Should we leave Alexandria?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whatever you think your children need—deserve—from their school experience, assume that the parents at the nearby public housing complex want the same. No, don’t just assume it. Do something about it. Send your kids to school with their kids. Use the energy you have otherwise directed at fighting to get your daughter a slot at the competitive private school to fight for more computers at the public school. Use your connections to power and money and innovation to make your local school—the one you are now sending your child to—better. Don’t just acknowledge your liberal guilt—listen to it.

This is what tells me that you have never actually sent your kids to a school with kids who live at a nearby public housing complex. Not every group of parents wants the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our oldest daughter will enter kindergarten next year. We had planned to send her to the elementary we are zoned for, one of the ones that's supposed to be "better" - but the recent abysmal report card from the state is seriously disturbing. Not a single school fully accredited in ACPS, almost all elementaries (including ours) listed as off track. I've seen many defend clerical issues that led to the scores, but even if that's true - it's no prize. It's also bad and indicative of the kind of environment that's been allowed to continue in the system here it seems.

It would be a huge stretch to pay for private. We love living in ALX, but it seems like the families around us much be much much richer if they can afford to send multiple kids to private school and continue to live in the community.

Do we just leave Alexandria for Bethesda or somewhere else? Uprooting our lives to move? Do we plant a money tree and hope for the best? What are families here doing?

Thanks.

I mean, this is the dilemma parents have been struggling with for at least the entire 30 years I have lived here. We lived Alexandria for North Arlington. And then Arlington for Loudoun, which has far better schools. Don't regret it. Added bonus is it was easier to get into UVA and VT as top students from those schools than it might have been from Yorktown. There are some cynics who say if you can thrive at Alexandria City High School (previously TC Williams) that can help your college admissions because you will have seemed to have survived a bad school. But IMO, schools shouldn't be something one has to "survive."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our oldest daughter will enter kindergarten next year. We had planned to send her to the elementary we are zoned for, one of the ones that's supposed to be "better" - but the recent abysmal report card from the state is seriously disturbing. Not a single school fully accredited in ACPS, almost all elementaries (including ours) listed as off track. I've seen many defend clerical issues that led to the scores, but even if that's true - it's no prize. It's also bad and indicative of the kind of environment that's been allowed to continue in the system here it seems.

It would be a huge stretch to pay for private. We love living in ALX, but it seems like the families around us much be much much richer if they can afford to send multiple kids to private school and continue to live in the community.

Do we just leave Alexandria for Bethesda or somewhere else? Uprooting our lives to move? Do we plant a money tree and hope for the best? What are families here doing?

Thanks.

I mean, this is the dilemma parents have been struggling with for at least the entire 30 years I have lived here. We lived Alexandria for North Arlington. And then Arlington for Loudoun, which has far better schools. Don't regret it. Added bonus is it was easier to get into UVA and VT as top students from those schools than it might have been from Yorktown. There are some cynics who say if you can thrive at Alexandria City High School (previously TC Williams) that can help your college admissions because you will have seemed to have survived a bad school. But IMO, schools shouldn't be something one has to "survive."

*left

We went MacArthur ES in Alexandria to Jamestown ES in Arlington/Williambsurg MS to Loudoun Valley in Loudoun. No regrets.

[Anonymous]

OP, If you have to ask then the answer is yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our oldest daughter will enter kindergarten next year. We had planned to send her to the elementary we are zoned for, one of the ones that's supposed to be "better" - but the recent abysmal report card from the state is seriously disturbing. Not a single school fully accredited in ACPS, almost all elementaries (including ours) listed as off track. I've seen many defend clerical issues that led to the scores, but even if that's true - it's no prize. It's also bad and indicative of the kind of environment that's been allowed to continue in the system here it seems.

It would be a huge stretch to pay for private. We love living in ALX, but it seems like the families around us much be much much richer if they can afford to send multiple kids to private school and continue to live in the community.

Do we just leave Alexandria for Bethesda or somewhere else? Uprooting our lives to move? Do we plant a money tree and hope for the best? What are families here doing?

Thanks.

I mean, this is the dilemma parents have been struggling with for at least the entire 30 years I have lived here. We lived Alexandria for North Arlington. And then Arlington for Loudoun, which has far better schools. Don't regret it. Added bonus is it was easier to get into UVA and VT as top students from those schools than it might have been from Yorktown. There are some cynics who say if you can thrive at Alexandria City High School (previously TC Williams) that can help your college admissions because you will have seemed to have survived a bad school. But IMO, schools shouldn't be something one has to "survive."

*left

We went MacArthur ES in Alexandria to Jamestown ES in Arlington/Williambsurg MS to Loudoun Valley in Loudoun. No regrets.

Can you elaborate on what made Loudoun schools so much better than Arlington in your view?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our oldest daughter will enter kindergarten next year. We had planned to send her to the elementary we are zoned for, one of the ones that's supposed to be "better" - but the recent abysmal report card from the state is seriously disturbing. Not a single school fully accredited in ACPS, almost all elementaries (including ours) listed as off track. I've seen many defend clerical issues that led to the scores, but even if that's true - it's no prize. It's also bad and indicative of the kind of environment that's been allowed to continue in the system here it seems.

It would be a huge stretch to pay for private. We love living in ALX, but it seems like the families around us much be much much richer if they can afford to send multiple kids to private school and continue to live in the community.

Do we just leave Alexandria for Bethesda or somewhere else? Uprooting our lives to move? Do we plant a money tree and hope for the best? What are families here doing?

Thanks.

I mean, this is the dilemma parents have been struggling with for at least the entire 30 years I have lived here. We lived Alexandria for North Arlington. And then Arlington for Loudoun, which has far better schools. Don't regret it. Added bonus is it was easier to get into UVA and VT as top students from those schools than it might have been from Yorktown. There are some cynics who say if you can thrive at Alexandria City High School (previously TC Williams) that can help your college admissions because you will have seemed to have survived a bad school. But IMO, schools shouldn't be something one has to "survive."

*left

We went MacArthur ES in Alexandria to Jamestown ES in Arlington/Williambsurg MS to Loudoun Valley in Loudoun. No regrets.

Can you elaborate on what made Loudoun schools so much better than Arlington in your view?

Smaller, more opportunities to get involved with extracurricular, less intense (not a pressure cooker), better to be big fish in smaller pond. They had great teachers, AP, DE opportunities. House twice the size at half the cost on three acres of land.

Mind you I worked from home since before Covid so commute wasn’t a concern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our oldest daughter will enter kindergarten next year. We had planned to send her to the elementary we are zoned for, one of the ones that's supposed to be "better" - but the recent abysmal report card from the state is seriously disturbing. Not a single school fully accredited in ACPS, almost all elementaries (including ours) listed as off track. I've seen many defend clerical issues that led to the scores, but even if that's true - it's no prize. It's also bad and indicative of the kind of environment that's been allowed to continue in the system here it seems.

It would be a huge stretch to pay for private. We love living in ALX, but it seems like the families around us much be much much richer if they can afford to send multiple kids to private school and continue to live in the community.

Do we just leave Alexandria for Bethesda or somewhere else? Uprooting our lives to move? Do we plant a money tree and hope for the best? What are families here doing?

Thanks.

I mean, this is the dilemma parents have been struggling with for at least the entire 30 years I have lived here. We lived Alexandria for North Arlington. And then Arlington for Loudoun, which has far better schools. Don't regret it. Added bonus is it was easier to get into UVA and VT as top students from those schools than it might have been from Yorktown. There are some cynics who say if you can thrive at Alexandria City High School (previously TC Williams) that can help your college admissions because you will have seemed to have survived a bad school. But IMO, schools shouldn't be something one has to "survive."

*left

We went MacArthur ES in Alexandria to Jamestown ES in Arlington/Williambsurg MS to Loudoun Valley in Loudoun. No regrets.

Can you elaborate on what made Loudoun schools so much better than Arlington in your view?

Smaller, more opportunities to get involved with extracurricular, less intense (not a pressure cooker), better to be big fish in smaller pond. They had great teachers, AP, DE opportunities. House twice the size at half the cost on three acres of land.

Mind you I worked from home since before Covid so commute wasn’t a concern.

Loudoun schools are not better than Arlington and Loudoun is a snore.

[Anonymous]

Yes, leave now. The private schools are getting more and more pricey. I’m not surprised honestly about the bad results. Question whether all will be scrubbed with the new incoming admin, and suddenly all these schools will look great again on paper?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are in high school now.

We left before K.

You’ll build community somewhere else and be very happy. Just do it now.

I guess one question is whether to leave now, have your community from an early age, or wait until closer towards middle school when you’ll know what your kid really needs.

[Anonymous]

Yes you leave immediately.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t move just for the schools if you otherwise like where you live. A normal kid from a middle-class family that values education is going to do fine in ACPS. Lots of similar kids go on to top colleges and are very successful. I’m not convinced that the schools in Arlington or Fairfax are significantly better. Perhaps private is better, but is it $30k+ a year better? That’s a lot of money that could be used for other kinds of enrichment. I would at least try public and see how it goes.

However, this assumes that your child is neurotypical. I don’t think ACPS is the right choice for kids with special needs, so if that is your situation, I would explore other options.

[Anonymous]

Both of my kids are in HS and my oldest is a senior. We loved Alexandria too. But we moved a long time ago and are now in FCPS. We don't know anyone from preschool or elementary tht is still there. Everyone moved or went to private.

We decided to move only because we wanted to put the tuition money towards equity in a house. It was the right move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our oldest daughter will enter kindergarten next year. We had planned to send her to the elementary we are zoned for, one of the ones that's supposed to be "better" - but the recent abysmal report card from the state is seriously disturbing. Not a single school fully accredited in ACPS, almost all elementaries (including ours) listed as off track. I've seen many defend clerical issues that led to the scores, but even if that's true - it's no prize. It's also bad and indicative of the kind of environment that's been allowed to continue in the system here it seems.

It would be a huge stretch to pay for private. We love living in ALX, but it seems like the families around us much be much much richer if they can afford to send multiple kids to private school and continue to live in the community.

Do we just leave Alexandria for Bethesda or somewhere else? Uprooting our lives to move? Do we plant a money tree and hope for the best? What are families here doing?

Thanks.

I mean, this is the dilemma parents have been struggling with for at least the entire 30 years I have lived here. We lived Alexandria for North Arlington. And then Arlington for Loudoun, which has far better schools. Don't regret it. Added bonus is it was easier to get into UVA and VT as top students from those schools than it might have been from Yorktown. There are some cynics who say if you can thrive at Alexandria City High School (previously TC Williams) that can help your college admissions because you will have seemed to have survived a bad school. But IMO, schools shouldn't be something one has to "survive."

*left

We went MacArthur ES in Alexandria to Jamestown ES in Arlington/Williambsurg MS to Loudoun Valley in Loudoun. No regrets.

There's is no comparison between Loudoun Valley High and Yorktown High, the school you gave up in Arlington. It's universally regarded as one of the state's best high schools, which LV is not, and it's in Arlington -- not Purcellville, egads.

[Anonymous]

Having only one high school in the entire city is limiting. If for some reason you have an issue with another student or they don’t offer a course that you need at the right time you’re out of luck. We left Alexandria when my kid was four. I work for APS, it has issues but is overall a good school system with lots of options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our oldest daughter will enter kindergarten next year. We had planned to send her to the elementary we are zoned for, one of the ones that's supposed to be "better" - but the recent abysmal report card from the state is seriously disturbing. Not a single school fully accredited in ACPS, almost all elementaries (including ours) listed as off track. I've seen many defend clerical issues that led to the scores, but even if that's true - it's no prize. It's also bad and indicative of the kind of environment that's been allowed to continue in the system here it seems.

It would be a huge stretch to pay for private. We love living in ALX, but it seems like the families around us much be much much richer if they can afford to send multiple kids to private school and continue to live in the community.

Do we just leave Alexandria for Bethesda or somewhere else? Uprooting our lives to move? Do we plant a money tree and hope for the best? What are families here doing?

Thanks.

I mean, this is the dilemma parents have been struggling with for at least the entire 30 years I have lived here. We lived Alexandria for North Arlington. And then Arlington for Loudoun, which has far better schools. Don't regret it. Added bonus is it was easier to get into UVA and VT as top students from those schools than it might have been from Yorktown. There are some cynics who say if you can thrive at Alexandria City High School (previously TC Williams) that can help your college admissions because you will have seemed to have survived a bad school. But IMO, schools shouldn't be something one has to "survive."

*left

We went MacArthur ES in Alexandria to Jamestown ES in Arlington/Williambsurg MS to Loudoun Valley in Loudoun. No regrets.

There's is no comparison between Loudoun Valley High and Yorktown High, the school you gave up in Arlington. It's universally regarded as one of the state's best high schools, which LV is not, and it's in Arlington -- not Purcellville, egads.

DP. A possible advantage of a lower ranked school is that students who are sharp sometimes (not always) will have higher class rank, less competition from within that HS, and better college admissions.

It literally is the big fish, small pond scenario. If LVHS has more % FARMS, then the student also might benefit from that now that colleges are looking for a proxy for ethnicity.