send you UMC kid to private.

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, stick with Madison. Better all-around.

Marshall and Madison are both excellent schools. Many of the kids are friends through sports etc. and attended elementary and middle school together. I believe Kilmer, Jackson, and Thoreau all send kids to both high schools.

My kids attend Marshall and are happy there. I'm sure they would have been equally happy at Madison.

I sincerely doubt the choice of HS affects college destination at all.

Marshall has changed considerably over the past several years for the better. I have seen a dramatic improvement in the sports and music programs. I suspect the changes will continue due to the renewal of the Pimmit Hills area as the old small houses are replaced by new ones.

I put the GC Marshall college acceptance (and attendance) data from 2010-2016 (from blackboard - family connection) as an excel spreadsheet on a GoogleDrive here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B8lf90n41MdFeDVvSGh6eHQ3Tm8?usp=sharing If anyone from Madison (or other schools) wants to do the same, we can build a database for research.

p.s. I just highlighted the data and then copied it to an excel spreadsheet - you can post the spreadsheet to the GoogleDrive or just add it to the existing file on a separate sheet.

Yeah, stick with Madison. Better all-around.