Arlington Public Schools

[Anonymous]

I currently reside in the McKinley district, where DS is in Kindergarten. I am considering moving to the border of the district, but technically it is in the Ashlawn district (right on the border). If I move there, do you think the school would let DS stay at McKinley or do I have to transfer to Ashlawn? I know some kids at McKinley live even further than that. Does anyone know if you can attend the school of your choice in Arlington?

[Anonymous]

Some people do seem to manage to get their children into schools that are not supposed to be taking transfers. If you are asking us on the web, you are probably not one of those people.

North Arlington schools are in the midst of rethinking their boundaries. People are paying attention to tranfers (who seem to be filling spots where they shouldn't). There's no way Arlington County is going to let you stay in McK in the same year they transfer other kids to Ashlawn just because you want to.

The school website has a host of information about the recent changes.

[Anonymous]

the short answer is no. If you were to enroll your child this year in Mckinley and move later, you will not be allowed to continue at McK or be 'grandfathered' in.
I happen to live in this Mckinley/Ashlawn border too and am acutely aware of the changes going on. My planning unit is still up in the air as to what school my kids will go to in Fall 09.
The schools in Arl are a little confusing. People who live in Clarendon have what's called neighborhood schools where they have the ability to choose between 3 schools to enroll their children in.
Having said that, both Mckinley and Ashlawn are great schools and I, personally, would be happy to send my kids to either school.

[Anonymous]

Ashlawn is a wonderful school (my child has been there 4 years) as is McKinnley - great choices/options! PP is correct - if you move to the Ashlawn 'area' - you should be going to Ashlawn - as McKinnley is 'overcrowded' and probably not taking transfers. Boundaries are changing for Fall '08 and '09 and more to come.

[Anonymous]

does anyone know if the new boundaries have been mapped yet?

[Anonymous]

the latest changes for Fall 08 and Fall 09 are on the APS web site (maps and neighborhood #'s) - all of this is to be revisted again in the Fall so more changes can still come. After all the controversy this winter with the Superintendent's proposal, there were relatively little changes for Fall 08 (thus Tuckahoe and others will remain pretty crowded and will need to be continued to be addressed).

[Anonymous]

We are thinking of moving to Arlington and we have been trying to research the elementary schools. Any feedback on the Arlington elementary schools? I grew up in public schools and am having a hard time with the idea of sending my daughter to private schools.

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

What do you mean by "any feedback"? We're in Arlington and we love our school, and I can't think of any posts in which an Arlingtonian doesn't like her/his DC's school, but it sounds as though you might be looking for something in particular.

You might want to start a new thread specifying what you want to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are thinking of moving to Arlington and we have been trying to research the elementary schools. Any feedback on the Arlington elementary schools? I grew up in public schools and am having a hard time with the idea of sending my daughter to private schools.

Thanks in advance!

Most of the schools in Arlington are very, very good. I agree with the pp that you should put out another post on this and maybe ask about specific schools as there are many in Arlington.