Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know why everyone things Meren's email is the truth. It's not. Kyle McDaniel supports opening next year. I disagree. I have a 7th grader and I STILL support opening with a mostly renovated school and a full staff in 2027.

'Everyone' doesn't. There are some rabid posters here still foaming at the mouth over the new high school being bought and it being a traditional school instead of a magnet. They like to scream about it on NextDoor and Facebook. The will jump at any bit of news, true or not, and declare the school is doomed and we should just undo everything like it never happened. They post a lot.

I’m not on Nextdoor, but the posts I’ve seen elsewhere typically question the cost of the purchase and the lack of plan since it’ll impact the CIP for years to come.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know why everyone things Meren's email is the truth. It's not. Kyle McDaniel supports opening next year. I disagree. I have a 7th grader and I STILL support opening with a mostly renovated school and a full staff in 2027.

'Everyone' doesn't. There are some rabid posters here still foaming at the mouth over the new high school being bought and it being a traditional school instead of a magnet. They like to scream about it on NextDoor and Facebook. The will jump at any bit of news, true or not, and declare the school is doomed and we should just undo everything like it never happened. They post a lot.

If they want to proceed with the boundary review without setting the boundaries for the new high school, I feel like they will have no choice but to allow people to opt in or out of the new school for the next few years. It’s very unfair to change some students to a new high school for next year only to change their boundaries again less than a year later. This is going to be such a mess for the western pyramids.

I don't know why everyone things Meren's email is the truth. It's not. Kyle McDaniel supports opening next year. I disagree. I have a 7th grader and I STILL support opening with a mostly renovated school and a full staff in 2027.

Anonymous wrote:I suspect that Meren is using that meeting last week as an excuse.

They could certainly open with 9/10 without any major structural permits.

Her Facebook page has posts and replies attacking Reid. The video she posted last week clearly shows she is at odds with Reid.

I suspect that Meren is using that meeting last week as an excuse.

They could certainly open with 9/10 without any major structural permits.

Anonymous wrote:Kyle McDaniel not supporting a delayed opening of the new HS. Just received his school board update email.

I noticed he specifically mentioned that the new high school will help with capacity AND transportation issues. And impacts to all 5 western pyramids anticipated. No one should be promising parents that their school won't be impacted at a community meeting, and no one should be demanding that. The school board should do what is best in the long run and have a generous opt in/opt out for the next few years as McDaniel mentions. If someone really doesn't like the high school option they would have down the line, they can move just like anyone else does in that situation.

Kyle McDaniel not supporting a delayed opening of the new HS. Just received his school board update email.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the parents of older elementary school students at Crossfield think of Oakton as an elite school. That's why.

https://www.foxessellfaster.com/blog/8-of-the-nations-best-high-schools-are-in-northern-virginiaand-thomas-jefferson-leads-the-pack/

It's ranked near the top in VA, so yes within VA it would be relatively speaking even though a number are ranked higher.

Isn't Oakton just a normsl average sports school along with many of the larger fcps high schools? I have never heard of anyone refer to Oakton as an unusually prominent sports powerhouse, just a solid sports program like most of the bigger fcps high schools.

Madison has better sports teams than Oakton with hundreds fewer kids.

Oakton is solid but not exceptional when it comes to sports.

That is what I am saying.

Oakton is average good, not a powerhouse. For example, everyone talks about South County as a sports powerhouse.

Oakton is fine in sports, but not extraordinary like this thread is making it out to be.

Certain teams are still very hard to make because so many kids try out. Oakton is a big school. I’m thinking of the boys more so than girls.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the parents of older elementary school students at Crossfield think of Oakton as an elite school. That's why.

https://www.foxessellfaster.com/blog/8-of-the-nations-best-high-schools-are-in-northern-virginiaand-thomas-jefferson-leads-the-pack/

It's ranked near the top in VA, so yes within VA it would be relatively speaking even though a number are ranked higher.

Isn't Oakton just a normsl average sports school along with many of the larger fcps high schools? I have never heard of anyone refer to Oakton as an unusually prominent sports powerhouse, just a solid sports program like most of the bigger fcps high schools.

Madison has better sports teams than Oakton with hundreds fewer kids.

Oakton is solid but not exceptional when it comes to sports.

True re: Oakton sports but don't pretend Madison has a *healthy* sports programs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the parents of older elementary school students at Crossfield think of Oakton as an elite school. That's why.

https://www.foxessellfaster.com/blog/8-of-the-nations-best-high-schools-are-in-northern-virginiaand-thomas-jefferson-leads-the-pack/

It's ranked near the top in VA, so yes within VA it would be relatively speaking even though a number are ranked higher.

Isn't Oakton just a normsl average sports school along with many of the larger fcps high schools? I have never heard of anyone refer to Oakton as an unusually prominent sports powerhouse, just a solid sports program like most of the bigger fcps high schools.

Madison has better sports teams than Oakton with hundreds fewer kids.

Oakton is solid but not exceptional when it comes to sports.

That is what I am saying.

Oakton is average good, not a powerhouse. For example, everyone talks about South County as a sports powerhouse.

Oakton is fine in sports, but not extraordinary like this thread is making it out to be.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the parents of older elementary school students at Crossfield think of Oakton as an elite school. That's why.

https://www.foxessellfaster.com/blog/8-of-the-nations-best-high-schools-are-in-northern-virginiaand-thomas-jefferson-leads-the-pack/

It's ranked near the top in VA, so yes within VA it would be relatively speaking even though a number are ranked higher.

Isn't Oakton just a normsl average sports school along with many of the larger fcps high schools? I have never heard of anyone refer to Oakton as an unusually prominent sports powerhouse, just a solid sports program like most of the bigger fcps high schools.

Academically it's near the top. 6th in va and 9th in DC metro. Can't speak for sports as my kids aren't in hs.

Ridiculous rank; I checked USNWR and Oakton is absurdly ranked higher than McLean, even though McLean has a 97% graduation rank while Oakton’s is only. 95%.

The differences among the top ranked schools turn on fine distinctions in things like SOL scores, AP participation rates, and graduation rates.

So McLean may have a higher graduation rate or higher SAT scores (I don't think US News factors in SAT scores at all), but if the SOL scores are lower (which is quite possible given that the poor kids at McLean from the Timber Lane area are poorer than the poor kids at Oakton from the Blake Lane area), Oakton or Woodson can be ranked higher than McLean.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the parents of older elementary school students at Crossfield think of Oakton as an elite school. That's why.

https://www.foxessellfaster.com/blog/8-of-the-nations-best-high-schools-are-in-northern-virginiaand-thomas-jefferson-leads-the-pack/

It's ranked near the top in VA, so yes within VA it would be relatively speaking even though a number are ranked higher.

Isn't Oakton just a normsl average sports school along with many of the larger fcps high schools? I have never heard of anyone refer to Oakton as an unusually prominent sports powerhouse, just a solid sports program like most of the bigger fcps high schools.

Academically it's near the top. 6th in va and 9th in DC metro. Can't speak for sports as my kids aren't in hs.

Ridiculous rank; I checked USNWR and Oakton is absurdly ranked higher than McLean, even though McLean has a 97% graduation rank while Oakton’s is only. 95%.

Either way it's a top school in the state. You might understand why people in certain communities want to go there rather than an unknown school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the parents of older elementary school students at Crossfield think of Oakton as an elite school. That's why.

https://www.foxessellfaster.com/blog/8-of-the-nations-best-high-schools-are-in-northern-virginiaand-thomas-jefferson-leads-the-pack/

It's ranked near the top in VA, so yes within VA it would be relatively speaking even though a number are ranked higher.

Isn't Oakton just a normsl average sports school along with many of the larger fcps high schools? I have never heard of anyone refer to Oakton as an unusually prominent sports powerhouse, just a solid sports program like most of the bigger fcps high schools.

Academically it's near the top. 6th in va and 9th in DC metro. Can't speak for sports as my kids aren't in hs.

Ridiculous rank; I checked USNWR and Oakton is absurdly ranked higher than McLean, even though McLean has a 97% graduation rank while Oakton’s is only. 95%.

A more objective rank is average SAT score, and McLean’s score is currently and historically higher than Oakton’s average SAT score.

Point is: any ranking which places Oakton over McLean is obviously invalid.

Plus, McLean is majority-minority (over 50% BIPOCs), so McLean win on diversity too.

Go take another gander at the demographic pages for both schools. Oakton actually had McLean beat.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the parents of older elementary school students at Crossfield think of Oakton as an elite school. That's why.

https://www.foxessellfaster.com/blog/8-of-the-nations-best-high-schools-are-in-northern-virginiaand-thomas-jefferson-leads-the-pack/

It's ranked near the top in VA, so yes within VA it would be relatively speaking even though a number are ranked higher.

Isn't Oakton just a normsl average sports school along with many of the larger fcps high schools? I have never heard of anyone refer to Oakton as an unusually prominent sports powerhouse, just a solid sports program like most of the bigger fcps high schools.

Academically it's near the top. 6th in va and 9th in DC metro. Can't speak for sports as my kids aren't in hs.

Ridiculous rank; I checked USNWR and Oakton is absurdly ranked higher than McLean, even though McLean has a 97% graduation rank while Oakton’s is only. 95%.

A more objective rank is average SAT score, and McLean’s score is currently and historically higher than Oakton’s average SAT score.

Point is: any ranking which places Oakton over McLean is obviously invalid.

Plus, McLean is majority-minority (over 50% BIPOCs), so McLean win on diversity too.

Average SAT score is a terrible rank unless both schools have the same percentage of students taking the SAT. If one school only has mostly college-bound high achievers taking the SAT while the other school does a good job of convincing 75% of kids taking it just in case, then you would be penalizing the school that is doing the better job of preparing all kids for college just because the "average" SAT score was lower.
Not saying that is the case for these two schools - but that is often the case nationally when comparing average SAT scores of schools.