What is the reputation of Alexandria public schools?

[Anonymous]

I think you could call the school and ask about the opt out, but remember, if they make AYP then you may have to return to the school down the road. Looking at the test scores and demographics, I kind of doubt that they are going to make AYP, but you never know. This school has some really troubling demographics in terms of 75+% poverty. I think this is the school that must be serving all the public housing units in Old Town. Their score are not just lower than the average scores in VA, they are really low for the third graders and then they get a little better for the upper grades (but still low). I would have a hard time sending my child to this school just because with so much poverty, and what looks like kids who are coming to school very ill-prepared to learn (hence the very low scores for 3rd grade SOLs), I'd be very concerned about the disruption factor. It's a very small school too... just 250 kids! I've never seen a public school in this area so small. And their student to teacher ratio is 8 to 1... It's something to be concerned about that they have such low pass rates.

Are you already committed to that location? Call and ask about opting out and also consider the private school option... although living in another location would probably be cheaper than private.

[Anonymous]

Back to the original question of reputation...I'd say that within the neighboring counties and cities (Arlington, Fairfax, and Falls Church), the Alexandria schools have a weaker reputation. However, this is primarily based on the poor performance of the only high school - TC Williams.

The dirty little secret is that the elementary schools are outstanding. Small class size, neighborhood schools within walking distance of most students' homes, and a strong parent community. The elementary schools currently with the best reputation (in order) are: (1) George Mason, (2) McArthur and (3) Lyles Crouch. Maury is an up-and-comer (the Lyles Crouch principal moved there a few years ago and is turning things around quickly).

The high school still struggles, but it is hard to imagine it staying weak with so many decidated parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back to the original question of reputation...I'd say that within the neighboring counties and cities (Arlington, Fairfax, and Falls Church), the Alexandria schools have a weaker reputation. However, this is primarily based on the poor performance of the only high school - TC Williams.

The dirty little secret is that the elementary schools are outstanding. Small class size, neighborhood schools within walking distance of most students' homes, and a strong parent community. The elementary schools currently with the best reputation (in order) are: (1) George Mason, (2) McArthur and (3) Lyles Crouch. Maury is an up-and-comer (the Lyles Crouch principal moved there a few years ago and is turning things around quickly).

The high school still struggles, but it is hard to imagine it staying weak with so many decidated parents.

I don't think GW or Hammond are considered hidden gems. My co-worker pulled her daughter from GW and refused to send her younger child there.

[Anonymous]

16:20 Thanks for the response. We would never enroll there but owned home before children in the district. Opting out seems like a good idea as I would like to go public but if they make the AYP we would not transfer back. Would hate to have DD changing schools. Probably best to go private or move. But in Alexandria you may not get to go to school in your district if it is over crowded. If anyone has opinions about the schools you can transfer to from J/H please post.

[Anonymous]

For what it is worth, I live in 22314 and our home school is MacArthur.

Regarding transferring out of JH, I would guess that your best bets for a place would be Maury or Charles Barrett and they are not bad options. Both are quite small compared with a school like MacArthur and have newish principals who seem very engaged. I don't believe MacArthur has taken admin transfers in a while and George Mason is also pretty full.

[Anonymous]

We live in the JH district. The opt-out process right now looks dismal. Maury is overcrowded, as is mason, MacArthur and even possibly Barrett. We are going private.
My friends that are hoping for opt-out are not optimistic. They will likely end up at cora Kelly or Polk. I don't even think mt Vernon has space any more.
The good news is that JH is definitely up and coming. There is a small and very dedicated group of parents who are determined to improve the school, and have made great progress. Give it three years - it will be the next success story, much like Maury was a few years ago.

[Anonymous]

So you're paying a premium for living close in AND paying $2k a month for private school on top of that?

Why not just live in McLean or North Arlington?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The good news is that JH is definitely up and coming. There is a small and very dedicated group of parents who are determined to improve the school, and have made great progress. Give it three years - it will be the next success story, much like Maury was a few years ago.

Serious wishful thinking. These "very dedicated" types of parents think they can remake a school in a year to suit their liking. When they can't, they transfer to another public or go private.

[Anonymous]

to 8:17 It would be wonderful if we could sell and buy in Arlington or Chevey Chase. Just can't afford it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you're paying a premium for living close in AND paying $2k a month for private school on top of that?

Why not just live in McLean or North Arlington?

Because we love del ray. And we would probably do private school anyways. Small class sizes, lots of outdoor time, flexibility to cater to each student, lots of specials.....we do without other things to make private school feasible. Evryone prioritizes things diFferently. For us, short commutes and the best school we can afford are our priorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The good news is that JH is definitely up and coming. There is a small and very dedicated group of parents who are determined to improve the school, and have made great progress. Give it three years - it will be the next success story, much like Maury was a few years ago.

Serious wishful thinking. These "very dedicated" types of parents think they can remake a school in a year to suit their liking. When they can't, they transfer to another public or go private.

No they don't, not in my experience. They keep working at it. I've seen only addition to the number of dedicated Maury parents over the past 5 years, for instance. They didn't give up after one year, and they don't give up just because there is still room for improvement. I don't know anyone in my community who has pulled their child out of Alexandria elementary. The transition to middle school is a different ball of wax, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The good news is that JH is definitely up and coming. There is a small and very dedicated group of parents who are determined to improve the school, and have made great progress. Give it three years - it will be the next success story, much like Maury was a few years ago.

Serious wishful thinking. These "very dedicated" types of parents think they can remake a school in a year to suit their liking. When they can't, they transfer to another public or go private.

No they don't, not in my experience. They keep working at it. I've seen only addition to the number of dedicated Maury parents over the past 5 years, for instance. They didn't give up after one year, and they don't give up just because there is still room for improvement. I don't know anyone in my community who has pulled their child out of Alexandria elementary. The transition to middle school is a different ball of wax, though.

Big difference between Maury and JH. I wouldn't hold my breath for JH to be anything other than the basket case it's been for a long time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The good news is that JH is definitely up and coming. There is a small and very dedicated group of parents who are determined to improve the school, and have made great progress. Give it three years - it will be the next success story, much like Maury was a few years ago.

Serious wishful thinking. These "very dedicated" types of parents think they can remake a school in a year to suit their liking. When they can't, they transfer to another public or go private.

No they don't, not in my experience. They keep working at it. I've seen only addition to the number of dedicated Maury parents over the past 5 years, for instance. They didn't give up after one year, and they don't give up just because there is still room for improvement. I don't know anyone in my community who has pulled their child out of Alexandria elementary. The transition to middle school is a different ball of wax, though.

Big difference between Maury and JH. I wouldn't hold my breath for JH to be anything other than the basket case it's been for a long time.

Agree with this.

The Maury parents had no choice - they couldn't afford to sell when the market crashed and they couldn't afford private school either so then they were stuck.

It is unlikely that the parents living in the public housing units all throughout Old Town whose children go to JH are going to work hard to make the school into anything. The welfare mentality is very ingrained and education is the last thing on those parents mind.

For the OP, just moving in bounds to Lyles Crouch doesn't guarantee entrance. The school caps enrollment. You need to call them directly to discuss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The Maury parents had no choice - they couldn't afford to sell when the market crashed and they couldn't afford private school either so then they were stuck.

It is unlikely that the parents living in the public housing units all throughout Old Town whose children go to JH are going to work hard to make the school into anything. The welfare mentality is very ingrained and education is the last thing on those parents mind.

For the OP, just moving in bounds to Lyles Crouch doesn't guarantee entrance. The school caps enrollment. You need to call them directly to discuss.

Didn't claim that it would be the "public housing people" fighting for changes. Maury draws a lot of students from a part of Parker Gray, but those aren't the most visibly involved parents, either. It's the ones in Rosemont who more often than not could have afforded to opt for private if they'd wished.

Have you seen what's going on along West St and other parts of the JH zone? A lot of gentrification, rehabbed townhouses, and new construction. I don't know if families are moving in or if it's mostly singles and no-kids couples, but the economic demographics of north Old Town is changing. Doesn't mean JH will improve overnight, or in a year, but I still disagree that involved parents will cut and run.

[Anonymous]

There are lots of affluent people with kids in the JH school zone - but those kids are very little, not school aged yet. They generally move once it is school time. That is what we plan to do, unless other dedicated parents in our district and agree to actually send their kids to the school to achieve a more economically diverse demographic.