Tell me about the schools in Herndon/Chantilly - Crossfield, Oak Hill, Navy, Fox Mill, Lees Corner

[Anonymous]

Floris is also in the area you are discussing. It has great staff, but class sizes are large so that’s an issue. Overall, AAP curriculum is not that strong but may be fcps issue vs. Floris issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, really not as concerned about STEM/STEAM as I am about the community and whether the school is well regarded and families like it there. There are a couple schools that get brought up in this forum a lot and fortunately those are in areas we can't afford to live in, I just want to make sure we're avoiding schools like that where parents get all up in arms about AAP vs General Ed, or are racists, or things like that. We are a mixed race family (half Asian/half white), and I hope we'd be welcomed in these communities, I think there are decent sized asian/south asian populations?

You might want to avoid Navy then. The AAP vs Gen Ed culture is real and sadly I feel like it’s ruined the experience for us. The teachers are great, but when you split everyone into “the smart kids” and “the not smart kids”, and everyone knows who is in which class, you’re setting yourself up for a not so great learning experience. If we had a choice, we would have chosen Fox Mill. It’s a super tight knit community and everyone (parents, teachers, kids) are lovely. If you value community, those are your people.

+1 Navy does absolutely nothing to try to integrate AAP and Gen Ed kids. There are no team activities. AAP and Gen Ed teachers don’t plan units together. Everyone does their own thing (all upper grade teachers departmentalized) and it’s a mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, really not as concerned about STEM/STEAM as I am about the community and whether the school is well regarded and families like it there. There are a couple schools that get brought up in this forum a lot and fortunately those are in areas we can't afford to live in, I just want to make sure we're avoiding schools like that where parents get all up in arms about AAP vs General Ed, or are racists, or things like that. We are a mixed race family (half Asian/half white), and I hope we'd be welcomed in these communities, I think there are decent sized asian/south asian populations?

You might want to avoid Navy then. The AAP vs Gen Ed culture is real and sadly I feel like it’s ruined the experience for us. The teachers are great, but when you split everyone into “the smart kids” and “the not smart kids”, and everyone knows who is in which class, you’re setting yourself up for a not so great learning experience. If we had a choice, we would have chosen Fox Mill. It’s a super tight knit community and everyone (parents, teachers, kids) are lovely. If you value community, those are your people.

Thank you, this is really good to know - definitely don't want the us vs. them AAP vs. Gen Ed, I don't like that at all.

[Anonymous]

OP here - since someone mentioned it for a different school, what are class sizes like? The older classes are smaller because of AAP, but my younger child's first grade class is 29 kids and from what I've heard, can get pretty out of control (and it's not just this one class, it's all the first grade classes at our school).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - since someone mentioned it for a different school, what are class sizes like? The older classes are smaller because of AAP, but my younger child's first grade class is 29 kids and from what I've heard, can get pretty out of control (and it's not just this one class, it's all the first grade classes at our school).

Fox Mill, the JI classes start big (30 kids) but drop to the high teens by 5th, 6th grade. The Gen Ed classes tend to be in the teens to low 20s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, really not as concerned about STEM/STEAM as I am about the community and whether the school is well regarded and families like it there. There are a couple schools that get brought up in this forum a lot and fortunately those are in areas we can't afford to live in, I just want to make sure we're avoiding schools like that where parents get all up in arms about AAP vs General Ed, or are racists, or things like that. We are a mixed race family (half Asian/half white), and I hope we'd be welcomed in these communities, I think there are decent sized asian/south asian populations?

You might want to avoid Navy then. The AAP vs Gen Ed culture is real and sadly I feel like it’s ruined the experience for us. The teachers are great, but when you split everyone into “the smart kids” and “the not smart kids”, and everyone knows who is in which class, you’re setting yourself up for a not so great learning experience. If we had a choice, we would have chosen Fox Mill. It’s a super tight knit community and everyone (parents, teachers, kids) are lovely. If you value community, those are your people.

Thank you, this is really good to know - definitely don't want the us vs. them AAP vs. Gen Ed, I don't like that at all.

My child is in Gen Ed at Navy and we don’t feel a divide at all. My kid’s friends are pretty much all in Gen Ed and a lot of the kids in AAP came from other schools so it’s not like my kid knew them anyway. I suspect these complaints are coming from parents who feel miffed that their child is not in AAP. Maybe it depends on the grade but what PPs are saying just does not match our experience or anyone else we k or at Navy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, really not as concerned about STEM/STEAM as I am about the community and whether the school is well regarded and families like it there. There are a couple schools that get brought up in this forum a lot and fortunately those are in areas we can't afford to live in, I just want to make sure we're avoiding schools like that where parents get all up in arms about AAP vs General Ed, or are racists, or things like that. We are a mixed race family (half Asian/half white), and I hope we'd be welcomed in these communities, I think there are decent sized asian/south asian populations?

You might want to avoid Navy then. The AAP vs Gen Ed culture is real and sadly I feel like it’s ruined the experience for us. The teachers are great, but when you split everyone into “the smart kids” and “the not smart kids”, and everyone knows who is in which class, you’re setting yourself up for a not so great learning experience. If we had a choice, we would have chosen Fox Mill. It’s a super tight knit community and everyone (parents, teachers, kids) are lovely. If you value community, those are your people.

Thank you, this is really good to know - definitely don't want the us vs. them AAP vs. Gen Ed, I don't like that at all.

My child is in Gen Ed at Navy and we don’t feel a divide at all. My kid’s friends are pretty much all in Gen Ed and a lot of the kids in AAP came from other schools so it’s not like my kid knew them anyway. I suspect these complaints are coming from parents who feel miffed that their child is not in AAP. Maybe it depends on the grade but what PPs are saying just does not match our experience or anyone else we k or at Navy.

I will add that AAP at the non center schools can have its own drawbacks. Namely that your kid is basically stuck with the same group of kids for 3rd through 6th so if there are any negative social dynamics there’s no getting away from it. I’m sure it’s fine most of the time but I have heard that as an issue for some. At the center there are more social options within AAP because there is at least two classes per grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - since someone mentioned it for a different school, what are class sizes like? The older classes are smaller because of AAP, but my younger child's first grade class is 29 kids and from what I've heard, can get pretty out of control (and it's not just this one class, it's all the first grade classes at our school).

Fox Mill, the JI classes start big (30 kids) but drop to the high teens by 5th, 6th grade. The Gen Ed classes tend to be in the teens to low 20s.

How many of each (Japanese Immersion vs Gen Ed vs LLIV) are there?

[Anonymous]

So the downside of Fox Mill is that they are local level AAP and -- at least as of last year -- they were just mixing the AAP and regular kids in the same classes. If your child is particularly bright, he's going to have fewer people at that level in his classroom; and fewer in the entire school interested in a particular niche. The school itself is much smaller, and the demographics of the attendees + the additional AAP draw mean a stronger student population.

The upside is Fox Mill is *much* better run, plans out its lessons more effectively, and is less laptop driven.

Navy recently lost its principal, and it's possible that the new one will steer them down a different path. But as someone who had AAP-level kids in both schools, I much preferred Fox Mill and thought there was far more learning and skills practice happening there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, really not as concerned about STEM/STEAM as I am about the community and whether the school is well regarded and families like it there. There are a couple schools that get brought up in this forum a lot and fortunately those are in areas we can't afford to live in, I just want to make sure we're avoiding schools like that where parents get all up in arms about AAP vs General Ed, or are racists, or things like that. We are a mixed race family (half Asian/half white), and I hope we'd be welcomed in these communities, I think there are decent sized asian/south asian populations?

You might want to avoid Navy then. The AAP vs Gen Ed culture is real and sadly I feel like it’s ruined the experience for us. The teachers are great, but when you split everyone into “the smart kids” and “the not smart kids”, and everyone knows who is in which class, you’re setting yourself up for a not so great learning experience. If we had a choice, we would have chosen Fox Mill. It’s a super tight knit community and everyone (parents, teachers, kids) are lovely. If you value community, those are your people.

Thank you, this is really good to know - definitely don't want the us vs. them AAP vs. Gen Ed, I don't like that at all.

My child is in Gen Ed at Navy and we don’t feel a divide at all. My kid’s friends are pretty much all in Gen Ed and a lot of the kids in AAP came from other schools so it’s not like my kid knew them anyway. I suspect these complaints are coming from parents who feel miffed that their child is not in AAP. Maybe it depends on the grade but what PPs are saying just does not match our experience or anyone else we k or at Navy.

Well, you aren’t going to feel the divide if all your kid’s friends are in gen ed. The problem is when your kids have friends in both gen ed and AAP. Also, not miffed about anything apart from having to set my alarm clock tomorrow morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - since someone mentioned it for a different school, what are class sizes like? The older classes are smaller because of AAP, but my younger child's first grade class is 29 kids and from what I've heard, can get pretty out of control (and it's not just this one class, it's all the first grade classes at our school).

Fox Mill, the JI classes start big (30 kids) but drop to the high teens by 5th, 6th grade. The Gen Ed classes tend to be in the teens to low 20s.

How many of each (Japanese Immersion vs Gen Ed vs LLIV) are there?

There are 2 JI classes and 2 Gen Ed Classes. They are using the cluster model for LLIV but the classes are divided in fifth grade for Advanced Math so all the kids in Advanced Math are in the same class. We have not noticed that many kids leaving the JI program for AAP, our child was accepted and we deferred. I know at least 5 other kids in DCs class that deferred as well. I have no clue what the rate of departure for LIV is with the Gen Ed class. I do know that kids return to Fox Mill from Oak Hill although I don’t know why kids return. I would say that AAP does not seem to be a big deal for most of the families at Fox Mill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the downside of Fox Mill is that they are local level AAP and -- at least as of last year -- they were just mixing the AAP and regular kids in the same classes. If your child is particularly bright, he's going to have fewer people at that level in his classroom; and fewer in the entire school interested in a particular niche. The school itself is much smaller, and the demographics of the attendees + the additional AAP draw mean a stronger student population.

stronger student population AT NAVY, I meant. I ned too proofreed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the downside of Fox Mill is that they are local level AAP and -- at least as of last year -- they were just mixing the AAP and regular kids in the same classes. If your child is particularly bright, he's going to have fewer people at that level in his classroom; and fewer in the entire school interested in a particular niche. The school itself is much smaller, and the demographics of the attendees + the additional AAP draw mean a stronger student population.

stronger student population AT NAVY, I meant. Clearly, I ned too proofreed an click prevue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, really not as concerned about STEM/STEAM as I am about the community and whether the school is well regarded and families like it there. There are a couple schools that get brought up in this forum a lot and fortunately those are in areas we can't afford to live in, I just want to make sure we're avoiding schools like that where parents get all up in arms about AAP vs General Ed, or are racists, or things like that. We are a mixed race family (half Asian/half white), and I hope we'd be welcomed in these communities, I think there are decent sized asian/south asian populations?

You might want to avoid Navy then. The AAP vs Gen Ed culture is real and sadly I feel like it’s ruined the experience for us. The teachers are great, but when you split everyone into “the smart kids” and “the not smart kids”, and everyone knows who is in which class, you’re setting yourself up for a not so great learning experience. If we had a choice, we would have chosen Fox Mill. It’s a super tight knit community and everyone (parents, teachers, kids) are lovely. If you value community, those are your people.

Thank you, this is really good to know - definitely don't want the us vs. them AAP vs. Gen Ed, I don't like that at all.

My child is in Gen Ed at Navy and we don’t feel a divide at all. My kid’s friends are pretty much all in Gen Ed and a lot of the kids in AAP came from other schools so it’s not like my kid knew them anyway. I suspect these complaints are coming from parents who feel miffed that their child is not in AAP. Maybe it depends on the grade but what PPs are saying just does not match our experience or anyone else we k or at Navy.

Well, you aren’t going to feel the divide if all your kid’s friends are in gen ed. The problem is when your kids have friends in both gen ed and AAP. Also, not miffed about anything apart from having to set my alarm clock tomorrow morning.

This sounds more like a problem specific to your child's peer group than a problem with Navy. I have not heard of anyone in real life complain about this. Kids are put into classes based on what they need. So what. Meet up with them outside of class. It's not like the kids in different Gen Ed classes are all hanging out together all day. If a friend in AAP makes a snarky comment about kids in Gen Ed, then they aren't much of a friend and have a lot to learn about life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, really not as concerned about STEM/STEAM as I am about the community and whether the school is well regarded and families like it there. There are a couple schools that get brought up in this forum a lot and fortunately those are in areas we can't afford to live in, I just want to make sure we're avoiding schools like that where parents get all up in arms about AAP vs General Ed, or are racists, or things like that. We are a mixed race family (half Asian/half white), and I hope we'd be welcomed in these communities, I think there are decent sized asian/south asian populations?

You might want to avoid Navy then. The AAP vs Gen Ed culture is real and sadly I feel like it’s ruined the experience for us. The teachers are great, but when you split everyone into “the smart kids” and “the not smart kids”, and everyone knows who is in which class, you’re setting yourself up for a not so great learning experience. If we had a choice, we would have chosen Fox Mill. It’s a super tight knit community and everyone (parents, teachers, kids) are lovely. If you value community, those are your people.

Thank you, this is really good to know - definitely don't want the us vs. them AAP vs. Gen Ed, I don't like that at all.

My child is in Gen Ed at Navy and we don’t feel a divide at all. My kid’s friends are pretty much all in Gen Ed and a lot of the kids in AAP came from other schools so it’s not like my kid knew them anyway. I suspect these complaints are coming from parents who feel miffed that their child is not in AAP. Maybe it depends on the grade but what PPs are saying just does not match our experience or anyone else we k or at Navy.

That’s a complete lie. Navy is a unique center school in that the only kids that come to the center are from Navy itself or Crossfield. And since Crossfield has a local level IV, a lot just choose to stay there. Navy AAP center does not pull from any other schools.