Info on Falls Church and Annandale elementary schools

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

We're looking to buy a house within the next few months in the Annandale or Falls Church sections of Fairfax County, inside the beltway. Other than greatschools.org, what are the resources available to determine which are the better elementary schools? And/or, what are the best public elementary schools and which are the ones to avoid? (Baby is 6 months old right now; our hope is to send him to public elementary and then, hopefully, by the time he's in 6th grade, switch to private.)

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi all,

We're looking to buy a house within the next few months in the Annandale or Falls Church sections of Fairfax County, inside the beltway. Other than greatschools.org, what are the resources available to determine which are the better elementary schools? And/or, what are the best public elementary schools and which are the ones to avoid? (Baby is 6 months old right now; our hope is to send him to public elementary and then, hopefully, by the time he's in 6th grade, switch to private.)

Thanks in advance!

You could look at schoolranks (www.schoolranks.com) if you just want more information about test scores and enrollment.

The Virginia Department of Education web site has school "report cards" that indicate whether individual schools are meeting their goals under the No Child Left Behind act.

And the FCPS web site (www.fcps.edu) has lots of information about individual schools.

If you are looking at inside-the-Beltway neighborhoods in Falls Church or Annandale, some elementary schools that tend to get recommended a lot by posters who assume that other posters are looking for schools with good test scores are Haycock, Shrevewood, Westgate, Sleepy Hollow and Columbia. A lot of people will also tell you to look outside-the-Beltway in Annandale at schools like Wakefield Forest and Canterbury Woods, where the students are also assigned to Frost MS/Woodson HS. If you don't care about test scores, and are just looking for a good school where students are provided with the right opportunities, you have more options, but you then end up relying more heavily on anecdotes.

Also, FCPS is planning to build a new elementary school in Annandale (Lacey ES) and is just now beginning a boundary study to determine how the boundaries should be adjusted. Depending on where you look, the current elementary school assignments won't be the same as those in 5-6 years. This will be less of an issue in the NW part of Falls Church, where Haycock, Shrevewood and Westgate are located.

HTH.

[Anonymous]

Thanks -- that's very helpful. Any thoughts on schools to be avoided at all costs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks -- that's very helpful. Any thoughts on schools to be avoided at all costs?

I would avoid Annandale as the schools there are subpar. In fact, Annandale HS is ranked the worst in NoVA.

With Falls Church, I would recommend sticking with the city of Falls Church or Falls Church that borders McLean, VA. The latter has the best schools in this area.

[Anonymous]

With Falls Church, I would recommend sticking with the city of Falls Church

Believe me, if I could afford it...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I would avoid Annandale as the schools there are subpar. In fact, Annandale HS is ranked the worst in NoVA.

With Falls Church, I would recommend sticking with the city of Falls Church or Falls Church that borders McLean, VA. The latter has the best schools in this area.

A very biased set of observations to be taken with a big grain of salt, IMHO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I would avoid Annandale as the schools there are subpar. In fact, Annandale HS is ranked the worst in NoVA.

With Falls Church, I would recommend sticking with the city of Falls Church or Falls Church that borders McLean, VA. The latter has the best schools in this area.

A very biased set of observations to be taken with a big grain of salt, IMHO.

All comments on this blog are biased, including yours.

[Anonymous]

Who ranked Annandale HS "the worst in NoVa"? It wasn't Greatschools (Annandale gets a "5") or Newsweek (Annandale is ranked ahead of Mount Vernon). SAT scores for graduating seniors last year were above the national average, and it had a National Merit Semifinalist.
Anyway, the OP suggested they'd probably switch to private before HS. If Annandale HS isn't considered as good as some other school, that's presumably already reflected in the RE prices.

[Anonymous]

I can personally recommend Shrevewood and Haycock.

[Anonymous]

There are good elementary schools outside of McLean, and the class sizes are much smaller. They may not have the test scores of McLean, but they also have very different populations...test scores are largely about demographics, and show what percentage of kids are meeting the minimum standards. Your kids can get a great education in Falls Church/Annandale, despite what some in other parts of the County seem to believe, and it's far more affordable.

My kids are at Sleepy Hollow, and we think it's a really good school. Strong PTA, involved parents, good principal. Some teachers have been a better fit for our kids than others, but that's true everywhere and overall we think it's been great. It's one of the only schools in the area that's not Title I, but with enough low-income kids that we still have state-mandated class size reductions in K-3, which benefits all of the kids. I have friends with kids at Columbia who rave about the school (also not Title I). I've also heard good things about Pine Spring, but don't have any personal experience with it. Based on what I know, I would put those three at the top of my list in a home search in the area, but there may be other good ones, too. For example, Bailey's is a magnet school with Spanish Immersion and extra arts and science. But most of its in-boundary kids come from Culmore, which is almost exclusively low-income immigrant. If you're interested in Spanish Immersion (and your child is likely to be at or above grade level, which is required for admission into the immersion program), then I'd also consider Bailey's, but frankly, I'm not sure that I'd want to live close enough to Culmore to be in-boundary for Bailey's. There are some homes in Lake Barcroft, which is a great family community, that are districted for Bailey's. I know almost no families that live south of Columbia Pike, so there may be other schools there that are good, but I just haven't heard about.

This is from 2007, so it's a bit dated and based only on test scores, but I still think it's a useful compilation of information about all of the elementary schools:

http://www.fairfaxcaps.org/images/FCPS_2007_ElementarySchoolReportCard.pdf

So much of a school's success is based on principal leadership and the dedication and quality of the teachers. Although the 'report card' can provide a general guide based on test scores, it can't really get at people's personal experience with the schools. Having said that, I'll still say that in terms of schools to avoid -- I'd probably think twice about schools on this list that are ranked below 100. I'd be concerned that they are so focused on helping kids meet the minimum standard that they wouldn't spend enough time making sure that kids who have already met the standard are still learning. BUT, Bailey's is ranked that low and I'd seriously consider it, so I wouldn't use that as a hard and fast rule. I'd just ask tough questions about those schools before buying a home in their boundary. Friends of mine were really disappointed with Glen Forest, which is ranked below 100.

Even though you currently plan on private school starting in 6th grade, you should still consider the school pyramids.

The Falls Church High School pyramid has K-6 elementary schools. Kids go to middle school for only 2 years, in 7th and 8th, so it gives your child an extra year in the elementary school setting, which I think is a good thing, unless you're definitely set on starting private school in 6th grade.

As of now, all elementary schools in the Stuart pyramid and most in the Annandale pyramid are K-5. (Sleepy Hollow and Columbia are both K-5 schools) From 6 - 8 grade my kids will go to Glasgow Middle, then on to Stuart. I've heard that starting middle school in 6th grade is less than ideal. Sixth grade at Glasgow is big, with 400 kids from all the elementary schools in the area mixed together. Honors classes (which are open enrollment) don't start until 7th grade. Kids who are more serious about academics, but aren't in the GT Center program, are in 6th grade classes at Glasgow with a lot of kids who are not at all academically minded, which can be frustrating. Starting in 7th and 8th grades kids can sort themselves into the honors/non-honors tracks and the educational environment improves for the kids who are more serious about school. I would guess that the same thing happens at Poe/Holmes.

Starting on about page 17 of this presentation there's a discussion of pupil placements and a 'high school report card' that compares the schools on the basis of SOL test scores, but again, don't take the report card too seriously, just use it for general information. I think the pupil placement info is more useful, because it shows people's reactions their beliefs about differences in school quality.

http://www.fairfaxcaps.org/pdf/FfxCAPS_IB-AP_meeting_Slides_2009_01_14.pdf

In terms of high schools, Stuart and Annandale are IB schools and Falls Church is AP. All of our neighbors with kids at Stuart absolutely love it. Our babysitter attends Stuart and really likes it. She also liked Glasgow, FWIW. The IB program at Stuart is good and rigorous. But, SAT scores are slightly higher at Annandale, followed by Stuart, then Falls Church. In terms of people "pupil placing" into Stuart, more kids pupil place into Stuart from Falls Church and Annandale than vice versa. Annandale is really overcrowded right now, but redistricting may change that before your child gets to be high school age.

As someone else mentioned, the whole Lacey Elementary redistricting may change a lot of these schools.

Although we're happy here with the schools and the location, which we find convenient to everything, and there are very good schools in Falls Church/Annandale, if you're not totally set on this area, you might also consider the Marshall High School pyramid. My friends with kids at Lemon Road really like it (even though it's ranked 113 on the report card!). IMO Marshall, which offers the IB program, is a stronger high school than Stuart/Annandale/Falls Church, and I think people are also reasonably happy with Kilmer Middle School, which starts in 7th grade. There are also some pretty affordable homes in that area.

I hope at least some of this helped, and good luck!

[Anonymous]

NP here -- fabulous post, 22:29! Very informative. Not everyone can afford a house in the Langley HS district, and there are many other excellent schools (with smaller class sizes) in the County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are good elementary schools outside of McLean, and the class sizes are much smaller. They may not have the test scores of McLean, but they also have very different populations...test scores are largely about demographics, and show what percentage of kids are meeting the minimum standards. Your kids can get a great education in Falls Church/Annandale, despite what some in other parts of the County seem to believe, and it's far more affordable.

My kids are at Sleepy Hollow, and we think it's a really good school. Strong PTA, involved parents, good principal. Some teachers have been a better fit for our kids than others, but that's true everywhere and overall we think it's been great. It's one of the only schools in the area that's not Title I, but with enough low-income kids that we still have state-mandated class size reductions in K-3, which benefits all of the kids. I have friends with kids at Columbia who rave about the school (also not Title I). I've also heard good things about Pine Spring, but don't have any personal experience with it. Based on what I know, I would put those three at the top of my list in a home search in the area, but there may be other good ones, too. For example, Bailey's is a magnet school with Spanish Immersion and extra arts and science. But most of its in-boundary kids come from Culmore, which is almost exclusively low-income immigrant. If you're interested in Spanish Immersion (and your child is likely to be at or above grade level, which is required for admission into the immersion program), then I'd also consider Bailey's, but frankly, I'm not sure that I'd want to live close enough to Culmore to be in-boundary for Bailey's. There are some homes in Lake Barcroft, which is a great family community, that are districted for Bailey's. I know almost no families that live south of Columbia Pike, so there may be other schools there that are good, but I just haven't heard about.

This is from 2007, so it's a bit dated and based only on test scores, but I still think it's a useful compilation of information about all of the elementary schools:

http://www.fairfaxcaps.org/images/FCPS_2007_ElementarySchoolReportCard.pdf

So much of a school's success is based on principal leadership and the dedication and quality of the teachers. Although the 'report card' can provide a general guide based on test scores, it can't really get at people's personal experience with the schools. Having said that, I'll still say that in terms of schools to avoid -- I'd probably think twice about schools on this list that are ranked below 100. I'd be concerned that they are so focused on helping kids meet the minimum standard that they wouldn't spend enough time making sure that kids who have already met the standard are still learning. BUT, Bailey's is ranked that low and I'd seriously consider it, so I wouldn't use that as a hard and fast rule. I'd just ask tough questions about those schools before buying a home in their boundary. Friends of mine were really disappointed with Glen Forest, which is ranked below 100.

Even though you currently plan on private school starting in 6th grade, you should still consider the school pyramids.

The Falls Church High School pyramid has K-6 elementary schools. Kids go to middle school for only 2 years, in 7th and 8th, so it gives your child an extra year in the elementary school setting, which I think is a good thing, unless you're definitely set on starting private school in 6th grade.

As of now, all elementary schools in the Stuart pyramid and most in the Annandale pyramid are K-5. (Sleepy Hollow and Columbia are both K-5 schools) From 6 - 8 grade my kids will go to Glasgow Middle, then on to Stuart. I've heard that starting middle school in 6th grade is less than ideal. Sixth grade at Glasgow is big, with 400 kids from all the elementary schools in the area mixed together. Honors classes (which are open enrollment) don't start until 7th grade. Kids who are more serious about academics, but aren't in the GT Center program, are in 6th grade classes at Glasgow with a lot of kids who are not at all academically minded, which can be frustrating. Starting in 7th and 8th grades kids can sort themselves into the honors/non-honors tracks and the educational environment improves for the kids who are more serious about school. I would guess that the same thing happens at Poe/Holmes.

Starting on about page 17 of this presentation there's a discussion of pupil placements and a 'high school report card' that compares the schools on the basis of SOL test scores, but again, don't take the report card too seriously, just use it for general information. I think the pupil placement info is more useful, because it shows people's reactions their beliefs about differences in school quality.

http://www.fairfaxcaps.org/pdf/FfxCAPS_IB-AP_meeting_Slides_2009_01_14.pdf

In terms of high schools, Stuart and Annandale are IB schools and Falls Church is AP. All of our neighbors with kids at Stuart absolutely love it. Our babysitter attends Stuart and really likes it. She also liked Glasgow, FWIW. The IB program at Stuart is good and rigorous. But, SAT scores are slightly higher at Annandale, followed by Stuart, then Falls Church. In terms of people "pupil placing" into Stuart, more kids pupil place into Stuart from Falls Church and Annandale than vice versa. Annandale is really overcrowded right now, but redistricting may change that before your child gets to be high school age.

As someone else mentioned, the whole Lacey Elementary redistricting may change a lot of these schools.

Although we're happy here with the schools and the location, which we find convenient to everything, and there are very good schools in Falls Church/Annandale, if you're not totally set on this area, you might also consider the Marshall High School pyramid. My friends with kids at Lemon Road really like it (even though it's ranked 113 on the report card!). IMO Marshall, which offers the IB program, is a stronger high school than Stuart/Annandale/Falls Church, and I think people are also reasonably happy with Kilmer Middle School, which starts in 7th grade. There are also some pretty affordable homes in that area.

I hope at least some of this helped, and good luck!

LOL! An essay defending your triangle. Not surprised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
LOL! An essay defending your triangle. Not surprised.

And why not? Might not the OP find it helpful to know her other options? People over-hype the tiny City of Falls Church to no end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
LOL! An essay defending your triangle. Not surprised.

And why not? Might not the OP find it helpful to know her other options? People over-hype the tiny City of Falls Church to no end.

I agree. It's helpful to have real life feedback on schools other than the ones in the wealthiest areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
LOL! An essay defending your triangle. Not surprised.

And why not? Might not the OP find it helpful to know her other options? People over-hype the tiny City of Falls Church to no end.

I agree. It's helpful to have real life feedback on schools other than the ones in the wealthiest areas.

What about Belvedere ES? It's a Title I school, but it's ranked highly on the FairfaxCAPS list and has AAP?