Schools in Burke and West Springfield

[Anonymous]

We're about to start looking for a house in Burke or West Springfield, and would love to know more about the schools in these areas. We have a three year old, so are mainly interested in the elementary schools. However, information on the middle and high schools would also be welcome as we'll likely be in the area for several years. Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

They are both great places to raise a child.

[Anonymous]

For HS, you would be looking at West Springfield, Lake Braddock, or Robinson. I believe Lake Braddock and West Springfield both offer AP classes and Robinson offers IB classes.

The elementary schools are pretty much all the same - they are good schools.

A bit trickier in this area is preschool. There are some good ones, but there are definitely many to avoid, too.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much. Are any of the high schools more highly regarded than the others?

[Anonymous]

Honestly, most people seem pretty happy with all three of those options. Some really like the IB program at Robinson, but others think Robinson is too big (because it is middle and high school). I think with these three options, you'd really be splitting hairs to call one "better" than the others.

[Anonymous]

They are all really good. My daughter was in the IB program when we moved to Burke. We were zoned for Lake Braddock, but she wanted to attend Robinson for the IB. We applied and had no trouble at all getting an exemption so that she could go to Robinson. Then, two weeks before school started, she decided she wanted to go to Lake Braddock because of their outstanding choral music program. I think we would have been happy at either school, but we really liked Lake Braddock.

The biggest negative is the size. It can be overwhelming for some kids. It's really important that kids get involved in something so that they don't get lost in the crowd.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! This is really helpful

[Anonymous]

If you want a traditional middle school/ high school experience instead of a secondary school combo, Irving and West Springfield are excellent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For HS, you would be looking at West Springfield, Lake Braddock, or Robinson. I believe Lake Braddock and West Springfield both offer AP classes and Robinson offers IB classes.

The elementary schools are pretty much all the same - they are good schools.

A bit trickier in this area is preschool. There are some good ones, but there are definitely many to avoid, too.

Which ones?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want a traditional middle school/ high school experience instead of a secondary school combo, Irving and West Springfield are excellent.

I do like that my DS is in a school with just 7th and 8th graders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a traditional middle school/ high school experience instead of a secondary school combo, Irving and West Springfield are excellent.

I do like that my DS is in a school with just 7th and 8th graders.

My kids aren't quite there yet, but this also appealed to us.

[Anonymous]

Just check out the Virginia dss reports for daycare centers you are looking at. The best ones in this area are Kiddie Country and Little Acorn Patch. Others are def hit or miss in terms of staff turnover and severity of violations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're about to start looking for a house in Burke or West Springfield, and would love to know more about the schools in these areas. We have a three year old, so are mainly interested in the elementary schools. However, information on the middle and high schools would also be welcome as we'll likely be in the area for several years. Thanks in advance!

A lot of that neighborhood has odd boundaries, the school buses drive past 2 other elementary schools. .

We're in the Kings Park / Kings Glen / Lake Braddock pyramid and have been thrilled with the schools with the exception of Kings Glen (4rth - 6th grade) . My oldest went to Old Keene mill for GT services but when my second attended Kings Glen we were very unhappy with the school and the principal. It is absolutely the weak link in that pyramid.

I was initially intimidated by the size of Lake Braddock but it's proved to be a plus. I've been especially impressed with the teachers, most of whom have Masters and PhDs and are teaching because they love to teach and they enjoy high school kids.

Hope that helps. Happy house hunting!

[Anonymous]

We used Kiddie Country for preschool (the smaller one on Schoolhouse Woods) and go to Terra Centre/zoned for Robinson. Very happy with the first two so far! Burke Centre is great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're about to start looking for a house in Burke or West Springfield, and would love to know more about the schools in these areas. We have a three year old, so are mainly interested in the elementary schools. However, information on the middle and high schools would also be welcome as we'll likely be in the area for several years. Thanks in advance!

A lot of that neighborhood has odd boundaries, the school buses drive past 2 other elementary schools. .

We're in the Kings Park / Kings Glen / Lake Braddock pyramid and have been thrilled with the schools with the exception of Kings Glen (4rth - 6th grade) . My oldest went to Old Keene mill for GT services but when my second attended Kings Glen we were very unhappy with the school and the principal. It is absolutely the weak link in that pyramid.

I was initially intimidated by the size of Lake Braddock but it's proved to be a plus. I've been especially impressed with the teachers, most of whom have Masters and PhDs and are teaching because they love to teach and they enjoy high school kids.

Hope that helps. Happy house hunting!

We must be neighbors b/c we are in the same pyramid. DS is in KP right now and have been very disappointed with the teacher, principal, and school. We'll be heading to KG next year...what was disappointing for you? Just apprehensive since I didn't think KP was that great despite neighbor's glowing reviews.