Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anonymous

Oakton High parent here (our school is always rated, btw), and I agree that Montgomery and Fairfax counties are on par with one another.

Saw what you did there...I wouldn't be so smug. Next year, it could be Oakton that gets screwed by ESL test results.

I am glad my kids (when driving age) don't have to go down the windy road to Oakton HS. In the winter, it's of course way worse. No thanks. No comment on anything else but getting there with a teen driving..

Anonymous wrote:Really? Your best dig on Oakton HS is having to drive down Sutton?

Anonymous wrote:Anonymous

Oakton High parent here (our school is always rated, btw), and I agree that Montgomery and Fairfax counties are on par with one another.

Saw what you did there...I wouldn't be so smug. Next year, it could be Oakton that gets screwed by ESL test results.

Oakton High parent here (our school is always rated, btw), and I agree that Montgomery and Fairfax counties are on par with one another.

Anonymous wrote:
OK...So this is falling into, blah, blah, blah your school isn't good...test scores...blah, blah, blah...not top 10...blah, blah, blah. Most this line of discussion is a difference in search of a distinction.

From someone who actually has a DD at Madison, we have found a strong parent community, respected teachers, engaged students, worthwhile administration, challenging courses, extra curricular activities and athletics. DD is in some AP classes (not all), two sports (can't say which as that will give it away) and chorus. Some how she makes time for all of it and does carry good grades. It is absolutely perfect, no; is it an exceptional experience, yes. And yes, Vienna does regard it at as "their" school, but you know that is part of what creates an enduring community. If you aren't from here you won't really understand that about Madison specifically...recently and under very sad circumstances, that term "community" had really meaning and impact with outpouring support for the kids and teachers following the death of a staff member. Someone first recognized as a teacher and mentor, being a coach was role that gave him the privilege of working with kids and impacting their lives. People from "here" remember.

Nitpicking over school scores and lists in Fairfax and Arlington counties, just strikes me as silly compared so many other schools elsewhere in Virginia or the Washington metro area where there aren't that many "good" choices. Think about the choices / costs families face in DC, Montgomery, or Prince George's county...we are extremely blessed with so many schools that are high performing in Northern Virginia. If each of us knows a particular school, teachers and kids better, we could all say something positive with the school that we most familiar...like I shared above.


I wouldn't lump Montgomery in with these. They have some of the best schools in the nation. MD schools outrank VA schools overall, and Montgomery is on equal par, if not better, than FFX.

Montgomery has some excellent schools but overall it's not close to being on par with Fairfax. It has a half-dozen or so excellent pyramids, over a dozen mediocre or awful pyramids, and not much in the middle besides Sherwood and Quince Orchard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OK...So this is falling into, blah, blah, blah your school isn't good...test scores...blah, blah, blah...not top 10...blah, blah, blah. Most this line of discussion is a difference in search of a distinction.

From someone who actually has a DD at Madison, we have found a strong parent community, respected teachers, engaged students, worthwhile administration, challenging courses, extra curricular activities and athletics. DD is in some AP classes (not all), two sports (can't say which as that will give it away) and chorus. Some how she makes time for all of it and does carry good grades. It is absolutely perfect, no; is it an exceptional experience, yes. And yes, Vienna does regard it at as "their" school, but you know that is part of what creates an enduring community. If you aren't from here you won't really understand that about Madison specifically...recently and under very sad circumstances, that term "community" had really meaning and impact with outpouring support for the kids and teachers following the death of a staff member. Someone first recognized as a teacher and mentor, being a coach was role that gave him the privilege of working with kids and impacting their lives. People from "here" remember.

Nitpicking over school scores and lists in Fairfax and Arlington counties, just strikes me as silly compared so many other schools elsewhere in Virginia or the Washington metro area where there aren't that many "good" choices. Think about the choices / costs families face in DC, Montgomery, or Prince George's county...we are extremely blessed with so many schools that are high performing in Northern Virginia. If each of us knows a particular school, teachers and kids better, we could all say something positive with the school that we most familiar...like I shared above.

I wouldn't lump Montgomery in with these. They have some of the best schools in the nation. MD schools outrank VA schools overall, and Montgomery is on equal par, if not better, than FFX.

Is there one poster who is the constant fan club for Madison? All of his/her posts sound exactly the same.

Anonymous wrote:
OK...So this is falling into, blah, blah, blah your school isn't good...test scores...blah, blah, blah...not top 10...blah, blah, blah. Most this line of discussion is a difference in search of a distinction.

From someone who actually has a DD at Madison, we have found a strong parent community, respected teachers, engaged students, worthwhile administration, challenging courses, extra curricular activities and athletics. DD is in some AP classes (not all), two sports (can't say which as that will give it away) and chorus. Some how she makes time for all of it and does carry good grades. It is absolutely perfect, no; is it an exceptional experience, yes. And yes, Vienna does regard it at as "their" school, but you know that is part of what creates an enduring community. If you aren't from here you won't really understand that about Madison specifically...recently and under very sad circumstances, that term "community" had really meaning and impact with outpouring support for the kids and teachers following the death of a staff member. Someone first recognized as a teacher and mentor, being a coach was role that gave him the privilege of working with kids and impacting their lives. People from "here" remember.

Nitpicking over school scores and lists in Fairfax and Arlington counties, just strikes me as silly compared so many other schools elsewhere in Virginia or the Washington metro area where there aren't that many "good" choices. Think about the choices / costs families face in DC, Montgomery, or Prince George's county...we are extremely blessed with so many schools that are high performing in Northern Virginia. If each of us knows a particular school, teachers and kids better, we could all say something positive with the school that we most familiar...like I shared above.