Which school pyramids are considered "desirable" in Fairfax County? (Burke: sales, neighborhoods)

[tankdude]

Originally Posted by JEB77

I'm quite sure Tankdude can take care of himself. We've made our points - he's identified the high schools he likes, and my view is that his frame of reference is narrow and may reflect unstated assumptions that he may not have fully considered. I will continue to respond to his posts as I see fit, not because I want to engage in a tit-for-tat, but because I want prospective NoVa residents to understand there are competing views and that there are many excellent schools in the county.

In saying nice things about Vienna (apart from its undue concentration of mattress stores, which, along with its ticket-prone local Police Department, are a bit disconcerting), I was not specifically steering people toward Madison - I will leave that to you. Vienna students attend numerous high schools, including Langley, McLean, Madison, Marshall, Oakton and South Lakes. Many Town residents do seem to equate Vienna with the Town of Vienna and suggest that Madison is the only Vienna high school, but I don't. You are correct, however, that McLean, Marshall, Oakton and South Lakes - all fine schools as well - have a more diverse student body than Madison (which has the second-highest concentration of White students in the county after Langley).

I think you should worry less about what others choose as their ideal pyramids to consider which differ from your personal opinions, priorities, and tastes.

[tankdude]

Originally Posted by Tone509

I certainly respect where you're coming from... although I think once you remove West Springfield from the equation, you're essentially splitting hairs on the SAT scores. Then again, I can see how the diversity would be important as well.

All of that said, I'm compelled to make a point that I and others have repeated often on this forum: as an "average" FCPS school is better than most nationwide, involved parents can motivate their kids to be successful academically whether you're at Langley or South Lakes.

When you're from the outside looking in, it's easy to say that any FFX Cty HS will do, since the high schools in this county are better than most other cities.

Once you move into the county though, if possible, you want to be in the best pyramid possible. It's human nature, plain and simple.

Given that, why not skip the middle step and just target the best and go from there? Nothing wrong with that.

[Tone509]

Originally Posted by tankdude

When you're from the outside looking in, it's easy to say that any FFX Cty HS will do, since the high schools in this county are better than most other cities.

Once you move into the county though, if possible, you want to be in the best pyramid possible. It's human nature, plain and simple.

Given that, why not skip the middle step and just target the best and go from there? Nothing wrong with that.

I understand the human nature of wanting the best for one's kids. I do think when the difference could add tens of thousands of dollars to a mortgage, one is almost better off living in the "less desirable" pyramid and investing the difference, if need be, in a private school.

[Tone509]

Let's remember to be respectful towards each other in this spirited discussion.

[claremarie]

Originally Posted by Skapov

It is borderline-racist to steer parents to certain pyramids based on the overall SAT average.

Now, as an African-American parent, for my child Lee HS would be the better choice, because not only would there be more diversity, but my child would be more likely to get a higher SAT score. .

Why is it "borderline racist" for white parents to seek out schools with high percentages of white students, but an attempt at achieving "diversity" for black parents to seek out schools with high percentages of black students?
If you're really seeking "diversity," you would send your child to one of the schools with high percentages of immigrants of all colors, where there no racial group is in the majority, such as Stuart or Annandale. If what you want is a school with the largest possible number of students who look like your children, then you are really no different from the white parents who are trying to do the same thing.
The truth is that schools reflect the demographics of their community. With some exceptions for TJ, the IB program, and some languages, all Fairfax County schools offer the same basic programs. The teachers and principals move around from one school to another, and the physical plants are comparable. The real difference among school pyramids is in the demographics of their student bodies -- primarily race and income.

[JEB77]

Originally Posted by tankdude

I think you should worry less about what others choose as their ideal pyramids to consider which differ from your personal opinions, priorities, and tastes.

Sorry to offend you. I do remain skeptical when a poster proclaims that the top schools are not necessarily those with the top test scores, the schools that have been nationally recognized, or the schools acknowledged to have achieved success with both upper and lower-income students, but instead a subset of those schools that happen to have the highest percentages of students of one ethnicity.

I also believe that it reflects an unstated - or, perhaps, unrecognized - bias as to what exactly constitutes a "good pyramid."

[tankdude]

Originally Posted by Tone509

I understand the human nature of wanting the best for one's kids. I do think when the difference could add tens of thousands of dollars to a mortgage, one is almost better off living in the "less desirable" pyramid and investing the difference, if need be, in a private school.

How about living in a less glitzy house in the pyramid you desire?

BTW, mortgage interest, you can write off. Private school tuition....you can't.

Plus, your kids would "lose out" on the neighborhood feel since they won't be going to the same schools as their neighborhood friends are going to, which of course, can be good and bad.

All in all, unless you have money coming out of your ears, it doesn't make sense to put your kids in private school while paying the high property taxes that you pay in FFX Cty.

[tankdude]

Originally Posted by claremarie

Why is it "borderline racist" for white parents to seek out schools with high percentages of white students, but an attempt at achieving "diversity" for black parents to seek out schools with high percentages of black students?
If you're really seeking "diversity," you would send your child to one of the schools with high percentages of immigrants of all colors, where there no racial group is in the majority, such as Stuart or Annandale. If what you want is a school with the largest possible number of students who look like your children, then you are really no different from the white parents who are trying to do the same thing.
The truth is that schools reflect the demographics of their community. With some exceptions for TJ, the IB program, and some languages, all Fairfax County schools offer the same basic programs. The teachers and principals move around from one school to another, and the physical plants are comparable. The real difference among school pyramids is in the demographics of their student bodies -- primarily race and income.

Yes, the irony, and dare I say hypocrisy, in that statement is shocking.

[tankdude]

Originally Posted by JEB77

Sorry to offend you. I do remain skeptical when a poster proclaims that the top schools are not necessarily those with the top test scores, the schools that have been nationally recognized, or the schools acknowledged to have achieved success with both upper and lower-income students, but instead a subset of those schools that happen to have the highest percentages of students of one ethnicity.

I also believe that it reflects an unstated - or, perhaps, unrecognized - bias as to what exactly constitutes a "good pyramid."

I'm not offended, just bewildered.

You must be looking at data that contradicts mine. Mine says that Langley, McLean, Madison, Oakton, and Woodson are 5 of the top schools. Name 5 schools with a better average.

[JEB77]

Originally Posted by tankdude

I'm not offended, just bewildered.

You must be looking at data that contradicts mine. Mine says that Langley, McLean, Madison, Oakton, and Woodson are 5 of the top schools. Name 5 schools with a better average.

Marshall students exceeded Madison students on 2008 SATs, and Lake Braddock students scored but one point below Madison. Yet you write off both Marshall and Lake Braddock, where the test scores have been improving, in favor of less diverse Madison, where test scores have declined three years running.