George Mason Elementary parents...did you (or do you plan to) continue at ACPS after elementary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll talk to you right now. DD is a senior at TC. She has had a wonderful time, with amazing experiences in the community. She was accepted at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, among other Ivy League schools. She is your average, unhooked kid, aside from taking advantage of some great opportunities presented to her in the Alexandria area. She's taken a large number of AP courses, and scored fives on all of them. I'd say her experience was anything but "bad." And she's got friends who also had a great time who've been accepted at Stanford, Penn, Columbia, Virginia (Echols scholars), MIT, Princeton, William and Mary, Georgetown, Smith, Oberlin, Chicago, and many more great schools. And the best thing about their experience is that they've really loved high school, almost without exception.

Yep, she certainly sounds "average"! I call B.S. on this post!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Another NP here with a rising Kindergartener at either Maury or Mt. Vernon. We are in the same boat about what to do come Middle School. We live a few blocks from GW and have interacted a lot with students there, including attending school functions, musicals, etc. I cannot say that I've been impressed, unfortunately. I would love to hear more of the pros that may not be evident. Even just walking home from the metro (Braddock Road) when I was 8 months pregnant, I had a group of GW middle schools students literally shove me into the street/Braddock Road rather than kindly open their pack so I could walk through. And this was not a minority group of kids.

[Anonymous]

This is 14:20, and I assure you that DD did get accepted at Harvard, Yale and Princeton, as well as other Ivy League schools. She is not an athlete nor are we immensely wealthy; that is why I described her as "average," although I will tell you that she is at the absolute top of the class at TC. I know it sounds like I am bragging, and I have not posted this information anywhere else. I am only posting it here to prove that going to TC can be the best thing that has ever happened to some of our kids. P.S. She is going to Yale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another NP here with a rising Kindergartener at either Maury or Mt. Vernon. We are in the same boat about what to do come Middle School. We live a few blocks from GW and have interacted a lot with students there, including attending school functions, musicals, etc. I cannot say that I've been impressed, unfortunately. I would love to hear more of the pros that may not be evident. Even just walking home from the metro (Braddock Road) when I was 8 months pregnant, I had a group of GW middle schools students literally shove me into the street/Braddock Road rather than kindly open their pack so I could walk through. And this was not a minority group of kids.

What does that mean, exactly, "not a minority group of kids?" I.e., even the white kids that attend public school in Alexandria are dangerous or ill-behaved? It's all because of GW? LOl. Middle school kids are not always pleasant no matter where you live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll talk to you right now. DD is a senior at TC. She has had a wonderful time, with amazing experiences in the community. She was accepted at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, among other Ivy League schools. She is your average, unhooked kid, aside from taking advantage of some great opportunities presented to her in the Alexandria area. She's taken a large number of AP courses, and scored fives on all of them. I'd say her experience was anything but "bad." And she's got friends who also had a great time who've been accepted at Stanford, Penn, Columbia, Virginia (Echols scholars), MIT, Princeton, William and Mary, Georgetown, Smith, Oberlin, Chicago, and many more great schools. And the best thing about their experience is that they've really loved high school, almost without exception.

You're trying too hard.

[Anonymous]

OP, you'll notice that the ACPS boosters are trying too hard, as usual. There is a very small handful, but they're very loud. You can recognize their signature by their emphasis on the exceptions who get accepted to ivy league schools, etc.

The sober reality is MOST people choose to leave ACPS before middle school.

Some decide to go and are pleasantly surprised on one extreme, find it tolerable, or, far more likely, have a difficult experience.

The ones who tell you it's gobsmackingly wonderful and everyone had a GREAT experience and Harvard, Yale and Princeton and yadda yadda ying yang are either overcompensating or rationalizing, and possibly both. Oftentimes, they don't know any better since they haven't actually experienced a quality system.

[Anonymous]

So what is your experience with ACPS? You sound like an expert.

[Anonymous]

14:20 again. Not all of DD's friends are going Ivy League; lots choose in-state options for financial reasons (one friend chose UVA over Georgetown for example). Others choose lesser-known schools where they've gotten scholarships. And I think I can compare TC to what else is out there. Our younger DC goes to a top private in DC. She wanted a smaller school. TC is not for everyone, but if your kid is motivated and outgoing, and finds a community within the school (through sports, drama, etc.), it is a wonderful place to spend four years.

[Anonymous]

Apparently, MOST people do not leave the public school as I do not think the schools are threatened by lack of enrollment. On what are you basing this claim? You admit some go and are pleasantly surprised....etc. Not really sure what the point of this is. We get that you don't like it; very happy for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apparently, MOST people do not leave the public school as I do not think the schools are threatened by lack of enrollment. On what are you basing this claim? You admit some go and are pleasantly surprised....etc. Not really sure what the point of this is. We get that you don't like it; very happy for you.

Upper middle class parents tend to pull their children out for middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently, MOST people do not leave the public school as I do not think the schools are threatened by lack of enrollment. On what are you basing this claim? You admit some go and are pleasantly surprised....etc. Not really sure what the point of this is. We get that you don't like it; very happy for you.

Upper middle class parents tend to pull their children out for middle school.

We're there now, and nope, the overwhelming majority of upper-income and upper-ed parents are staying in ACPS. In fact, ACPS middle school and high school enrollment are up well over 15% in the last few years. Sorry, but your post is factually wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently, MOST people do not leave the public school as I do not think the schools are threatened by lack of enrollment. On what are you basing this claim? You admit some go and are pleasantly surprised....etc. Not really sure what the point of this is. We get that you don't like it; very happy for you.

Upper middle class parents tend to pull their children out for middle school.

We're there now, and nope, the overwhelming majority of upper-income and upper-ed parents are staying in ACPS. In fact, ACPS middle school and high school enrollment are up well over 15% in the last few years. Sorry, but your post is factually wrong.

This is absolute nonsense. We sold 6 months ago to move out to FFX due to the schools. Every realtor we worked with is well aware of the trend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll talk to you right now. DD is a senior at TC. She has had a wonderful time, with amazing experiences in the community. She was accepted at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, among other Ivy League schools. She is your average, unhooked kid, aside from taking advantage of some great opportunities presented to her in the Alexandria area. She's taken a large number of AP courses, and scored fives on all of them. I'd say her experience was anything but "bad." And she's got friends who also had a great time who've been accepted at Stanford, Penn, Columbia, Virginia (Echols scholars), MIT, Princeton, William and Mary, Georgetown, Smith, Oberlin, Chicago, and many more great schools. And the best thing about their experience is that they've really loved high school, almost without exception.

Who lumps William & Mary in with the Ivy League schools anyway? It's an average tiny state school. Yeah, it has history but that doesn't make it good. It just goes to show you how false this entire post is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently, MOST people do not leave the public school as I do not think the schools are threatened by lack of enrollment. On what are you basing this claim? You admit some go and are pleasantly surprised....etc. Not really sure what the point of this is. We get that you don't like it; very happy for you.

Upper middle class parents tend to pull their children out for middle school.

We're there now, and nope, the overwhelming majority of upper-income and upper-ed parents are staying in ACPS. In fact, ACPS middle school and high school enrollment are up well over 15% in the last few years. Sorry, but your post is factually wrong.

LOL!

Yes, but keep telling yourself that.

[Anonymous]

It's time for the suburban slobs on this thread to head back to Fairfucks County. There you can be the bored tool you always dreamed about being. Feel free to leave Alexandria alone. We're fine without your armchair quarterbacking. Thanks.