APS pyramids

[Anonymous]

When people move to APS for “the schools,” are there certain schools they are targeting for their kids? Or is it any of the schools? TIA.

[Anonymous]

In the recent past that meant north of Rte 50 or North Arlington in general. Higher prices north of 50 for homes similar in size to homes south of 50 would reflect that.

In the central part of North Arlington the most coveted pyramids used to include McKinley ES (now Cardinal), ASFS (Science Focus), and Taylor. Then Swanson for middle school, and W-L or Yorktown for high schools.

In the northern part of N Arlington, Nottingham and Jamestown, and Taylor for ES then Williamsburg for middle school, then Yorktown for high school were most coveted.

There were always other popular elementary schools like Glebe, Ashlawn, Tuckahoe, Oakridge, Campbell, and Patrick Henry even if they weren’t as coveted.

Wakefield for high school also has strong supporters and is well liked. TJ is a popular middle school and has the IB program.

But since then new schools have opened like Dorothy Hamm Middle School, boundaries have changed at all school levels, and the pandemic happened.

[Anonymous]

Generally if people are moving "for the schools" they do not move in bounds for Gunston or Wakefield.

[Anonymous]

If people are moving for schools, they are moving to FFX Co.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the recent past that meant north of Rte 50 or North Arlington in general. Higher prices north of 50 for homes similar in size to homes south of 50 would reflect that.

In the central part of North Arlington the most coveted pyramids used to include McKinley ES (now Cardinal), ASFS (Science Focus), and Taylor. Then Swanson for middle school, and W-L or Yorktown for high schools.

In the northern part of N Arlington, Nottingham and Jamestown, and Taylor for ES then Williamsburg for middle school, then Yorktown for high school were most coveted.

There were always other popular elementary schools like Glebe, Ashlawn, Tuckahoe, Oakridge, Campbell, and Patrick Henry even if they weren’t as coveted.

Wakefield for high school also has strong supporters and is well liked. TJ is a popular middle school and has the IB program.

But since then new schools have opened like Dorothy Hamm Middle School, boundaries have changed at all school levels, and the pandemic happened.

This is so accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If people are moving for schools, they are moving to FFX Co.

This is more accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the recent past that meant north of Rte 50 or North Arlington in general. Higher prices north of 50 for homes similar in size to homes south of 50 would reflect that.

In the central part of North Arlington the most coveted pyramids used to include McKinley ES (now Cardinal), ASFS (Science Focus), and Taylor. Then Swanson for middle school, and W-L or Yorktown for high schools.

In the northern part of N Arlington, Nottingham and Jamestown, and Taylor for ES then Williamsburg for middle school, then Yorktown for high school were most coveted.

There were always other popular elementary schools like Glebe, Ashlawn, Tuckahoe, Oakridge, Campbell, and Patrick Henry even if they weren’t as coveted.

Wakefield for high school also has strong supporters and is well liked. TJ is a popular middle school and has the IB program.

But since then new schools have opened like Dorothy Hamm Middle School, boundaries have changed at all school levels, and the pandemic happened.

Yes to all this. And yes to the poster who said people are avoiding Gunston and Wakefield. But I think there’s an understanding that boundaries change and you’re guaranteed nothing when you buy a house. And an understanding that COVID wrecked APS and it will take years to undo. Lots of kids still aren’t caught up or can’t settle down enough for school (thanks to too much Screentime) and lots of good kids left for private. It’s just different now in a general way.

[Anonymous]

Dorothy Hamm, the new middle school in North Arlington, has been way under-enrolled, and was built to a much higher capacity. It’s new building and grounds are beautiful, the best among middle schools in Arlington. Test scores are among the highest in Northern Virginia, and the principal and teachers are well liked. All that is still not enough to convince families to return to APS. Families here are wealthy and fickle and the pandemic created a large shift away from APS towards private schools. Area privates like Maret, SFS, STA, NCS, GDS, WIS, etc are all quite good. Hopefully new families will came back to APS.

It wasn’t mentioned, but Long Branch is also a popular neighborhood ES located on the N/S Arlington border. The new Fleet ES also on the N/S Arlington border is well liked and serves nearby Fort Myer and military families in general.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the recent past that meant north of Rte 50 or North Arlington in general. Higher prices north of 50 for homes similar in size to homes south of 50 would reflect that.

In the central part of North Arlington the most coveted pyramids used to include McKinley ES (now Cardinal), ASFS (Science Focus), and Taylor. Then Swanson for middle school, and W-L or Yorktown for high schools.

In the northern part of N Arlington, Nottingham and Jamestown, and Taylor for ES then Williamsburg for middle school, then Yorktown for high school were most coveted.

There were always other popular elementary schools like Glebe, Ashlawn, Tuckahoe, Oakridge, Campbell, and Patrick Henry even if they weren’t as coveted.

Wakefield for high school also has strong supporters and is well liked. TJ is a popular middle school and has the IB program.

But since then new schools have opened like Dorothy Hamm Middle School, boundaries have changed at all school levels, and the pandemic happened.

Yes to all this. And yes to the poster who said people are avoiding Gunston and Wakefield. But I think there’s an understanding that boundaries change and you’re guaranteed nothing when you buy a house. And an understanding that COVID wrecked APS and it will take years to undo. Lots of kids still aren’t caught up or can’t settle down enough for school (thanks to too much Screentime) and lots of good kids left for private. It’s just different now in a general way.

Unfortunately you just talked more about the impacts of the pandemic than I’ve heard from SB in 3 years. What’s the old saying “what gets measured gets done”. Seems like APS doesn’t think there is much to do. Been following Fairfax and they have their problems too but agree with a PP that’s where people move for the schools.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax schools went through COVID, too--they also taught remotely, have bad behaviors among returning kids and learning loss issues. So you can't just blame APS school rankings on that.

8 FFX HS schools outrank Yorktown, the top APS school at #14:

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

[Anonymous]

Fairfax schools went through COVID, too--they also taught remotely, have bad behaviors among returning kids and learning loss issues. So you can't just blame APS school rankings on that.

8 FFX HS schools outrank Yorktown, the top APS school at #14:

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

Part of it is the lower-key attitude toward academics--APS parents have pushed for less homework due to their kids' sports and don't support the Fairfax model for gifted-talented education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Fairfax schools went through COVID, too--they also taught remotely, have bad behaviors among returning kids and learning loss issues. So you can't just blame APS school rankings on that.

8 FFX HS schools outrank Yorktown, the top APS school at #14:

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

Part of it is the lower-key attitude toward academics--APS parents have pushed for less homework due to their kids' sports and don't support the Fairfax model for gifted-talented education.

Sure no AAP, but why abandon pull out gifted?

As for homework, they are offering honors classes in middle school, so I expect those options will offer homework

But lots of APS parents just want easy schooling and focus on sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Fairfax schools went through COVID, too--they also taught remotely, have bad behaviors among returning kids and learning loss issues. So you can't just blame APS school rankings on that.

8 FFX HS schools outrank Yorktown, the top APS school at #14:

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia

Part of it is the lower-key attitude toward academics--APS parents have pushed for less homework due to their kids' sports and don't support the Fairfax model for gifted-talented education.

This
We moved because we wanted a stronger gifted program. Best decision ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If people are moving for schools, they are moving to FFX Co.

Well, that depends on where you were living before. We moved from DC to Arlington in part because of schools. We liked that in APS you could be guaranteed admission to Spanish immersion if you lived in a certain area (that has since changed), & the immersion program has a good reputation & goes all the way through HS. We have one kid still at Key & one finishing up at Gunston & heading to Wakefield. We’ve been happy, even though these aren’t the typically coveted schools (which are really “better” because of families’ SES anyway).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
If people are moving for schools, they are moving to FFX Co.



Well, that depends on where you were living before. We moved from DC to Arlington in part because of schools. We liked that in APS you could be guaranteed admission to Spanish immersion if you lived in a certain area (that has since changed), & the immersion program has a good reputation & goes all the way through HS. We have one kid still at Key & one finishing up at Gunston & heading to Wakefield. We’ve been happy, even though these aren’t the typically coveted schools (which are really “better” because of families’ SES anyway).

Good point.