People get defensive because their own school isn't in the top 10 or whatever, but the fact is that these rankings shine a light on which schools do a good job of preparing their students to pass both basic competency exams and advanced-level classes. They also highlight some of the disparities that exist between schools in prosperous jurisdictions like Fairfax that dominate the top rankings and schools in other parts of the state where few students experience an AP or IB class before they graduate.

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Anonymous wrote:I don't plan to start bragging until my kid gets into a school that actually screens admissions. Wtf is the point of this list? It's not as if these schools are selective (other than TJ, of course). They are public schools, for god's sake!

Well, if you were really a DC urban mom, you'd understand. Everything in life whether it is my child's school, my house, my neighborhood, my job, my husband, my looks, etc. must be strictly ranked and compared to everyone else. And I WON'T stop until I get to the top of every list there is. I'll probably die before I reach the top of every list, but at least my tombstone will say I died on my climb to the top. Upwards on onwards! DC urban mom for life!

Oh yes. Because that kind of attitude is totally specific to DC urban moms and not at all endemic in all major urban/suburban areas in the nation. You really nailed it there.

Keep justifying yourself and your warped perspective any way you want.

WTF are you talking about? The above post wasn't justifying anything. But yes, Virginia, in fact this kind of attitude is pretty pervasive in many areas across the country. And OF COURSE it's ridiculous.

I would like the list to pull out all the "special" schools - those that are a choice/magnet/test-in school.


What "regular" schools would be top in the country?

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Anonymous wrote:The thing is --- the curriculum at all the FCPS schools is the same. Some people pay more in housing so their kids can have richer/whiter friends. Whatever.

The student body is also important not just the teaching curriculum.

Definitely. I don't want those brown and black colored hoodlums screwing up my kids' education. When is the next klan meeting? I've got to pick up my sheet from the dry cleaners.

Part of the ranking is how well minorities perform. I doubt that many of large populations of FCPS asians and hispanics will be attending the klan rallies at any of the top 10 schools listed.

Learning has nothing to do w/ race and the list proves that you can be of a lower SES, different demographics or be a minority and FCPS will help you excel.

Then, why are the schools with highest minority populations not on the list? Enough said.

TJ has a lot of Asians and is 61% minority, McLean has a lot of Asians and is 39% minority, Oakton is 39% minority, Yorktown is 39% minority, Woodson is 40% minority, West Springfield is 40% minority, Marshall has a lot of Asians and Hispanics and is 46% minority.

If you have a high Asian population - the results are invariable skewed because they are high achieving. Where would TJ be ranked without Asians?

...probably still at the top like it was 15 years ago with TJ was mostly Caucasian.

how are the rankings offensive? I don't even understand that.

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Anonymous wrote:As a parent with a child at one of these top 10 schools, let me just say:

These high school rankings are stupid and deeply offensive.

THANK YOU!

Defensive much?