Arlington public or Catholic schools for K-8?

[Anonymous]

We're trying to decide whether to send dd to public or Catholic school. Does anyone have views? In particular, we're evaluating Barrett Elementary, St. Charles and St. Thomas.

TIA.

[Anonymous]

We send our daughter to Barrett (as do most of our neighbors) but we also have neighbors who use the Catholic schools (and also the other public school options). I suppose it depends on your expectations and your child's needs but overall we have been very happy with Barrett.

I would strongly encourage you to pay a visit to the principal Terry Bratt and take a tour of the school yourself before you make a decision.

[Anonymous]

How much do you want them to get a Catholic education. That would obviously be a big reason to go to Catholic school.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks for the responses. A Catholic education is very important to us, but we can provide that to him ourselves and through CCD courses (which is what I had - I went to public schools). So the primary consideration for us is really which school is best academically.

[Anonymous]

We are in the Barrett district but have kids at St. Thomas More and have been very happy with the education they are receiving. The teachers at STM are wonderful and are able to taylor reading instruction to each student (in my experience). You should attend the tours at all three schools and see how you feel afterwards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are in the Barrett district but have kids at St. Thomas More and have been very happy with the education they are receiving. The teachers at STM are wonderful and are able to taylor reading instruction to each student (in my experience). You should attend the tours at all three schools and see how you feel afterwards.

I have several family members at St. Thomas More at all grade levels. They have been happy so far with the one complaint being the class size. Because they go down to only one class per grade at the upper elementary grades (5th or 6th I think), my niece is in a class of 29 with one teacher. My son is at Glebe Elementary and we have been happy so far with it. I am not sure how much more Catholic schools offer than the publics in Arlington (other than a Catholic focus of course!), but I do like that they don't have the state testing.

[Anonymous]

They have testing, Terra Nova.

[Anonymous]

I'm jumping in late but if you decide to go the Catholic route I would suggest also checking out St. Ann. It is often over looked because it is tucked away behind Lacy Woods park but it has been a wonderful place for our kids. We live down past Barrett and the drive is not bad at all. The school has small class sizes, fabulous teachers and a brand new hands on science program that is great.

[Anonymous]

Last year Barrett was a Title 1 school, so you should also check out the other options you have. If a school fails two years in a row, parents must be given another school option that is passing. I believe Ashlawn is an option for Barrett parents that opt out of the school. Not sure if that status will remain in affect for next school year.