Falls Church City vs South Arlington Elementary schools for autism

[Anonymous]

Hello. We are moving with three kids with autism, all across the spectrum. We would love your thoughts on more inclusive, less bullying school communities. We can supplement tutoring, speech and OT on our own. Where are classmates and teachers more welcoming of neurodiversity? We actually dont want the school to pay for our most severe child to go somewhere else. We want to be welcomed. We are avoiding FCPS and Alexandria schools for this reason. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

APS has MIPA (multi-intervention program for students with autism) classes at a few different schools- they are countywide classes so if one of your children, possibly the more severe one qualified for it, they would go to a school with the program regardless of the school zone you live in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello. We are moving with three kids with autism, all across the spectrum. We would love your thoughts on more inclusive, less bullying school communities. We can supplement tutoring, speech and OT on our own. Where are classmates and teachers more welcoming of neurodiversity? We actually dont want the school to pay for our most severe child to go somewhere else. We want to be welcomed. We are avoiding FCPS and Alexandria schools for this reason. Thank you!

Any school in south arlington would be welcoming. Carlin Springs and Randolph are very high ELL, if that has any impacts your child's communication/speech/language learning. I think Barcroft would be a great option, though I don't think they have the MIPA program there anymore, if that's something you need.

[Anonymous]

If your kids go into MIPA in APS it will be at the closest school with available seats. Similar for self contained special education. This may in cases be the neighborhood school, but in our case our child spent a year at a school all the way across the county due to availability. There’s bus service, but every school meeting or early pick up involved a 20 minute drive to the school.

[Anonymous]

For what it’s worth, when we moved and were considering Fall Church City Schools, the feedback we got was that if they work for your family, they are great. But if the school is not a great match then you have no alternative. In Arlington, at least you can transfer to a different school for a fresh start.

[Anonymous]

FCCPS has been more than accommodating when my son was diagnosed with a very disruptive medical condition. However, it's a small school district (obviously). It has special ed resources but obviously not as deep as some of the bigger districts. It sounds lik your one child has needs bordering on residential or other treatment? I would call and speak to the special education coordinator (also easy to do since it's a small district).

[Anonymous]

Take a look at Ashlawn. It’s technically “north” but still has affordable houses and very good programs.

[Anonymous]

APS has MIPA as a countywide program. At the elementary level especially, this is for the lower functioning students who can still access some academics (but not grade level). Some are nonverbal and use AAC devices. These students could not be served at their home school.

Then at the home school there is inconsistency in if there is a self contained option as a homeroom. It varies depending on the need at that particular school so not every school has a self contained class at lower and upper elementary levels. Those students are often on an alternative curriculum and push into gen Ed for specials, lunch/recess, science and social studies.

And then you have plenty of students with Autism diagnoses who are in the gen Ed setting all day with support like a co- teacher or assistant in the class, and no pull outs at all. These students can do grade-level work.

Just depends on the students needs.

[Anonymous]

I have two kids in APS; one NT and one ASD, both in S. Arlington schools. I have not a single bad thing to say about the ASD child's experience. Our IEP team and classroom teachers have been excellent throughout. In particular, when your child is older - depending on the situation - the Autism program at TJMS (Secondary Program for Students with High Functioning Autism) is excellent, the teachers there are exceptional.

This is of course our experience - I know others who do not feel the same way. As a pp mentioned, you have much more flexibility to fix a less optimal situation in SA than you do in Falls Church City.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids in APS; one NT and one ASD, both in S. Arlington schools. I have not a single bad thing to say about the ASD child's experience. Our IEP team and classroom teachers have been excellent throughout. In particular, when your child is older - depending on the situation - the Autism program at TJMS (Secondary Program for Students with High Functioning Autism) is excellent, the teachers there are exceptional.

This is of course our experience - I know others who do not feel the same way. As a pp mentioned, you have much more flexibility to fix a less optimal situation in SA than you do in Falls Church City.

Good luck!

NP. I have heard the same thing about the program at TJ.

OP- there are some very nice neighborhoods with very nice people around there that feed into TJ. Look at Arlington Heights and Barcroft.

[Anonymous]

^^ Shoot. Not Barcroft, they feed into Kenmore. Alcova Heights.

And, welcome to Arlington!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ Shoot. Not Barcroft, they feed into Kenmore. Alcova Heights.

And, welcome to Arlington!

I wouldn’t worry about feeders, middle schools are open for transfers again and it’s always an option for SPED (assuming it’s the LRE)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ Shoot. Not Barcroft, they feed into Kenmore. Alcova Heights.

And, welcome to Arlington!

I wouldn’t worry about feeders, middle schools are open for transfers again and it’s always an option for SPED (assuming it’s the LRE)

+1 We didn't feed into TJ, but went for the middle school HFA program. Fantastic program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ Shoot. Not Barcroft, they feed into Kenmore. Alcova Heights.

And, welcome to Arlington!

I wouldn’t worry about feeders, middle schools are open for transfers again and it’s always an option for SPED (assuming it’s the LRE)

I wouldn't take it for granted that will continue. You never know when enrollment is going to change or boundaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ Shoot. Not Barcroft, they feed into Kenmore. Alcova Heights.

And, welcome to Arlington!

I wouldn’t worry about feeders, middle schools are open for transfers again and it’s always an option for SPED (assuming it’s the LRE)

I wouldn't take it for granted that will continue. You never know when enrollment is going to change or boundaries.

Ok, but sped transfers for countywide programs are different. You could be in the TJMS attendance zone and not get in if it’s not the correct placement.