Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a good article in the Post on Wakefield’s crew team that just won the premier Varsity 8 races at the State Championship over schools with much larger programs with more funding. Many of the athletes are on scholarship, and that has opened up the sport to the kids who are less financially well off.

WAY TO GO, WAKEFIELD!!! I'm so proud of, and for, them; and I don't have any connection to crew. Good for them!
Maybe some athletic success will make people think more highly of Wakefield or give it a little respect, since any academic success is always dismissed or discredited.

Here's the article.

Wakefield sweeping the first varsity 8+s really makes these other schools look bad. I'm sure you'll hear Yorktown people say "well we won the states in 4+", but that's not the same. They know this. You drop to 4's when you haven't coached up 8 rowers well enough to compete.

By letting more kids onto the team, they can charge a lower fee per rower. That means each "scholarship" requires fewer dollars. They get a good deal at the Anacostia boathouse, and they don't blow money on extras the way you see with some of the other programs. So the dollars go to hiring coaches, and to expanding the pool of rowers. With a bigger pool, you can fill an 8+ with strong rowers.

everyone in the picture of the story is white though. good intentions but still a long way to go.

One of the 1V girls is a person of color. A few of of the 1V boys are people of color, the Post just didn't use that photo. The team as a whole is tremendously diverse- if you'd been at the Occoquan on Saturday and seen the freshman and novice athletes (newer, younger students who are benefiting from the outreach and inclusive approach and will be the athletes in the top boats in a year or two) you would have seen the whole picture.

Wakefield is a non white majority school. I do know they tried a bit harder this year to recruit more widely. I think at Wakefield we need to be more honest and provide more education on sports. We have to accept that not all parents and students have grown up in the US and in fact some may have arrived to the US in the past month. I don't think it would hurt to explain what sports are on the website and when sending announcements. Think about it - would someone just arriving to the US who might not have had sports at their own school growing up instantly know that Crew means rowing a boat on the water?

They do send announcements and publicize extracurricular activities all the time.
But explaining what the various clubs and activities are on the website would be helpful for all students, as would maintaining the website with only the current/active opportunities instead of burrowing them away in a Canvas course page that not all students sign-up for.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here with two students at Wakefield currently (both in immersion program but it is also our neighborhood HS). I could have written the following from PP:

"If you want a more pressure-cooker atmosphere for your child, WL is your best bet. If you're not so uptight about your kid taking 5 AP classes at once and being on the most competitive teams and accept that a less-pressure, less-competitive, still-among-the-top-2% of high schools in the country is perfectly fine and won't ruin your child's entire future, Wakefield is absolutely fine.

Parents not talking and boasting about their kids' extraordinary brilliance and academic achievement doesn't mean they do not emphasize academics or believe them to be important. Personally, I'm grateful not to be surrounded by competitive parents living vicariously through their children, stressing their kids out, and insisting anything less than the best and an ivy league degree is failure. I can't speak to the level of anxiety or pressure at Yorktown; but even though WL is an excellent school, I find the Wakefield environment pleasantly less stressful for us as parents and for our kid v. our kid and others we know at WL.
We have not heard of any problems with "disruptive" kids in any of our kid's classes of any level. I'm not aware of policies at any of the schools precluding students from taking an AP class - all students register for classes through their counselor and teachers make recommendations; but you can always discuss those recommendations with the teachers if you disagree. Generally, though, if a student is a good student and performing well, they will be recommended for the appropriate level courses."

DC 1 is a Junior and too AP World History as a Freshman (5 on AP exam), two APs as a Sophomore, 5 as a Junior and planning 5 as a Senior. For non-AP core classes has had intensified throughout. Has found the writing instruction rigorous. DC 2 is a Freshman and given the weakness of MS instruction during Covid chose not to take AP World (and grateful as one core class has provided plenty of challenge) but all intensified. Will have 3 APs next year.

It is a very "you do you" welcoming community. Kids tend to be involved in whatever sports/activities work for them. Most (if not all) of the "cut" sports are easier to make than at W-L and Yorktown.

Counselors have only been minimally helpful but they are all overwhelmed and, frankly, we can provide the additional support our kids need for college search, etc. so we really don't stress over it.

Our kids have been very happy there and have both commented how glad they are to be there.

This poster seems to be getting a lot of hate but I found this post to be very helpful. Just because my kids are Type A and want to push themselves doesn't mean I want them in a pressure cooker environment. thanks PP

+1
Anyone posting positively about Wakefield - especially Wakefield academics - is greeted with something negative.

That's because there is a lot of negative. You just can't or won't see it. You are one of those white parents who are obsessed with anything that let's you be a do gooder and you can contribute to or do a drive for but could care less about academics because your own kids are excelling and are racking up AP classes. You can't see the forest for the tress. As long as your kid is excelling, who cares about anything else that is going on. The school has real issues. Pretending otherwise just hurts those kids that you do those drives for. But then again, you don't want to do anything to upset the apple cart and put at risk your child's precious AP classes and perfect GPA.

Ok. . .show me a high school that doesn't have this going on? I would dare to say that the difference between the "haves & have-nots" at Wakefield is significantly narrower than at other area schools. . .prove me wrong!

DP. And I would say a school like Yorktown is much guiltier of the "feel good" efforts, since there are so few beneficiaries at the school and all efforts are for faceless, anonymous "those people" wherever they may be. At Wakefield, we see who we're helping and advocating for...and more importantly, so do our kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here with two students at Wakefield currently (both in immersion program but it is also our neighborhood HS). I could have written the following from PP:

"If you want a more pressure-cooker atmosphere for your child, WL is your best bet. If you're not so uptight about your kid taking 5 AP classes at once and being on the most competitive teams and accept that a less-pressure, less-competitive, still-among-the-top-2% of high schools in the country is perfectly fine and won't ruin your child's entire future, Wakefield is absolutely fine.

Parents not talking and boasting about their kids' extraordinary brilliance and academic achievement doesn't mean they do not emphasize academics or believe them to be important. Personally, I'm grateful not to be surrounded by competitive parents living vicariously through their children, stressing their kids out, and insisting anything less than the best and an ivy league degree is failure. I can't speak to the level of anxiety or pressure at Yorktown; but even though WL is an excellent school, I find the Wakefield environment pleasantly less stressful for us as parents and for our kid v. our kid and others we know at WL.
We have not heard of any problems with "disruptive" kids in any of our kid's classes of any level. I'm not aware of policies at any of the schools precluding students from taking an AP class - all students register for classes through their counselor and teachers make recommendations; but you can always discuss those recommendations with the teachers if you disagree. Generally, though, if a student is a good student and performing well, they will be recommended for the appropriate level courses."

DC 1 is a Junior and too AP World History as a Freshman (5 on AP exam), two APs as a Sophomore, 5 as a Junior and planning 5 as a Senior. For non-AP core classes has had intensified throughout. Has found the writing instruction rigorous. DC 2 is a Freshman and given the weakness of MS instruction during Covid chose not to take AP World (and grateful as one core class has provided plenty of challenge) but all intensified. Will have 3 APs next year.

It is a very "you do you" welcoming community. Kids tend to be involved in whatever sports/activities work for them. Most (if not all) of the "cut" sports are easier to make than at W-L and Yorktown.

Counselors have only been minimally helpful but they are all overwhelmed and, frankly, we can provide the additional support our kids need for college search, etc. so we really don't stress over it.

Our kids have been very happy there and have both commented how glad they are to be there.

This poster seems to be getting a lot of hate but I found this post to be very helpful. Just because my kids are Type A and want to push themselves doesn't mean I want them in a pressure cooker environment. thanks PP

+1
Anyone posting positively about Wakefield - especially Wakefield academics - is greeted with something negative.

That's because there is a lot of negative. You just can't or won't see it. You are one of those white parents who are obsessed with anything that let's you be a do gooder and you can contribute to or do a drive for but could care less about academics because your own kids are excelling and are racking up AP classes. You can't see the forest for the tress. As long as your kid is excelling, who cares about anything else that is going on. The school has real issues. Pretending otherwise just hurts those kids that you do those drives for. But then again, you don't want to do anything to upset the apple cart and put at risk your child's precious AP classes and perfect GPA.

Ok. . .show me a high school that doesn't have this going on? I would dare to say that the difference between the "haves & have-nots" at Wakefield is significantly narrower than at other area schools. . .prove me wrong!

Anonymous wrote:We are an Arlington family with lots of experience with / connections to Yorktown, H-B, and Wakefield, although not W-L. They all have their strengths and weaknesses, but you can get an outstanding education at any one of them without much difficulty. Beyond that, Wakefield's diversity offers something that few other schools in the region can match: real world preparation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a good article in the Post on Wakefield’s crew team that just won the premier Varsity 8 races at the State Championship over schools with much larger programs with more funding. Many of the athletes are on scholarship, and that has opened up the sport to the kids who are less financially well off.

WAY TO GO, WAKEFIELD!!! I'm so proud of, and for, them; and I don't have any connection to crew. Good for them!
Maybe some athletic success will make people think more highly of Wakefield or give it a little respect, since any academic success is always dismissed or discredited.

Here's the article.

Wakefield sweeping the first varsity 8+s really makes these other schools look bad. I'm sure you'll hear Yorktown people say "well we won the states in 4+", but that's not the same. They know this. You drop to 4's when you haven't coached up 8 rowers well enough to compete.

By letting more kids onto the team, they can charge a lower fee per rower. That means each "scholarship" requires fewer dollars. They get a good deal at the Anacostia boathouse, and they don't blow money on extras the way you see with some of the other programs. So the dollars go to hiring coaches, and to expanding the pool of rowers. With a bigger pool, you can fill an 8+ with strong rowers.

everyone in the picture of the story is white though. good intentions but still a long way to go.

One of the 1V girls is a person of color. A few of of the 1V boys are people of color, the Post just didn't use that photo. The team as a whole is tremendously diverse- if you'd been at the Occoquan on Saturday and seen the freshman and novice athletes (newer, younger students who are benefiting from the outreach and inclusive approach and will be the athletes in the top boats in a year or two) you would have seen the whole picture.

Wakefield is a non white majority school. I do know they tried a bit harder this year to recruit more widely. I think at Wakefield we need to be more honest and provide more education on sports. We have to accept that not all parents and students have grown up in the US and in fact some may have arrived to the US in the past month. I don't think it would hurt to explain what sports are on the website and when sending announcements. Think about it - would someone just arriving to the US who might not have had sports at their own school growing up instantly know that Crew means rowing a boat on the water?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here with two students at Wakefield currently (both in immersion program but it is also our neighborhood HS). I could have written the following from PP:

"If you want a more pressure-cooker atmosphere for your child, WL is your best bet. If you're not so uptight about your kid taking 5 AP classes at once and being on the most competitive teams and accept that a less-pressure, less-competitive, still-among-the-top-2% of high schools in the country is perfectly fine and won't ruin your child's entire future, Wakefield is absolutely fine.

Parents not talking and boasting about their kids' extraordinary brilliance and academic achievement doesn't mean they do not emphasize academics or believe them to be important. Personally, I'm grateful not to be surrounded by competitive parents living vicariously through their children, stressing their kids out, and insisting anything less than the best and an ivy league degree is failure. I can't speak to the level of anxiety or pressure at Yorktown; but even though WL is an excellent school, I find the Wakefield environment pleasantly less stressful for us as parents and for our kid v. our kid and others we know at WL.
We have not heard of any problems with "disruptive" kids in any of our kid's classes of any level. I'm not aware of policies at any of the schools precluding students from taking an AP class - all students register for classes through their counselor and teachers make recommendations; but you can always discuss those recommendations with the teachers if you disagree. Generally, though, if a student is a good student and performing well, they will be recommended for the appropriate level courses."

DC 1 is a Junior and too AP World History as a Freshman (5 on AP exam), two APs as a Sophomore, 5 as a Junior and planning 5 as a Senior. For non-AP core classes has had intensified throughout. Has found the writing instruction rigorous. DC 2 is a Freshman and given the weakness of MS instruction during Covid chose not to take AP World (and grateful as one core class has provided plenty of challenge) but all intensified. Will have 3 APs next year.

It is a very "you do you" welcoming community. Kids tend to be involved in whatever sports/activities work for them. Most (if not all) of the "cut" sports are easier to make than at W-L and Yorktown.

Counselors have only been minimally helpful but they are all overwhelmed and, frankly, we can provide the additional support our kids need for college search, etc. so we really don't stress over it.

Our kids have been very happy there and have both commented how glad they are to be there.

This poster seems to be getting a lot of hate but I found this post to be very helpful. Just because my kids are Type A and want to push themselves doesn't mean I want them in a pressure cooker environment. thanks PP

+1
Anyone posting positively about Wakefield - especially Wakefield academics - is greeted with something negative.

That's because there is a lot of negative. You just can't or won't see it. You are one of those white parents who are obsessed with anything that let's you be a do gooder and you can contribute to or do a drive for but could care less about academics because your own kids are excelling and are racking up AP classes. You can't see the forest for the tress. As long as your kid is excelling, who cares about anything else that is going on. The school has real issues. Pretending otherwise just hurts those kids that you do those drives for. But then again, you don't want to do anything to upset the apple cart and put at risk your child's precious AP classes and perfect GPA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here with two students at Wakefield currently (both in immersion program but it is also our neighborhood HS). I could have written the following from PP:

"If you want a more pressure-cooker atmosphere for your child, WL is your best bet. If you're not so uptight about your kid taking 5 AP classes at once and being on the most competitive teams and accept that a less-pressure, less-competitive, still-among-the-top-2% of high schools in the country is perfectly fine and won't ruin your child's entire future, Wakefield is absolutely fine.

Parents not talking and boasting about their kids' extraordinary brilliance and academic achievement doesn't mean they do not emphasize academics or believe them to be important. Personally, I'm grateful not to be surrounded by competitive parents living vicariously through their children, stressing their kids out, and insisting anything less than the best and an ivy league degree is failure. I can't speak to the level of anxiety or pressure at Yorktown; but even though WL is an excellent school, I find the Wakefield environment pleasantly less stressful for us as parents and for our kid v. our kid and others we know at WL.
We have not heard of any problems with "disruptive" kids in any of our kid's classes of any level. I'm not aware of policies at any of the schools precluding students from taking an AP class - all students register for classes through their counselor and teachers make recommendations; but you can always discuss those recommendations with the teachers if you disagree. Generally, though, if a student is a good student and performing well, they will be recommended for the appropriate level courses."

DC 1 is a Junior and too AP World History as a Freshman (5 on AP exam), two APs as a Sophomore, 5 as a Junior and planning 5 as a Senior. For non-AP core classes has had intensified throughout. Has found the writing instruction rigorous. DC 2 is a Freshman and given the weakness of MS instruction during Covid chose not to take AP World (and grateful as one core class has provided plenty of challenge) but all intensified. Will have 3 APs next year.

It is a very "you do you" welcoming community. Kids tend to be involved in whatever sports/activities work for them. Most (if not all) of the "cut" sports are easier to make than at W-L and Yorktown.

Counselors have only been minimally helpful but they are all overwhelmed and, frankly, we can provide the additional support our kids need for college search, etc. so we really don't stress over it.

Our kids have been very happy there and have both commented how glad they are to be there.

This poster seems to be getting a lot of hate but I found this post to be very helpful. Just because my kids are Type A and want to push themselves doesn't mean I want them in a pressure cooker environment. thanks PP

+1
Anyone posting positively about Wakefield - especially Wakefield academics - is greeted with something negative.

That's because there is a lot of negative. You just can't or won't see it. You are one of those white parents who are obsessed with anything that let's you be a do gooder and you can contribute to or do a drive for but could care less about academics because your own kids are excelling and are racking up AP classes. You can't see the forest for the tress. As long as your kid is excelling, who cares about anything else that is going on. The school has real issues. Pretending otherwise just hurts those kids that you do those drives for. But then again, you don't want to do anything to upset the apple cart and put at risk your child's precious AP classes and perfect GPA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here with two students at Wakefield currently (both in immersion program but it is also our neighborhood HS). I could have written the following from PP:

"If you want a more pressure-cooker atmosphere for your child, WL is your best bet. If you're not so uptight about your kid taking 5 AP classes at once and being on the most competitive teams and accept that a less-pressure, less-competitive, still-among-the-top-2% of high schools in the country is perfectly fine and won't ruin your child's entire future, Wakefield is absolutely fine.

Parents not talking and boasting about their kids' extraordinary brilliance and academic achievement doesn't mean they do not emphasize academics or believe them to be important. Personally, I'm grateful not to be surrounded by competitive parents living vicariously through their children, stressing their kids out, and insisting anything less than the best and an ivy league degree is failure. I can't speak to the level of anxiety or pressure at Yorktown; but even though WL is an excellent school, I find the Wakefield environment pleasantly less stressful for us as parents and for our kid v. our kid and others we know at WL.
We have not heard of any problems with "disruptive" kids in any of our kid's classes of any level. I'm not aware of policies at any of the schools precluding students from taking an AP class - all students register for classes through their counselor and teachers make recommendations; but you can always discuss those recommendations with the teachers if you disagree. Generally, though, if a student is a good student and performing well, they will be recommended for the appropriate level courses."

DC 1 is a Junior and too AP World History as a Freshman (5 on AP exam), two APs as a Sophomore, 5 as a Junior and planning 5 as a Senior. For non-AP core classes has had intensified throughout. Has found the writing instruction rigorous. DC 2 is a Freshman and given the weakness of MS instruction during Covid chose not to take AP World (and grateful as one core class has provided plenty of challenge) but all intensified. Will have 3 APs next year.

It is a very "you do you" welcoming community. Kids tend to be involved in whatever sports/activities work for them. Most (if not all) of the "cut" sports are easier to make than at W-L and Yorktown.

Counselors have only been minimally helpful but they are all overwhelmed and, frankly, we can provide the additional support our kids need for college search, etc. so we really don't stress over it.

Our kids have been very happy there and have both commented how glad they are to be there.

This poster seems to be getting a lot of hate but I found this post to be very helpful. Just because my kids are Type A and want to push themselves doesn't mean I want them in a pressure cooker environment. thanks PP

+1
Anyone posting positively about Wakefield - especially Wakefield academics - is greeted with something negative.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a good article in the Post on Wakefield’s crew team that just won the premier Varsity 8 races at the State Championship over schools with much larger programs with more funding. Many of the athletes are on scholarship, and that has opened up the sport to the kids who are less financially well off.

WAY TO GO, WAKEFIELD!!! I'm so proud of, and for, them; and I don't have any connection to crew. Good for them!
Maybe some athletic success will make people think more highly of Wakefield or give it a little respect, since any academic success is always dismissed or discredited.

Here's the article.

Wakefield sweeping the first varsity 8+s really makes these other schools look bad. I'm sure you'll hear Yorktown people say "well we won the states in 4+", but that's not the same. They know this. You drop to 4's when you haven't coached up 8 rowers well enough to compete.

By letting more kids onto the team, they can charge a lower fee per rower. That means each "scholarship" requires fewer dollars. They get a good deal at the Anacostia boathouse, and they don't blow money on extras the way you see with some of the other programs. So the dollars go to hiring coaches, and to expanding the pool of rowers. With a bigger pool, you can fill an 8+ with strong rowers.

everyone in the picture of the story is white though. good intentions but still a long way to go.

One of the 1V girls is a person of color. A few of of the 1V boys are people of color, the Post just didn't use that photo. The team as a whole is tremendously diverse- if you'd been at the Occoquan on Saturday and seen the freshman and novice athletes (newer, younger students who are benefiting from the outreach and inclusive approach and will be the athletes in the top boats in a year or two) you would have seen the whole picture.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a good article in the Post on Wakefield’s crew team that just won the premier Varsity 8 races at the State Championship over schools with much larger programs with more funding. Many of the athletes are on scholarship, and that has opened up the sport to the kids who are less financially well off.

WAY TO GO, WAKEFIELD!!! I'm so proud of, and for, them; and I don't have any connection to crew. Good for them!
Maybe some athletic success will make people think more highly of Wakefield or give it a little respect, since any academic success is always dismissed or discredited.

Here's the article.

Wakefield sweeping the first varsity 8+s really makes these other schools look bad. I'm sure you'll hear Yorktown people say "well we won the states in 4+", but that's not the same. They know this. You drop to 4's when you haven't coached up 8 rowers well enough to compete.

By letting more kids onto the team, they can charge a lower fee per rower. That means each "scholarship" requires fewer dollars. They get a good deal at the Anacostia boathouse, and they don't blow money on extras the way you see with some of the other programs. So the dollars go to hiring coaches, and to expanding the pool of rowers. With a bigger pool, you can fill an 8+ with strong rowers.

everyone in the picture of the story is white though. good intentions but still a long way to go.

One of the 1V girls is a person of color. A few of of the 1V boys are people of color, the Post just didn't use that photo. The team as a whole is tremendously diverse- if you'd been at the Occoquan on Saturday and seen the freshman and novice athletes (newer, younger students who are benefiting from the outreach and inclusive approach and will be the athletes in the top boats in a year or two) you would have seen the whole picture.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a good article in the Post on Wakefield’s crew team that just won the premier Varsity 8 races at the State Championship over schools with much larger programs with more funding. Many of the athletes are on scholarship, and that has opened up the sport to the kids who are less financially well off.

WAY TO GO, WAKEFIELD!!! I'm so proud of, and for, them; and I don't have any connection to crew. Good for them!
Maybe some athletic success will make people think more highly of Wakefield or give it a little respect, since any academic success is always dismissed or discredited.

Here's the article.

Wakefield sweeping the first varsity 8+s really makes these other schools look bad. I'm sure you'll hear Yorktown people say "well we won the states in 4+", but that's not the same. They know this. You drop to 4's when you haven't coached up 8 rowers well enough to compete.

By letting more kids onto the team, they can charge a lower fee per rower. That means each "scholarship" requires fewer dollars. They get a good deal at the Anacostia boathouse, and they don't blow money on extras the way you see with some of the other programs. So the dollars go to hiring coaches, and to expanding the pool of rowers. With a bigger pool, you can fill an 8+ with strong rowers.

Hopefully the Wakefield success will spur the county to action on the delayed Arlington Boathouse. It's crazy how W-L rows out of the Potomac Boat Club, Yorktown is at Thompsons, and Wakefield rows out of the Anacostia.

It’s about the schools too. When you lower fees, have more kids, and watch the budget, you don’t have to cater to the wealthiest parents. So some other schools need to ask themselves if excluding kids is more important than performing well. Most of course will say yes because it reduces the competition their kids face for a seat. That just opens the door for Wakefield.

Same thing happens with the academics.

I know at W-L crew is no cut. Everyone interested can join.

Does Yorktown have cuts?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a good article in the Post on Wakefield’s crew team that just won the premier Varsity 8 races at the State Championship over schools with much larger programs with more funding. Many of the athletes are on scholarship, and that has opened up the sport to the kids who are less financially well off.

WAY TO GO, WAKEFIELD!!! I'm so proud of, and for, them; and I don't have any connection to crew. Good for them!
Maybe some athletic success will make people think more highly of Wakefield or give it a little respect, since any academic success is always dismissed or discredited.

Here's the article.

Wakefield sweeping the first varsity 8+s really makes these other schools look bad. I'm sure you'll hear Yorktown people say "well we won the states in 4+", but that's not the same. They know this. You drop to 4's when you haven't coached up 8 rowers well enough to compete.

By letting more kids onto the team, they can charge a lower fee per rower. That means each "scholarship" requires fewer dollars. They get a good deal at the Anacostia boathouse, and they don't blow money on extras the way you see with some of the other programs. So the dollars go to hiring coaches, and to expanding the pool of rowers. With a bigger pool, you can fill an 8+ with strong rowers.

Hopefully the Wakefield success will spur the county to action on the delayed Arlington Boathouse. It's crazy how W-L rows out of the Potomac Boat Club, Yorktown is at Thompsons, and Wakefield rows out of the Anacostia.

It’s about the schools too. When you lower fees, have more kids, and watch the budget, you don’t have to cater to the wealthiest parents. So some other schools need to ask themselves if excluding kids is more important than performing well. Most of course will say yes because it reduces the competition their kids face for a seat. That just opens the door for Wakefield.

Same thing happens with the academics.

I know at W-L crew is no cut. Everyone interested can join.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a good article in the Post on Wakefield’s crew team that just won the premier Varsity 8 races at the State Championship over schools with much larger programs with more funding. Many of the athletes are on scholarship, and that has opened up the sport to the kids who are less financially well off.

WAY TO GO, WAKEFIELD!!! I'm so proud of, and for, them; and I don't have any connection to crew. Good for them!
Maybe some athletic success will make people think more highly of Wakefield or give it a little respect, since any academic success is always dismissed or discredited.

Here's the article.

Wakefield sweeping the first varsity 8+s really makes these other schools look bad. I'm sure you'll hear Yorktown people say "well we won the states in 4+", but that's not the same. They know this. You drop to 4's when you haven't coached up 8 rowers well enough to compete.

By letting more kids onto the team, they can charge a lower fee per rower. That means each "scholarship" requires fewer dollars. They get a good deal at the Anacostia boathouse, and they don't blow money on extras the way you see with some of the other programs. So the dollars go to hiring coaches, and to expanding the pool of rowers. With a bigger pool, you can fill an 8+ with strong rowers.

everyone in the picture of the story is white though. good intentions but still a long way to go.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a good article in the Post on Wakefield’s crew team that just won the premier Varsity 8 races at the State Championship over schools with much larger programs with more funding. Many of the athletes are on scholarship, and that has opened up the sport to the kids who are less financially well off.

WAY TO GO, WAKEFIELD!!! I'm so proud of, and for, them; and I don't have any connection to crew. Good for them!
Maybe some athletic success will make people think more highly of Wakefield or give it a little respect, since any academic success is always dismissed or discredited.

Here's the article.

Wakefield sweeping the first varsity 8+s really makes these other schools look bad. I'm sure you'll hear Yorktown people say "well we won the states in 4+", but that's not the same. They know this. You drop to 4's when you haven't coached up 8 rowers well enough to compete.

By letting more kids onto the team, they can charge a lower fee per rower. That means each "scholarship" requires fewer dollars. They get a good deal at the Anacostia boathouse, and they don't blow money on extras the way you see with some of the other programs. So the dollars go to hiring coaches, and to expanding the pool of rowers. With a bigger pool, you can fill an 8+ with strong rowers.

everyone in the picture of the story is white though. good intentions but still a long way to go.