So where do all the average to slightly above average kids go to school? (Pflugerville: moving to, demographics)

[FalconheadWest]

Even in the high achieving districts/schools, you can choose to not be part of the different programs like GT, TAG, Honors, or AP... Children are allowed to be in the "regular" classes with the "regular" achieving kids.

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by mm57553

Westlake High School is probably the most competitive. There are approximately 2500 students at Westlake. If you subtract out the top 10%, that still leaves 2,250 "average" students, and about 75% of those students go on to college. I think they'll be fine anywhere. Don't short-change them on education just because you don't think they'll be the best ones there. Most kids aren't the best ones there.

I think Westwood is more competitive - at least for GPA. I think Westwood is probably the most difficult school to be top 10% in Austin.

For the OP - In any of these "top" high schools there are many, many good students who just aren't academic superstars. My kids had many friends at LTHS that were nowhere near top 10%. And just about all of them went to college somewhere. They just didn't go to UT or Rice, or A&M. A few got into A&M because it isn't under the same pressure as UT for top 10%. Private schools don't care about top 10%.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

I think Westwood is more competitive - at least for GPA. I think Westwood is probably the most difficult school to be top 10% in Austin.

For the OP - In any of these "top" high schools there are many, many good students who just aren't academic superstars. My kids had many friends at LTHS that were nowhere near top 10%. And just about all of them went to college somewhere. They just didn't go to UT or Rice, or A&M. A few got into A&M because it isn't under the same pressure as UT for top 10%. Private schools don't care about top 10%.

My point was that it doesn't matter where they go to school. In all schools (including Westwood), there are thousands of kids who are "average." My point wasn't to argue which school is more competitive.

[Danbo1957]

I know what the OP wants: a high school where academics are not nuts, like Westlake and Westwood, but still nice about it all.

Answers: Anderson, Bowie, Austin High, Vandegrift, Leander, and Georgetown. Elementary schools and middle schools that feed into these listed high schools are comparable, but do have differing "personalities" and quality of campuses.

[mimimomx3]

(shhh.....even the most competitive private schools have average to below average kids!)

[RogerMurdock]

Can anyone shed some light on Pflugerville schools? I was doing some comparison to GT schools and it seemed like overall PF schools were rated slightly higher. Does anyone have any personal experience with either or both?

[Salgal1113]

Overall, PISD has good schools. We are at the tail end of our 16-year experience in PISD, and have been very pleased overall. Our kids attended a mix of old, established schools (elementary) and newer schools (middle/high school). We've seen our high school climb to be very well respected and thought of in the areas of athletics, theater, debate, and science/technology.

As Pflugerville grows east, that's where newer campuses will be built. The flip side of that is, while those new campuses are being built, the existing campuses often get very full.

[CptnRn]

I would think that having an average kid in a competitive school that values education would be a good thing. His being in a culture where other kids take their education more seriously and try to do their best, should be a positive influence on his doing his best. There is nothing wrong with average, most kids are. But encouraging mediocrity is not a good thing. The degree to which the kids parents and peers support his interests and accomplishments is important.

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

I would think that having an average kid in a competitive school that values education would be a good thing. His being in a culture where other kids take their education more seriously and try to do their best, should be a positive influence on his doing his best. There is nothing wrong with average, most kids are. But encouraging mediocrity is not a good thing. The degree to which the kids parents and peers support his interests and accomplishments is important.

I agree.

Being around smart, motivated kids is a good thing. The opposite is so much worse.

[winkosmosis]

I'm skeptical of this notion that wealthy public high schools are like mini Harvards... That's just ridiculous.