It is very different from other Arlington schools. Other than diversity, similar to W-L; but definitely not the same feel or atmosphere as Arlington Tech, HB Woodlawn, or Wakefield. Many people think Wakefield isn't academic enough; but it has the usual AP classes and the AP Capstone which actually teaches students how to write a real research paper -- that's a huge plus IMO. And Wakefield does it without the pressure cooker feel. Most of the college stuff seems focused more on specific minority groups; but that just contributes to the less stressed atmosphere for the UMC white families. I don't know, but I suspect there's more "coddling" at Wakefield. Good or bad, the point is that it's not the same as Yorktown.

Anonymous wrote:It's a good high school. You do have to understand that, for college admissions today, a place like Yorktown can actually be a disadvantage (see heavily URM white high school). So if you're looking to maximize your kid's chances of admission at a good school you might consider alternatives.

Anonymous wrote:Considered private school for DC, wound up at Yorktown, very glad. DC is in the accelerated classes, is learning a ton--much more than I ever did at my private school, considered one of the best in NYC--in math and science, has made cool friends, has great relationships with teachers, is just generally thriving. Save us 45K a year plus transportation hassles. Don't know if we'd be as happy if DC was in regular classes and/or needed to work much harder, DC gets better grades than peers on tests with less effort, so stress is low. Not bragging, just don't know how things would have played out with a different kid who had different peers or needed more hand-holding. Not sure YT will be right for sibling.

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Anonymous wrote:Can anyone speak to the quality of education at Yorktown and whether meaningful college counseling is offered?

Is it a pressure cooker among the high achievers (which I've heard accounts for nearly 25% of the class!)?

Yorktown senior parent here- College Counseling was not beneficial at all in my opinion. But, this could be counselor dependent. The counselors help you organize your letters of rec, etc., but in terms of helping you select colleges, they will direct you to Naviance. The counselors are literally managing hundreds of kids... hard to get a personal feel.

As for pressure cooker, yes, it can be if your child decides to take many AP classes along with advanced courses. You can control, to some extent, the level of pressure.... If you are concerned about *rigor* which is a key word for college admissions, then yes, it will be a pressure cooker. But, some of that is also teacher and class dependent. Some classes (AP US History, AP Chem, high level Math, etc.) will be much harder than say AP Economics.

There is a lot of bad press on this feed for this school and WMS. Not sure it is any different than other Arlington schools or Fairfax schools for that matter. It is a large school in an affluent area....good teachers/bad teachers, overachievers and underachievers, etc.

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone speak to the quality of education at Yorktown and whether meaningful college counseling is offered?

Is it a pressure cooker among the high achievers (which I've heard accounts for nearly 25% of the class!)?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks to those providing feedback on Yorktown experiences. Perhaps most shocking is that the school has no bathroom doors! What? Is that true?
And, no outdoor time?
Does the size of the school prevent students from trying new activities/sports? Only the exceptional on sports teams, in art, etc?

Truth on bathroom doors...had a vaping problem

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks to those providing feedback on Yorktown experiences. Perhaps most shocking is that the school has no bathroom doors! What? Is that true?
And, no outdoor time?
Does the size of the school prevent students from trying new activities/sports? Only the exceptional on sports teams, in art, etc?

Truth on bathroom doors...had a vaping problem

My kids are in elementary, but I went to the yorktown basketball game the other night and there were doors on the bathroom stalls. The door might have been propped open to the bathroom.

The stalls have doors IIRC, but the main doors to the bathrooms were removed or kept propped open.

Yorktown alum here. Used to smoke in the bathrooms. It’s kind of a right of passage. Poor kids.

FYI the doors came off after a student committed suicide in the bathroom.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks to those providing feedback on Yorktown experiences. Perhaps most shocking is that the school has no bathroom doors! What? Is that true?
And, no outdoor time?
Does the size of the school prevent students from trying new activities/sports? Only the exceptional on sports teams, in art, etc?

Truth on bathroom doors...had a vaping problem

My kids are in elementary, but I went to the yorktown basketball game the other night and there were doors on the bathroom stalls. The door might have been propped open to the bathroom.

The stalls have doors IIRC, but the main doors to the bathrooms were removed or kept propped open.

Yorktown alum here. Used to smoke in the bathrooms. It’s kind of a right of passage. Poor kids.

Anonymous wrote:So many of you parents are so weird. The obsession with your kid's education is ridiculous. Someday you'll look back at how you're acting with embarrassment.

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Anonymous wrote:Meh. I just sent my kids to TJ. I didn't want to have them deal with the douchebags in privates.

This is ironic given the culture at TJ.

What's so ironic about it? Most kids there value academics and learning (over sports, parties, etc) and work really hard.

The kids at are private school are intensely academic. That is why it’s ironic.

Your general assumption that private kids are douchebags says a lot about you.

I am a TJ alum and would not send my kids there. It’s a soulless place.

To each their own.