Reston - what's the big deal? Bad Schools! (Norfolk, Richmond: best school, universities)

[Alltheusernamesaretaken]

Originally Posted by Margery

As a smarty pants comment on schools, how did Abraham Lincoln do so well with only 18 months of schooling and a lot of self education and no TJ for his parents to brag about? It boggles the mind! Could it be that a lot of responsibility for achievement in school lies with the child?

This is similar to what I always cite: That Bill Clinton was a product of the Arkansas public education system and yet was a Rhodes scholar.

[bmwguydc]

Please review the OP's last comment. I am sure that when he/she logged back in that they were excited to see so many replies. However, few fit his/her situation, and the thread was not closed for their benefit. Please cease the arguments in threads where people ask about a specific location and budget as such threads reflect their question, for which they seek an answer. There have been/are general education threads that are NOVA-specific, and Education and Parenting forums. That is where such discussions belong, in future.

Education is a lightning rod for controversy, but please think before contributing to a hijack. How would you feel as an OP moving your family to a new place? It would have been beneficial to have so many pages of responses, rather than a general discussion. Whatever the reasons behind achievement gaps, they do not belong in threads asking for specific information in a specific NOVA location. Thank you.

[claremarie]

Originally Posted by djveed

But if you had a choice, wouldn't it make sense to go for the 8s instead of the 5s?

Yes, which is why the homes in higher-scoring school pyramids generally cost more than comparable homes in lower-scoring school pyramids. Many parents have reached the same conclusion that you suggest.
HOWEVER, there are always other differences between communities, and ease of commute is a big one to keep in mind. Only you can decide whether a higher school ranking is worth a longer or more unpleasant commute. Because your child is still very young, you may find that private schools, or magnet/specialized programs within the public school system, will become a feasible way to deal with a less-than-ideal school pyramid.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by seiketsu

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the idea that anyone would consider Reston schools bad. I usually roll my eyes toward all the complaints on this board about how snobby this area can be, I guess because I never seem to run into these types of people in my life. My acquaintances and colleagues are down-to-earth and have some perspective on the world. But reading this thread...holy crap, now I understand.

Now you can see why I hate how unapologetically snobby Reston is for what little it has to offer in return. How's the train line coming that should have been built 20 years ago if it weren't for Baby Boomer NIMBYs again?

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by RestonRunner86

Now you can see why I hate how unapologetically snobby Reston is for what little it has to offer in return. How's the train line coming that should have been built 20 years ago if it weren't for Baby Boomer NIMBYs again?

RR, seriously I think you are beating a dead horse. Trying not to diss you but this point has been exhausted.

[novajs]

Originally Posted by djveed

Wow. Little embarrassed that my post caused so much discussion and heat. I stepped away for twenty four hours and had to get caught up on eight pages!

So let me summarize -- Reston schools can be just as good as other Fairfax County schools, because "good" is a VERY VERY hard thing to define. Nonetheless, the implication is there that if you had a choice between a $375K home in Reston and a $375K home in Fairfax (albeit smaller in size), you would choose Fairfax because the schools from K-12 have a "higher greatschools.org rating." This is what GreatSchools says:



Hughes and South Lakes each score a 5. Fairfax High, Robinson, and Woodson each score an 8. Now this is not a guarantee that your children will come out smarter by any means. Neither is private schooling. But if you had a choice, wouldn't it make sense to go for the 8s instead of the 5s?

I don't know why Fairfax High got a 8. Both South Lakes and Herndon have better SAT scores than Fairfax High. This tells you ratings on greatschools.net don't tell you a lot. You will have to do your own homework on which school better fits your needs. It appears the website ratings don't even reflect avearge test scores correctly.

2007 SAT
Reading, Math, Writing, Total
South Lakes 535, 540, 521, 1596
Herndon 531, 540, 520, 1591
Fairfax 519, 548, 507, 1574


2008 SAT
Reading, Math, Writing, Total
South Lakes 526, 531, 511, 1568
Herndon 546, 554, 536, 1636
Fairfax 511, 536, 506, 1553

You might want to consider a Herndon High school pyramid given your budget and demand for "good" schools.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by novajs

I don't know why Fairfax High got a 8. Both South Lakes and Herndon have better SAT scores than Fairfax High. This tells you ratings on greatschools.net don't tell you a lot. You will have to do your own homework on which school better fits your needs. It appears the website ratings don't even reflect avearge test scores correctly.

2007 SAT
Reading, Math, Writing, Total
South Lakes 535, 540, 521, 1596
Herndon 531, 540, 520, 1591
Fairfax 519, 548, 507, 1574


2008 SAT
Reading, Math, Writing, Total
South Lakes 526, 531, 511, 1568
Herndon 546, 554, 536, 1636
Fairfax 511, 536, 506, 1553

You might want to consider a Herndon High school pyramid given your budget and demand for "good" schools.

Hardly seems a significant enough spread to worry about. I'm sure all three schools are very good and your decision should probably be based on other factors such as how you like a certain area and the house.

[michgc]

No opinon on whether one school listed here is better than the other. But I just wanted to add that I believe the greatschools site uses state test scores not SAT scores.

Originally Posted by novajs

I don't know why Fairfax High got a 8. Both South Lakes and Herndon have better SAT scores than Fairfax High. This tells you ratings on greatschools.net don't tell you a lot. You will have to do your own homework on which school better fits your needs. It appears the website ratings don't even reflect avearge test scores correctly.

2007 SAT
Reading, Math, Writing, Total
South Lakes 535, 540, 521, 1596
Herndon 531, 540, 520, 1591
Fairfax 519, 548, 507, 1574


2008 SAT
Reading, Math, Writing, Total
South Lakes 526, 531, 511, 1568
Herndon 546, 554, 536, 1636
Fairfax 511, 536, 506, 1553

You might want to consider a Herndon High school pyramid given your budget and demand for "good" schools.

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by RestonRunner86

Now you can see why I hate how unapologetically snobby Reston is for what little it has to offer in return. How's the train line coming that should have been built 20 years ago if it weren't for Baby Boomer NIMBYs again?

Again, one has to wonder why you remain in a town you hate? You just moved and signed another lease in Reston, a place that you despise. It would appear that you enjoy being miserable. To each his own.

BTW, they've been working on the subway for over 40 years, not 20, and it was largely leftist environmental loonies who opposed it.

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Hardly seems a significant enough spread to worry about. I'm sure all three schools are very good and your decision should probably be based on other factors such as how you like a certain area and the house.

All three schools are very mediocre, at best, for Fairfax county.