Landstown High school

[pbehson]

Originally Posted by ChessieMom

I know several teachers there and also a few parents, and I am only going by their opinions. That's why I just left it at a short comment. Their experiences could be in the minority, so take it for what you will. I DON'T agree with the comment that the schools will be as good as you want them to be. Wanting a school to be a good one, won't make it so. If that were so, I wouldn't be having to tell the kids working in the stores how to count back my change.

. . . I guess that is why this is a forum of opinions.

My only response to your comment is in the use of the pronoun "you." When I said that the schools are as good as "you" want them to be, I was referring to the student. Certainly a parent wishing that the school is great is silly. I never meant to imply that. The schools are as good as the student wants them to be, especially Ocean Lakes. Trust me, I work with AP Physics students. The strong kids, those who seek out academic challenges at OLHS, are getting internships to Microsoft and other huge tech companies; being admitted to Cal Tech, Ga Tech, MIT and the likes; and are offered military academy commissions (sp?). I would agree that the student who doesn't apply him/her self may look at the OLHS student body and think that there are a lot of knuclkeheads.

Again, VB has programs for everyone (medical, tech, law, arts, etc.) so that anyone who wants to do well can.

Sorry for sounding kind of curt in my response, I just get tired of hearing blanket statements like yours (OLHS is not a good school).

Peace!

P.S. I don't teach at OLHS.

[pbehson]

Originally Posted by ChessieMom

They inflate grades at every school. I'm convinced of it. It's called "No Child Left Behind". And it's crap. My son has been in the advanced/honors classes since they were first offered to him in the 4th or 5th grade, and I consider them to be truly what every class SHOULD be. Everything else is just stepping over a low bar.

I agree with this comment. That's why it is imperative that school systems offer advanced classes (at ever increasing levels) b/c NCLB dumbs everything down so 90% can pass.

[hurley89]

Nobody will say, but people are more cautious about schools that have less white students (Landstown, Bayside, Green Run) then they are with schools that are majority white (Ocean Lakes, Kellam, Cox, Kempsville). I think the best schools are the ones that have a good mixture of all different types of people (Tallwood, Salem). VB is a pretty diverse city and most schools will have little bit of everyone but some more or less than others. There isnt really a "ghetto" high school here. The students can act like it but are they really? Not at all. I had a kid who i coached last year that acted "ghetto" and come to find out she was an academy student going to my school from the COX district.The only sliver of ghetto in Virginia Beach is I-264. Norfolks a different story but thats for a different post

[ThinkBlue82]

The only schools I'd feel comfortable sending my kids too would probably be Kellam, Cox, Kempsville, maybe Princess Anne. I'd probably choose Kellam over all others because it's not ghetto and not too rich as Cox. I'd prefer to stay away from Cox because of all the spoiled kids that go there and drug use is common (drugs other than weed).

[ThinkBlue82]

On another note. I heard they rezoned the Kempsville Bayside area several years ago. Before that I would have said Kempsville would be an excellent choice to go to. Since then I heard the school got
"a little more ghetto". Probably nothing close to how Bayside is but of course you're never happy if things get worse.

[xGrendelx]

I graduated from Bayside and never had any problems. I wouldn't call it a great school academically, and yes there were a lot of fights and rowdy kids and drugs, but the kids who go there (and other so-called "rough" schools) learn to be around things like that and make it out okay. I hated Bayside my first year. It was a real culture shock and I saw a lot of crazy things happen, but I honestly feel going there made me a more confident, well-rounded person. I was taught many things at Bayside, much of it outside the classroom. I agree with pbehson in that high school is what the student makes it to be. I had a great high school experience, and I'd do it again if I could. Besides, I heard Bayside isn't anywhere near as bad as it used to be. Not sure how true that is, though.

To the OP, if your kid knows how to take care of him/herself, he or she will be fine anywhere.

[bbguy05]

There are no "bad" or "ghetto" high schools anywhere in Virginia Beach. It's all hearsay. Most if not all people who say Bayside, Green Run & Salem are bad schools never stepped foot inside any of these schools. They base their information from what they hear others say. I graduated from Green Run. Most people think the school is full of thugs and gangbangers ready to shank you as soon as you step through the door. It's the complete opposite. The student population was more Saved by the bell than Boyz n the hood. Shocking isn't it?