2013 NoVa SAT Scores (Cana, Middletown: schools, moving, county)

[slim04]

Originally Posted by sullyguy

Hmmm...does this suggest those areas should get less public funding so that the areas with less money can get more?

[as real-subtlely noted by my ID, I'm in the Westfield pyramid area]

I don't know. DC and City of Alexandria gets more funding per student than Fairfax County or Arlington, but much worse test scores. Doesn't seem to make a difference.

The irony is that some of the lowest ranked schools have new, immaculate facilities, and the higher ranked ones have older, crumbling ones.

City of Alexandria has some of the smallest class sizes in the region for elementary schools, but the overcrowded schools in North Arlington and Fairfax County still score higher with larger class sizes.

[JD984]

Originally Posted by hilsmom

I have noted before, a HUGE contingent of students from West County area go to TJ (Rocky Run, Carson), as well. It isn't just the top 5 schools that TJ makes a difference for.

I love this thread every year, but I do think people read a lot more into it than is necessary. Our schools in this area are very, very good. We have on average a highly educated and well off populace, which generally translates into good SAT scores. It is obvious from the top schools which areas have the most money.

I agree with you. I started posting this information years ago, in response to a handful of posters on the NoVa forum, who have since moved on, but regularly announced there were only five high schools in FCPS other than TJHSST worth considering. It's become an annual exercise in addition and color coding for me, which probably draws more upon elementary school than college-level skills, but people should infer as much or as little as they'd like from the information.

[michgc]

Originally Posted by JEB77

I agree with you. I started posting this information years ago, in response to a handful of posters on the NoVa forum, who have since moved on, but regularly announced there were only five high schools in FCPS other than TJHSST worth considering. It's become an annual exercise in addition and color coding for me, which probably draws more upon elementary school than college-level skills, but people should infer as much or as little as they'd like from the information.

JEB77, you inspired me to compile a similar list in the Triangle area (Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill) of NC. Interesting to see the comparison. Scores are definitely higher in NoVA than in the Triangle. If anyone wishes to see it:

https://www.city-data.com/forum/ralei...at-scores.html

JEB, where did you get the score for the US as a whole? I saw it reported as 1498.

[JD984]

Originally Posted by michgc

JEB77, you inspired me to compile a similar list in the Triangle area (Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill) of NC. Interesting to see the comparison. Scores are definitely higher in NoVA than in the Triangle. If anyone wishes to see it:

https://www.city-data.com/forum/ralei...at-scores.html

JEB, where did you get the score for the US as a whole? I saw it reported as 1498.

Took it from this table:

http://www.fcps.edu/cco/pr/satact/2013/table1.pdf

[hilsmom]

Originally Posted by slim04

I don't know. DC and City of Alexandria gets more funding per student than Fairfax County or Arlington, but much worse test scores. Doesn't seem to make a difference.

The irony is that some of the lowest ranked schools have new, immaculate facilities, and the higher ranked ones have older, crumbling ones.

City of Alexandria has some of the smallest class sizes in the region for elementary schools, but the overcrowded schools in North Arlington and Fairfax County still score higher with larger class sizes.

When I said "more money" I meant the socioeconomic status of the families within that school zone. It has been shown time and time again, study after study, that SAT scores are highly correlated with socioeconomic status.

Now, look at the list here. The highest scoring schools (pulling out the magnet schools) are in the wealthiest areas. The mid-level (for this area, yet still above average nationally) schools have more middle class students. And the lowest are in the areas with the lower-income students.

Alexandria and DC are interesting as many of the higher-income families opt-OUT of the publics so the school system doesn't necessarily mirror the community make-up.

Class size hasn't been shown to be a huge factor in academic success, although for some kids, it can be a detriment. For example, my own child would probably benefit from a slightly smaller class size because she has attention and focus issues. However, we cannot afford a private school, so we're doing what we can with her to work within the system.

Thanks again to JEB for doing this list every year.

[michgc]

Originally Posted by JEB77

Took it from this table:

http://www.fcps.edu/cco/pr/satact/2013/table1.pdf

It looks like that is just for public school students. I saw 1498 quoted several other places, which must include all students in the US who took the test.

[JD984]

Added LCPS tonight (you have to check each school's LCPS profile separately). As in past years, most LCPS high schools have scores within a narrower band compared to other counties in the region.

Color code - Fairfax (blue), Arlington (red), Falls Church City (green), Loudoun (black), Montgomery (purple), City of Alexandria (orange).

TJHSST 2194
Whitman 1901
Poolesville 1857
Churchill 1839
Langley 1837
Wootton 1822
HB Woodlawn 1807
Woodson 1792
McLean 1781
Richard Montgomery 1781
George Mason/FCC AVERAGE 1765
Oakton 1754
Madison 1753
Yorktown 1720
Marshall 1718
Walter Johnson 1716
Damascus 1693
Blair 1688
West Springfield 1665
FCPS AVERAGE 1663
Stone Bridge 1662
Loudoun Valley 1659
Robinson 1659
Dominion 1650
MCPS AVERAGE 1648
Briar Woods 1646
APS AVERAGE 1645
Chantilly 1643
Washington-Lee 1640
Quince Orchard 1638
Woodgrove 1638
Lake Braddock 1636
Potomac Falls 1635
Westfield 1632
South Lakes 1630
Broad Run 1628
Fairfax 1621
Freedom 1613
Sherwood 1611
LCPS AVERAGE 1606
Heritage 1603
Herndon 1602
Centreville 1593
South County 1593
Northwest 1592
Magruder 1588
Tuscarora 1588
Rockville 1582
Loudoun County 1573
Watkins Mill 1567
West Potomac 1562
Clarksburg 1553
Einstein 1540
Edison 1534
Stuart 1529
Blake 1518
VIRGINIA AVERAGE 1517
Hayfield 1506
Annandale 1493
Park View 1491
Falls Church 1487
Lee 1479
Gaithersburg 1478
US AVERAGE 1474
Wakefield 1468
Paint Branch 1467
Northwood 1463
Seneca Valley 1447
Kennedy 1482
TC Williams/Alexandria City 1434
Mount Vernon 1417
Springbrook 1407
Wheaton 1332

[hilsmom]

That is surprising to me to see Springbrook so far down the list. My parents are Springbrook grads - it used to be one of the better schools in the county, from my understanding.

Sorry, MoCo, not NoVA, but that is quite a shock to me. I loved that neighborhood where their families lived.

[newgatedenizen]

Broad Run is 1628?

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by newgatedenizen

Broad Run is 1628?

Yes, it was 1628, not 1682.