Anonymous
Post 10/17/2023 14:17     Subject: Re:Langley Pyramid vs. everybody else.
Just make the best of where you are.

If the more difficult circumstances and lower ability of most of the students in your child’s school makes them stand out in comparison, fine.

If the higher performance and expectations of most of the students in your child’s school challenges them to stretch to their potential, fine.

Anonymous
Post 10/17/2023 13:36     Subject: Langley Pyramid vs. everybody else.
Being in a great high school is just as important if not more important than college. Folks seem to have this mindset that nothing matters till you get to those 4 years.

If you’re surrounded by mediocre students in a high school struggling to learn English then they will bring you down. You are a product of your environment. This concept of being a big fish just to game the admissions process is unfortunate.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2023 12:15     Subject: Langley Pyramid vs. everybody else.
Lots of vaping and alcohol at Langley, some drugs. I assume much like other high schools in that regard.

Overall a very welcoming environment. Some jerks though. Probably like most FCPS schools.

Lots of high achievers. They are the ones who make Langley look good. Parents who care about excelling academically flock to the area.

There are good teachers, there are bad teachers, there are so-so teachers. Administration is fine. Counselors are hit or miss. Much like all other high schools in FCPS.

Unlike other schools, you don’t have any kids with outward money issues (although I suspect there are a lot of families heavily in debt trying to keep up with their rich neighbors). They are mostly wearing expensive clothes and driving expensive cars.

On the down side, it is more difficult to get into certain colleges from Langley. I’ve looked at Naviance and compared it with friends at other schools in fcps and there is a marked difference in what gpa you need to get in.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2023 11:05     Subject: Langley Pyramid vs. everybody else.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The other "advantage" a student will have at Lewis or Justice or Mount Vernon - more opportunities to participate in the activities such as sports and clubs and hold leadership positions.

I've heard that sports like golf, tennis, swimming, lacrosse are cut sports at Langley and at many of the other high SES high schools in the county. Not at Mount Vernon or Lewis - there was a recent thread on DCUM on Lewis not having a baseball team because they don't have enough students to even try out for the team. My children attend Mount Vernon HS. My DS had never played a round of golf in his entire life but joined the golf team as a freshman and by senior year was the #1 golfer on the team and a decent golfer. I've known multiple kids who have switched sports - freshman year they play basketball in the winter. Then sophomore year they join the swim team. I've known students who joined a sport for the first time their senior year - the boy's lacrosse team was full of guys who had never played lacrosse before high school. I've also known kids who have done two sports in the SAME season. Football and golf. Swim and basketball. Cross country and field hockey. Indoor track and swim. I don't think students are getting those opportunities at Langley.


Please tell us more about these multi-sport unicorns. This only happens because the majority of kids at the school are disinterested, checked out, or working part-time jobs that make it difficult or impossible to do other activities. That may make it easier for another kid to make the golf team with no prior experience. It doesn’t necessarily make for a more stimulating academic environment.


There are many UMC folks in Langley and they spend a lot of resources to train their kids as athletes. Many of them are members at Country Clubs and gym memberships. At the same time, there are a limited number of slots available on sports teams like golf, tennis, lacrosse so competition is fierce at Langley. When schools like Falls Church or Justice compete against Langley in golf or tennis, it is really embarrassing. Kids from Falls Church or Justice don't have the resources to compete against Langley's kids.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2023 11:03     Subject: Langley Pyramid vs. everybody else.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Love the naïveté of anyone assuming there is less drug use at Langley.

Bless your heart.


Love the obvious trolling of anyone claiming there is *more* drug use at Langley.

Bless your heart.


Never said anything about “more.” And not trolling, just sharing my personal experience with Langley grads, who most definitely had more experience with drugs than I did.


Wealthy teens are at higher risk for substance use and mental health issues yet our culture often leads us to mistakenly associate it with low-income and/or Black and Brown communities.
https://www.livescience.com/59329-drug-alcohol-addiction-wealthy-students.html

Anonymous
Post 10/17/2023 10:08     Subject: Langley Pyramid vs. everybody else.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Love the naïveté of anyone assuming there is less drug use at Langley.

Bless your heart.


Love the obvious trolling of anyone claiming there is *more* drug use at Langley.

Bless your heart.


Never said anything about “more.” And not trolling, just sharing my personal experience with Langley grads, who most definitely had more experience with drugs than I did.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2023 09:08     Subject: Langley Pyramid vs. everybody else.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Love the naïveté of anyone assuming there is less drug use at Langley.

Bless your heart.


Love the obvious trolling of anyone claiming there is *more* drug use at Langley.

Bless your heart.


Rich kids can afford the harder stuff. Might not be more, but it is more dangerous.


+1
I graduated from Langley in the early 2000s. Coke was absolutely a thing students did.
I work at a lower SES school in the county now, the main drugs we see are weed and in some cases, fentanyl.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2023 09:05     Subject: Langley Pyramid vs. everybody else.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It’s better in that there a fewer fights, less vaping and drug dealing, lower teen pregnancy rates, more advanced classes, fewer disruptive kids. They don’t have a lot of the challenges schools with many FARMS and ESOL kids have. The actual teachers aren’t better.


Is there a source to show how many advanced class offerings are at each HS?


Justice is an IB school and Langley is AP so the class offerings are going to be very different. You can see the offerings here:

https://insys.fcps.edu/CourseCatOnline/noneselected

There are plenty of posts on DCUM about what is "better" IB or AP. The bottom line is both are rigorous and colleges like both. I presented the question to ChatGPT and this is the response I got back:

Whether IB (International Baccalaureate) or AP (Advanced Placement) courses are better depends on various factors, including your personal goals, learning style, and the offerings available at your school. Both programs are rigorous and respected by colleges and universities, but they have some differences:

IB Courses:

1. International Perspective: IB courses often have a more global and international perspective. They promote understanding and appreciation of different cultures and viewpoints.

2. Holistic Education: The IB program emphasizes a well-rounded education, including subjects like Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and the Extended Essay, which encourage critical thinking and research skills.

3. Creativity and Community Service: IB students are often encouraged to engage in creative activities and community service through the Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) component.

4. Assessment: IB assessments can include coursework, oral exams, and final exams, which may be seen as more comprehensive by some.

AP Courses:

1. Specific Subject Focus: AP courses are more subject-focused, allowing students to dive deeper into specific areas of interest or expertise.

2. Flexible: You can choose individual AP courses based on your interests and academic strengths, as opposed to completing the entire IB program.

3. Common in the U.S.: AP courses are more common in the United States, so they may be more widely available in American schools.

4. Assessment: AP exams are well-known for their standardized format, consisting mainly of multiple-choice questions and essays.

Ultimately, the choice between IB and AP courses should be based on your goals and preferences. Here are some considerations to help you decide:

1. Your Interests: If you have a strong interest in a particular subject or subjects, AP courses might be a better fit. IB offers a broader curriculum.

2. International Perspective: If you value a more global perspective and want to explore a variety of subjects, IB may be more appealing.

3. College Admissions: Both programs are respected by colleges, so check with the colleges you're interested in to see if they have a preference or requirements.

4. Workload: Consider the workload and whether you prefer a more structured or flexible approach to your studies.

Available Resources: Make sure to check which program is offered at your school and if there are teachers with expertise in those courses.

Ultimately, what's "better" depends on your individual preferences, academic goals, and the resources available to you. Some students even choose to take a mix of IB and AP courses to suit their needs.

Anonymous
Post 10/17/2023 07:48     Subject: Langley Pyramid vs. everybody else.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It’s better in that there a fewer fights, less vaping and drug dealing, lower teen pregnancy rates, more advanced classes, fewer disruptive kids. They don’t have a lot of the challenges schools with many FARMS and ESOL kids have. The actual teachers aren’t better.


Is there a source to show how many advanced class offerings are at each HS?


You can start by comparing the foreign languages offered at Langley to those offered at Justice.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2023 07:46     Subject: Langley Pyramid vs. everybody else.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:An advanced student at Langley (one who takes all Honors and AP classes) will have the exact same outcome as an advanced student at Falls Church and Justice. In fact, the FC/Justice kid may have more of a benefit at local universities.


I suppose you can make this statement if you make a lot of assumptions, but objectively Langley has a lot more students every year with impressive “outcomes” than Justice or Falls Church.

Langley will typically have 12-15 National Merit Semifinalists every year and a large number of kids going to T25 schools. Falls Church and Justice rarely have any NMSFs and the college admissions are not as strong (although there have been years where a fair number of Justice kids got into UVA).


But this is the point, PP.
At Langley if this is your kid—he’s a dime a dozen. When a university looks at application, he’s “just another one of those Langley National Merit kids” But at Justice, he stands out among the applicants.

UPenn and Brown can’t take 14 national merit kids from the same high school! It doesn’t look right.
But they might take two from Langley and one from Justice! And if that one were YOUR kid, well then aren’t you glad he’s the obvious choice rather than crossing your fingers hoping that your kid is one of the 14 admitted?


The other "advantage" a student will have at Lewis or Justice or Mount Vernon - more opportunities to participate in the activities such as sports and clubs and hold leadership positions.

I've heard that sports like golf, tennis, swimming, lacrosse are cut sports at Langley and at many of the other high SES high schools in the county. Not at Mount Vernon or Lewis - there was a recent thread on DCUM on Lewis not having a baseball team because they don't have enough students to even try out for the team. My children attend Mount Vernon HS. My DS had never played a round of golf in his entire life but joined the golf team as a freshman and by senior year was the #1 golfer on the team and a decent golfer. I've known multiple kids who have switched sports - freshman year they play basketball in the winter. Then sophomore year they join the swim team. I've known students who joined a sport for the first time their senior year - the boy's lacrosse team was full of guys who had never played lacrosse before high school. I've also known kids who have done two sports in the SAME season. Football and golf. Swim and basketball. Cross country and field hockey. Indoor track and swim. I don't think students are getting those opportunities at Langley.


Please tell us more about these multi-sport unicorns. This only happens because the majority of kids at the school are disinterested, checked out, or working part-time jobs that make it difficult or impossible to do other activities. That may make it easier for another kid to make the golf team with no prior experience. It doesn’t necessarily make for a more stimulating academic environment.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2023 07:37     Subject: Langley Pyramid vs. everybody else.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:An advanced student at Langley (one who takes all Honors and AP classes) will have the exact same outcome as an advanced student at Falls Church and Justice. In fact, the FC/Justice kid may have more of a benefit at local universities.


I suppose you can make this statement if you make a lot of assumptions, but objectively Langley has a lot more students every year with impressive “outcomes” than Justice or Falls Church.

Langley will typically have 12-15 National Merit Semifinalists every year and a large number of kids going to T25 schools. Falls Church and Justice rarely have any NMSFs and the college admissions are not as strong (although there have been years where a fair number of Justice kids got into UVA).


But this is the point, PP.
At Langley if this is your kid—he’s a dime a dozen. When a university looks at application, he’s “just another one of those Langley National Merit kids” But at Justice, he stands out among the applicants.

UPenn and Brown can’t take 14 national merit kids from the same high school! It doesn’t look right.
But they might take two from Langley and one from Justice! And if that one were YOUR kid, well then aren’t you glad he’s the obvious choice rather than crossing your fingers hoping that your kid is one of the 14 admitted?


The odds that a kid is going to progress through the Justice pyramid, where the main focus is on getting ESOL and FARMS kids to pass their SOLs, end up a NMSF, and get into Penn or Brown are very small. It happens occasionally, but in general you just end up with smaller fish in a smaller pond.

Anonymous
Post 10/17/2023 06:09     Subject: Langley Pyramid vs. everybody else.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:An advanced student at Langley (one who takes all Honors and AP classes) will have the exact same outcome as an advanced student at Falls Church and Justice. In fact, the FC/Justice kid may have more of a benefit at local universities.


I suppose you can make this statement if you make a lot of assumptions, but objectively Langley has a lot more students every year with impressive “outcomes” than Justice or Falls Church.

Langley will typically have 12-15 National Merit Semifinalists every year and a large number of kids going to T25 schools. Falls Church and Justice rarely have any NMSFs and the college admissions are not as strong (although there have been years where a fair number of Justice kids got into UVA).


But this is the point, PP.
At Langley if this is your kid—he’s a dime a dozen. When a university looks at application, he’s “just another one of those Langley National Merit kids” But at Justice, he stands out among the applicants.

UPenn and Brown can’t take 14 national merit kids from the same high school! It doesn’t look right.
But they might take two from Langley and one from Justice! And if that one were YOUR kid, well then aren’t you glad he’s the obvious choice rather than crossing your fingers hoping that your kid is one of the 14 admitted?


The other "advantage" a student will have at Lewis or Justice or Mount Vernon - more opportunities to participate in the activities such as sports and clubs and hold leadership positions.

I've heard that sports like golf, tennis, swimming, lacrosse are cut sports at Langley and at many of the other high SES high schools in the county. Not at Mount Vernon or Lewis - there was a recent thread on DCUM on Lewis not having a baseball team because they don't have enough students to even try out for the team. My children attend Mount Vernon HS. My DS had never played a round of golf in his entire life but joined the golf team as a freshman and by senior year was the #1 golfer on the team and a decent golfer. I've known multiple kids who have switched sports - freshman year they play basketball in the winter. Then sophomore year they join the swim team. I've known students who joined a sport for the first time their senior year - the boy's lacrosse team was full of guys who had never played lacrosse before high school. I've also known kids who have done two sports in the SAME season. Football and golf. Swim and basketball. Cross country and field hockey. Indoor track and swim. I don't think students are getting those opportunities at Langley.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2023 04:54     Subject: Langley Pyramid vs. everybody else.
Anonymous wrote:It’s better in that there a fewer fights, less vaping and drug dealing, lower teen pregnancy rates, more advanced classes, fewer disruptive kids. They don’t have a lot of the challenges schools with many FARMS and ESOL kids have. The actual teachers aren’t better.


Is there a source to show how many advanced class offerings are at each HS?
Anonymous
Post 10/16/2023 23:48     Subject: Langley Pyramid vs. everybody else.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Love the naïveté of anyone assuming there is less drug use at Langley.

Bless your heart.


Love the obvious trolling of anyone claiming there is *more* drug use at Langley.

Bless your heart.


It’s well documented. And since Langley is one of the wealthiest schools drugs stand to be a particular problem there.

https://www.livescience.com/59329-drug-alcohol-addiction-wealthy-students.html


Let me guess: your kids do not attend Langley.
Anonymous
Post 10/16/2023 23:45     Subject: Langley Pyramid vs. everybody else.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:An advanced student at Langley (one who takes all Honors and AP classes) will have the exact same outcome as an advanced student at Falls Church and Justice. In fact, the FC/Justice kid may have more of a benefit at local universities.


I suppose you can make this statement if you make a lot of assumptions, but objectively Langley has a lot more students every year with impressive “outcomes” than Justice or Falls Church.

Langley will typically have 12-15 National Merit Semifinalists every year and a large number of kids going to T25 schools. Falls Church and Justice rarely have any NMSFs and the college admissions are not as strong (although there have been years where a fair number of Justice kids got into UVA).


But this is the point, PP.
At Langley if this is your kid—he’s a dime a dozen. When a university looks at application, he’s “just another one of those Langley National Merit kids” But at Justice, he stands out among the applicants.

UPenn and Brown can’t take 14 national merit kids from the same high school! It doesn’t look right.
But they might take two from Langley and one from Justice! And if that one were YOUR kid, well then aren’t you glad he’s the obvious choice rather than crossing your fingers hoping that your kid is one of the 14 admitted?