public schools in Courthouse, Clarendon and Ballston really good or just okay?

[Anonymous]

I find the ratings for the schools in these three neighborhoods to be confusing. People talk about Arlington schools as being some of the best, but I'm not seeing that in the scores for the schools here. Am I missing something here? What have been your experiences with the local schools in these three neighborhoods?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find the ratings for the schools in these three neighborhoods to be confusing. People talk about Arlington schools as being some of the best, but I'm not seeing that in the scores for the schools here. Am I missing something here? What have been your experiences with the local schools in these three neighborhoods?

Sigh.
Test scores aren't everything and average scores are pulled down when a school has a large % of English language learners and economically disadvantaged students. The schools I presume you're talking about probably have higher % of those students than the Nottinghams and Jamestowns you're comparing them to.

[Anonymous]

Many consider W-L to be the best high school in Arlington. It’s socioeconomically diverse so it’s not rated as high as Yorktown due to the test scores, but nobody ever wants to be zoned away from that school. Hamm is the brand new middle school for most of that area and you hear good things about it (for a middle school, anyway).

The elementary schools are fine but the best-testing elementary schools are in the northernmost part of the county.

If your kids are middle school age or older, you have nothing to worry about.

[Anonymous]

Are you looking at Great Schools? Those ratings tend to penalize schools that have socioeconomically diverse populations because the disadvantaged kids do worked on test than the rich white kids. Also, Great Schools appears to have merged the entries for Innovation and Science Focus into one, so it’s kind of a mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many consider W-L to be the best high school in Arlington. It’s socioeconomically diverse so it’s not rated as high as Yorktown due to the test scores, but nobody ever wants to be zoned away from that school. Hamm is the brand new middle school for most of that area and you hear good things about it (for a middle school, anyway).

The elementary schools are fine but the best-testing elementary schools are in the northernmost part of the county.

If your kids are middle school age or older, you have nothing to worry about.

Just a quick refinement- I missed that you included “Ballston.” I think Swanson is the main middle school for Ballston. I don’t know anything about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find the ratings for the schools in these three neighborhoods to be confusing. People talk about Arlington schools as being some of the best, but I'm not seeing that in the scores for the schools here. Am I missing something here? What have been your experiences with the local schools in these three neighborhoods?

Sigh.
Test scores aren't everything and average scores are pulled down when a school has a large % of English language learners and economically disadvantaged students. The schools I presume you're talking about probably have higher % of those students than the Nottinghams and Jamestowns you're comparing them to.

+1. Like everywhere else, APS student performance seems to track parental income/education levels. If the schools are “good”, it’s generally because the parents are in a position to make up any shortfalls.

[Anonymous]

What neighborhoods are you considering? Or is this just posted out of curiosity? There are a couple of schools in here.

[Anonymous]

All the schools that your child would attend if you live in Ballston/Courthouse/Clarendon are excellent. More diverse than further north in Arlington. Strong academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find the ratings for the schools in these three neighborhoods to be confusing. People talk about Arlington schools as being some of the best, but I'm not seeing that in the scores for the schools here. Am I missing something here? What have been your experiences with the local schools in these three neighborhoods?

No, they don't. People talk about Arlington schools as being good enough, or just right. Not the best. Parents who want the best schools choose other school districts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the schools that your child would attend if you live in Ballston/Courthouse/Clarendon are excellent. More diverse than further north in Arlington. Strong academics.

+1.

[Anonymous]

I want to add that these are walkable neighborhoods with plenty of parks and things to do. It’s a great place for kids and teenagers to grow up. If you want a combo of urban and really good schools (not “the absolute best” schools, I agree), then choose here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find the ratings for the schools in these three neighborhoods to be confusing. People talk about Arlington schools as being some of the best, but I'm not seeing that in the scores for the schools here. Am I missing something here? What have been your experiences with the local schools in these three neighborhoods?

No, they don't. People talk about Arlington schools as being good enough, or just right. Not the best. Parents who want the best schools choose other school districts.

I think it’s a lifestyle tradeoff for a lot of people. The amenities on the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor and the proximity to DC wins out over the schools in Great Falls and McLean for a lot of families (including ours). Your kids can get a great education at these schools and it’s a great place to live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find the ratings for the schools in these three neighborhoods to be confusing. People talk about Arlington schools as being some of the best, but I'm not seeing that in the scores for the schools here. Am I missing something here? What have been your experiences with the local schools in these three neighborhoods?

No, they don't. People talk about Arlington schools as being good enough, or just right. Not the best. Parents who want the best schools choose other school districts.

That's not entirely accurate. If you have a kid who is highly gifted or very advanced, you'll likely want access to AAP in Fairfax. But for a normal kid or late bloomer, you may be better off with the less-tracked structure in APS. It just depends by what you mean by "best."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find the ratings for the schools in these three neighborhoods to be confusing. People talk about Arlington schools as being some of the best, but I'm not seeing that in the scores for the schools here. Am I missing something here? What have been your experiences with the local schools in these three neighborhoods?

No, they don't. People talk about Arlington schools as being good enough, or just right. Not the best. Parents who want the best schools choose other school districts.

That's not entirely accurate. If you have a kid who is highly gifted or very advanced, you'll likely want access to AAP in Fairfax. But for a normal kid or late bloomer, you may be better off with the less-tracked structure in APS. It just depends by what you mean by "best."

Do you think that’s true once you get to high school? My kids are younger, but I thought the course offerings were rigorous in high school in Arlington (for those seeking rigor and wanting those things). Does AAP really make a difference past 8th grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find the ratings for the schools in these three neighborhoods to be confusing. People talk about Arlington schools as being some of the best, but I'm not seeing that in the scores for the schools here. Am I missing something here? What have been your experiences with the local schools in these three neighborhoods?

No, they don't. People talk about Arlington schools as being good enough, or just right. Not the best. Parents who want the best schools choose other school districts.

That's not entirely accurate. If you have a kid who is highly gifted or very advanced, you'll likely want access to AAP in Fairfax. But for a normal kid or late bloomer, you may be better off with the less-tracked structure in APS. It just depends by what you mean by "best."

Do you think that’s true once you get to high school? My kids are younger, but I thought the course offerings were rigorous in high school in Arlington (for those seeking rigor and wanting those things). Does AAP really make a difference past 8th grade?

Fwiw, the common wisdom is that APS does a better job with ES and FCPS does a better job with HS. From what I have seen in my kids and my friends with kids in both districts, that seems to be accurate.