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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1 we live in Ashton Heights (Between Clarendon & Ballston). Kids did Long Branch/Jefferson/W-L. We were, for the most part, happy with their school experience. Both were well prepared for college. There are plenty of opportunities for a high achieving student at W-L.

However, the current push for "standards based grading" which seems to = no grades and no idea how your kids is doing would concern me if moving to the district now. But maybe that equity fad of the day is coming to Fairfax too?

[Anonymous]

The best schools are in Fairfax County. Some schools in APS are just ok—or good enough. Mediocre-plus, if you will. It’s almost as if a population overrepresented by privileged nerds with attitude has had to rationalize their choice of living in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Eh, APS schools are good enough and offer enough options that a high school student can make whatever they want of their high school experience. If they really want, they can even to to TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Eh, APS schools are good enough and offer enough options that a high school student can make whatever they want of their high school experience. If they really want, they can even to to TJ.

Yeah I kind of think of APS high schools as “choose your own adventure.”

[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 know people move out some Fairfax pyramids for better schools (McLean, Langley for example). Any other districts people look at? Falls church? Prince William? Interested in prince william in particular

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best schools are in Fairfax County. Some schools in APS are just ok—or good enough. Mediocre-plus, if you will. It’s almost as if a population overrepresented by privileged nerds with attitude has had to rationalize their choice of living in Arlington.

There are over 300 high schools in Virginia and Yorktown and W-L are in the top 25. Arlington may not be your cup of tea, but it’s not “mediocre-plus.” Come on now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Eh, APS schools are good enough and offer enough options that a high school student can make whatever they want of their high school experience. If they really want, they can even to to TJ.

Yeah I kind of think of APS high schools as “choose your own adventure.”

OK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best schools are in Fairfax County. Some schools in APS are just ok—or good enough. Mediocre-plus, if you will. It’s almost as if a population overrepresented by privileged nerds with attitude has had to rationalize their choice of living in Arlington.

There are over 300 high schools in Virginia and Yorktown and W-L are in the top 25. Arlington may not be your cup of tea, but it’s not “mediocre-plus.” Come on now.

Nah.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best schools are in Fairfax County. Some schools in APS are just ok—or good enough. Mediocre-plus, if you will. It’s almost as if a population overrepresented by privileged nerds with attitude has had to rationalize their choice of living in Arlington.

There are over 300 high schools in Virginia and Yorktown and W-L are in the top 25. Arlington may not be your cup of tea, but it’s not “mediocre-plus.” Come on now.

Nah.

Yeah.

[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.

I know people move out some Fairfax pyramids for better schools (McLean, Langley for example). Any other districts people look at? Falls church? Prince William? Interested in prince william in particular

If North Arlington is one of your choices, the other choices are usually McLean, Great Falls, or FCC. I haven’t heard anything about Prince William County as part of these discussions.

[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.

I know people move out some Fairfax pyramids for better schools (McLean, Langley for example). Any other districts people look at? Falls church? Prince William? Interested in prince william in particular

If North Arlington is one of your choices, the other choices are usually McLean, Great Falls, or FCC. I haven’t heard anything about Prince William County as part of these discussions.

FCC, McLean, or Great Falls would all be better choices than Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I know people move out some Fairfax pyramids for better schools (McLean, Langley for example). Any other districts people look at? Falls church? Prince William? Interested in prince william in particular

If North Arlington is one of your choices, the other choices are usually McLean, Great Falls, or FCC. I haven’t heard anything about Prince William County as part of these discussions.

FCC, McLean, or Great Falls would all be better choices than Arlington.

What specifically make North Arlington the least of these schools? How would you rank the others?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I know people move out some Fairfax pyramids for better schools (McLean, Langley for example). Any other districts people look at? Falls church? Prince William? Interested in prince william in particular

If North Arlington is one of your choices, the other choices are usually McLean, Great Falls, or FCC. I haven’t heard anything about Prince William County as part of these discussions.

FCC, McLean, or Great Falls would all be better choices than Arlington.

What specifically make North Arlington the least of these schools? How would you rank the others?

APE did a report that was really eye opening. Compared Arlington High schools to peer schools in Fairfax and showed how we come up short.

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60e8ac2567e7c27959b6ff45/t/63c89533262d7002d67e131c/1674089779236/APS+School+Quality+Think+Tank+FINAL.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I know people move out some Fairfax pyramids for better schools (McLean, Langley for example). Any other districts people look at? Falls church? Prince William? Interested in prince william in particular

If North Arlington is one of your choices, the other choices are usually McLean, Great Falls, or FCC. I haven’t heard anything about Prince William County as part of these discussions.

FCC, McLean, or Great Falls would all be better choices than Arlington.

What specifically make North Arlington the least of these schools? How would you rank the others?

APE did a report that was really eye opening. Compared Arlington High schools to peer schools in Fairfax and showed how we come up short.

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60e8ac2567e7c27959b6ff45/t/63c89533262d7002d67e131c/1674089779236/APS+School+Quality+Think+Tank+FINAL.pdf

Great. Everyone in APE should move to Fairfax. Many problems solved.

[Anonymous]

And lolololololol that they call their report "think tank"

Crappy analytics and proofreading.