what school is right for you?

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by alum

I don't have an issue with a fellow Virginia resident from southwest VA getting selected over a candidate from a VA DC suburb. I do believe that William and Mary and UVa take too many out-of-staters as a percentage of the overall student body. North Carolina public schools have a max of 18% OOS students. This is mandated by the state legislature. W&M and UVa each have about 1/3 of the student population as OOS.

Arlington and Fairfax County schools as well as the City of Falls Church, and to a lesser extent, the city of Alexandria do push AP and IB courses. Cynics say this push is solely to improve the school's ranking in the Newsweek Challenge Index. My D took 8 over her hs career. At least five of my friends' kids took 11. I think the average APs taken at my D's school was about 3 or 4. Honors classes are taught in the lower grades but 11th grade English is either regular track or AP English Language followed by AP English Literature in 12th. There are students in the AP/IB courses who really don't belong in AP or regular college prep but there is no in-between honors.

The district of my high school has challenged every high schooler to enroll in at least one AP course over their four years. This has resulted in HUGE numbers of AP tests and a very high ranking of the district by Newsweek, but also sends the message that no average or behind kids are allowed. It frustrates many of the parents and teachers in the district.